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

`` Cough, cough.'' He hacked away into his forearm. It was how he started every morning. Looking down at his blood smeared sleeve he decided to roll it up to his elbows. It was the last thing he needed his sister to see. 
 
 She was asleep on the chair beside him. He'd asked her to go home, but she did n't want to risk being gone for his final moments. 
 
 He turned on the television, and began watching the news. Story after story of people killing each other, just so they could live longer. 
 
 There was one story of a man they called `` The Farmer'' who was impregnating women in order to kill the children. Killing an infant would give you a solid 60+ years minimum. They'd finally caught him it looked like. He wondered who'd get to kill him. With that many years it would be quite expensive. 
 
 His train of thought stopped as words flashed across the bottom of the screen. `` Suicide is not the answer, do n't let your life span go to waste. Give those years to someone who needs it. Donate today.'' 
 
 `` Perhaps somebody might still donate.'' He heard from his sister as she awoke. 
 
 `` I've been in here for weeks, Maggie.'' If I was going to get someone to kill, i'd have gotten it by now.'' 
 
 `` But there's still hope, Miles. You never kn-'' 
 
 `` Do you know how many people are convicted everyday? In our city alone? If they wanted to give me some years, they would. I'm just not important enough. Look at this world, the way people kill each other,'' he said looking down at his hands, they were cuffed to the sides of the bed. `` They ca n't even let the dying have freedom in their last moments, because we're threats to those around us!'' 
 
 `` You know they have to take that precaution.'' 
 
 `` I would n't hurt anyone!'' 
 
 `` I know you would n't, but some people just ca n't take that fear, Miles.'' 
 
 He turned back to the T.V and continued watching. Hearing about doctors who killed their patients, patients killing their doctors. He wondered about the one's that were n't reported, of the news broadcasters, the rich and government officials who would get away with killing, who would live forever. The world was in chaos. 
 
 His heart dropped as he saw the next story. It was about a man who had killed three people in a diner not too far from them. What shocked him was n't the brutality of the killings, nor the fact that the criminal was still at large, but who it was. His sister held his hand as they both stared at an image of their father. 
 
 `` Did you know?'' He said to his sister. 
 
 `` I'd heard from someo-'' 
 
 `` You need to go.'' 
 
 `` Miles, please. You do n't have to be alone.'' 
 
 `` Can you please just go!'' They sat in silence a moment, then she nodded. 
 
 `` I'll be in the waiting room, just call if you want me back.'' With that she left. 
 
 Miles turned off the television, and rested his back in the pillows. He wanted so badly to turn over and sleep on his side, but the cuffs prevented that. So, he lay there staring at the ceiling, until he eventually fell into slumber. 
 
 * * * 
 
 When he awoke the room was dark, he must have been asleep a few hours. 
 
 `` They're making a new law, huh Miles.'' He heard the voice of a man across the room, he knew that voice. 
 
 `` It's supposed to make things better.'' A man rose out from the shadows, it was his father. 
 
 `` NURSE!'' He screamed. `` NURSE!'' 
 
 `` Shh Miles. Please. Do n't be afraid of me.'' 
 
 `` Afraid of you? You're a monster!'' 
 
 `` Miles, I've come to help. I've come to tell you the truth.'' 
 
 `` What are you talking about?'' He whimpered, he could feel the heat of tears behind his eyes. `` You're a killer. Stay away from me.'' 
 
 `` Everyone's a killer in this world.'' His father replied, pulling something out of his coat pocket. It was a key. 
 
 `` Where did you get that?'' He asked as his father began removing his cuffs. 
 
 ``'What do you think I am Miles. I've always wondered.'' 
 
 `` You're a monster, You- You killed my mother.'' He stuttered his words as tears rolled down his cheeks. 
 
 `` I had to.'' 
 
 `` That's bullshit. You just wanted those extra years, that's why you killed those men in that diner.'' 
 
 `` Will you hear me out?'' His father said, pushing Miles down when he tried getting out of the bed. 
 
 `` Your mother was sick. That night when she came into your room, she was going to kill you Miles. She going to take the rest of your life away.'' 
 
 `` You're a liar.'' 
 
 `` We can just have another child, she said to me. We can have another boy, she said, you'll never get another love, not like me.'' his father had his own set of tears now. 
 
 `` That's not true. She loved me and Maggie.'' 
 
 `` Fear changes people.'' The man was pulling something else out of his coat pocket now. The steel flashed in the dim lighting, it was a gun. 
 
 `` What is that for? Are you going to kill me now? Are you going to tell Maggie I tried to kill you too?'' 
 
 `` It's for you, Miles. Take t. Take it and shoot me.'' He handed the boy the gun. 
 
 `` What the hell, I'm not going t-'' 
 
 `` They're making a new law Miles. Did you hear? They're going to start tagging people at birth, and once you've reached a certain age, I think 120 is what they said, the law is you have to give your remaining span to a youth in need.'' 
 
 `` I'm not going to kill you.'' 
 
 `` It's not a perfect law. But changes are starting Miles. The world's getting better I promise.'' 
 
 `` Stop talking.'' 
 
 `` Those men I killed in that diner, they were thugs. They were bad men, Miles. I needed to make sure I had enough years. I needed to make sure I had enough years for this to be worth it.'' His father was balling now. 
 
 `` Please, stop.'' Miles said through tear filled sobs. 
 
 `` I'm your father Miles. This is my job. Please let me do my job. I love you, son. Please, pull the trigger.'' The man held Miles' hands in his own, and raised the gun to his temple. `` Tell them I tried to kill you, tell them it was self defense whatever works. Just live your life Miles. Help change this world. Help make it better.'' 
 
 Miles stared at his father's dirt filled face, his blood smeared hands. What had this man been through? 
 
 `` I-I love you too, dad.'' He whimpered, and then he pulled the trigger. 
 
 
 

