Coughing never stops. The pain in her chest was so excruciating that all she could think of is to buy some air and purify her lungs. But clean air was expensive. So expensive. ''Can't I pay it with my credit card? I still have enough breathing points inside.''
Earth was so polluted that currency was no more money than air. Minutes, hours months and rich even had years of clean air to breathe. But for this month she was left with just a few weeks of air.
''Sorry. You know you can only use the air points that are over the appointed minutes. You need to take a few breaths tomorrow as well. For today you just need to use masks. I am truly sorry.'' The old woman on the machine was really feeling regretful, but I know she made a point.
They made the law that no one can overuse their breathing points as not to be able to sell or gamble with it. They had their appointed minutes of breathing time and if they don't use it they become just invalid, so no one dared to not use that.
From one side it was good law but form another side like today it was horrible. The pollution in the last few days was so bad that many people fainted and some even died.
She put the mask on and started inhaling air that was purified by the newest technologies. But it was still not the same. It was stale and trough all the chemicals inside the mask it made her feel stuffed and uncomfortable.
When she was little her mother told her that the trees have been green, the river had fish in it and the lake and seas hand a beautiful blue-green color. But now riverbeds were dry, the seas were almost empty and seas were so polluted that no one dared to get even close to them.
The overuse of natural water to make fresh air made the climate get even worse. Dry storms were something they had every day. Trees existed only in books and those big halls where they were cherished and protected by everyone.
She quietly walked through the path of the mother's youth and held picture of nature that was before. Green leaves, spring rushing down the mountains, beautiful glass-clear water. But there were no more trees, just some stones and old buildings. Around the corner, she should be able to see the ocean. She turned external protection on as the sea was the worst at this moment.
Huge amounts of radiation materials were thrown inside and right now inside new creatures started appearing that excluded so much radiation that normal humans could die just by standing and looking at it.
Scientists invented new protections shields against that. She looked down at dry gravel under her feet and looked at the picture where the green grass should have been. She never saw that kind of life. She just dreamt about it. Her mother stories about taking shoes and clothes off and running through the grass in something thy called bath suits.
The picture changed and many youthful and elder happy faces appeared in front of her while they say on chairs or swam in the sea. The children played with a big ball filled with air and they all seemed so happy.
Her speech was not over when she got close to the pathway to the sea. ''To end my report to everyone. What do you say? Would you live a simple life without any amenities like in olden times if you had a chance? Or would you prefer to live in this world? I heard that scientists finally could reproduce air on Mars. They planted trees as it seems as well. Those that have money have already started going there. Would you be a servant to them and follow them to the new planet or would you go to the past on our own? Is there another universe where we could live and breathe for free? Let me know. Enough for today. Tomorrow we will talk about animals. I would like to thank everyone for your support. Even one second of breathing time matters to me. Thank you all. '' With a smile, she stopped her channel and walked a few steps further.
This tunnel, she never dared to enter. She lived as a reporter about past and future events. She actually lived good, but most of the breathing points she spent on her two small nieces that were too weak to live only off those appointed ones.
She worked hard for their sake. Born as twins they were weak anyway. Her sister in law was weak and her brother died when he went to the sea to gather more water for the air points. That kind of job was actually well paid but somehow his shield restriction stopped and he died from radiation.
Now the whole family could survive only from her reports so she was always careful to never get into too much trouble. Her death would mean as well the death of her whole family. Her mother was old her father died a long time ago. Now the five women lived together in one house and survived the best they could.
She started at the light on the end of the dark tunnel and was hesitant. She would need to go there anyway tomorrow. Should she just peek out and see the sea beasts. She needs to give a report about them anyway.
She checked her gear and then started at her assistant that had a pale face as well. ''You go home. Just help me check my gear before going. I need to do this anyway by myself first so I could find a perfect spot for the morning report. You are free after checking everything. Go home. I will transfer the points to you right away.''
The young man just nodded. ''Thank you miss. I promise I will be more courageous tomorrow. I just need to set my mind.''
She nodded. ''Don't worry. If we can get as close as possible to those animals we could gain many breathing points from our supporters. Then you could by the new filters for your mother. You need to harden your heart and stop being a wuss."
If she as a woman can harden hear heart and go out to the most dangerous places to do her job. This work is only way for her family survival.
He just nodded and affirmed thatcher protection gear was working good. As he was leaving Sandra just shook her head and sighed, if he is such scared cat in future he will just die.
As he drove away in his car she slowly walked trough long walkway between stones and all kind of garbage that were hill wise around the old houses.
The pictures from before showed her the long line of people sightseeing amazing stones and flowers, trees and all kind of beautiful sculptures. All that was covered with tons of waste material.
She was thinking about the seaside when something green hit her mask. "What now? Plastic bags?"
She looked around and by the sight her breath stocked and she almost choked. If she could she would bow rub her eyes in disbelief.