Gas Tank

Chapter 1 - Oxygen

Oxygen. A main element. Being one of the most important elements on planet earth. Giving everything life. Except for me at least.

I got out of bed and picked up my mask for the day. Walking into the other room, the smell of the flowers and plants came into my mask. I held my breath, and took of the caps of the mask filter. I have found a way to put flowers in the filter, so that I am breathing the correct gas. So I put in a flower, I decided to call it a Kemuri, and covered them again.

It was an interesting smell. But beautiful. I moved into the other room and got ready to open my gardening shop. As people pass by, they gave me strange looks, which was pretty normal because nobody else wears masks around here. "Nobuyuki!"

I heard someone call. It was Konda. This nice lady has been coming to my shop everyday since she saw it. "Hi Ms.Konda!"

She didn't even question why I was wearing this mask. She just treated me kindly. I handed her a berry. "Want to try this new berry I grew? You don't need to pay."

"Oh sure!" She popped the berry in her mouth. Her face squished in disgust, but then lit up in delight.

"This is delicious! I simply must pay."

"No you don't need to ma'am-"

"Don't give me that tone young man. I'm paying for a basket of these." I sighed.

"Thank you." I took the money and slipped it into a jar. Business could be going a little better, but it's just enough to pay for the apartment. Konda Chou walked off with the basket and said to have a good day. What a nice old lady.

I started to develop a passion for gardening, these plants were beautiful to work with and arrange. Down the aisle of shops I spotted someone releasing some sort of gas, no it was smoke. Thick and black, hard to see and walk through. I could see the wind currents get closer and closer to my stand. Which would blow the smoke to the flowers and kill them. So I quickly ran inside, grabbed a blanket, and then laid it over the top of the stand. I was just in time. Smoke started to blow over but was blocked by the blanket.

After doing that I heard a customer at the front. I turned around and there was a girl. Wearing a sweater and jeans. But had huge round sunglasses. Dark enough you couldn't see her eyes. "Can I help you?" I said, confused.

She didn't respond. "Would you like a berry?"

She shook her head. What was her deal? "Come with me." She said.

"Where do you need me to go?" I said. There was no way I would trust a complete stranger. "I need to talk to you."

I was very hesitant, but slowly walked with her to an isle behind my stand. "I'm going to be short and blunt with you. So you better answer. Where did you get those flowers." She yelled.

"And why should I trust you?" I said.

She took off her glasses, grabbed my shirt, and stared at me. Her eyes were black. Black where the white part should be. She was staring into my soul.

"Now I'm going to ask again. Where did you get those flowers." She said slowly and clearly.

"From an island... When I was younger..." I said, horrified.

She looked shocked. "How did you get them."

"I picked them myself. I went there about a year ago."

She let go of my shirt. What was this lady's deal? "You're like me. That's why you have that mask isn't it."

I froze. She was from the center. Where my parents were.