THREE
THE HELICOPTER LANDED NOSE down and tilted onto its side. My head cracked against Daniel's and I must have lost consciousness for a moment, because next thing I knew, water was flooding in.
The helicopter creaked as it teetered, and I knew we must be perched on an underwater ledge ... over what could be a very deep body of water.
I twisted to tell Daniel, but he was already pushing me toward the other side, saying, "I know." Then, "Everyone! Get over there!"
I glanced back to see Nicole and Sam sitting there, just staring. Corey bent over Hayley, then picked her up. She lay like a rag doll in his arms.
"She's okay," he said. "Just unconscious."
"Dad!" Nicole shrieked.
I turned toward the front seat. The pilot was dead. He'd gone out the windshield, and was now draped over the crumpled front of the helicopter. Tendrils of blood snaked through the water all around him.
Mayor Tillson still wore his seat belt, but he was wedged in, the crushed dashboard pinning his big chest. Blood dribbled from his mouth.
I pressed my fingers to his neck. No pulse.
"He's--" I began.
"No, he's not!" Nicole shoved me so hard the helicopter rocked.
"Let's get him out of there." Daniel looked for Corey, who was still holding Hayley. "Sam? Give me a hand? Nic and Maya, stay over by the door with Kenjii and keep that side weighed down."
Sam and Daniel grabbed the mayor under his armpits and pulled, but he wasn't budging, and with every wrench, the helicopter rocked. Daniel bent to peer under the crushed cockpit, and Sam checked her uncle for a pulse. When Daniel came back up, shaking his head, she shook hers, too, biting her lip and blinking hard.
Daniel turned to Nicole. "He's gone, Nic. There's nothing--"
"No, he's not!" she shouted. "You're only saying that because Maya did. You always listen to her."
Everyone stopped and stared. Sweet, quiet Nicole stood there, her face twisted with rage, hair coming loose from her ponytail, spiking around her face, her mascara running.
I moved up to Daniel and Sam and whispered, "She's in shock. Let me see if I can get his legs free."
"There's no use," Sam said. "He's--"
My look shushed her. I squeezed in as far as I could to get a better look, but the slightest movement made the helicopter rock.
"You need to get off," Daniel said as he crouched beside me.
"Of course she does," Nicole said. "You're always worried about Maya. Why? She doesn't deserve--"
Sam spun on her. "Shut the hell up!"
Daniel and I stared at both of them. It was Corey who murmured, "Nic didn't mean it, guys. She just lost her dad."
"And I just lost my uncle," Sam said.
"Take Nicole out," Daniel said. "Please. Before--"
The helicopter groaned again and began to tilt.
"Off!" Daniel shouted. "Everyone off!"
He grabbed the door handle. Sam and I helped, all three of us yanking until it finally opened. Water poured in, but it only came up to midcalf. Land was a few meters away.
Corey went first, carrying Hayley. Sam, Nicole, and I followed. The helicopter jerked. I lost my footing and plunged backward into the icy water that filled the cockpit. Daniel grabbed my arm and Kenjii swam to me, taking my shirt in her teeth and hauling me until Sam could pull me out, Daniel right behind us.