The Other Side

Chapter 9: Mistake

After walking for sometime, I was trying to look at every piece of the world around me. It was very sandy, dead trees, no life. We just kept walking strait and I realized how hot it was. For some reason however my body wasn't hot. I was kept nice and cool.
"The suit that we're wearing," my dad said to me. "Helps control our body temperature. When it's hot, it turns cold. When it's cold, it turns hot."
After a few hours, the sun shined above our heads. I watched ahead of me when Mr. Stranza lifted his hand in the air. He said something but I couldn't hear what he said. I started to see the other men start to sit down and take off their bags that was on their backs. Then they pulled out their lunch.
I sat next to my dad and we both ate.
"What other dangerous things are out here? Besides the weather?" I asked my dad.
After waiting for him to swallow his sand which he said, "There are things, like animals and even people, who have either gone crazy or harmful, which means they will attack anything that moves." He took a sip of water. "That's why we have weapons on us because we don't know what to expect.
We ate lunch in silence after that discussion. I wasn't really that hungry so I put my other half of my sandwich back in my bag.
My dad finished his though, and it seemed like he enjoyed it.
When the rest of the troops were finished with their lunch, we packed up again and started to move forward.
It seemed like we were in the middle of no where.
How can this be so dangerous? There's not even a sign of life? I thought. It was just sand and rocks all around for miles and miles. I will see and dead bush here and there but that's it.
A few more hours went by and still nothing happened. It was starting to get a little boring. I kept wishing for something to come out and one of the troopers had to take action. Nothing came though.
I looked over to my dad and he was looking around him. Then I looked at the troops. They all kept their eyes open for any danger. I just sighed and kept on walking. My feet were starting to get a little sore and they ached with every step I took.
I could feel the heat on my face but my body stayed cool. I thought this was the coolest invention that was made so far, clothing wise. When I looked to see where the sun was it seemed like it was almost dusk.
Time goes by fast here, or it's just that I'm not paying attention. I saw Mr. Stranza's arm go up again. When the troops stopped, I walked quietly to the front to hear what he had to say.
"It is time to turn back. We will be home around 11 tonight." He finished and everyone turned around and started walking.
You've got to be kidding me.
Just then however, I felt a small gust of wind go through my helmet and I saw some of the sand moved beside me.
Another gust of wind came and moved some more sand. Another gust came and another, harder every time they came.
But there was one gust of wind that stayed and did not pass. It got stronger and stronger by the minutes, lifting the sand around everyone. The troops started to slow down and form into a pattern I couldn't make out. Then I saw my dad running to me and he grabbed my hand and we started jogging. I saw after the troops made their pattern, they started jogging too.
"Sand storm!" My dad tried calling to me.
The wind got so strong I couldn't see anything in front of me but moving sand.
We kept on jogging and it seemed like the storm wasn't going to pass.
When we were jogging, I accidentally tripped over one of the rocks and lost grip of my dads hand. I fell onto the soft sand and looked up. I couldn't see a thing. When I stood up, I turned in a circle to see if I can see anything but I couldn't.
Wait, which way were they walking? I thought, the circling made me confused which way I should go.
I started to panic. I just lost my only protection, in a world that is full of danger.
I started walking in a direction that I thought was right but tripped over another rock. The rock was large, half the size of me.
My foot must've got caught underneath it.
I started to cry. I can feel tears streaming down my face one after another.
Mom is going to freak. Dad is worrying. The community is going to find out I went missing.
I cried and cried, until I grew tired. I let my sleepiness take over my body. The sand storm didn't pass though. I crawled to one side of the rock and put my back to it. I just closed my eyes and tried to relax. Once darkness took over, all I remember is sand still whipping at my face.