[center][b] -- Dakota --[/b] [/center]

 Dakota hated plane rides. Not because he was afraid of heights or anything, but he couldn't stand [i]sitting still so long[/i]. Luckily, he had scored a window seat. He sat with his face in his hand, elbow braced on the arm rest as he stared out the window at the ominous-looking sky. The rain was coming down in thick, fat little droplets, making it hard to see very far. The ground, that was still visible up until just a few minutes ago, was hidden away in the darkness of the storm. Blue streaks of lightning arched between the gaps in the cloud cover. He was faintly aware of the threat the storm could pose to Eden 13, but was to impressed by it's natural beauty to be concerned.

 Josh, his best friend, sat in the seat on his right. He was just four months older then Dakota, so he had just recently turned 16. "Hey, Kota, lemme take a selfie with you." He said, holding up his iPhone.

 "You're a dork." Was Dakota's response. He leaned his head next to Josh's anyway, making a stupid face with his eyes crossed and tongue sticking out. The two boys were flying to Australia for a championship swim meet that was to take place in two weeks. Dakota's mother, who lived in a city near where the race would take place, had agreed to let them stay with her so they could prepare. On top of being able to compete in one of the biggest races of their swimming careers thus far, they'd get to spend a cool vacation together. 

 It had been almost six years since Dakota had seen his mother. He was a little nervous about being reunited with her after so long, but he felt better with Josh there with him. He watched his friend making faces at the camera of his phone and grinned. What would he do without him?

 Josh turned to him and was about to say something when the pilot come on the intercom, politely advising the passengers to put on their seat belts. Dakota struggled with the buckle, not quite able to get it to clasp. "Move over, Josh,you're in the way." He complained, nudging him in the side. His friend was sitting on the buckle.

 "Gimme it, you klutz." Josh chided. He took the seat belt from Dakota and reached over his lap to grab the clasp on the other side. "There." He said as he clicked it together, then pulled it tight, securing Dakota in his seat.

 "If the plane crashes, what good would seat belts do anyway?" Dakota asked. Josh leaned back into his seat and tightened his own belt before he answered.

 "Nothing. It just keeps your body in place so they can identify you, and maybe keep you from flying into other people."

 The plane shook, and a few passengers groaned. Dakota swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in his throat. "Oh, that's reassuring, thanks." He complained. 

 Josh looked at him, his eye brows raised, as he plugged one ear with an ear bud. "Hey man, we're gonna be fine, it's just a little storm." As he spoke, the plane shook again, more violently this time.

 Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Dakota saw a trace of his own fear reflected in his friend's eyes. A blinding light flashed, and he felt his body being forced back against his seat as an ear-shattering groan of metal-on-metal filled the cabin. Screams filled his head, and he stared, horrified, as the front of the plane was ripped off just two rows from where they were sitting. Josh reached for him, and Dakota grasped his arm as their screams joined the others. Dakota blacked out as the plane spiraled towards the Earth below.

[center] --- [/center]

 The first thing he noticed when he came two was the pain in his head. It felt as if an elephant was standing on his brain, and he struggled to open his eyes an bring the world into focus. It only took him a few seconds to figure out that the pain was equally as bad throughout the rest of his body. With numb fingers, he found the clasp on the seat belt and undid it. Their part of the plane was apparently laying on it's side, so he slid a short ways from his seat onto his side up against the now shattered window. He gasped in pain as he made contact. His side burned like fire, and he moved his hand to touch it. It was wet with blood from a gash across his rib cage, all the way up into his armpit.

 He lay there for a moment, tears welling in his eyes. How could something like this happen. A sense of dread settled in his heart, and he swallowed hard as he looked above him, over his right shoulder, to where Josh's seat was. He choked out a scream as he saw his friend, hanging limply from his seat belt. His face was hidden from him, obscured by his shaggy blonde hair. His skin was an natural color, almost blue, and blood ran down his arm that was extended awkwardly towards Dakota. "Josh!" He croaked, his voice caught in his throat. He struggled to sit up, reaching out towards him. He froze just before his hand touched Josh's arm. [i]Please,[/i] he prayed silently, then let his fingers make contact. Josh's skin was cold and stiff.

 Dakota jerked his hand away, horrified. He stared at Josh a moment longer, before he broke down sobbing uncontrollably. He lay there for several minutes before he was able to control himself again. Struggling to catch his breath, he eased himself onto his hands and knees. He crawled forward slowly, keeping his eyes focused down to avoid looking at anyone else. The pain in his left side increased, and he could feel the wound seep more blood with each moment. A few painful feet more and he was sprawled across sand just outside the wreckage. 

 He turned his head enough to look up and see sky above, then rested his cheek on the sand. He halfheartedly wondered where he was as he lay there, trying to catch a break from the pain. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, feeling his consciousness slip away once again.