Food was served. Quite large cans of food. Containing chicken, meat, beans, everything.
I took about ten cans. We needed to stock up on everything. What if food wasn't given for a week? What would we do then?
And it did come true. For the next week, no food was given. Everyone was going crazy from hunger. Meanwhile, thanks to my instincts, the ten cans we took lasted us a week, even more than enough.
Meanwhile, the people outside were starving. But there was nothing we could do. I needed that wish more than anyone else. Every human being needed to experience being loved by their families, at least once. As an orphan, I was experiencing this for the first time, and I wouldn't let it disappear.
Screams rose. Everyone was knocking on the door. When I opened it, they were begging for a drop of food. The moment I saw them, I grabbed a gun from the pile of guns next to me and started shooting without blinking.
I would pull the trigger, then say, "He pulled a gun on me," to Melisa,trying to justify myself.
Yet, forget about the man in front of me having a gun; he didn't even have decent clothes to wear.
He was going to die anyway. Now or another time, what difference did it make? Showing them pity wouldn't change anything. Only one person could get out of here. One person, and that person would only be the strongest.
Seeing the pile of corpses accumulating outside our door, people hesitated even more as they approached us.
A week later, the food arrived. This time, people were taking extra. We already had two cans of food in our room. I took nine more. I took them to our room. As I was going to our room, they blocked my way:
—You're the one who committed this injustice, aren't you!
—I don't understand who you're talking about. My wife and I needed something to eat. I bought enough to last us a week.
—Your wife and you? How many people are in one room?
—Why are you asking?
—There have to be at least nine people in one room.
—Who decides that?
—There are about 1000 of us here. Everyone needs to have a room to shelter in.
—Too many people have died. We're not 1000 anymore.
—Let's say 900.
—I'm only responsible for taking what's for my wife and myself. There are 10 people in our room. Everyone takes their own.
—Isn't nine for two people a lot for a week? If you're only taking for your wife and yourself. —My wife is pregnant. She needs extra food. —Does it matter that she's pregnant? She probably won't get out of here anyway.
—I'll get her out of here.
—You'll sacrifice yourself? Only one person can get out of here. The old man said so.
—If necessary.
I said. After saying that, they were going to leave me alone. Until,
—Which room is yours?
Pointing to a random room,
—That one.
—Then open the door with your key.
—Not that one. That one over there.
—Why did you lie?""
—I want to survive without getting into trouble.
—We'll see. Open your door.
He said.
He put a gun to my back. I opened the door.
Melisa screamed,
—Stay away from him! Please! I beg you!
—Don't get involved in this, Melisa!
I said to her.
—Please! Leave him alone! I can't live here without him!
She begged.
—Melisa, go to the restroom. Right now. Close the door.
She hesitated.
—Don't worry, I'll be fine.
—Okay…
She was about to go to the restroom when suddenly one of the six people behind me grabbed Melisa. She grabbed her arm and pressed her foot on her back.
—You'll break my arm!
Melisa said.
—Leave her alone! Isn't your problem with me? This is my last warning. You wouldn't want to have a bad relationship with me.
I said.
The gang leader next to me looked at me,
—You lied. Do you deserve such goodwill?
He asked.
—I didn't lie. There were ten of us. I killed the others.
I said. They were surprised.
—Why did you do this, you scoundrel!?
—During the shortage of food. They argued that the only way to end the shortage was to reduce the number of people. They were going to shoot us. I defended myself.
—How will you prove the truth of that?
—You must have seen the corpses at our door…
—Did you do all of that?
—Yes. I did.
—Why should I let someone like you live?
—I think you should. If you don't want to spend the rest of your life without having children,
Saying this, I pulled out my own gun and pointed it right there. Down below.
—I think that will hurt.
I said.
The gang leader hesitated,
—Vera. Let the woman go.
—What if I don't?
—Let her go, we defend the equality of the people here. We have no business with a pregnant woman.
—You're doing something ridiculous. Everyone's going to die anyway! Only one person will survive!
Vera said. She pulled out her gun and pointed it at Melisa. I grabbed the gang leader's gun too and shot the person holding Melisa in the head. I didn't want to waste my own bullets. The gang leader tried to calm me down, but I still held my other gun pointed at him.
—We're sorry. It was our mistake. If you put the gun down, we can still have a stable relationship.
—I don't believe you. Getting rid of all of you at once seems like a better option.
—There are only two bullets left in that gun, as you know. I don't think you have many in yours either. There are four of us right now. I don't think you can kill all four of us with two bullets.
Melisa was trembling in a corner, next to the woman I'd shot in the head. I went over to her.
—Get the hell out of here.
—Mr. Aden, what should we do,
A member asked to the gang leader.
—Let's withdraw for now.
He said.
—Are you sure?
—"Yes." He said. They closed the door and left. I grabbed the person I shot by his feet and threw him outside the door. I took all the bodies and threw them far away. I didn't want to smell them when they started to rot. Then I returned to my room. Melisa was still on the floor. She couldn't get up. "I was so scared," she said.
—We're alive.
I answered.
—What if they come again?
—They won't.
—Are you sure?
—Yes I am.