Imagine being part of the newest, hottest singing group since the New Kids on the Block. Imagine traveling all over the world, and being loved by thousands of screaming girls. Now imagine the heartbreak of having all of that taken away within a matter of minutes, when one of your bandmates is fighting for his life. That's how the Backstreet Boys, A.J.McLean, Nick Carter, Brian Littrell,and Howie Dorough felt when they learned that their friend and eldest Backstreet Boy,Kevin Richardson, was dying.
This news came when the boys took a rented yacht out on the water for the day, while on vacation back home in Orlando. Unaware of the terrible storm they were riding into, the boys stopped briefly on an island to swim and bask in the sun. Littrell says he noticed the dark clouds first. "I told the others guys that maybe it was time to head back. Me being the big joker of the group, they just kinda laughed it off," Littrell said.His friends agreed,as Howie D. tells reporters,"We were having a good time,and figured that a few more minutes wouldn't hurt."Carter himself states that he thought they had plenty of time for some relaxation."I know how to drive the boat, so I figured we could hang out for a little while longer,and then beat the storm back."None of the boys were prepared for what happened.
The storm struck as the boys were leaving the island, with heavy bouts of wind and rain. Carter says that it made it very difficult to steer the boat because he couldn't focus in the heavy rain,with the wind pushing them further from their destination.About ten minutes into the ride, Carter says the boat lurched violently to the left. Dorough and Richardson had both been standing up near the front,trying to help Carter direct the boat. They were both thrown overboard.
Dorough was the only person to account for what happened in the hours after the storm, when he and Richardson were trapped on an island."We were really dehydrated,and it was causing both of us to get sick. Kevin had a really bad headache, and he was looking for something to drink, or eat that would maybe keep us from getting too sick. So he found these berries- and I didn't like the way they looked.There was a small brook, and he got some water from it. I don't know what happened,but he just got worse," Dorough says.
Richardson had digested nearly what would be 1/2 a cup of Falmencia Berries, know to be highly potent.Within minutes, the victim will go from feeling perfectly fine to breaking out in sweat, getting cold chills, bloodshot eyes, and a constant abdominal pain. The only cure is to send medicine straight to the heart with surgery,and it must reach the hurt before the poison does. The poison can kill within 24 hours, and the person will feel no pain in the last few hours of life.
It has been nearly 14 hours since Richardson and his friend were discovered on the island. They had been trapped for nearly 6 hours alone. Doctors fought to revive an unconscious Richardson, who was unresponsive to treatment.Since he was hospitalized in the early hours of this morning, his family and friends have kept vigil at his bedside. His friends said a prayer for him at a special service last night,held in Weeks Chapel. Now all the world can do is wait as this young man makes a fight for his life.

A belated thanks to Megan Cox for this story idea!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

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