[ WP ] You are living in a world where you gain 1 hour of life or `` time '' when you kill someone . You realize you have 10 minutes left .

We cowered together under the staircase, the wind howling around the old wooden house. The loose panels which formed the wall rattled, and I shivered a little as another gust blasted through the many gaps in the collapsing structure. 
 
 Despite the wind, we heard the gunshots. A harvesting gang had been seen roaming nearby, and now they had come here. They would take people captive, and sell them on as easy kills to the highest bidder. Usually they took food as payment - the most valuable of resources. Of course they needed weapons and ammunition too, but they would only kill for themselves when the victim was too strong or too difficult to transport. The townships who were prepared to buy wasteland captives were few and far between, so it was common for the gangs to kill adults themselves, and capture children. 
 
 Why, you may ask? Why would anyone pay to kill another? Well, from birth you can survive exactly thirty years. For many, the peoples of the wasteland for example, this was enough. But for the powerful, the men and women who led farms, they wanted to hold that power. And so, they paid their way to immorality. 
 
 Another gunshot. Closer this time. A scream pierced the night. I could not tell who it was, but it must have been one of our neighbours, a friend. A kin. 
 
 My brother sat in front of me, eyes screwed shut, hands buried in his matted black hair. The day had been wonderful. We had sat in the sun, splashing our feet in the river to stay cool. Despite it's misleading name, the `` wasteland'' is a beautiful place. Now that was almost forgotten, as we sat together in the dark empty house. I leant forward and took his hand. He opened his eyes, and seemed to snap out of his panic as he focused on me. 
 
 `` Not quite how we expected to spend our last evening, eh sis?'' he whispered. He always had had a dark sense of humour. 
 
 `` No, not exactly'' I agreed, smiling weakly. 
 
 `` Although at least we're together'' he said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. 
 
 `` Did n't I tell you I'd never leave you?'' I said, squeezing back. 
 
 `` You know you might not be able to keep that promise for much longer do n't you''. He looked down, avoiding my gaze. `` Mum would never say which of us was born first. Only that it was 8 hours apart'' 
 
 For the next minute there was silence between us. I knew, we both knew, that those 8 hours would be unbearable. We were roused from our thoughts by the sound of an engine starting, roaring over the storm.The harvesters were leaving. We listened intently as the sound of the vehicle faded into the distance. 
 
 Thim smiled. `` Well sis, at least we can stretch our legs for ten minutes now. It's almost midnight''. His face dropped a little as he mentioned the time when one of us had been born. But he quickly recovered for my sake. `` It's almost midnight so the stars will be out'' 
 
 He scrambled out the cupboard we had sheltered in and went to the window. I followed, and stood behind him as we gazed out at the stars, as we so often did. I stood there with him for what felt like a lifetime. But I knew the time was approaching. 
 
 A tear rolled silently down my cheek as I reached into the pocket of my shawl. I felt the cold metal in my hand, and slowly took a pace back from my brother, who continued to gaze skyward. 
 
 I ca n't leave him alone in this world. I promised that I would never leave. I will see him again in a year, when I can rejoin him amongst the stars.
