Disrepair

Chapter 4

Stepping outside, the gas no longer stings as it's blocked by her clothing. Ignoring her mild curiosity to see how long her clothes will last, she immediately starts to run home. She eventually gets there, to the apartment building, and runs up to the main doors. She tries to pull them open, but they've been locked. Now with some panic, she starts to knock impatiently on the doors. Inside she sees a group of people in the lobby, huddled down while they eat.

"Can someone let me in? Please!" Sai calls out.

The door is unlocked and opened, Sai is pulled in and the door is quickly shut behind her. Sai thanks the person for unlocking the door, then she heads up to her room. She reaches for her pocket to get her key, but can't find it.

"Crap, I left it in my old pants. Cassandra, are you in there?" Sai asks as she knocks. She can hear some muffled voices, then it goes silent. Shortly after, the door opens.

"Sai you're alive!" Cassandra says, hugging her tightly. "I was so worried about you, when I heard the panic outside and saw how people were dying, I wasn't sure if you had gotten caught in it."

"Of course, you think I'd die so easily over some gas?" Sai responds with a laugh. "I'm fine, and it's good to see you're okay too. So everyone here is stuck, right? It's so sad, knowing that a lot of people are going to be trapped for the rest of their lives."

"Well, even if that's the case, at least we all have each other. As friends I mean, it's good to stay together. By the way, how did you make it back here? Did you hold your breath the whole way?" Cassandra asks.

"Oh, no. I don't have that kind of lung capacity. I'm not an olympic swimmer, you should know that by now. I was at my usual spot for breakfast when the commotion started. I saw a store nearby and hid in there. The owner gave me some clothes for protection, I also bought this mask and set of goggles there" Sai answers. "Excuse me for a moment, I have to make a call."

"Sure, no problem. I'll be having a few others over later for dinner, you can join if you want" Cassandra offers.

"Yeah, sure, thanks Cass," Sai says before entering her bedroom. She calls her sister's number and sits on her bed. "Hey Rose, how are you? Something came up here, I don't know if it affects you too or not, but you can't come here. Hm? Yes, you heard correctly. No, it's not personal, you know I'd love to have you here. Have you seen the news reports? You haven't? Well there's a toxic gas spreading around and it's causing a lot of deaths. I want you to be safe, so don't come out here....What?!! What do you mean you're already on your way! No, sis, come on, I just told you it's dangerous here. Can't you cancel your flight? *sigh* Okay, I get it. It has been several years. Just be safe when you get here, please? I'll text you a list of what to wear so you're a little more protected. I'll make my way there to meet you. Okay, bye sis."

"Jeez, she's never listened to me," Sai says to herself, putting her phone in her pocket. She comes out to the lobby and sits next to Cassandra. "Hey, is your car still in the parking garage?"

"Yeah, why?" Cass asks in return.

"Can I borrow it? I want to go get my sister from the airport when she arrives. I don't want her to get in harm's way trying to get to me first" Sai tells her.

"If it hasn't been dissolved by the gas, sure, take it" Cassandra says, handing over her keys.

"Thank you" Sai says before leaving.

She goes to the back of the building and down the elevator, which thankfully still works. Once in the parking garage she finds Cassandra's car. There's not a lot of the gas down here, making it easy for Sai to get started. She exits the parking lot and starts driving to the airport. She picks up her speed, noticing the gas has less time now to affect the car, if she had moved slower then she would be in trouble. Finally arriving at the airport after driving around some blocked roads, she parks the car and runs inside. She spots her sister not too long after her arrival, and she waves her over.