[ WP ] Killing another human now allows you to exchange your remaining lifespan the victim 's . Young people live in fear while the elderly plan their attacks .


 
 I sat in my room with my head in my hands. 
 
 *Two more days* 
 
 Such a short amount of time before I ’ m let out into the world. Released into the barren cityscapes and retirement communities. In all reality there were only two places you could be these days. You were either old or young. Jon walked down the hall, he was my best friend and had volunteered himself to be my second. 
 
 “ You ready Eli? Monday ’ s just around the corner. ” I lifted my head slowly and caught his eyes with mine. Clean streaks dotted my face where the tears had removed the soot. *This is the kind of life we live now. *Sighing to myself, I rubbed my eyes. I was one of the eldest in this community, charged with its security. My duties of the day were still unaccounted for. Skills that had to be passed on to my understudy Horus. 
 
 “ Let ’ s do this. ” I stood up slowly, hands against my knees. The comforting weight of the Colt in it ’ s holster and the strap for the AK hung loose around my shoulders, bouncing of the back of my legs. Jon ’ s armaments were standard issue like mine, although he had changed the strap to one with pictures of GI Joes and Optimus Prime. That had always irked me though, uniformity led to us being alive. The Elderly were the creatures of chaos. Finally hitting the year of Vampirism where they could start syphoning the life of the young. Leeches. That ’ s all they were. 
 
 I ran my hands through my dark, straight black hair. Fingers coming out sleek with grease and oil of unwashed living. Passing several women washing children and babies, bath day, they watched me with a mix of concern and awe. The reputation I had built for myself was not to be undermined. 
 
 *I was steel. * 
 
 “ We need to make a run today boss. ” Jon assured me. “ Supplies are low. Crops are growing but we won ’ t have enough. ” 
 
 I nodded in response as we reached the battlements. The tall, concrete built walls stood fortified with several boys close to my age. We watched out into the woods. *They ’ re out there, I can feel it. * My eyes scanned the treeline for activity but came back empty. 
 
 “ Ready the bikes. ” The command was given and several boys came out of mechanical yard with the a-framed contraption. 
 
 The pedal-powered bicycles were more than enough for what they needed, although the Elderly had those odd gas-powered contraptions now. * They were getting better at this. * Giving the order to open the gate and drop the bridge of our makeshift the castle, I straddled the bike and rode out into the clearing. 
 
 We rode in silence. Pedaling as fast as our feet would take us towards the nearby vacant city. Forcing speed into our legs as we dashed across the open ground. 
 
 * *Roar. ** 
 
 *What was that? * 
 
 A strange, gas-powered bicycle rode out of the treeline, roaring on all cylinders as it dashed towards me. The deteriorating effects of aging clear on the rider who hooted and hollered as they approached. Slinging my AK into a clumsy one-handed grip I squeezed the trigger. The action was done more as a warning but the motorized cycle still dashed towards our clumsy group. I squeezed again and they continued. 
 
 “ What is that? ” It moved so fast, it was hard to aim. Letting the gun fall I began to pedal faster as the jeep swung out from one of our blind spots. *damn* 
 
 Pedaling faster I pushed forward, knowing that the only relative safety was in the city ahead. 
 
 The motorized cycle caught up quickly, and a quick swing of it ’ s bat caught one of the stragglers off guard. Visibly the rider holding the weapon de-aged. Syphoning the years of the boy. Hooting and hollering at their new joy. 
 
 “ 246 years young! ” he yelled in triumph. 
 
 I watched the future that was waiting for me. Would I turn out like this? Everyone knew this is why the adults were banned from the Breedery. Still, he could not see himself acting this way. He would die before he let it happen. 
 
 Coalescing with his thoughts, the second group of adults came out of the nearby clearing. Rushing themselves out of the city towards the children as they were chased. The Guardians. Not quite as old as the Elderly, the Guardians rushed through the plains, holding improvised weapons as they reared on the Elderly, hell-bent on protecting the Young. They charged forward like the knights in the stories, Shouting their battle cry, striking unnatural fear into the elderly as they turned and made back to the relative safety of their communities. 
 
 The Guardians slowed and matched the Youth ’ s speed. A large man with long hair, tied back into a bun-like tail approached me. “ You weren ’ t supposed to be out today. ” 
 
 “ Sorry Dad, kids were hungry, I didn ’ t think the babies would make it two more days. ” 
 
 The man nodded in acknowledgement. “ Are you ready to join us? ” 
 
 “ Only if I can be a Guardian. ” I responded. 
 
 ‘ You know the rules Eli, it ’ ll be a while before that happens. Only reason I ’ ll still be in is because of your sister. ” Nodding my acknowledgement I followed my father into the city below. 

