the purge - matthew espinosa [a / u]

chapter one.

chapter one.

the streets were packed full of people hurriedly rushing to get home, just as we were. the sound of locks clicking sent my nerves on a frantic frenzy, and i could see my brother's jaw clenched. we still had to get home, and then make our way to matt's house. we had less then 45 minutes to do so, and if we didn't make it in time- well, let's just say we wouldn't make it far at all.

i felt jack yank me to the side, "what the hell?" i said and he nodded to the side that i was previously walking on, and shivers ran down my back. a man in a mask was holding a machete in each hand and i glanced down at his waist, to see a large rifle on his belt.

"you're welcome," jack muttered, bitterness in his tone, the usual at this time of year. we neared our old, dirty apartment building, which towered over the city with the other skyrises, having 13 floors. i watched curtains slide closed, mothers hurrying the children inside their homes, homeless men scurrying into dark allies, and then who knows where. this was normal for today, this had been the normal for this exact day every year, for over a hundred years.

as jack and i walked through the creaky, rusted door, a musky smell wafted in the air. we took the stairs this time, not even bothering with the elevator that probably held who knows how many people trying to find shelter.

we walked down the hall, not saying a word, til we got to our apartment. jiggling the knob a few times, jack let out a sigh when it opened. muffled whispers floated through, coming from our parent's room.

"tyler, sh, the kids are home," my mother had said in a raspy voice. i raised a brow at my brother, to which he just shook his head. i set my backpack down on the counter, just as my parents walked out dressed in darker outfits, guns slung at their sides.

my eyes widened. "why-" i began, only to be cut off.

"before you guys worry, we're just going to a party at the wilkinson's, don't worry," my dad said in a calm, soothing voice.

"we just figured it was best that we were prepared if anything happened on the way there," my mother said non-chalantly. my brother only grunted in reply, setting his bag down as well and walking to his room. i peaked my head in the kitchen to see the blurry clock on the oven: 5:38.

"jack, we gotta go, now," i said panicking. we couldn't stay home alone but we needed to hurry if we wanted to get to the party in time. he came out of the hall, wearing a big jacket. i tried to clear my mind of what i knew was under it.

"you're not going out in that," he shook his head at me. i looked down upon myself, slightly taken back. i thought i looked kinda cute in my red flannel, white crop top, black circle skirt and black hightops.

"but, i-"

"orion, c'mon, at least put on a vest if you don't plan on carrying anything with you," he made his way to the shoe closet, pulling out a vest and shaking off the dust. groaning, i stamped over to him.

i coughed in the cloud of gray, swatting it away with my hand as much as i snatched the heavy thing from jack's hands.

"guys, you need to hurry otherwise you won't make it," my dad said as i padded to the bathroom to change, shutting the door. i could just barely hear jack trying to convince my parents to just go, but they wouldn't budge, insuring that they locked up after we left. they'd been acting quite odd, almost suspicious, but i tried to clear my mind of that; tonight was not the night to put myself in that mind set.

after putting the scratchy bullet-resisting best on under my shirt, i grabbed my phone out of my back pack and sighed. "ready?" i asked jack, glancing at the buldge where a rifle was hidden in his jacket. he nodded.