Flight 259

Chapter 3- Zasha

I wake to bright lights and the smell of antiseptic. Why am I in the hospital?
"Hi honey." Says a nurse.
"Why am I here?"
"Do you remember anything?"
"I remember being at school and then- Oh gods. Please tell me that didn't happen. Please."
The nurses looks at me sadly.
I turn and immediately puke into the garbage can.
"Zasha, I'm sorry but you've hit your head. We need you to fill out this form to make sure you aren't suffering from a severe concussion or memory loss, it is also a medical form for us so be honest. Then, we will let your aunt come and talk to you."
"Ok." I reply.
Q1: What is your name?
Zasha Lewis.
Q2: What is your age, grade, and birthday?
Grade 10. 16. January fourth 1999.
Q3: What city/province/country do you live in?
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Q4: What is your hair colour?
Brown with blond highlights. Short.
Q5: What is your eye colour?
Left eye is leaf green with silver lining the pupil. Right eye is grey with gold lining the pupil. I have that eye thing where your eyes are different colours (Heterochromia Iridum).
Q6: What is your height?
5' 10''. I'm very tall.
Q7: What is your approximate weight?
140 lbs. Mostly muscle. Being an *almost* Olympic athlete and all.
Q8: Why are you here?
You tell me.
I press the button for the nurse. She came in and took the sheet. She reads it over,
"Ok, you're fine." She says. "I'll bring your aunt in."
***
"They don't know what happened. They do know the location of the plane, but they can't get to it by helicopter or boat because it's in such a remote location." My Aunt Stacey tells me.
"Where."
"The Amazon rainforest. In Peru."
"Peru? Their flight path shouldn't of taken them over Peru."
"Like I said, they don't know what happened." She says.
"Well, I know what I need to do."
"What?" Aunt Stacey says sounding resigned, almost like she knows what I'm going to say next.
"I've got to go to Peru, help the rescue mission."
"I can't stop you. I'm not your legal guardian..."
She would only be my legal guardian if my parents were confirmed dead. Suddenly I see the grief in her eyes. Her mother was on that plane too, as well as her sister and nephews. Just like me she was hoping that they were alive and unharmed.
"So it settled. I will leave within the week."
"Zasha?"
"Yes?"
"If the worst... Happens, I will always be your family." She says, her eyes glistening.
"Thank you."
I stand and hug her.
***
"You want to go to Peru?" The woman at the ticket counter says.
"Yes, as close to flight 259's relief effort as possible."
"I'm sorry, the closest airport is still a 3 hour drive and a boat ride away from the relief effort's base."
"That's fine." I say slightly impatiently.
"And I can't sell tickets to minors without a legal guardians permission."
"Will my aunt work?" I say.
"Yes."
I call my Aunt Stacey over to the counter.
"Can I go to Peru?" I ask my voice thick with saccharine.
"Yes." She says sounding annoyed.
"Here is your ticket. We don't accept cash."
"Thank you." I say exasperated.
"Have a nice day." the lady says.
"Goodbye."
***
I stand shaking in front of the door to the airplane. I've never been afraid of flying, but now all I can think of is the plane falling out of the sky. No, I have to go to Peru and find answers. Even if they are not the answers I want. I step into the cabin.
There are not very many people on the plane. It's maybe 30% full and I'm defiantly the youngest one there. Some people look at me funny, so I glare back at them flexing the muscles in my shoulders. This, combined with my height I knew looked intimidating. I walked to an empty row and sat down trying to calm my nerves. The plane taxied down the runway and I grip the armrests and squeeze my eyes shut, the plane picks up speed and suddenly we are in the air. I hesitantly open my eyes and look out the window. The city of Toronto is sprawled beneath the plane, the lights glowing. I decide to try and sleep. I curl up and let my dreams take me away.
***
"Prepare for landing." Says the pilot.
I glance out the window to see the beautiful Amazon rainforest beneath me kilometres upon kilometres of luscious green canopy. I can only imagine what it must look like on the ground. Wait, I don't have to imagine. I will be down there, searching, for answers.
***
After I get through customs I walk outside the airport. The humidity is sweltering. I see a bus with the driver holding a large sign "Flight 259 Relief Effort." About three quarters of the people that were on my flight head towards that bus including me.
***
"Hello. My name is Jesus (Hay-Zus) Pérez and I am in charge of this rescue operation. From now until the time you leave my word is law. If you disobey me you will be going home. Let's set some rules: no leaving camp alone, at least groups of two, if you see an animal or plant you don't recognize, DO NOT GO NEAR IT! This isn't some little city park, this is the Amazon rainforest. Finally, stay hydrated and well fed. If you feel sick at all go straight to the medical tent, the nearest hospital is 4 hours away by car and boat and the helicopter is for victims of the crash. Thank you." Jesus was no taller then 5'3'' but was heavily muscled and scary-looking. I do not want to mess with him.
***
"Everyone wake up!" Jesus shouts through a... Megaphone? Where did he get that?
Never the less, I get up and change quickly in my tiny tent before coating myself in bug spray.
"Today we will be going to the crash site." My heart skips a beat. So soon? I don't know if I can handle this. I. Still thinking and almost miss Jesus's next words.
"You will be in groups of 4."
"You mean we have to work with other people?" A boy a few years older than me shouts.
Wait, I know him. That's Lucas Wells. He is in Grade 12 and goes to my school, his brother Charlie is in a few of my classes. Why is he here? Both of them are outsiders, rumours swirling around them. They're supposedly trained in survival and know how to kill something in dozens of different ways. I don't really believe the rumours, but I don't talk to either of them, so who knows?
"Yes you do." Says Jesus. "You have a problem with that?"
"No, I guess not" Lucas mumbles."
"Ok, group time, you" he points to Lucas, "you, you and... You." He points to me as well as a man probably in his thirties, and a woman with bright blue hair who was around 25. Then he starts grouping other people.
Our group goes and stands by a tree.
"What are your names?" Says Lucas taking charge.
"Leonard but you can call me Leo." Says the man.
"Lexi." The woman with the blue hair says, her voice thick with a New York accent.
"I'm Zasha." I say.
"You go to Ursula Franklin right?" Lucas asks.
"Yes and so do you Lucas Wells." I reply.
"Come talk with me for a second." He says walking away.
I follow.
"Why are you here?" He says.
I'm surprised at the anger in his voice. Why is this his business?
"That's not your problem. I have as much right to be here as you do, but if you have to know my parents, brothers, and Grandma were on that plane. What about you? Why are you here?" I say.
"You know Charlie?" He says. His voice softer.
"Yes."
"He was on his way to Brazil."
Oh gods, just what I need. Another person that I know who was possibly... I can't say it... Dead.