FF – Poisoned Air
Here is my story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted by Rochelle. This week’s photo was contributed by J Hardy Carroll.
He watched as the fields raced past. Plenty of greenery, that had recovered quite nicely. But no people. No birds. No animals. Only plants.
This wasn’t life. Sitting at the carriage window every day, watching the remains of the world rush by.
The Train. A blessing or a curse?
He walked to one of the Termination Cubicles. Tapping in the required codes, he accepted the warning and the external window opened.
In seconds he was dead, the poisoned air searing his lungs. Once the air was recycled, he would be too. Nothing wasted.
Maybe one day people might survive outside again.
Maybe.
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Friday Fictioneers
draliman on life 
I hope it doesn’t come to this
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Me too.
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This will be true very soon. Great story.
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Eek, I hope it won’t get quite this bad! 😮
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Well, lets use one factor. in 1996 1-in-12 people would get cancer in their life time. in 2021 its now 1-in-2 this is all because of the pollution drowning earth.
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😮
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Yup! Earth in 2050 will be as inhabitable as Mars. Humans are too dumb and greedy to prevent it.
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Chilling and thrilling at the same time. Well written but I hope humankind manages to come to its senses before then.
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Me too. Things are changing slowly, but are we in time?
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As long as “progress” is profit driven I fear we have no hope at all!
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😦
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Dear Ali,
I hope this isn’t our future.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Me too. Pretty grim 😦
Ali
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It may come to this!
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It may, but I hope not 😮
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Have you watched snowpiercer?
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Ha, I was wondering whether I should put “inspired by Snowpiercer” at the top! Yes, watched and enjoyed both series.
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Your fusion was nice and scary. You brought a nice twist to that image 👻
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I hope that it doesn’t come to that. A very chilling take, Ali!
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I hope not too. A terrifying possible future…
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I’d better buy a season ticket before it’s too late!
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I would, they’re running out fast!
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Yowza… that is a very scary thought…
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It is. Fingers crossed our air stays breathable…
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Yes, please.
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V powerful….searing…
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Thanks, I’m glad you like it!
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Powerful and chilling. I hope we come to our senses before we get to that stage!
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Me too. Things are changing, but are they changing quickly enough?
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That’s really scary. Let’s hope the Delta variant of Covid doesn’t mutate and become like that.
Bit different to your usual tale, Ali, but very good none the less.
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A few weeks since I did a funny one now…
Fingers crossed for a future spent in the outdoors!
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We’re in lockdown again. We haven’t been able to get enough supplies of vaccine for everyone yet. I’m classified as “vulnerable” being in the over 70’s age group. I’ve had my first jab and get the second one next week. Stay safe over there, Ali.
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I had my second one a month ago – just as well since our restrictions are being lifted on Monday 😮
You stay safe too.
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Where I live, we’d call this a Moderate Air Quality day…
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See, you’re already immune. There is hope!
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Wow! That’s a scary one.
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Yep 😮
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I’d probably choose to die too.
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Not a life with much hope.
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nature can only be abused o a certain extent until it comes back with a vengeance.
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I’m sure there’s a tipping point somewhere…
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Great imagery,
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Thanks!
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Now that is not a pretty picture for hope! Well done but not my outlook for the future.
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Nor mine. Fingers crossed!
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A grim and chilling tale.
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For sure.
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Good story- – conveyed a sense of being imprisoned in the train, seeing devastation out there. I shall never look at a train toilet the same again ! ‘ A termination cubicle..
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He took the only way he knew to escape 😦
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That’s very grim. I wonder why the plants survived… I really hope enough of us come to their senses before it becomes this bad. But you can always count on the greedy ones to have their bunkers ready, with all the luxuries they can buy… only there’ll be no one left to serve and supply.
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The plants survived because… they were in the photo 😉 On the plus side, hopefully they’re cleaning the air.
I’m sure the richest have some very luxurious bunkers.
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Dark story. Interesting how matter of factly the character was able to end his own life, like taking out the garbage.
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Yes. I get the impression he’s gone a bit numb after all this time.
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That was an ingenious flip of the normal poisoning INSIDE! Not what I was expecting at all. Nicely done.
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Dystopian horror at its finest. Creative way to go. I’m sure the overlords want it as seamless and efficient as possible.
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It’s certainly very neat and tidy.
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Was he the last survivor on the train? Very understandable that he felt there was nothing left to live for.
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I wasn’t thinking he was the last, just had enough, but he could be.
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Gloomily perfect. 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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Yikes. Scary but nicely done.
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Thanks! A chilling possible future…
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I can relate to this one today. We Well re in the center of a triumvirate of wildfires. I need my COVID mask just to go outside.
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Yoinks, I hope they get them put out soon.
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