"Please wake up, wake up"
She could feel the pressure building in her chest as air forced its way in.
She felt like vomiting her insides out. Water came out from all orifices, and she heaved her body against the grip around her waist that held her fast against his person. Gulps came in gasps for air. Her eyes opened into the frightening darkness; lit by flashes of lightening, and emergency lights from the submerging craft 30 feet from her. A loud siren wailed.
The feeling returned to her skin. Her legs were floating, and her face was being pelted by water.
She coughed and heaved again.
"Keep coughing" a strained voice sounded beside her. It sounded familiar.
The impact. The blood. The bodies. Her mom.
"You're shaking" the voice interrupted her daze "can you hold onto this?"
The supportive arm around her waist disappeared, and placed her hands onto the white rope lining the orange craft. She was forced to turn and confront whoever saved her.
His hair looked black in the dark, plastered to his head as he clutched the edge of the raft.
Her fear subsided when she saw those familiar eyes, now red-rimmed. His face pale.
"We can't do anything." He seemed to be speaking more to himself than her. "The plane will sink us down too if we don't get away soon. I'll help you up first."
Bella swallowed hard and pushed herself onto the raft. Edward's hand supported her legs into the blow-up raft. She held out her hand, and with one last look over his shoulder, he climbed in beside her. A chill swept through them both as the wind picked up against the rain.
"Is anybody out there!" Edward called out. "Hello!"
Bella watched the tail of the plane begin to submerge. The ocean would have it now. Claim whatever that plane held, even if it was held so dear to her.
Her hands balled into fists, clutching the edge of the huge orange safety raft as she stared after the huge coffin-carrier.
Mom.
"Mom" she sobbed to herself. The wind wiped her hair into her face, chilling her soaked body.
Edward turned her way. His eyes were filled with tears. He watched her stare after the sinking plane as it slowly descended into the sea.
His mother and his father – gone. In a split second, everything had changed – the two he loved the most, were dead, gone, forever. But he knew they were gone, he saw that they were gone the moment after impact. He remembered the brave words of his father echoing from his past when he trained him, took him on trips, taught him survival techniques. His father was always strong and savvy in these situations. Edward straightened himself up and looked out into the ocean. The tears came relentlessly, but he refused to give into his grief- he had to be strong. He had to get them to a safe place, that is, if they were anywhere near land.
"Is anybody out there?" Edward called out into the darkness, voice cracking under the strain. The only light the flashing red and green strobes from the plane's cabin, now being submerged under the water.
"Are there any survivors! Can you hear me!"
Edward's voice was lost against the pelting rain and the violent sparking of the planes engine as the lone unsubmerged wing caught fire. The girl beside him broke into a sob as they watched the rest of the aircraft fall into the ocean. Bella settled to the bottom of the raft and curled into herself.
It felt like hours before he glanced back at the shivering girl. Maybe it wouldn't be cowardly if he decided to lie down for a moment? Just to keep her company.
He choked back the sob threatening to escape, and laid across from her. He draped one arm over her shivering form before succumbing to exhaustion.