It started at the end. The end of our town and the beginning of the wilderness with

all of its beauty and poison. The poison, of course being the lure of the wild. Entrapping those

who do not know the dangers of the woods. With his brown hair blowing in the wind, Tim

throws his hand out the window trying to balance pennies on his fingers. “Look! Jake I got it

look!” The jeep hits a bump in the road “Damn, why didn’t you look?”

“Would you just shut up, I’m trying to drive.” I replied “Do you want to make it in one

piece?” Our fishing trip to Ontario included a 7 hour drive and 80 mile flight into Makokibatan

lodge. College has only been out for spring break for a day and we’re already leaving. The last

thing I remember seeing and hearing is the plane taking off and the drone of the engine. We fly

over the lake and everything is still, except for an area of rapids leading into a river. When we

land on the water it looks like glass shattering. The still water is suddenly filled with life.

“No signal.” Tim is always obsessed with his phone. “Good, now you can pay attention

to something else” Our guild smirks as he walks down the dock “Hey, you must be Jake and…

let me guess… Tim? I’m Michael.” We introduce ourselves and he guides us to our cabin.

“There isn’t even a TV.” Tim says with disgust. We both look at each other swiftly “I call top

bunk!” I spit out as quickly as possible. “No fair you always get the top.” He’s right. We take

our gear and find our boat, number three my lucky number.

Most of the day is uneventful. We haven’t caught anything but small fish and it’s getting

late. “Remember where the river starts?” I ask Tim. “Yeah, it’s just past this island. Let’s head

over there.” We start to catch fish after fish, any kind imaginable, it’s a feeding frenzy! With all

the excitement we didn’t notice the rapids until it was too late.

When I wake up I’m alone. My ears are ringing so horribly I can barely hear. Scream, All

I can think of is to shout for help. We couldn’t have gone too far down river. Even if someone

answers, I wouldn’t be able to hear with the pounding in my head. When I conclude that no one

is around to find me I begin to walk. I don’t see signs of Tim anywhere. More importantly I

don’t see anything but trees and river. Luckily my pack stayed on my back through the rapids. I

dig for anything to help me. Rifling through my bag I find my bottle and fill it to the top with

water. It’s getting dark, I need to start a fire. I grab some small sticks and my matches.

Thankfully my mother bought me a waterproof container. Once the fire is large enough and my

clothes are drying I look myself over. Still don’t see any major injuries, only small cuts and

bruises. I should have known that Tim would forget to put down the anchor. This is all HIS

fault, when I find him I’m going to… No, I can’t be angry now. I must keep my head. Sleep

came slowly that night.

I couldn’t have had a worse night. I woke up sweating. The dreams are terrible. Water

bubbling, wood snapping against rock, and the endless screaming. If only I could remember

what exactly happened. Knowing we came from up river, I decide to walk in that direction.

Walking alone is horrid. I’m tired, in pain, and the river just keeps flowing as if nothing

happened. Finally I reach a waterfall. Shredded wood still on the rocks. Thinking if I have to

make another fire, I grab as much as my bag will hold. That’s when I see it, my life saver! A

bush full of berries. Until now I haven’t even noticed my hunger. I’ve never been happier to see

food. After stripping the bush to its leaves, it’s time to make another fire. I’m thirsty but the

water I collected is filthy. Once, I read in a book you could boil water in a leaf, this would

purify the water and not burn the leaf. To my advantage it was true! But by this time it was dark

again. With a full stomach, tonight’s rest will be much better than the last.

I’m awoken by a sound, slowly I realize I can hear again. Then it hits me. That’s the

sound of a helicopter. I’m saved! They found me, yes! Searching frantically for any sign of my

saviors, I spot them, but they don’t see me. They point ahead and away from me. The helicopter

flies out of my sight. Devastated and crushed thoughts run through my head, why wouldn’t they

look? They had to see me. Why? NO! Sprinting, trees hit me, lashes cover my arms. The sound

of the engine is closer than ever. All I can do is hope and run. There is a clearing ahead with

men. Am I hallucinating? What did those berries do to me? I hug the first person I get to. I

don’t who it is or why, but they hug back. Now I know it’s real. I hear his voice, Tim. I had

forgot all about him until now, but then I realize who I’m with. “How did you find help so

quickly?” I forgot the sound of my own voice. “I jumped out of the boat before it went down.

How did you survive?” “I don’t even know, I’m just glad I found you. Take me back home

please I just need to rest.”