"So, how're you going?" K asked. You called him K, because he refused to give his name. You never asked why.
"What do you think?" You spat back. You were not in a friendly mood. He should have left you alone.

You were thinking on joining your dad on his 'meetings' despite what your grandma's words. You figured it wasn't too late to change things. You thought you could change who you are, and who you're meant to be. Your brother had already joined a couple time, he has grown rebellious after his 'incident'. He seek every chance he get to make the guards suffer. He spat, threw his piss and other unthinkable stuff to guards he thinks deserved it, it was a miracle they haven't done anything more serious to him.

It was also the worst few days ever since you came there. The heat was strong, and there were no food left. The logistics somehow messed things up somewhere and for the past days the guards have been giving you scraps of their food. But for the last two days there was none. It seemed the guards themselves were at lost at what to do. Babies were wailing everywhere, your grandma and other elders were sick with dehydration and hunger. It wasn't just you, everyone was in their worst mood today.

Mrs. Green has a little girl. She was slight build and quite fragile. You know the girl has been sick ever since she came here. The girl was never strong, even before these all started. The little girl's been weaker and weaker ever since. She barely made any sound. Crying showed strength, but this girl only whimpers softly every now and then.

You tried to ignore K, and looked around the field. Up on the north corner, people seemed to be getting excited on something. You stood up and walked over. The noise started getting louder, "Shut Up! Why should I give you guys anything? It's not as if you've ever given anything to me."

There was a male sitting down, holding a piece of bread. Was the bread molded? and chipping pieces of it. There was still a good amount left on his hand. The crowd talked at the same time, you were close enough to hear them speaking.
"Come on, you've eaten enough. I saw you.."
"..Stop being so selfish, my kids were screaming all day, now just give it to us and we'll split it up nicely"
"Just hand it over you greedy bastard"
There were a mix of women and men around the man holding the bread. He has stopped eating and paid full attention to the crowd. You didn't recognize him, but his clothes were ragged and old. His hair were a mess, though none of the rest could be called neat either. You figured he was a homeless guy who sometimes liked to sleep on the park benches.
"Hey you worthless scumbag, stop being a garbage and do some good to your society once in your life, will ya" cried one.
The homeless man laughed at this, his teeth black and broken, he shook his head as if the idea was truly laughable, "I saved this shit from a while back, a couple of months ago you guys wouldn't even look at my face and now you are begging to have something that I have. The wheel has truly turned." He laughed.
"Please, " said some female voice, "give it to me. I can trade you my necklace for it."
"With all due respect, madam. I can't eat gold even if I want to. I saved my food because I'm used to being hungry, I know tomorrow may not bring food and there's no saying you couldn't have saved yours too. So y'all just back off, okay?" replied the guy at that.

The crowd grumbles, stirring restlessly, unsure. The man was surrounded, you know the crowd would've won if they decide to use force. The only thing stopping them is because there wasn't enough bread to feed everyone, and most likely whoever got the bread will be attacked too. The man seemed to realize this too as he got up from his seat and stood warily, almost prepared. Almost, because he wasn't really prepared. You saw a slight movement behind the man, and suddenly the man screamed.

The crowd took a step back, surprised, afraid. The homeless man stood, eyes bulging, back arching, his throat made an unregistered sound. Something raw and guttural. He fell, shuddering, leaving the woman behind him holding a knife. Your eyes grew large, and your throat clammed. Your heart called her, and she caught your eyes. Those eyes were so cold and so sad. You wanted to step back and away, but you can't.
She looked down towards the man, now stilled, and groan. She bent and took the bread from his hand, all this time the knife still in her hand.

The crowd hasn't said a word, there were shock registered in the faces. Some in horror, some in regret, some in imagination if it was them who had done it. She stepped back, and said as cold as she can, "I'm just a mother." She turned with the bread and knife, and you watched Mrs. Green's back as she walked away.

The crowd burst in a murmur, in whispers, in accusations, hatred and disgust a what happened, suddenly elevated in conscience. You stood there watching as the blood pooled around the homeless man, no one lifted a finger.

"Well, that was interesting. Something to remember. The first murder here were not done by us," a voice sounded amused. You turned to meet K's soft smile. Then he said, "Come on, help me lift this guy."

He bent and took the man's head, and nodded at the feet. You numbly walked over, took the feet and together you brought the body to the edge where another soldier took over for you.You returned to your family, who have heard what happened, who looked at you unsure whether you should be applauded or hit.

That night you sat watching your mother, your heart filled with questions and love? Would she had done the same thing as Mrs. Green for you? Would you forgive her if she had done it for you? Would you be disappointed if she didn't?
There was now a considerable space between the Greens family and the surrounding families who have shifted away. They looked like a lonely island. Their daughter, Tiara, asleep soundly. Mrs. Green impassive. Mr. Green bewildered. You saw the look he gave his wife, and you didn't understand why there was fear in those eyes. You shook your head, getting rid of the possibilities, feeling lucky that your mother was never in that situation.

Instead, you listen to Mrs. Green's tears. Tonight even softer, tonight more sorrowful.