The unnamed flower

"Hey, did you know, I saw these really beautiful things outside the wall!"

"Quit making up stories, everyone knows that there's nothing outside the wall!"

Hearing this, tears welled up in the little girl's eyes.

"Agh! Fine, I'll listen to what you have to say!"

The girl's face lit up immediately as she excitedly invited the boy to sit next to her.

She told her story with great excitement in her voice, and tried her best to describe what she saw by drawing them in the air with her fingers.

The boy listened to all of it patiently, and could not help but smile at the sight of his younger sister being so energetic.

A long time ago, humans were blessed with something that was known as plants.

Trees, grass, bushes, there was a lot of variety of the things that were called plants.

Humans took nature for granted.

Pavements and concrete took over grasslands,

Trees were chopped down and turned into houses and tables and other stuff,

No one knows what happened to bushes.

Some believed that bushes caught on fire and took many other plants with it.

Yet there was one plant that humans seemed to have cherished from back then for random reasons.

Flowers.

It was believed that flowers had different shapes and sizes, came in different colours and they even have different reproductive systems.

Years and years of research, but no one could ever figure out what flowers looked like.

The elders who lived in the era of plants have all come up with different sketches.

If anything, there was only one common description of a 'flower'...

"...they were so pretty and they made me feel so calm, I'm happy! Were you listening to me?"

His head was completely empty. Yet if he was honest, perhaps that smile would fade and never return. He would kill to prevent that.

"I... was just thinking... they might be flowers."

Even though the boy was a well acknowledged genius, he was also 10 years old. He may have written lengthy thesis and reports, but they were all based off truths and possibilities. He has never made baseless claims on the potential condition of earth out of thin air. This was his first time putting on airs like those arrogant professors. The thought of it made him feel sick.

"Flo...wers...?"

He had always hated those arrogant professors but now he felt like he could relate to them. His sister's innocence was portrayed though her eyes and her swinging her feet that couldn't reach the floor even if she was on her tippy-toes.

If it wasn't the curiosity and excitement on the face of people that made those professors come up with such baseless claims on earth's recovery, then they were scum of the scum.

"I'm not exactly sure what they were like since I wasn't born yet, but, I was told they had these things called petals and pollen, and stuff like that. No two adults have managed to give me a same answer, so it's probably just something that was really weird."

"...If you don't get it...then there's no way I can get it too..."

The silence between the two made the whole situation awkward, as no one could muster the courage to say anything else.

"Your lunch break is almost over, right? Then I better get going!"

"Wait!"

He took a deep breath and thought of his words carefully this time, recalling how he vowed to be nothing like those arrogant professors.

"I'll try my best to figure out this 'flower' thing, so..."

"...I just need to wait and see, right? If it's you, then I'm willing to wait."

A few years later, some explorers found 'flowers' outside the wall.

This discovery shocked everyone, and for once it wasn't a lie.

The 'flowers' were carefully brought to the research lab to do genetic tests and maybe even clone them and plant them in suitable climates.

I made a request to obtain one of these 'flowers' for my own research and got approved. My research was simple. I just wanted to confirm what exactly is a flower and how they even managed to survive in the first place.

"This flower looks nothing like all the sketches I've seen..."

Even though this was to be expected since these flowers appeared and survived on their own up until now so far, I can't accept it...

"While I hoped it was evolutionary, this is definitely some new breed... Maybe it's like a cross-breed? But it would be cool if it was a new species..."

On the other hand, my senior in the study of plants, who is also my professor is not bothered by the potential amount of work it would lead to if it was truly a new breed. She truly is a carefree woman.

"Regardless of what it is, it's a pretty flower that would make any woman smile!"

"...they were so pretty and they made me feel so calm, I'm happy! Were you listening to me?"

"Was she talking about...?"

"Hey look! Are those... leaves?"

Trying to get a closer look, my professor casually pushed me aside.

"Why do these flowers have leaves if they're going to be so much smaller than the petals ? I thought leaves produced their own food through photosynthesis which involves the sun?"

"Stop looking at the organism as separate beings and start looking at them as one being. You always get so caught up on minor details that we lose hours of precious time that could be spent to do something else!"

"Hmm... What was that saying again? Can't see a forest for all it's trees or something like that? Ah, I got sidetracked again! I'm sorry so stop glaring at me... or are those dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep?..."

Leaves... I know I just said what I said, but professor has a point.

These flowers somehow survived or managed to live in such a horrible environment, what exactly could it be that allowed them to survive in such an inefficient form?

...My head is spinning... but the same goes for the earth right?

The earth... orbits around... the sun... after all...

"What...happened...?"

My last memory was smelling a strange smell and falling unconscious. Yet the sudden deterioration of my health was the least of my problems as the lab was currently in a mess and no one was around.

Based on how dim the lights are currently, the backup powers supply is currently being used. Was the lab attacked? A rebellion? I have to be careful...

While I was lost in my thoughts, something tugged on the end of my lab coat.

"Aaaa..."

"Shhh...Don't shout. But still I didn't expect you to be shocked. Yet again, of course you'd be shocked, you're only 13 this year... was it......"

"What happened to your legs? They're... We need to get to a medic!"

My heart wouldn't stop beating, it was getting hard to breathe. What do I do?

"It's okay."

Despite having almost no energy to support herself, the professor hugged me tightly. Hearing her heartbeat helped me calm down a little.

"Whatever happens from this point, promise me you'll make it out of here alive."

"But what's..."

"Don't trust anyone. Understood?"

Before I could even say yes or no, the professor's grip on me loosened. Even her heartbeat, that was always like a carefree melody, stopped.

I've been running and running.

Given the fact that I've been here for six years, I should've been able to perfectly memorize the entire layout of the research center, yet all the exits I've approached have all been sealed off by heavy objects or non-existent paths.

I need to get out of here.

As I was running down an empty hallway, a figure stood in my path.

Is this a terrorist attack? Why of all places you'd choose a research lab that's barely getting by? Anyway, I have to...

"Help me...I'm... scared..."

That voice,... It's... my sister?

She ran towards me and clinged onto me.

She really is my sister.

"What in the world are you doing here?!! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

"I'm fine. I was hiding. I came here because I heard you collapsed, but then, all this stuff started happening and I..."

"Don't worry. I'll get us out of here. Come on."

We held hands as we explored the area to find ways out of here.

"So what I saw was just all these really colourful things that were kinda stuck on the ground and stuff, the air there was just cooler somehow and... "

I turned to look at my brother, who had a distant look in his eyes.

I wonder what's on his mind this time ?

Event though my brother and I were related by blood, we had almost nothing in common. A few years ago, my brother passed the test the researchers from beyond the wall would always force us to take in exchange for neccessities.

"What are you doing? Let him go!"

"This woman is crazy! "

Even though I was really young, I could remember all of it.

I remember those people immediately snatching my brother from my mother's hands, and how my mother who couldn't even stand fought against those people to get him back. My brother was crying and hitting the man, begging him to let him go.

"GET OFF ME!"

One man had finally had enough. With all his energy, he kicked my mother as hard as she could. She hit her head against the wooden wall of our house and fell silent.

I wanted to scream, but the angry man lunged at me quickly and covered my mouth with his hands. I could see the other men carrying my brother who had lost consciousness, out of the house.

As I was crying, he whispered into my ears,

"Not a word about this, and everything will be okay."

I nodded my head. The man let me go and left the place.

In this world where almost nothing was left, humans only had so little to live on.

The air out here is so thin, breathing hurts so much to the point where death was better.

The men did what they could to save humanity.

My mother simply fought for what she thought was the humane thing to do.

And all I did was watch, because I'm just an idiot.

Time really flies when you have fun.

I've only been talking with my brother for 15 minutes but I have to leave. The professor sacrificed her lunch break just to warn me about the guards patrolling the inner and outer areas of the wall today so I better run while it's still early !

"I'll try my best to figure out this 'flower' thing, so..."

"...I just need to wait and see, right? If it's you, then I'm willing to wait."

I'm okay with waiting. Waiting is one of the only things I'm good at after all. My brother is talented and smart so I'm sure I won't even need to wait long !

I was in a relaxing dream.

In my dream I found that place again, where there were those colourful things that made me happy. The air there made breathing more enjoyable than how it usually is. Even though my brother wasn't there, I got to talk about all sort of things and they kept me company too. Maybe that's why I'm so happy !

Sadly, dreams end whether you like it or not.

I woke up in our old wooden house.

"Mama, Good Morning !"

There was no reply. Perhaps Mama is still asleep!

I need to find food...... Maybe if I'm lucky enough today I can find enough for Mama to make some meat again. It's such a shame that the last time we had meat, brother already left home...

"You need to come quick!"

Just as I was about to leave home, the professor appeared.

"Your brother collapsed all of a sudden! I'm not sure what happened but I've already called a medic to check on him, I'll sneak you in when the time comes but for now just..."

" He'll be fine. He's my precious brother. I wouldn't hurt him."

"But you... All of you... why... did you have to...Hurt us SO MUCH?!! It was you wasn't it ? YOU were the one to tell them about the flowers ! You promised to help us but now you're the one hurting us ! And I believed you, like an idiot!!"

The research lab took all of them. Every single one of those flowers. They took away the one thing that kept us alive. They expect us to live with the oxygen that they "mass produce" and leak to the outside of the wall while they live inside with all the equipment because resources are limited and they need the equipment to mass produce oxygen to save the world. IT'S ALL LIES!!

"Hey, did you know, I saw these really beautiful things outside the wall!"

"Quit making up stories, everyone knows that there's nothing outside the wall!"

It was true after all.

There was nothing beautiful outside the wall, for there was nothing at all.

If wind was still a thing, those houses would've been blown away.

If god was still a thing, those people could still pray for a better day.

It all began when the condition of the earth took a great fall,

That's when humans got scared and built a great wall.

To survive they needed the wise and fools were chased away,

They had nowhere else to go, outside the walls was where they had to stay.

One night someone passed the test, with results that exceeded the rest.

Two sides fought for the child, doing what they thought was the best.

One side won, and one side was dead.

Threatened and scared, she nodded her head.

It was a secret promise, a part of the plan.

A pretty flower lent her a hand.

"I'll do your bidding, if you protect my land."

A contract was made, a price was paid.

His fever reduced and clarity returned to his head.

The people helped just like his sister said.

This was the untold story of the flowers' guardian before she was consumed by rage, hurt by deceitful lies and dancing on a stage of pain. Yet as an audience all we can do is turn the page, and bear witness to her decisions that determine the end of this story.

Although it didn't show in his voice, I could tell.

He was scared.

He was scared of the destruction I brought about to the place he called home for two years. Yet he was putting on a brave front for me, trying to convince me everything was fine.

My brother was smart and kind.

Even though I was an idiot, he would try to explain things to me.

One day, he went really very far away from home and brought back something for me.

"Look! Look! I got this for you!"

"What is this?"

"It's a flower! The nice voices said that I could take one to show you as long as I returned it tomorrow!"

"...Can I keep it?"

I was making a pouty face as I held onto the flower. I didn't want to let go of my brother's first present to me. I wanted to hold onto it forever as a memory that my brother was once really happy when he gave me that flower.

"......Sure!"

My brother hesitated for a while before he agreed. When he agreed, I smiled too. That day was not only the happiest day of my brother's life but also the happiest day of my life.

That moment never lasted forever.

The next day, my brother had a really high fever.

On that very same day, the examiners were supposed to come and give us the exam.

It was my brother's only chance to leave this place and live somewhere better, and yet...

"He broke the promise, it's only natural that he pay the price."

"Promise? Who are you? What are you talking about?"

"So the flower is with you..."

Could it be...

"It's a flower! The nice voices said that I could take one to show you as long as I returned it tomorrow!"

It's... the voices?

"No! No! It's my fault! I was the one..."

"The flower was a part of me. The planet was a part of me. He is only experiencing a small fraction of what I have. Should one be curious, one may inherit my knowledge and my experiences, but let it be known that not all fruit the tree bears is sweet."

"You're saying that you can help, right? I'll do anything! So please...help..."

The voice disappeared completely after that.

A warm feeling filled the room.

"You'll be fine. They'll definitely help you."

I gently touched my brother's scalding hot forehead.

At that moment, I was finally helpful to my family.

Now I finally understand everything.

"I will always love you. No matter what I become, that's a promise."

With the wisdom granted from the voices of the world, I gained the ability to figure out the many solutions to our problems.

With the experience presented to me from the flower in my possession, I've witnessed how humans brought about their own downfall.

"All the times I've tried, suffered, and forgiven humanity, all of it was wasted !!

I was supposed to be everything to them, yet I was never enough, I was always in the way !! Why ? Why ? How much of me is relevant in this world ? If I wasn't needed, then why was I born ? It hurts ! IT HURTS ! If I wasn't going to be loved, then why should I show mercy to anyone in this world ?"

I fought with the voices fought in my head. At that moment, time had stopped for both of us. The world was just a simple place where we fought for reason in an unreasonable world. Our experiences mingled and our emotions combined, we were slowly becoming one. If I don't stand my ground in this battle, I will no longer be myself.

The ground was endless. My brother once promised that someday, he would find somewhere beautiful for us to live the rest of our lives together.

Yet that day wasn't now. Mama was still with us. She chose to stick with us even when it looked like it would be a lot easier if she was on her own. She gave away parts of herself, telling us stories of the blue skies she once lived under, hoping we'd see it one day too. She changed completely ever since. Now, even smiling wasn't something she was strong enough to do.

What she lost was love. Without the ability to love, she became a different person. She couldn't smile. She couldn't tell those stories I enjoyed hearing. My brother didn't talk to her much after that. He wanted to spend every minute away from her. Yet my brother was kind. He knew that he couldn't leave her alone. He knew that I still wanted to be with her. He couldn't take that away from me.

Memories of my past replayed in my head. Just as the voices were fighting with their reason, I was fighting with mine. Our memories collided with each other, sometimes intersecting. As I combined my memories with the wisdom granted to me, the vast ground that I believed I had slowly became smaller and smaller. The ground I am standing on now felt like a cold thin layer of ice. My reason became silent.

"In the end, I really am just an idiot. ......Goodbye, I'll really miss you."

Minutes turned to hours and hours turned into more hours. Even though every exit he found so far was blocked, that didn't stop him from moving forward. Every step of the way, he held my hand gently and walked at a pace I could keep up in.

Even though he grew more and more agitated for every failed attempt to leave, he would always reassure me with a calm voice and a gentle smile on his face.

I couldn't understand.

The world is heading towards destruction.

Destroying what was left of me was the final straw.

This area that he has been trying so hard to escape is the only place with life, the place for only both of us. It was the place where both of us would live the rest of our lives.

Did he forget the promise he once made ?

"I'm tired."

The words came out rougher than what I had been rehearsing in my head. He turned to me, teary eyed, slightly tightening the grip on my hand.

"I can't...do this any more."

Sweeping away the sand on the ground with his foot, he sat down and cried. In the 3 years I've spent watching him from a distance, this was the first time I've seen him bawling his eyes out. I stood there, frozen.

"It's all my fault. Even though I abandoned both of you, I couldn't even help make things better. I tried and tried, but in the end this was how it all ended up."

I was supposed to be a powerful god.

Born with wisdom, I was supposed to be able to be able to help humans fulfill their wishes.

Yet I failed as human's wishes were far too much for me to handle, to the point where it broke me beyond repair.

I thought that I could fulfill the girl's wishes by taking her place and using my powers to grant all her wishes.

Yet again as this boy weeps before me, I find myself completely powerless once again.

This time, it wasn't me who was being ripped to shreds.

It was...

"Sorry. You were scared weren't you? But it's all going to be okay. At least we're here together now, right?"

He pulled me into a warm embrace. His hands were quivering as he held me close to his chest, where I could hear his heartbeat becoming slower and slower.

At this point I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth that I wasn't the sister who he loved dearly, but instead the god that has failed him and everyone in this world.

Could I even consider myself a god, if I had never once succeeded in granting a single human's wishes ?

The world I had been entrusted to had been brought to ruin, and this boy blamed himself for it. Even I couldn't do that.

At this moment, I was powerless.

I could not give back what I had took, and I couldn't restore what had been destroyed.

Yet even the most powerless god, could still do something in a world's final moments.

I created.

A bed of flowers formed beneath us, slowly freshening the thin air around us and bringing colour to the grim surroundings. The boy looked at fascinated at this sudden change of his surroundings, and finally smiled with sincerity for the first time in a long while.

"That's right... I wanted to show you this... Look, it's so pretty, right? I can't believe I forgot how much you loved that flower I gave you... "

The boy looked at his sister who was now sleeping in his arms.

His sister was nothing but a simple idiot who wanted nothing more than her brother's happiness so that he wouldn't lose the love he had for her just like how he lost the love he had for his mother.

His sister knew she was an idiot because she tends to forget many things. This time, she forgot she needed to open her eyes to see the scenery around her. She forgot to hold her brother's hand to keep her brother company.

Yet her brother was kind.

He was always patient whenever she forgot.

He would sometimes pretend to not know certain things so that she wouldn't feel too bad about it. In simple terms, sometimes he let her have her ways.

"I guess you're tired out after all that walking. Well I guess I'm kinda tired too..."

The siblings fell asleep together one last time in a place that they once dreamed of finding after a long fun adventure.

The flowers that were around them had lost their leaves. To be exact, these flowers never had them in the first place. While these flowers were very colourful and pretty, plucking one off the ground would bring forth a warm, gentle breeze that could put anyone to an eternal rest.

What could have been on the mind of god as he created these flowers that seemingly serve no purpose whatsoever? No one would ever know. No one else was left to ask the questions and find the answers, and not even god himself remained. Perhaps this was the best for the flowers, the sole thing left to thrive on this abandoned planet, in remembrance of the story this world had to tell.