What? Landing? There’s no runway!
This can’t be possible. I’ve got a bear as an official greeter and our plane was landing on gravel or dirt or something. The only saving grace of this observation was that it kept the other passengers on the plane as silent as me.
I continued to watch the pilot pulling and pushing on things, and realized I really didn’t want to see how little control he had over the situation. I’m sure he felt he had it handled, but from this viewpoint it was utterly terrifying. I clamped my eyes shut just in time to feel the plane shudder as the wheels began to touch down.
There was nothing smooth about it as our plane briefly greeted the gravel before pushing back up, only to quickly meet again with the surface below. It felt like a rollercoaster that had no tracks and no intention of stopping. Our plane continued to jump and skip its way down the non-existent runway. I slowly peeled open one eye and watched as we whipped by the tall grass and water finally coming to a slow stop.
The guys’ celebratory hollers were deafening. They began throwing off their seatbelts, but I refused to budge. The pilot turned around and I wanted to hug him, but I restrained myself. Instead I looked out the window at the wilderness wondering if I’d survive.
“I’ll be around to open the door, and the CLs should be here to greet you any minute. It’s best if you don’t wander off,” the pilot instructed.
“CLs?” I asked, turning my attention back to him.
“Camp Leaders,” he responded, his eyes connecting with mine. He opened his door and got out of the plane.
“Newbie. We’ve got a newbie on our hands,” the guy sitting directly behind me shouted, kicking my seat. What was he, twelve?
“I wonder if that makes her a newbie in all areas? I can’t wait to find out,” he continued.
That was it! My seatbelt came flying off, and I leaned over the back of my seat, grabbing the guy’s shirt, surprising him and myself. I was gripping the fabric so tightly I raised him slightly off his seat. He looked to be a year or so younger than me with blond hair that was greased back. His clothing was ten times too big for him, but he was still bigger than me.
“If you even look in my direction while we’re at this camp—” I began, but the pilot opened the side door interrupting me. I pushed him back on the seat and turned back around in mine.
“Jeez, chill out,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Still gonna get some, Luke?” I heard someone whisper.
Everyone on this plane was so sleazy, except for the poor pilot. I didn’t even want to imagine what everyone else at the camp would be like.
I was the last to jump out of the plane, as I looked around the land void of civilization. I couldn’t believe my mom fell for allowing my stepdad to send me here.
“Emma Walton?” A girl asked.
I turned around and relief spread through me instantly. The girl looked to be a couple years older than me, so probably twentyish. And she looked normal. Her dark brown hair was bundled into a loose ponytail, and she was dressed in green cargo pants, a black T-shirt and rubber boots. Her smile was friendly, and I knew I’d be sticking around her as much as possible.
“I’m Steph,” she said, smiling as she stuck her hand out for a handshake, “one of the CLs here.”
Wow! That’s formal. I shook her hand quickly.
“Nice to meet you.” I grabbed my duffle bag and backpack
“Got everything?” she asked.
I nodded, and she waved at the pilot who was already preparing the plane for takeoff. “See ya in a week,” she yelled at him.
A week! I’ll be eighteen in a week, and then I can get out of here.
“We’re in bear country out here,” she began as our group followed her and the other CLs through the tall grass.
“I saw one on the way in.” I adjusted the large strap on my shoulder, hoping we wouldn’t be hiking all that far.
“It’s all part of being in the backcountry,” she replied. “We’ll go over everything when we get to camp, but it’s nothing to mess with. A ranger went missing a week ago on Baranof Island, and they just found his remains.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“And Baranof Island doesn’t have nearly as many brown bears as we have,” another CL replied from behind.
Not what I wanted to hear!
Shattered Souls Page 25