Return To Paradise

5

Swimming for two hours, the closer Brielle got the more tired she became. "Brielle" "yeah.." "STAY AWAKE" "I know you are tired. We are doing all we can to find your location.." "BRIELLE. BRIELLE" Brielle looked at those following her while swimming on her back "drop your suit case" "NO" "it could save you.." "I need it. It's got all necessities. To lose this, I lose my kit as well" Shaun's eyes softened even though he was fretting. "ANOTHER THOUSAND AT LEAST" "she's helping.." "follow her. We need to keep going. Miley hold on" Miley continued to cry as she feared drowning. "MILEYS STRUGGLING.." "KICK ON YOUR BACK. GIVE YOUR ARMS A BREAK. WHEN THEY TIRE, CHANGE" Miley did exactly what Brielle screamed out. "You are doing great Miley. Keep holding on. Not too far now. We have got this far, we can keep going" hearing others scream out in the distance, Miley, Rome and Orson kept moving forward. "We could die.." "KEEP MOVING" Orson nodded "we need to stay positive. At least we have each other. She has no one" "has she ever?" "I don't know. Why have they always treated her like that?" "Her sister" "I can't stand her".
"I only have fifty left dad.." Shaun dropped his head as worry ran through him. "BRIELLE" "YEAH" "KEEP TALKING" "SAVE YOUR BREATH. USE IT TO PUSH FORWARD" "let's do as she says. We can see her swimming" Rome nodded.
"It's here.." Brielle broke down as she reached the sand. "Brielle.." Brielle looked at Miley, Rome and Orson. "Brielle?" "I need to help.." "you made it?" "I'm here. I don't know where I am but I'm here" Brielle rushed to untie her suitcase. Brielle unwound her rope "my rope dad. I can help bring them in.." everyone in the room grinned "how many are there Brielle?" "Three" making a lasoo, Brielle stretched her rope out. "BRIELLE?" "I'm here. I have a thousand foot like you told me. I can use this. I need to bring them in. I will be in the water. I need both hands" "you could.." "I need to" "keep yelling out so we hear you" Brielle used the last of her energy and ran back into the water. "BRIELLE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" "I NEED TO HELP" "she has rope.." "GRAB IT AND HOLD ON TO EACH OTHER" 'I wont need this much but Miley is really struggling' throwing the rope out, Brielle sighed and pulled it back in. 'YOU CAN DO THIS' spinning it in the air, brielle kept the rope out of the water and threw it out. "I CAN GET IT" all three sticking together, brielle continued to watch them. Rome grabbing the rope, Brielle grinned and pulled all three in with all the power she had in her. "BRIELLE" "IM HERE DAD. ITS WORKING" "KEEP GOING. YOU CAN DO THIS. I BELIEVE IN YOU" Brielle only pulled harder as her father continued to encourage her. Hitting the sand, Brielle fell on her bottom but never stopped until they could reach the bottom. "Dad.." "BRIELLE.." "THANK YOU" Brielle nodded and fell backwards. Reaching for her phone, Brielle spoke "they made it dad" "tell me who is with you?" "Miley Orson and Rome" "where is everyone else?" "They didn't follow sir.." all three falling to the ground in relief and tiredness, they were grateful to Brielle for the encouragement and help. "Only four out of fifteen.. I'm proud of all of you for getting this far" "Brielle, can you tell us if you can see anything on the island that stands out?" "We have just.." Brielle struggled to get up but pushed forward. "There are seventeen islands on the route" picking up her suitcase, Brielle looked at the rope and grabbed it "I'm up. There is nothing that stands out here" "have you got cover?" "Plenty of trees" "how big?" "I don't know sir. Dad my battery is dropping" "do what you can Brielle. I know you are tired. I know you are more than exhausted. Have our got your water.." "WATER" Brielle dropped her suitcase and rushed to open it. "OUR WATER.." "sip it. There may not be anything fresh. Salt water will only dehydrate" "I'm thirsty.." "shes right. We need to save it" hearing a scream of pain in the distance, everyone dropped their heads "Brielle.." "we can't do anything.." "you have done what you can. You have lead them to the island" brielle wiped her eyes "push yourself. Rest when you can. We need to use this time while we have contact. You are breaking in and out" "let's do this. Together we can keep moving" Brielle looked at her watch then at the sky. "East. It will keep us in the shade" Shaun grinned "you are doing well hunny. We are trying our best to locate you. Rome, Orson and Miley, I have the school in the background. Your parents are being notified" "thank you mister arlington" "we are doing all we can to find you and others. Brielle.." Brielle knew just by her dad's voice what he was going to ask. "Six on impact.. eight. The pilots too" Shaun dropped his head "that only leaves six" "yeah.." dragging their suitcases through the sand, all four stayed silent as they felt a mix of emotions. 'this island isn't as big as I thought. I can see the east side. It's not that long.. my guess is a mile' "I'm guessing a mile long on this side" "average for an island in the ocean. Be careful of the tides" "our best bet is higher ground" Brielle only nodded. "Do any of you have phones?" "They were in our pockets" Brielle nodded "we are at thirty five" Shaun's eyes watered. "WHERE IS MY SON" "Sir we are doing all we can to locate them" "DAD" "ORSON. WHOSE PHONE?" "it's my daughter's. The others are wet or lost" "Claudia.." "not Claudia. She's with her mother. Brielle" "the quiet one" Shaun grinned "until you get to know the real brielle" "is that right?" "No" Miley chuckled as Shaun did. "Are you around the bend?" "Yes. The end of the island isn't in sight" "THEN RUN" "DAD" "they have swam for nearly three hours. And walked over a mile. They are tired" "I'm sorry. We are all very distraught" brielle stayed silent while taking in all she can. "Dad we need to stop.." "keep pushing. You have got this far. Can you see any other islands?" "No" "there's nothing but water" everyone looked at the map. "These two might be crossed out".
Walking for two entire hours, brielle dropped her head as they all sat down "nothing. Not an island in sight" "that crosses four islands out Brielle. You four have done so well. To get this far, survive, swim, walk and still moving forward" "how much have you got left?" "Ten" "it's best she turns that off. When it dies we have no contact. Send a message" everyone let their tears fall "we love all of you okay" "we love you all" Brielle ended the call and turned her phone off. 'that's our only contact' everyone breaking down in tears, no one could produce a word. 'we are stuck here. All four of us. No shelter, no food, no fire..' 'eighteen on that plane and only four of us here. I could hear their screams but they wouldn't listen' 'those dead bodies..' brielle vomiting, Rome immediately rubbed her back. "A sip of water. She may need it. We are all dehydrated" 'just like us she witnessed so much. We are lucky to be here. We made it out of that crash, made it through those waters without being eaten by sharks and whatever else is lurking in those waters. She did so well. She helped us three even though we have never even spoken. The others treated her like trash and we don't even know why'. "Thanks" Rome only nodded as Miley handed Brielle her water. Taking a sip, Brielle rinsed her mouth then spat it out before taking one more. 'i need to save my water'.