Barren Skies

One

Sand whipped through the air stinging me as it bit into my skin, I pulled my headscarf tighter around my exposed skin. I've trudged through this brutal sand storm for two miserable days. I was running out of water and my purification bottle stopped working two hours ago.
I tucked several wisps of hair back under my scarf as the wind picked up even harder. It's devilishly hot out and the perspiration forming on my brow trickled down around the edge of my googles which were the only thing protecting my eyes but it created a constant river of sweat that ran down my cheeks. I wiped away as much as I could with my dirty face covering but I could feel the grit of the sand rubbing on my skin and I knew from experience my face was raw and wind burnt.
The sand came down like little dust devils as they swirled around my legs and out into the endless expanse of dunes. I trudged forward, my head down and quickened my pace as I knew I was getting close to home.
I was making really good time but I stopped to remove my hood, I saw a flash in the distance but the desert can and does play tricks on your mind. The only blessing the sand storm that finally slowed down to a livable level gave me was a reprieve from the blistering sun.
As I stood looking at the endless mounds of sand I froze at the muted sound of another voice. Looking around I spotted a blurry figure where I thought I had spotted a flash of light. The figure was fighting against the wind on a upper ridge, it was an amazing sight as the sand storm moved past them.
It was another Raider and by the look of them and they were just as empty handed as I was, his sled was very flat as it trailed behind him.

"Cyn, is that you?" The static that came crackling in my ear, it was deafening and I cringed from the noise and that voice. I hated that man. I silently swore but made myself sound normal.
"Yes, Ryder. How long were you out?" I said into my mouth piece.

"Three weeks, you?" He replied but the static was so bad it hurt.

"Two." I shouted back not caring if he heard me or not as the crackling became so loud I ripped out my earpiece. "Piece of shit." I tucked the stupid thing under my leather jacket.
I tucked my water straw back in my pack and grabbed the rope that's attached to my sled. I walked the remaining distance frowning every time I saw Ryder getting closer and closer. When I finally made it to the huge metal doors that protected our home I leaned against the rock the doors were embedded in. I removed my breathing mask sucking in some free oxygen. The doors sat twenty feet into a cave system, far enough inside that the sand that constantly swirled in the air couldn't reach, sure minute particles still were in this deep but we could at least breathe freely without suffocating.
I pushed in intercom to be let in and wait for the burst of air that would escape as the doors opened. Nothing happened, I tried again but a woman's voice came over.
"Hey Cyn. I'm just waiting on Ryder he said for you to wait for him so we wouldn't waste clean air."
"Of course he did" I said under my breath.
"Did you say something?"
"Nope."
"He should be here any minute so you shouldn't be waiting long."
"Thanks Beth." I said as I waved at the video camera that was staring down at me.

I hated that I had to wait for him as I now have to decontaminate with him. Ryder interrupted my thoughts by stomping and shaking off the extra sand on his body. He removed his hood and breathing mask and googles. He smiled widely at me as he pulled off his leather gloves, and stuffed them in a inside pocket of his long black leather jacket.

"That was quite the storm, glad I just caught a small corner of it."
"Lucky you." I said as politely as I could muster. I was feeling the stress raising up in me at the thought of decontaminating with him.
"Shit how long were out out in it." He asked with concern in his voice as he walked up to me.

"Two and a half days." I said as I pushed away from the wall and pushed the damn buzzer again. I could feel his eyes on me and my dirty skin tingled. "Fuck I hate him." I thought to myself.