#2

Although they were identical twins, their manners of thinking could not be more different. Since they were evenly split on the issue, it had been no use consulting them for a decision. This was something he would have to decide; after all, he was the most culpable, since he was the one blocking their entry into the log house.

"You're killing us!" she wailed. "YOU'RE KILLING US!"

Levi stared at the lock, feeling his hand inexorably reaching for it. Before he could turn it and let the two of them in, however, he felt ice goosebumps erupt across his spine as a fist thudded hard against the window and created a crack.

"Open the goddamn door before I make sure all of you sick fucks die with us!" screamed the girl, pounding against the glass repeatedly but unable to break it. With each blow, more blood spattered against the window and the cracks became larger and larger.

"Lily, please don't!" pleaded the second voice.

Levi unlocked the door swiftly and flung the door open with rage, grabbing Lily by the scruff of her collar. He threw her down to the floor and stood over her, snarling, the tip of his civil-war era replica sword at her throat.

"You fucking selfish piece of shit!" inveighed Levi. "You'd endanger us all to save your own skin?"

"I'd do [i]anything[/i] for my sister!" shot back Lily, scowling up at Levi defiantly.

The sound of the door shutting and locking behind him brought Levi back to his senses. Before he could fully turn around, he saw something to his side that made his jaw drop. It was...

"A kid..." he whispered, staring down at the little girl who was undoubtedly the little sister Lily had just mentioned. It had been an eternity since he had seen a child, since he had laid his eyes on the innocence and purity that came with someone so young of age. It was terrible to see a child in this cold and cruel world, tears streaming down her frightened, blue eyes... 

It was a long time before he realised, to his horror, that this innocent child was pointing a gun directly at his chest.

"Leave her a-alone or I'll-... I'll shoot you!" she stammered, tears streaming down her eyes as the gun trembled in her hands.

"Callie, [i]no[/i]!" begged Lily, eyes wide in terror, watching her little sister defend her when it should have been the other way around.

Levi dropped the sword to the floor, watching it fall to the floor with a loud clatter. He put his hands up, his breathing ragged. Callie wasn't prepared for this world. She was just a frightened child, and frightened children couldn't be held to think rationally. He was going to die here. And worse, his death was going to turn a lost little girl into a killer.

Evelyn stared at the scene, wracked with uncertainty. Judging by Callie's twitchiness, any sudden movement would mean Levi's death. She had been surprised at the ferocity of his actions against Lily but had shared his anger until she saw why she did what she did. If Evelyn had been in the same position, the arduous position of taking care of a young girl in this world, she would have done the same and perhaps even worse.

"Please don't kill me." whispered Levi, looking straight into Callie's eyes. He took special care to emphasize the word 'kill', hoping to relay to her the gravitas of pulling that trigger.