Zandria rushed into the living room at the commotion of screams.
“What…what’s going on?!?” She asked as she neared the two crying girls. Jayde looked up at her, she was unable to speak and just nodded toward the tv. Zandria, usually very laid back and a follower, stood up took control.
“Ok…us sitting here crying is not gonna help anything. We have to find out anything we can, maybe, please god, they’re ok.” She squatted in front of Jayde. “Jay…take your cell phone and starting calling Joel and Billy’s phones. Do not stop until you reach someone. I’m gonna start calling Paul and Benji’s phones. Ry…” she turned her body to face Rylann. “You stay here and watch the tv for any, ANY, update or information about where family’s of people on the flight can call. Ok?” Both Rylann and Jayde nodded as Jayde ran to get her cell phone. For the next two hours, the three girls continued to wait for some sort of update.
“Jay, Zan…I need to go make a call, lemme know if anything changes.” Rylann excused herself and walked toward her bedroom. She picked up the cordless telephone, and began the dial the number she hadn’t dialed in so long. She knew she had to make this call, with everything going on and Jayde’s word echoing in her head, “you never know when the moment could pass you.”
“Hello?”
“Hello…Ash? It’s Ry…” Rylann said softly.
“Ry, wow…it’s been so long, how are you?” Rylann informed her younger sister of everything that had been happening with her since they last talked, two years earlier. After nearly a half hour catching up, Rylann ended the phone call with a weight lifted from her shoulders. She sat on her bed, pondering everything for a moment, when the telephone ringing startled her.
“Hello, Hello?” She answered frantically, hoping it was one of the guys.
“Hello, Rylann…it’s Sarah, Benji’s sister…”
“Hi Sarah, I guess you’ve…” Rylann began before Sarah cut in.
“Yes, we heard…look we just got a call, it was from Joel’s cell phone… we didn’t get to talk to him because the signal broke, but the number came up on the caller id. We just thought you should know, at least someone is ok, hopefully.” Sarah finished, choking back her tears.
“Thank you so much, Sarah. We promise to let you know if we hear anything more.” Rylann went out and shared the news with Jayde and Zandria. Both were ecstatic, but didn’t take a second to stop their crusade. After another hour without information, things started to look up a bit.
“Jay, Zan…look!!” Rylann ran toward the television set and watched intensely.
“What is it Ry?” Jayde searched the screen to see what she could possibly be talking about.
“Look, there, in the background…that’s Paul!!” Rylann said pointing to a figure who was hopelessly looking around.
“Paul…oh god, he looks so scared, but he looks unharmed, thank you god” Zandria whispered toward the ceiling, “ANSWER YOUR GOD DAMN PHONE, BABE!!” she suddenly screamed at the television. More good news was to follow. Shortly after sighting Paul, Rylann saw a number flash across the screen for families to call. She quickly jotted the digits down on her hand and headed to the nearest telephone. It had now been almost 6 hours since the initial crash.
“Listen Girls, I called the number…apparently all survivors have cleared the site and were escorted to a nearby Hilton. I got the number, who wants to call?” Rylann asked, her trembling hand extending the paper toward her friends. Jayde and Zandria both exchanged looks at one another before turning back to Rylann.
“All right, I guess I’ll call…”Rylann concluded from their looks. Rylann walked toward the kitchen telephone, and began to dial the number. Her stomach was doing flips as the phone continued to ring without answer.
“Hello.” Rylann’s heart stopped as she opened her mouth to speak.
“Thank you for calling the Los Angeles Hilton, all of our associates as busy at this time. If you are calling in reference to Flight 311 survivors, please press 1 and your call will be transferred immediately.” Rylann’s finger slowly rose toward the phone pad on the wall. She rested her finger lightly on the number, before pressing it in.
“Hello, Flight 311 Emergency Family Information hotline. Could you please give us the last name of the passenger you are calling in reference to?” A horse, male voice asked.
“Ye…Yes. I am actually calling in reference to four passengers, by the names of Thomas, Martin, and 2 under the name Madden…”Rylann’s voice shook with each word.
“Thank-you…please hold while I check the listings…” Rylann’s heart was pounding inside her chest. Her hand fell limp and the phone slowly slipped down to her side. Her eyes were glazed over as she stared blankly at the wall before her. He thoughts raced; she felt guilty for thinking mainly of Benji, but she couldn’t live with herself thinking he could die not knowing that she still, and always, loved him. Rylann slowly came back to reality, to the muffled sound of ‘hello’s’ coming from the lingering phone. She quickly brought the phone back to her ear.
“Yes, hello…I’m here…”Rylann answered.
“Maim, I’m sorry…none of those names have registered to our lists. There is…” that was all Rylann needed to hear, she slammed the phone against the wall, causing Jayde and Zandria to re-direct their attention from their continuing phone calls to Rylann. Jayde quickly walked to Rylann and engulfed her in a tight, comforting hug.
“It’s ok Ry…they’re alive and fine, I know it, I can feel it.” Jayde whispered to a sobbing Rylann.
“God, Jay…I just…feel so guilty. I selfishly left Benji, left him thinking I don’t love him. Jay, I love him…I love him so much. I don’t know what I will do if something happens to him…to them…”Rylann continued to bawl into Jayde’s shoulder as she shuttered and sank to the floor.
“I know you do sweetie, and he knows it too.” A soft knock ceased the silence that had flooded the room. Zandria slowly turned her attention away for Rylann and Jayde and walked towards the door. She continued to hit re-dial on her cell phone as she turned the knob of the door. As she opened the door wider, she turned her attention from her cell phone to the doorway. A soft gasp escaped her mouth, preceded by a thud from the phone dropping from her hand……