Short Stories from the Depths of my Cranium

' ' Clean Air ' '

I don't know anything in this moment. And then everything clears, little by little. I'm lying on the ground, filthy dirty air filling my lungs. My body feels heavy and thick like the blood pooling beneath me. I want air, I need air. But every gasp I breath I only feel worse.

And then there's a person. I'm much too week to see clearly but they're tall, and wearing black. After waving towards some more people I can't see, they bend down and slide their hand under my neck to lift my head a little. Their hand is cold, but my body and the air around me is burning, and it feels good.

Then something is placed over my mouth. At first, I think it's their hand trying to keep me from breathing. But in a moment I know it's not a hand, because I'm breathing air. Wonderful clean air. My breaths are deep, trying to get as much of it into my system as possible. I had never breathed such clean air before, but I loved it. Now I understand why rich people buy it only for themselves.

In the next instant it's gone, and I let out a small sound of protest. The human chuckles softly before straightening and stepping away. That's it? They possibly save my life then walk away? Guess I'm dying of blood loss then, or infection, or the smoke now seeping into my lungs from the fire.

That's right, the fire. Where had it come from? I tried searching my memories only to come up blank. I mean, I remember stuff, but nothing about me.Actually, my brain only hurts more when I try. While I tried remembering who I was, more people came over. Oh. So the person was getting others. Now I feel guilty about chewing them out.I still can't hear, which is a bother. And it makes the groups comforting words or questions useless. I close my eyes. Maybe they just want me for parts. That's how lots of the rich people became, well, rich. Yeah, that made sense. They had clean air so they must have lots of money. Plus I was hurt, I was no use alive at the moment.I feel my body be lifted up. Yup, here it comes. The cold metal of a gun barrel will be put against my head any moment now.

They lift me up further, holding me up from under the arms. And then put me back down atop of something. These people were strange, they should have just killed me on the ground. I open my eyes to find out just what was happening. I was now in the bed of a truck, the broad back of someone very tall right in front of me. Below me was a mattress. Yes, these were very strange people.

My eyes began to clear and I noted the large man was wearing black, like the person before. He was much to tall and broad to be the same person, and his skin is dark. Not the same person. In front of him is a woman, also wearing black. What is it with these people and black? Her skin was much lighter than the man in front of her. Her hair was also black and pulled into a bun. She could be the person from before.

As I'm examining my supposed kidnappers something grabs my shoulder. Must be instinct or muscle memory, because I grab the wrist and twist. Not enough to sprain or brake it. But it would definitely hurt. So why wasn't the person yelling in pain. I lift my head towards the owners of the wrist. A man, well, more of boy, stood on the outside of the truck behind me. His mouth moved, but I couldn't hear.

Why can't I hear! My senses had cleared up, and if it wasn't for the darkness I would be able to see the entire street (though I didn't need to be able to see it to know it was most likely surrounded by crumpling buildings and filled with holes and run-down cars). I freed the boy's hand and clutched my head. Was there something wrong with me? Maybe I just needed time. My head was pounding, harder and harder until I started to see black dots. I didn't stop trying. I needed to know.

I need....

...To find...out....

....Who...

...I...

....am...

And then my world went dark.

Vote if you want more of this particular story!