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“Well, if we are all dead, who will be here for the baby?” asks Cyrus. And I can’t help but consider his question. He is right. But if Kelly can't nurse, then that is all the food my niece or nephew will have.

“Ask him again, and I’ll kill you myself,” Tyler snaps. “I’ve told you before and I’m telling you now, that formula is for the baby.” I watch Tyler clench his jaw and take a deep breath. “How about you make yourself useful, go and help Xander with the fire, and leave us alone,” demands Tyler.

I’m shocked seeing my brother act like this. At the same time, I’m also proud to see him stand up for himself and his child. I don’t say anything, frankly, because I don’t have the energy.

“Fuck off, Tyler. You know I’m right. We’re all starving to death—literally. We’re wasting away out here.” Cyrus snaps back.

“I told you to stop and go somewhere, Cyrus, and do it before you piss me off.” Tyler's voice sounds more agitated.

“Well, hotshot, what are you going to do about it? Look at you. You've given all your food to that psycho bitch. You couldn't hurt me even if you tried.”

“Cyrus, walk away.” Tyler’s voice is cold and stern, reminding me of our father. I’ve never seen this side of my brother before.

“Make me,” Cyrus says with a wicked grin, as if deliberately testing how far he can push Tyler before he snaps.

“This is your last chance. I said you need to walk away, Cyrus,” Tyler demands. I hear crackling from outside and turn to see Xander outside, adding more pieces of broken furniture to the fire. The flames rise high into the sky, sending embers and sparks flying.

“And I told you to make me,” Cyrus responds.

Just as Xander steps into the medical center, a blast of cold air rushes through once more, sending a chill down my spine, almost like an omen. A second later, Tyler sprints directly to Cyrus. Kelly screams. Julie walks in carrying a stack of books, completely unaware of the drama, and is knocked over by Tyler as he charges past. Xander steps back, holding the door open, and Tyler tackles Cyrus to the icy-cold deck.

Tyler slams his fist into Cyrus's jaw and crimson blood paints the white snow like an abstract painting. Cyrus fights back, knocking Tyler to the ground. Tyler's head bashes into the deck. Cyrus jumps up and slams his fist into Tyler's face, and with each hit, blood gushes.

“Cyrus, get off him!” I shout, running outside to pull him off. Tyler looks up at me, putting his hand up to stop me.

“I can handle this, Theo. Go back inside,” he demands. Cyrus bashes him in the face again, and it takes everything in me not to intervene.

“Your whore and bastard child will die out here just like the rest of us, and there's nothing you can do.”

I watch as Tyler grabs Cyrus’s hand mid-punch, then shoves him off. Tyler quickly jumps to his feet, facing Cyrus, who is now lying flat on the ground. Tyler's face is bruised and battered, with one eye nearly swollen completely shut. Cyrus tries to stand but slips in the bloody snow and falls. As soon as Cyrus tries to stand again, I look over at Tyler and watch as he charges directly at Cyrus. I’m paralyzed in place, watching as my brother shoves Cyrus backward. I’m unable to speak as I watch Cyrus fall into the blazing fire. His clothes and hair ignite instantly. Cyrus lets out an agonized scream as the flames engulf him.

“Somebody help him!” screams Karissa. I reach out and cover her mouth.

“No, let him burn. If anyone wants to fight, it's going to be to the death. We don't have the strength or energy to put up with this,” I say.

Karissa collapses to the floor next to me, tears streaming down her face as she watches Cyrus burn. I turn to see the rest of the group staring in horror. Still screaming, Cyrus tries to stand but his leg is caught on something and he can't move. Within seconds, he drops back into the fire pit and flails like a fish out of water, screaming. I stand, not offering or letting anyone else help.

Several minutes pass, the screams come to a stop, and his twitching body becomes still. The flames are so hot that his clothes are nearly singed off. His once-pale skin now has bright red patches and charred areas all over. His hair is completely gone, as are his eyelids, and his face burned with such intensity that his lips are also gone, revealing all his teeth. The raging flames flicker all around him as his body comes to rest, facing the medical center, and I swear his eyes are staring directly at me. Sara lets out a scream just feet away from me and drops to the floor. Then the room goes silent.

No one moves a muscle. A moment later, Tyler, with his swollen eyes, bloodied face, and split knuckles, opens the door. The cold rush of wind blasts in once more. We all stand staring at him for another several minutes, processing what just happened. Tyler begins to breathe harder and faster, almost as if he is having a panic attack.

“I need some fresh air, I can’t breathe,” says Tyler as he opens the door behind him. This time, the cold air wafts inside with the scent of burning flesh. I glance around and realize no one is speaking because everyone's eyes are laser-focused on the burning body; no one is crying or yelling anymore. The smell is overwhelming, as is the sound of stomachs growling around the room.

“We can't do this,” says Chris from behind Sara. I don’t ask what he is talking about because I know exactly what he is referring to by looking at all the faces around me.

“Why can't we? Do you not smell that?” asks Xander, licking his lips repeatedly.

“Dude, it's cannibalism,” Chris says.

Right before I speak up to agree with Chris, the smell of cooked meat hits me. My senses explode, and suddenly, my mouth begins to water.

“Chris,” says Sara, drawing all our attention to her. She grabs his hands and lowers her head. “Chris, you are right. It is wrong. But this is now a matter of survival, and if we don't…” she pauses for a second. “If we don't eat, we will all starve to death. Think about it. You know it’s true.”

“Who are you? The Sara I know would never consider it,” Chris murmurs, pulling his arm away with a look of disgust.

“Then don't do it, Chris,” demands Xander. “It's more for the rest of us. I can smell it everywhere.”

The door opens, and the smell wafts in once again. My mouth waters even more, almost to the point that I cannot think straight.