Gassed

She ran into the vast space that in current circumstances, seemed to have lost its vastness. Sweat, tears and panic deprived the room of its space. Bodies hurried to the nearest terminals in a rampageous rush to escape from it; from the thing that could end life in a matter of seconds. The air used to cause extreme illnesses like cancer. The world had already begun to decay, but that didn't matter anymore. Not if you died of this thing first. There was no more borrowed time. Her mother's memory sought her in this time of trepidation.

Soft fingers caressed her shoulder as a warm, familiar voice told her she was growing into a strong, young woman.

Her breathing slowed. Tears leaked from her eyes, cascading down her face in the agony that followed.

"I can't make it, honey," she told her. "Sonny and I are already infected. You have to go on. You must. Find your father. Save yourself." Choking filled the line as her pained voice tried to continue. Her hands shook as she struggled to hear her mother's last words. "Be strong. I l-love-" The line became silent. No matter how much she screamed at the useless phone in her hand, her mother would never finish telling her what she had told her many times. But this time she needed it.

A brutal shove pulled her from her reverie. But she didn't even care, instead she huddled into a ball, no longer bothered by the horde of people. She held back unheard sobs, releasing a deep, steadying breath, as she searched for a way to find her father. A strong refusal to let her mother's death be to no avail encouraged her to go on. The sirens and warning calls continually failed to direct the chaotic crowd.

A plump woman touched her shoulder. At first she flinched, trusting no one in this new world. But there was something about the worn clothes and aura that surrounded this lady that convinced her of the benevolence that would follow. If one were to hug her, they would be enveloped in warmth - motherly warmth. She allowed the woman to lead her to a terminal heading to Canada.

The woman quickly, but surprisingly calmly despite the rush, explained that the air was indeed the cause. Scientists always had always feared this day was coming, but now it was too late. Their own polluted ways were going to destroy them. Canada was the cleanest place on Earth, where a safe house was waiting refugees. It was humanity's only hope for survival. "This plane will get us there," the lady finished kindly, pointing to what looked like a private jet. Something someone like her would only dream of travelling in, but that didn't matter. Nothing did.

Time to question her had vanished. The aircraft was small, but there were already many passengers on board. People were crammed into every nook and cranny they could find, and yet more we hidden under the seats and in the aisles. Second thoughts crossed her mind. What if they didn't make it? What if... Then she realised, if this many people trust this plane, then why not me?

Lift off was a success. She was reassuring herself as the cabin wobbled. She looked at the lady for faith, however she was instead faced with a slightly worried expression that she hadn't noticed before. A kind smile covered it, but the spell was broken. Nothing was for sure.

The plane continually struggled to gain altitude. The heartrending stories of passengers became clear to her as she witnessed a mother comforting a crying child and a man hide his tear-stained face behind his coat. She was dragged back to reality when she heard the pilot yelling mayday. He encouraged the passengers to jump to safety. Terror consumed her. The pilot had already jumped with one of the three parachutes. The plane had no direction. She couldn't do it. The ground was rushing past underneath her feet. She felt sick; panic; dread; horror. Her miracle lady had disappeared.

That crash followed many. The debris from the crash joined those of so many failed escapes, littering the earth with humanity's mistakes.