Avalanche

by Brianna Cerkiewicz

  Finally I get down to her boot. Her foot is turned at an odd angle. She may have a broken leg. Cole cannot see this. What job can I give her to do?

  “Go find my other pole. Please? It’s over there somewhere.” I’m pointing away from the dead body. “We can use it as a crutch.”

  She nods and heads off. It doesn’t matter if the pole is found. Just as long as she’s gone.

  “Okay, Alexandria. Let’s get this binding off.” Now I’m holding her under the armpits. “I’m going to try to lift you.”

  Having some help would make this easier. But the image of a freaked-out Cole comes to mind. That would leave me with two helpless people.

  Slowly, I pull Alexandria out. It’s hard not to bump her leg. A look of pain is on her face.

  “I don’t think I can walk. Not even with crutches.”

  “It’s okay. Here comes Cole. She doesn’t have the pole anyway.”

  From far away, she looks okay. But goggles are hiding her eyes. Please. No more drama. As she gets closer, the goggles come off. She’s not looking at us. It could be shock.

  “Couldn’t find it,” she mumbles to me.

  “It’s okay.”

  None of us speaks. The only sound is the wind blowing snow around.

  CHAPTER 13

  Not Cool, Cole

  My watch says it’s almost noon. At four we’re supposed to be on the bus. Until then, nobody will know we’re missing. Finding us will take a long time. This is the last place anyone will look.

  Both Cole and I can walk. One of us has to go get help. A plan plays out in my head. Cole knows the mountain best. She can snowboard down. I’d be walking in ski boots. That would take too long. It makes more sense for her to go.

  But she might panic again and get lost. That’s the last thing we need. Then we may never get rescued. What if she stayed? Something could still go wrong. Another avalanche might hit. But at least she’d be with Alexandria. Why do I care? I’ll be dead if that happens.

  Neither plan is good. But I can’t be in two places at once. “I’m going to get help.”

  Alexandria nods.

  Cole reaches out to grab my jacket. “You’re just going to leave us?”

  “We can’t wait. It could be hours until we’re found. Alexandria needs a doctor.”

  “Can’t I go?” Cole asks. She’s looking over at the dead body. My original idea was right. She’ll totally panic if she goes.

  “No, it’s got to be me. Because . . .” What can I make up that she’ll buy? “Because I know how to find my way. I use the sun and shadows.”

  Cole blinks at me. “You do?”

  Of course not. But this is too good to pass up. “Yeah, my mom taught me. She’s an astronaut.” Mom works at a bank. She’d laugh if she heard this. Suddenly I miss her. I’m glad I said goodbye before the trip. Even though it was by mistake.

  “Okay,” Cole says. She sits down next to Alexandria.

  I wander away to think. Where is that chairlift? It’s hard to know. Any path is gone. The mountain is all rocks and branches.

  A tug at my arm makes me jump. The dead man has come back to life! My heart is beating fast. But it’s just Cole. Must be all those shows about zombies I watch. “What are you doing?” I ask her.

  “Don’t leave us alone with him,” Cole says. “And Alexandria’s leg looks weird. I can’t.”

  “Fine,” I say.

  There’s always so much drama with this girl. So she’s never seen a dead body. I get that. Has she never seen an injury either? Or maybe she’s seen both. Something really bad happened when she was a kid. That’s why she’s so scared. I should give her a break. But it’s so annoying.

  We head back to Alexandria. “Are you okay?” I’m getting tired of asking. Someone needs to ask if I’m okay.

  CHAPTER 14

  Seeking Shelter

  Cole can’t go anywhere alone. Alexandria can’t walk. That leaves me to carry her. It’s possible for a little while. But it won’t be all the way back to the resort.

  This requires extra thought. “Let’s wait,” I finally say. “Help will be coming soon.”

  Alexandria makes a face. Cole kicks a snowball.

  Waiting is a good plan. But only for the first 20 minutes. Then the wind starts to pick up. Dark clouds fill the sky.

  A snowflake lands on my goggles. Then hundreds are falling. Pretty soon, I’m shivering. Please, no. Don’t let me get buried again. “We’ve got to do something,” I say.

  “We could build an igloo,” Alexandria says.

  It’s not a bad idea. Though I think she means a snow cave. My coach used to tell us stories. They were about his skiing adventures. In one story, there was a blizzard. He made a snow cave. It kept him alive till help came.

  “I’m going to look around,” I say.

  What I’m looking for is not clear. Maybe a snowbank. That might work. I could build a small cave. Off to one side is a big drift of snow. It’s worth checking out. But the snow is too soft. It doesn’t pack down. This won’t work. Besides, it would take too long to build a cave. The storm could pick up anytime.

  A few trees are nearby. This gives me an idea. Evergreens have large bottom branches. There could be pockets of space underneath. We can dig in and make a shelter. It’s the best option with such little time. But we need to do it now.

  When I get back, Cole and Alexandria are asleep. This is not good. “Hey, guys.”

  Cole jumps. “What? Where am I?”

  “It’s okay. It’s just me.”

  It takes Alexandria a little longer to wake up. At first I wonder if she’s alive. Before I can go over and shake her, her eyes open.

  “Here’s the plan,” I tell them. “See the trees down there?” They look where I’m pointing and nod. “That’s where we’re going. You’ll have to move, Alexandria. Cole will help you onto my back.”

  Alexandria bites her lip and nods. Cole and I lift her to her good foot. Then Cole helps her onto my back. With her arms around my neck, I stand up. It’s surprising how light she feels. Or it’s possible that I’m that strong. It was all those drills in ski practice. We’d walk uphill with a partner on our back. At the time, it felt like torture. My legs hurt for days. But it prepared me for this.

  The wind is stronger now, so it’s hard to stay steady. Cole puts her hand on Alexandria’s back. This keeps me balanced. Slowly we get to the trees.

  “Okay, Alexandria. I’m going to set you down. You can lean against this tree.” Cole and I get her to the ground. “Now we’re going to dig a pit.” I’m looking at Cole as I say this. She nods. So far, she’s been able to focus. Let’s hope it lasts.

  CHAPTER 15

  Snowboard Marks the Spot

  Tree pits are actually a hazard. Skiers don’t know they’re there. They can fall in headfirst, and then they’re trapped. Our pit will be different. It’s going to save us. It has to.

  “We’re going to burrow,” I tell Cole. “But we have to work slowly. Or else the snow will fall in on us.”

  I ease myself down through the snow. When my feet hit the bottom, I’m able to stand. Space will be tight for three. But we’ll be safe.

  “Okay, Cole,” I call up.

  She slides down into the pit. There is room for the two of us.

  “Clear more space,” I tell her. “And start packing the walls. I’ll be right back.”

  When I climb out, Alexandria looks hopeful.

  “Is it ready?” she asks through chattering teeth.

  The poor girl is freezing. “Almost. You’ll be able to warm up soon.” I’m not 100 percent sure this is true. There’s no telling until we’re down there. But a little hope can go a long way. “Let me get some branches, and we’ll get you moved.”

  The branches I grab are for the floor of the pit. “Here, Cole,” I call as I drop them down to her. “Cover the floor with these.”

  “Got them!”

  “Okay, Alexandria. Here we go.” We slowly move to the edge of the pit
. Her legs are over the side. “I’m going in now. Cole and I will be there to help you down. Okay?”

  She nods.

  “Okay,” I call once inside.

  I’ve got hold of her good leg. Cole has her around the waist. Together, we get Alexandria into the pit. She’s gasping for breath.

  “Are you okay?” I ask.

  Before she can answer, I’m on the way out.

  “You’re leaving?” Cole yells.

  “Only for a second. Don’t worry.”

  We need markers for when they find us. A piece of our gear would work. The wind is blowing snow all around. Soon it’ll be a whiteout. Where is our stuff? There! It’s Cole’s snowboard.

  Back at the pit, it makes the perfect marker. Someone is sure to see it sticking out of the snow. Before going down, I grab some branches. These will be our roof.

  Inside there’s no wind. The branches above us keep the snow out. It’s not exactly warm. But it’s not freezing either. There’s just enough room to walk around. This helps us warm up. We’re going to make it.

  “Is everyone okay?” I ask.

  Alexandria nods.

  “Sure,” says Cole.

  Now we wait for what is coming next.

  CHAPTER 16

  With Friends like These

  Waiting is boring. Ten minutes feels like an hour. Alexandria spends the time staring at her leg. Cole looks at anything but the leg. I feel like I will go insane.

  “Let’s do something,” I say. “Talk or play a game.”

  Cole wrinkles her nose. “A game? That’s for babies.”

  Oh, shut up! I’m about to lose it. What she thinks is not important right now. It’s her fault we’re in this mess. If a game will make me feel better? Then we’ll play a game.

  “Let’s just talk,” Alexandria says. “A game is too much work.”

  Her face is so pale.

  “Okay,” I say. “Let’s talk. Cole, you start.”

  Cole frowns. She’s been taking orders from me for a while. It must be getting to her. But then she starts talking. It’s all about Mr. Lee. What is this obsession? Just let it go. Alexandria must be reading my mind. She changes the subject.

  “Why did you move here, Dray?”

  The question catches me off guard. “Oh. Well, my mom got a new job.” They don’t need to know the part about Dad leaving.

  “Do you miss Montana?”

  “Yeah.”

  Whose bright idea was it to talk? Staring into space would have been better. It’s the thought of home and everything I miss. Especially my best friend. She is the total opposite of Cole.

  Jamie cares about other people. And she’s positive. That’s what she’d tell me to do. Think positive. Not just about the storm. About the move to a new city. It’s hard. But she wouldn’t waste time feeling bad. She’d be out making new friends. Not just waiting for people to talk to her.

  A tear slides down my cheek. I wipe it away before it freezes. Then a light goes off in my head. When I get back, I’m going to try harder. Someone will want to be my friend.

  There’s a girl in English who seems shy. And there’s the guy from the bus. He has a great smile. I’d like to know more about him.

  Cole and Alexandria are okay to hang out with. But friendship shouldn’t be this hard.

  CHAPTER 17

  Two Questions

  Wind whistles through the pit. Bits of snow fall through the branches. We’re all shivering. Cole and I start to run in place. Our bodies give off some heat.

  The storm sounds powerful. If it’s bad enough, the resort might close. That means we could be found sooner.

  “Let’s play a game,” Cole says.

  But I thought games were for babies. She must be out of it.

  A game of I spy doesn’t last long. There isn’t much to see. So we try 20 questions. Cole starts.

  “Person, place, or thing,” I ask.

  “Person.”

  “Is it a man?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  “Is it Mr. Lee?” Alexandria asks.

  Cole looks surprised. “How did you know?”

  So much for that game. It’s hard to hear over the wind anyway. We agree to wait in silence.

  Three hours go by. The wind finally dies down. I lift the branches and look out. A huge snow drift is piled up. All but the tip of Cole’s board is buried.

  A fresh layer of snow covers the mountain. It looks like it did when we got here. That was before I carved my first tracks. Things can change so fast.

  Wait. What’s that moving? There are people on the hill! They have to see us. It will be dark soon.

  “Hey!” I shout, waving my arms. They don’t seem to hear or see me. “Cole! Get up here! Now!”

  “Okay. I’m coming.”

  We both wave and yell for help. Finally they wave back. They’re both wearing red jackets. Ski patrol! They have a rescue sled with them. Cole and I watch as they ski down the hill.

  “They’ve found us,” I call to Alexandria. “We’re getting rescued!”

  “My leg really hurts,” she says.

  “Just a few more minutes. Can you hold on?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  A patroller calls out our names.

  “Yes! That’s us!” I say. “Alexandria is down here in this pit. Her leg is broken.”

  “How about you two? Are you hurt?”

  “No,” I say. “Oh! But we did see a body.”

  “Whoa. Okay,” he says. “Do you think you can show us where?”

  “Sure.”

  Now he’s talking into his radio. Something about stretchers and a body and backup. His partner waits until he’s done. Then they go to help Alexandria. Soon they lift her out and put her on the sled.

  Within minutes, engines are revving. Three snowmobiles arrive. One of them is towing a sled.

  The patrollers are speaking to one of the drivers. He comes over and asks me about the body. I describe where I think he is. We also talk a little about what happened. He wants to know how we managed to stay safe.

  The patrollers leave with Alexandria.

  Cole is on one of the snowmobiles.

  “I am not helping find that body,” she says.

  Nobody asked you too, I think.

  The other driver tells me to get on. I’m not in charge anymore. That is fine with me.

  CHAPTER 18

  Help!

  The snowmobile powers over rough snow and debris. We pass the chairlift where this all started. It’s scary to think how far we got. I never could have made it back alone.

  It hits me how lucky we all are. How many people survive an avalanche and a blizzard? It makes me sad for the man who died. That could have been me. Now I’m wondering about him. How sad his family will be.

  The driver stops at a first-aid station. Mr. Lee is waiting. It’s hard to read his face. Is it a look of worry or anger? Nobody has lectured me so far. Maybe that comes later. After they know you’re okay.

  Inside I see Cole. Alexandria is there too. She’s lying on her back. Her leg is strapped to a splint.

  “It’s broken,” she says.

  A nurse examines me. She asks if I’m okay. Finally someone cares.

  The good news is that we’re all alive. There’s no need for me to worry anymore.

  Just as I’m feeling warm and sleepy, Mr. Lee comes in. “I’m glad you’re all safe,” he says.

  Is this when he lectures us?

  “For now, we’re all going home,” he says. “We’ll talk about consequences later.”

  Ah, I think.

  “Your parents have been called,” he adds. “They’re here to pick you up.”

  Mom is quiet on the ride home. Is she going to lecture me? Will I be grounded? I’d feel better if she yelled. Or said anything. This doesn’t feel normal.

  When we get home, she wants me to rest. “No TV and no computer.”

  “Just one quick email to Coach. To thank him for what he taught me.”

 
“That’s fine,” she says.

  On my way up the stairs, she stops me.

  “Oh, and, Andrea?”

  At last. Here it comes. “Yes, Mom?”

  “You had me very worried. I’d be angry if I weren’t so relieved. I’m also proud of you. The way you took charge. You saved those girls’ lives.”

  Wow! Was not expecting that. “Thanks, Mom.”

  After the email to Coach, I start to text Jamie. She won’t believe what happened. Pretty soon, my eyes start to close. All I want is to get under the covers and sleep. This is the first time I’ve felt at home here.

  The next day, I wake up sore. Every part of me hurts. It takes a lot to stay alive. Thank goodness it’s only Sunday. I’m not ready for the drama at school.

  CHAPTER 19

  Good News, Bad News

  It’s the beginning of the week. I’m feeling much better. That doesn’t mean I’m in the mood for school.

  Today I’m not thinking about fitting in. Who cares what anyone thinks? That includes Cole. She’ll hate this sweater I’m wearing. Too bad.

  At school, she’s waiting for me. Alexandria won’t be coming. Her mom told Cole that she’s still in a lot of pain. I don’t say much on the way to PE.

  Mr. Lee is waiting when we get there. A sub is leading the class. He tells us we have a meeting. This is not going to be fun.

  We follow him to the office. He and the principal speak to Cole first. After a few minutes, she comes out. Then it’s my turn.

  “I hear you saved the day,” the principal says.

  What? No lecture?

  “I helped,” I say. “But the ski patrol saved us.”

  “Cole told us about going out-of-bounds.”

  “I can explain.”

  “She said it was her idea,” he says.

  This is a surprise. It would be like her to blame me. Maybe I’m not in that much trouble.

  The principal goes on. “I’ve also spoken to Alexandria. She said you saved her life. You deserve a lot of credit.” He and Mr. Lee look at each other. “However,” he says. “It never should have happened. As we told Cole. Students are expected to follow rules. It’s the same for off-campus activities. What you did violated the rules. Even if it wasn’t your idea. You put the school in an impossible position. What if you had been injured? Or worse?”