In the River the main characters are Brian Robeson and Derek Holtzer. In the beginning two years ago Brian Robeson survived 56 days in the forest with a hatchet, and now Derek Holtzer who works for the government asked Brian to teach him so he could teach the military at survival school. Brian took a long time to decide and finally said yes, so they went to the forest where he was lost but had everything they would need to live like food, matches, and flashlights etc.

But Brian said they couldnt keep it they only could keep the radio and two knifes. Everything was going fine until a storm, then lightning hit there radio and then it hit Derek and he went into a coma. Brian had to decide to wait a week for help because thats how long it would take or he would have to go...