Red Sandstorms Chapter 8

            Max closed the drawer with her stuff in it and climbed on the bed. She flopped on her back, a stuffed animal in her hand. I followed suit, staring at our new ceiling. Mr. Leland managed to pull some strings for me and Max to have a small dorm.

            “So? What do ya think?” I looked at my little sister. Her eyes glanced around the room before a sigh escaped her lips.

Red Sandstorms Chapter 7

            Max staggered back from blocking a strike from the livid man’s gun. There was really very little area for her to move. Any more towards the windows and she could get taken out by a sniper; any deeper into the building and there was no hope on getting out unless one of them lost their life. Seizing his gun, they wrestled about for a few moments until at last he kicked her back into a wall.

            His lips moved quickly, his mouth widening—indicating his shouts—with spit flying everywhere. My eyes watched Max’s reactions to his shouts. Already she seemed tenser than when he first pointed the gun at her. Her hands were held up towards him, trying to explain and do whatever she could to get him to see her reasoning.

Red Sandstorms Chapter 6

             I sighed, stuffing things in my bag. Max came in and flopped on my bed, staring at me. Smiling, I zipped up my bag and fixed my jacket.

            “Are you ready to go?” She stared up at me for a few moments and then got up, skipping to her things.  “Good, Mr. Leland will be here soon. Want me make sure you have everything?”

            “Yeah, here,” she said, bringing me the suitcase. Pulling it open, I blinked at the items: stuffed animals, coloring books and crayons.

Red Sandstorms Chapter 5

            Max moved about the sands, searching, listening. If there was any voice, she’d go to it. Spying over the dune, she seemed to hear something—a voice in the wind or just some noise—I’m not sure. Her sand camouflage uniform helped her keep hidden, but at times was more of a hindrance in this heat. Just as she gazed over a bank, I watched her travel in a definite direction. Almost in a panic she slid over the top mound and down. My eyes followed for a few moments before soon I was darting among the debris right with her.

Red Sandstorms Chapter 4

 Author Note: A surprisingly short chapter - which is actually very rare when I write. But in honor of International Pi day, I figured I would post a chapter, even though I'm doing terribly at sticking to my usual schedule. Enjoy! 

Red Sandstorms Chapter 3

            Some noise caught Max’s attention, causing her to look around towards the roof tops. She must have shouted over whatever it was, as suddenly many of the soldiers fled for cover. Shouldering her bag and she towed the injured man. I watched as a mortar landed farther down the road. Its explosion shook the ground as fire erupted in the ruin of the building nearby. The group moved quickly to their vehicles, frantic to get out of the enemy’s range. The flames grew as the wind picked up, sending smoke and sand through the city.

Red Sandstorms Chapter 2

            I was not surprised to hear her footsteps behind me. We were ascending the stairs towards our rooms, the noise of our parent’s party getting underway as the guests already began to arrive… four hours early. More booze for them I suppose. By my mother’s request we were to remain upstairs. Dinner would hopefully make its way up to us, but I wasn’t completely sure she knew exactly what the meal would contain.
            “We can play with your superheroes,” she said, racing ahead of me to my door. Stopping in the opening, my sister looked at me, a grin on her face. This little game of ours continued each night until she finally dozed off and I began my homework. The noise of the party drifted up to us; sometimes I’d hear someone stumble and knock against the wall as they made their way to the bathroom. More than likely to throw up the large amounts of liquor they consumed.