Darkness. Jessie slowly opened her eyes. At first everything was a bit of a blur. But soon her eyes adjusted and she found herself deep in a thick jungle. Zuri and Emma lay next to her apparently still unconscious. Despite her exhaustion and soreness she got up. Even if she was stranded on an island and probably out of a job she still was going to take care of the kids she would still be a good nanny but now more of a mother. Jessie bent down next to Emma and gently shook her. "Five more minutes" She groaned. "Emma, wake up we survived" Jessie told her. Suddenly remembering the past events of the night Emma opened her eyes and sat up. "Where are we and where's everyone else?!" Emma asked. "I don't know, I believe we're on some sort of deserted island and I don't know where the others are I woke up here with you and Zuri" Jessie replied. "I'm afraid I don't know where or if the boys are even alive." Tears came to Emma's eyes. As much of an annoyance her brothers could be she still loved them deep down. "But, the important thing is that we're alive. And we need to stay that way. Emma I know your only fifteen years old and you've grown up in luxury, but if we're going to survive I'm going to need to ask a lot of you. You're going to have to help out and take on a lot of responsibility" Jessie apologized. "It's okay Jessie, I understand I'll do what I can" Emma promised.
"Alright then. First we need to find a source of water. And not the ocean you can't drink salt water so we need some sort of river or something. We also need to get a shelter made and a fire. Luckily, I happened to grab this before we jumped" Jessie said holding up a small bag. "It's an emergency survival kit. I was taught by my dad to never going on a plane or boat without it." "So what's it got?" Emma asked. "Not much I'm afraid, a pocket knife, some flint and steel, some twine, a canteen of water, and some bandages. But it's better than nothing and I've been on camping trips thousands of times so I know a little about surviving. After we find a good enough place to set up camp that's near a good source of water then we can go looking for the others" She explained. "But won't that take a few days" Emma replied. "Not necessarily, I have good instinct and I can already tell that it's shortly after dawn and a beach is...that way" Jessie said pointing south west. "Are you sure?" "Yes but we need something to mark our place so we don't get lost."
Just then Zuri woke up. She rubbed her eyes groggily and looked around her. "Are we on one of daddy's sets?" She asked. "No Zuri, we're in a real jungle" Emma laughed. Then she quickly explained their predicament. "We're gonna die" Zuri cried. "Way to stay positive" Jessie said sarcastically. "Now then what can we use to mark our trail..." "We could use this stick to draw a line as we go" Zuri suggested when they finished telling about needing something to mark their place. "No any creature could end up crossing over it and cover it" Jessie replied. "How about some rocks?" Emma tried. "That could work but we don't have any rocks" She replied. "Wait! I've got it, I have this knife so I can carve a small X in a tree every so often as we go along!" Jessie said. "Won't that take longer?" "Yes but we don't have a choice." Zuri sighed. She was feeling so homesick. Nevertheless, the three girls set off in the direction of Jessie's instincts, which wasn't very comforting but like Jessie said what other choice did they have?
Luke had never kissed a girl. But he would never tell anyone that. Instead he would lie or "acting" as he called it. But when he felt the gentle warm lips press against his it was like a dream. When he opened his eyes things were blurry but he could make out a tall figure run off towards the shore and disappear behind some rocks. He sat up as his eyes adjusted and found himself on a beach. It was a small one with only two palm trees and some boulders near the shore. Ahead was a thick jungle. He slowly began to recall what had happened. Luke remembered falling out of the sky with his brother Ravi until the parashoot ripped and they went soaring down into the waves. After that everything was a blur and he woke up here.
But who was the mysterious person who had kissed him? He guessed it must have been mouth to mouth CPR but to him it still counted as a kiss. Luke hoped whoever it was, he'd see her again at least he hoped it was a her. Luke walked over to the rocks where the figure had disappeared but found no trace of her not even any footprints. Maybe he had dreamt the whole thing? However, that wasn't the important matter at the moment. What was important was that he found his family, if they had even survived. Suddenly he heard groaning. Luke ran towards the sound. Ravi lay barely conscious on the shore that he had just washed up on. "Ravi, is that you buddy?" He asked. "Luke?" He asked stupidly. "Oi my head" He groaned. There was an incredibly large bump on his head and it looked like a concussion. "Looks like you've had a concussion" Luke said. "I guess that's what we get for jumping out of a plane with one parashoot" Luke said reminding him of the past events that had taken place.
"Is Jessie here?" Ravi asked hopefully. If they could find Jessie she'd know what to do. "No, I don't think so I haven't seen her" Luke replied sounding aloof. What was up with Luke? Normally he would have been worried and lovesick over her. Ravi shrugged it off knowing right now they had to find their siblings and/or Jessie. "We should go into the jungle to find her" Ravi said. "Yeah...um let's go" Luke said still slightly out of it. Ravi sighed, something was definitely up with Luke. Deciding even though Luke was older, he would have to take charge until Luke was feeling better. It must have been the trauma from the plane crash. The two boys sighed heavily and began heading into the jungle ahead.
Zack sighed as he watched over his friends sleep. They had taken night shifts so that any sign of land or danger could be alerted at once. So far all he had seen was the ever blue ocean. Miles and miles out. He used to think the sea was a beautiful sight. Now he was sick of it, seasick. He rubbed his eyes groggily trying to keep awake. Just a bit more and it would be Bailey's turn. They still hadn't found Woody and assumed his death. Things were not going well and they were almost out of water. Luckily whatever had taken Woody was gone. It rocked the boat around a bit at first but eventually gave up and left seeing as it wasn't getting anymore bait. They still hadn't figured out exactly what it was, but Zack had to admit it scared the hell out of him.
Suddenly his blue eyes widened as he saw the tiniest spark of life. There a speck off in the distance. It was tiny and green, but it was indeed land. "Land ho!" Zack shouted at the top of his lungs waking them all up except for London. She was a sound sleeper and they didn't have her on watch duty. They learned not to the first time. She would call and wake them up at the tiniest thing that usually was neither land nor danger. Zack thought she was just wanting attention or sleep. So they let her and took her off the (nonexistent) list of anything work related. "Really!? Land are you sure?" Cody asked the excitement in his voice could be sensed easily. "He's sure alright, look at that!" Bailey exclaimed. They three teens jumped up and down giddily! Finally, finally there was land and as they got closer they found it was a small no doubt deserted island. But it was land nonetheless and that's all that mattered.
This woke London up and as soon as she saw land she squealed with joy. "Now I can hug a tree!" She exclaimed reminded them of how her father told her if she got lost to hug a tree. The others just rolled their eyes. "But if it's just an island how can we get any help?" Zack pointed out. "Well it's better than just floating out in the ocean with no food or water. Atleast on an island we can gather fruit and hunt and find a river or pond or lake to get water in and a better shelter made. We'll also be able to make and SOS sign so that we'll be able to be found" Cody replied. "And everyone is going to have to pitch in. And I mean everyone"He said gesturing to London. "No! I can't work! Don't make me please" She wailed breaking down into tears. Bailey sighed and Zack rolled his eyes again. Cody was about half ready to cry himself. It was going to be a hard life on the island. Harder than they ever would have expected.
It was evening and Jessie and the girls still hadn't found any sign of the boys. Eventually they decided to give up for the day and make a shelter. They did find a small beach where they collected some banana's and coconuts. Then they found a small spring near a clearing and set up camp there. Emma and Jessie worked together to build a small leantoo and then a firepit. Zuri was too young for such labor so she gathered some water from the spring and some fruit and berries. Jessie had warned her which were poisonous and which weren't. They used the coconut shells to carry water and though it was small it was better than no water at all. Trying to boil it was the hardest part. But now they sat around the campfire nibbling on some berries and sipping lukewarm water.
"I miss home" Zuri sighed. "Me too" Emma replied. Jessie was on the verge of tears but tried to stay strong for the others. "Do you think we'll ever find Luke and Ravi?" Zuri asked. "I don't know sweetie, I don't know. The important thing is that we're alive right here right now" Jessie replied trying to comfort them. "Though, Bertram would have probably just slowed us down it's better that we have that load off" Emma said. "Emma!" Jessie scolded. But slightly nodded in agreement with Zuri. "Come on, let's get some sleep" Jessie said. They finished there food and Zuri climbed into the leantoo. "I think it'd be best if Emma and I take night shifts to watch for danger" Jessie said. "Do you think you can handle that Emma?" She asked. She hated having to ask so much of them since they were so young. They didn't deserve to be put in such a situation. "It's okay I'll be fine" Emma agreed though secretly wished she could say no. "Alright, I'll take the first shift you two get some sleep" Jessie told them. The girls huddled together in the leantoo for warmth secretly crying and hoping they would survive this godforsaken island.
"It's getting dark and we still haven't found anyone" Luke said. "I know, and we need food and water! I'm starving" Ravi sighed. "We also need shelter, I say we go back to the beach. There isn't much shelter there either but at least we won't have to worry about wild animals eating us in our sleep" Luke suggested. "I suppose so," Ravi agreed. "But one question..." Luke said. "Which way is to the beach?" The two boys looked at each other frightfully. "You were supposed to keep track!" They said in unison. "No I wasn't you were!" Luke accused. "No you were I told you too and you said yes!" Ravi yelled. "Did not!" "Did so!" They began yelling and fighting both accusing each other. They were lost in the jungle and it was getting dark.
"This is all your fault!" The two boys yelled in unison then turned away from each other crossing their arms angrily. Suddenly they heard a rustle in the trees. Luke and Ravi looked at each other fearfully. "What was that sound?" Luke whispered. "Be absolutely silent" Ravi said putting a finger to his lip. They slowly turned towards the sound. The trees rustled again and a shadowy figure stepped out of the shadows. Luke and Ravi screamed like little girls!