Lost in the Wind

Chapter 6

The runway glistens wet in the darkness. I'm sitting right next to the wing with my nose pressed up against the cold window. "We're almost starting!" I say excitedly to Keira, as an intermission comes from the captain and the seatbelt sign flashes on. I look over to Keira, who is looking a bit pale. She's gripping the armrests so tightly that her knuckles are white. "Hey. It's going to be fine. I've experienced this loads of times." I take her hand. She holds onto it tightly and manages to nod. Then the plane begins to move forwards. She gasps and holds my hand even tighter. I bet I'm going to have a couple of bruises on my hand. Then the plane gets faster and faster until it finally takes off the ground. After a few minutes we're level and the seatbelt sign goes out. Keira looks at me and asks:" That was it?" I have to laugh at her bewildered expression. "Yes, that was it! We're on our way to Australia,baby!" I grin at her totally hyper and happy and she laughs too. I can't wait for us to get there!

Wow. So THIS is the real Australia. I wipe the sweat off my forehead and try to concentrate in what the guide is saying. "Sandstorms can come up very quickly around here so please always stay with the group. Also..." Blablabla. Who cares. I thought Australia would be exciting. So far we're carrying most of our stuff on our backs, which is around 20 kilos, through a scorching hot, red, dried up nowhere. There are dips and hills but practically no trees except a few that look like they survived an atomic bomb. As far as it goes with Noah and Chase, I've taken Keira's advice seriously and stayed away from them. There was no time for meeting before the trip anyway so the relationship status between me and Chase is complicated. But whatever. I get out my Water bottle and drink a sip. Even though I could drink the whole thing in one gulp I put it back in my backpack. I only have a specific amount of water for these three days and I might need it more urgently later on. "Alright mates! We're taking a break. But don't..." I'm already not listening anymore. Keira and I drag ourselves to a large rock and plump down on it, utterly exhausted. I let my backpack fall to the ground and stretch my back with a loud groan. "Freedom!" Keira looks to tired to say anything she just grimaces while massaging her shoulders. At this moment, Jasmin pops up in front of us with her fraternal twin, Lindsay and Lindsay's best friend, Enna Whittemore. Lindsay and Enna are giggling and taking pictures and selfies and dragging Jasmin into a few of them. She looks pretty desperate as she quickly comes toward us. "You wanna come on a walk with me and the girls?" She asks. Then she adds whispering so they won't hear: "I don't want to go on my own. If they pull me in one mor selfie or ask me to pose with a cactus I'll die." She says with comical drama. I sigh. "Fine. We'll come." Keira and I slowly stand up and grab our backpacks. As we start walking away from the group, Noah comes up. "I'm coming with you.",he says, slinging his arm over Jasmins shoulders. "Sure, babe." Jasmin agrees and smiles slightly. Great. He just HAS to come along doesn't he? We haven't talked since our argument and I honestly don't feel like being anywhere near him. I start walking ahead with Keira as I hear another voice. "I'm coming, too." I turn around to see Chase coming up. "Fine. Then let's go before everybody wants to come along." I say annoyed. Chase looks at me surprised but I turn around and start marching ahead. "Ooohh!! Rose, stay exactly like that. Keira, walk a bit more to the front! That's it. OMG you guys are sooooo fotogenic!" Lindsay and Enna gush like that most of the way. Could they just shut up for a minute?! They're soo annoying!
We walk farther and farther into the bush but I don't stop. The physical challenge helps me forget about my feelings towards the people behind me. Finally we stop on a small hill. "Guys, I think we should go back." I say after we sat down for a while. "Naah. There's still plenty of time." Chase says. "Let's all take a nap. I'm bone tired." And with that he pulls me to him and lays down on his backpack. My head lands on his chest. I struggle a bit but he holds me tightly. "Rest. You look exhausted." I see everyone already half sleeping. Keira laying in a heap with Enna and Lindsay and Jasmin cuddled in Noahs arms. I feel him looking at me darkly and that makes me stop struggling."Fine." I smile at Chase and look at Noah defiantly. I cuddle up listening to Chase's heartbeat and slowly fall asleep.

I wake up with a start. Something feels wrong. The sun is much lower on the sky and I see a dark cloudy wall of Sand rolling towards us. I panically look over my sleeping comerades and my gaze lands on Noah. He's from here. Surely he knows what to do! I hurry over to him and wake him up. "Noah! " "Hmm?" His eyes slowly open and he looks at me sleepily. "What's wrong Rose?"he says in an annoyed tone. "That." I point at the billowy wall that is already much closer. His eyes widen as he sees it. He immediately jumps up. Jasmin lands on the ground and opens her mouth in complaint. "What the heck?!" But Noah doesn't even look at her. "That. Is one of the biggest sandstorms I've ever seen. We're not safe up here. We need to get to that hollow down there! Now!" Everbody wakes up by his shouting and hurries to do as he says. Even Enna and Lindsay are serious. We grab our backpacks and start running. Then I feel the emptiness around my neck. Dad's necklace! It must be there! I can't leave it behind! I turn around and run back up the hill, towards the storm. I reach the place were I slept and sift through the sand as my fingers close around something small and hard. Found it! I start going back but before I even reach the slope the storm hits me. I try keeping my direction, but I have no Idea where I'm going. I'm lost! Lost in the Wind!
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Dadadadum....  next Chapter coming right up. Technically the next chapter was still chapter 6 but it would have been way too long so it'll be Chapter 7😂
As always I'm happy about feedback! A few pictures to the story.

Roses necklace