Comes In Small Packages

Chapter 2: New World City

Third Person POV
The blue sky is dotted with white fluffy clouds as flocks of pigeons fly past and above New World City. New World City is a place filled with surprises, excitement and adventure. For all the residents there, everything is so unpredictable that nothing is in the least boring. Unfortunately, not all can catch up with the hype and they fall sick faster than usual.

The more exhilarated this town gets, the number of residents weak of heart increases, the busier the hospital gets and it complains all day.

New World Hospital
"WHERE IS HE???!!!" A tall dirty blonde woman in a white coat storms into the cardiology department and grabs a doctor wearing a hat with words 'PENGUIN' on it by the collar.

"S-sorry... Dr Kureha... He'll be here soon, you know how he is," the 'PENGUIN' hat man raises both his hands up as he try to calm the angry woman. She scoffs, obviously displeased at his reply.

"Listen up, Penguin. If he is not in this hospital within half an hour, this entire department can forget about their monthly wages, including yours." Dr Kureha hisses as she releases Penguin's collar and left the room, leaving the poor man stunned as he slumps down on the floor leaning against one of the table legs.

"Dude, you alright? You look pale." His colleague tilts his head towards his frozen stiff colleague on the floor as he shifts his turquoise hat with a pinkish brim.

Penguin gulps, "She's so scary Shachi ... Please hurry back, Dr Trafalgar..."

Syrup Street (A few hours ago...)
"Atchoo! Urgh... am I catching a cold?" The man sniffs as he readjusts his coat before continuing his path.

Syrup Street is well known for its short shop houses lined on each side of the two lanes road. It is also known as "Sweets Street", as many aspiring young bakers come here to train, bake or work. The aroma of freshly baked goodies in the early morning whets people's appetite, except for one.

The spotted hat man adjusts his surgical mask over his nose while looking over at all the mouth watering pastries in display cases in disgust. As much as he wants to ditch this revolting street, New World hospital is only a few blocks away from where he stands. As he walks, green smoke leaks out slowly from the drainage openings at the curb. His eyebrows furrowed as he hears soft squeaks and sounds of scampering echoing in the sewers.

"They must have started the fumigation, poor things."

Your POV
"Finally... I'm out of the sewers..." I pant as I drag my body out of the manhole and catch my breath, panting and coughing. I was careless. As I held my breath while dashing through the smoke, I tripped on a pebble and accidentally inhaled a bit of the smoke. "I haven't coughed out blood, so I guess I'm not in the danger zone yet. But it still hurts..."

I wince in pain at the burning sensation in my throat and my nostrils. I try shouting for help but my voice is too weak from all the pain I am feeling, it ended up sounding like moans and groans.

"Oh... that's right... no one will come to help me, I'm just a nobody in this society... Heh, what a fool I am..." I curl myself into a ball, hoping it might ease the pain a little. I can feel my strength weakening, my vision blackening as I lay my head down on the concrete floor. I let out a cough before losing conscious.