[Day of the annual Purge]

[04:00 hours before the start of the Purge]

It was still light outside. Many people were still on the streets, which was expected, as the start of the Purge was still a few hours away. Many people were still in the shops to buy things to get through the night. Some people would already be home and wouldn't go out till the night was over. These people wouldn't participate in this act of violence and would try to secure their homes as good as possible. Some with a high-tech security system and others with simple barricades. Others would be getting ready for the night of terror to come. Packing their bag of guns, sharpening their blades, get all the ammo ready, and power-up their vehicle.

One of these people was Nikki. She was alone in her apartment and was just about to go out. She was wearing a casual outfit, as she didn't want to be seen as a murdered at this moment. It would be much more fun to surprise people in her newly bought assassin's outfit. She went out of the apartment, locking the door behind her. She went out on the streets and headed to the convenience store. She grabbed a basket and walked through the store. She bought some bandages, patches, disinfecting water and similar things, should she sustain a nasty wound this night. She headed out again after paying and wiped her forehead. A smile appeared on her face. "I can't wait till it's evening." she said and continued walking.

Arthur was at his office 4 hours before the annual purge, today was a busy day for him, lots of callers and orders to handle. He checked his watch, it would take him at least an hour to get home, two with the probable traffic. He got up from his chair and walked over to the door, pulling his suit jacket from the hanger and wearing, he opened the door and locked it shut.

"Maria stay safe tonight, beauty. I'd hate to replace you." He said to his secretary, she nodded with a manufactured smile. The office floor was hectic, everyone in a rush to go home and hide- or stay up and purge. Arthur walked through the cubicles, looking at his employees, "come on come on folks, wrap it up and head home, I'd hate to look for new employees tomorrow morning." .

Arthur took the elevator, he took out his cellphone and dialed his manor's head of staff, "Sandy, please prepare the manor for tonight. Get the defense systems up, warm up the electric perimeter and have the boys arm up and take their positions. Double time dear".
"All well Mr. Rutherford. We will be expecting you in two hours."

The elevator rung, the doors opened, he was at the garage. He walled over to his Bentley and started the engine, throwing his suitcase in the backseat. Arthur preferred to drive himself, hiring a chaperone takes away the joy of driving. He drove the car out of the garage, sun was starting to set, he played his music player. Ludwig Beethoven.

People were all over the streets. Some armed, others carrying loads of grocery, it was chaotic. Arthur hoped he could get home before the purge started, fingers crossed that the traffic won't be as bad.

The dinner had closed early, everyone went home but bill, he stayed for a while to wrap everything up and close the dinner. While he walked home he thought to make a run to the convenience store to grab some stuff, but it was a bit late to do so, so he just went home. The sunset looked beautiful he thought as he approached his house. His house was old and small, but it was more than enough for bill. After entering his house he took a bath, after wards he wore a black jeans and a black shirt. As he wore his knee pads he thought that his machete might need a bit of sharpening. He took his grey backpack from the closet, he threw it on the bed as he left the room. He went down to the basement, he switched the lights on as he went down the stairs. In the basement, a set of dumbbells, a couple of dusty old shelves with some boxes, and on the corner of the basement was a safe. There he stood in front of the safe, took a deep breath and exhaled, opened the safe after entering the code, inside it was a stack of many that were held together by a rubber band, a 9mm gun and 7 small boxes of 9mm ammo.

He took 4 boxes and the gun, he closed the safe after wards and walked towards the shelves. There his bloody old blunt machete lied. He grabbed it and went up stairs closing the basement door behind him. He went back to his bedroom, dropped the ammo boxes into the bag. Bill put down his gun and machete on the bed by the bag, and went to the kitchen to grab two water bottles and a couple of energy bars. He dropped them in the backpack along with the ammo. Zipped the bag and carried it on his back, then sheathed his gun between his back and the jeans he wore, and grabbed the machete as he went to the backyard.
There he operated his medium-sized grinding stone and sharpened the machete. Went back inside, his machete sharpened and ready to purge, carrying it in his right hand. His gun sheathed between his back and his jeans. He went out to the porch and sat on the chair looking at the sun as it sets. He was ready..ready to purge.

The alarm clock buzzed, putting an end to the heavenly sleep Stevie Novak was in. She slammed her hand down on the alarm clock and woke up groggily. Like many other people, Stevie had taken the day off of work to stay home - only she had a different reason behind it. While overly paranoid citizens stayed home so they would be ready and secured for the purge, Stevie stayed home so she could be well rested for her own purging that night. Light was seeping through the blinds in her room, telling her that it was still daylight outside. She took a look at her clock and it was four hours before the purge would begin. This would give her just enough time to gather and prepare her weapons, make sure she had essential health kits, and put her in the right state of mind.

While others purged much like serial killers - no specific target in mind, killing only for the purpose to relieve stress - Stevie had her own reasons for participating and had her own methods. Up until the age of 17, she had not participated in the purge. However, once her entire family was taken from her during the purge of her senior year, she made it her duty from then onward to participate in the purge and stay those who preyed after innocent families. Sure, it was twisted, but she felt as if it was justified. Perhaps it was.

She made sure that all of her supplies was ready and she was prepared for what was to come. It was now two hours before the purge and she was ready.

The time passed rather quick, not much time was left before the actual Purge was going to begin. Nikki packed a little pouch back at home including all the medical treatment, in case she got wounded during the night. She got dressed, and put on her assassin's dress. A short black leather dress, with high black leather heels and stockings which had supports. Underneath her dress was a bullet-proof medallion protecting her heart, she didn't want a completely vest as it would only slow her down. She attached the pouch under her dress to a belt-like accessory. It was getting dark outside, a sign for Nikki to head out.

She grabbed her katana from her secret spot in the house, along with several throwing knives, attaching the latter to her belt. She held her sheathed katana in her hands, just as she did in previous years. She had been keeping track of what would be happening during the Purge. She had heard there was a party for wealthy people in one of the most wealthy neighborhoods of the city. It was the house in the same neighborhood where Rutherford lived. However that house was too much protected to even get in. Aside from the system security, he also had a whole armed staff ready to protect him. But she knew that the party just relied on a system security system.

Nikki made her way to the mansion, and sneaked to the back of the house. There was a small window at the back of the house. Because it was a party the systems would go on when the announcement of the Purge would begin. This was her only moment to break into the house without being heard or seen, as everyone would be listening to the announcement. Or maybe the party had already started, she didn't know how those party's went. And after the announcement it was her time to strike.