For Senninaws's Picture Competition

When I open my eyes, I find myself laying on the ground in the middle of nowhere with dead bodies surrounding me. I am alarmed and spring to my feet. For a moment I cannot remember what happened or where I am. Then I glance down and see the body of my friend.
The memories began to flash through my mind. I had boarded a plane headed South America with my friend Antonio. He was going to visit his relatives in Venezuela. His mother had been too busy with work to take time off so I went with Antonio instead. I was so excited to go. I was headed to a new country on vacation for two whole weeks with my best friend. It's amazing how such an innocent trip went so wrong.
Antonio and I were on the plane when the pilot announced that something was going wrong with the engine. He announced we would have to make an emergency landing. Antonio and I exchanged worried looks. Suddenly the plane began to start to fall! I heard the pilot scream "That was not according to plan!" and the loud-speakers turned off.
People on the plane started to panic and I could hear some crying. I remained where I was in my seat, frozen in fear. Antonio had grabbed me and pushing me onto the ground. He whispered, "Hang on Carter." I opened my mouth to tell him something but then came a loud crash. Pieces of metal began to fall from the ceiling. Antonio shielded me with his own body. The last thing I remember is something heavy falling on top of me and Antonio before I passed out.
I kneel down beside Antonio. His body is still now and covered in blood. I put my hand on his chest but I cannot feel him breathing.
"Please Antonio! Wake up!" I scream.
Antonio does not answer me. I shake him and continue to scream his name. After about a minute of doing this and having no reaction from Antonio, I know my friend is dead. I sigh and go off to look for any other survivors. There are none. Everyone around me is lying on the ground, motionless and blood drenched.
I fall to my knees and start crying. I am alone somewhere in the desert when everyone else has perished from the crash. I am only alive because of my friend. I did nothing heroic. I do not deserve to be living now.
Antonio would have amounted to so much more than I ever will. He was smart, friendly, athletic and talented. He was the popular guy at school that everyone loved. He could of had anyone in the school as his best friend but he chose me, the quiet kid in the back of the classroom. Before Antonio came, I was bullied everyday and had no friends. I just sat in school and read books. Then Antonio approached me one day and asked if I could come over to his house. Nobody had ever offered that to me before. After that day, Antonio and I were best buds and no one bothered me anymore. What am I going to do without him?
I suddenly I am awakened from my thoughts when someone taps my shoulder. I turn around and see a young girl staring at me. She is fine except for a few cuts and bruises.
"Why are you crying?" she asks. "Do you know what happened?"
For a moment I am in utter shock. Where did this child come from? Was she a survivor from the crash too?
"I'm alright," I say after a moment. I dry my tears with my sleeve. "The plane crashed and now we are stranded out in the desert. Were on the plane too?"
The girl nods. "Yes, my mommy had told me keep still and she held me close. I remember a loud boom and I fell asleep I guess. When I woke up, Mommy would not wake up. Everybody still sleeping 'cept me and you."
"Um, how old are you?" I ask the child.
"Four," the little girl replies. "Oh, and my name's Holly Fields. I live on 24 Apple Drive with my daddy, mommy and sister. My number's 781-2345 also." Holly smiled. "Mommy told me to say that 'case I ever get lost."
"Well your mom is a very smart person," I reply. "I'm Carter by the way. I am fourteen."
"Carter, can you help me wake up Mommy?" Holly wonders.
I sigh. "I'll see what I can do. Could you please bring me to your mommy?"
Holly nods eagerly. She took my hand and led me over to a spot where a woman was laying. I checked the woman over but it was obvious she was gone.
I turn to the child. "I'm sorry but I think your mom is going to be... sleeping for awhile. Everyone here is not going to wake up."
Tears form in Holly's eyes. "What do we do now? What about Mommy?"
I sigh. "There's nothing else to do but for you and me to try to find a way out of this desert. Follow me."