[ WP ] It is common knowledge that killing someone adds their remaining lifespan to your own .

Another blast in the distance made me shiver. They were getting closer now. 
 
 `` John, get your bag. We have to go now. You know the rules, right?'' 
 `` Talk to no one. Aim for the head. If they're about to kill you, and I ca n't kill them... I uh...'' 
 `` Yes. Now, know that I love you but you really have to hurry. We need to leave.'' 
 
 My father had been killed when I was seven in another terrorist plot. Instead of abiding by our rules they started shooting up where my dad worked. It was common now that whole apartment buildings would crumble to the ground. Bombs killed the most people if you could knock the building down. No one got on planes anymore after that, it was too easy for the pilot to jump out and let it crash. It was harder to find a good doctor that would n't just let you die. 
 
 `` Out the door John. Out the door. Is your gun ready?'' 
 `` Yes mom.'' 
 `` Good. Extra ammo on you?'' 
 `` Yes mom.'' 
 `` OK. Let's go.'' 
 
 My mother flew the door open of our apartment, reminding me of the last time we had to do this. The explosions never got any easier to get used to for me. You could hear the rockets right before they exploded but you could never figure out where they were. I had to hold my breath and hope that it was n't near me. 
 
 The last time was only about 6 months prior. We had electricity there though, and could get food a lot easier. You got used to eating human when it was the only thing you could find easily. 
 
 Another explosion. I shuddered. I could hear a baby crying in a room nearby. 
 
 `` John, do you hear that?'' 
 `` Yep. End of the hallway.'' I whispered. 
 
 My mother approached the door of the apartment. She looked at me and gave me the go ahead to go in, so I started the countdown. 3, 2, 1. We both kicked the door, guns out waiting to find someone. The first room was empty, but you could still hear the baby crying. 
 
 She motioned to follow her, her automatic rifle scanning the room just like my handgun. We moved towards the sound as another explosion happened nearby, forcing me to take a couple steps back. My mother reached into her backpack and pulled out a grenade handing it to me. 
 
 `` You do it this time.'' 
 `` Mom, what if we're wrong?'' 
 `` We're never wrong.'' 
 
 I nodded. I approached the door, as my mother held her gun up. I pulled the pin, slowly cracked the door and threw the grenade in before running. We could hear it go off, see the smoke filter out the room, and we no longer heard the crying. 
 
 We approached cautiously, my mother in front, both of us with our fingers on the trigger. And there was the crying again. 
 
 `` Are we wrong?'' I let up on my stance. 
 `` Why would we be wrong?'' 
 `` It's still crying.'' 
 `` And? You did n't feel anything did you?'' 
 `` No.'' 
 `` Then let's go. Open the door.'' 
 `` Mom, I do n't think-'' 
 `` Open the door. You know how many years you can get if you go in there? Plenty.'' 
 `` You know that does n't matter-'' 
 `` It matters. It always matters John. Go open the door.'' 
 
 I swallowed my nervousness and approached, my mother behind me. I opened it slowly, seeing an empty room and a crib by the window fairly far away from the door. The small blast from the grenade had left a small hole in the floor and thrown a few things around the big room. 
 
 `` It's all yours John.'' My mother stood down, and I followed suit. I walked over to the other side slowly, hoping not to fall into the hole I had left in the room. I could see it wrapped up in a blanket, laying in the crib. The crying got louder and louder. I stood in front of it, watching the baby wail out. It was real this time. There was no recording, no fake baby. It was real. I could have an entire extra lifetime to myself. I took my gun out and contemplated what to do. I could n't take this life, I could n't kill a baby. 
 
 And then I felt someone behind me. 
 
 `` Drop the gun.'' It was a woman's voice as she pushed the gun into my side. I followed her orders. `` How old are you?'' 
 `` Old enough.'' 
 `` You were going to kill my baby.'' 
 `` No I was n't. I swear.'' 
 `` You were thinking about it.'' 
 `` Of course I was thinking about it. But who leaves their baby all alone next to a window in a crib crying?'' 
 `` The woman who saw you and your mom come in here a couple weeks ago after you killed that guard for food.'' 
 `` Did you kill her?'' 
 `` No. Not yet. Fernando, bring her in here. We'll do them together. Figure out which one we should torture though.'' 
 
 A man brought my mother who had just been standing in the doorway in. She winked to me, the same signal as always. 
 
 `` Get on your knees. I think I'll kill the mom first, you want to kill the boy? He looks about 10 or so.'' 
 `` I'm 13. But thanks for the compliment.'' 
 `` Either way, what do you say?'' 
 `` Deal.'' The guy looked strong, but tired. 
 `` OK, say bye bye to mommy.'' 
 
 Before she was even done my mother had tackled her to the ground and the man had started shooting at both of them. I grabbed my gun and aimed for his head, killing him in three shots. I took a deep breath, feeling his life become my own. I looked over to see my mother bashing the woman's head into the floor over and over, walked over and put a bullet in the woman's head. Another rush of life. 
 
 My mother backed off, for me to see her skirt now covered in blood. 
 
 `` Mom, where are you shot?'' 
 `` Where am I not? The guy had no aim.'' 
 `` You think... you think you'll be...'' 
 Her breathing was fast and consistently getting faster. 
 `` You know, I do n't think so. Bring me the baby though. That should do it.'' 
 `` Mom. No. It's a baby.'' 
 `` What do you mean?'' 
 `` You ca n't kill a baby mom.'' 
 `` But then, then I get the life of the child. Think about it John, how else... will I survive this.'' 
 `` You know it does n't heal you.'' She knew. 
 `` I love you mom.'' 
 `` I love you to John.'' 
 
 We knew not to talk much when it was time. It became harder if you did. I pulled the trigger again, aiming for the head. I felt the life go to me. I heard the baby crying again. I heard an explosion, but I did n't flinch.
