Skylar beckoned to the two open seats at the top of the table. "We were just beginning girls. Take a seat."

The two girls moved forward to take their chairs, flashing smiles at Eloise.
"Natalie, go get the masks please."

Skylar looked at his youngest sister, smiling encouragingly.

Natalie scooted her chair back, getting up, and running to Skylar's room. Eloise's eyes followed the eight year old girl as she disappeared into the hallway. She was ecstatic to finally be able to participate with the family. The biggest rule the family had was the age rule. You had to be at least eight years of age.

She came back, stumbling with the large box. Skylar met her and took it, dumping the contents onto the table. Skylar shifted through them, drawing out two white masks. They were blank, besides the two eye sockets and the small screened hole to breathe through for the nose. He held them out, reaching towards Marly and June.

"Its three o'clock. You have four hours to decorate those anyway you'd like."

He pulled out two glitter filled masked, handing the sparkling pink one to Natalie and the sparkling blue one to Raven. It was both their first times.

Eloise reached towards the pile, spotting her mask in the midst of it. Her fingers curled around it, pulling it towards her. She had spent an entire day painting the Queen of Hearts masks, working so delicately to make it perfect to her standards.

The rest of the masks were handed out to their owners, each having a unique design of their own. A plastic container was brought out, given to Marly and June. It held an assortment of coloring utensils and paints, glitters and stickers, all to decorate their masks.

"Tonight, we purge. Tonight, we cleanse our souls of hatred and evil that has done us wrong this year. Tonight, we rid ourselves of the Devil within us and our God will forgive our yearly sins. Tomorrow, we start fresh. Tomorrow will be the start of a new year. Tonight, we purge!"

Cheers filled the tiny apartment complex following Skylar's words, loud clapping was heard along with it. Every person with a mask that sat at the table was in for the family purging.

Dinner was early that night and it was when the biggest speech was to come. Anastasia ladled out the soup while Raven poured the drinks. Natalie and Raven had taken to wearing their masks the rest of the day and Skylar hadn't let Eloise out of her sight, forcing her to stay in the living room and unable to speak out loud with her two friends. The result? They had taken to texting each other.

"Everyone's ready for tonight?" Skylar inquired, grabbing each of their attention once again. "Good. I expect everyone knows what they want to do tonight?" He paused, waiting for each acknowledgement before continuing.

"You have from seven to midnight to do as you want, to cleanse your souls of your own doings. From midnight to one you are to be back here. At one is when the ritual will take place, to cleanse our souls as a whole." Skylar smiled at the end of his words, waiting until the wild clapping died down. "After dinner you will get ready and be on your way. Now, who is taking the first timers?"

Eloise's hand shot up instantly. "We're going to take Raven and Natalie."

Skylar nodded, leaving the group as he walked into the adjacent kitchen, rummaging through the drawers. He made his way back to Eloise and set the handgun down in front of her. Her eyes fell on it and she swallowed nervously. Her weapon of choice every year was something she could use to watch her prey suffer as they died. Guns made it quick, easy, harmless. Eloise had never used a gun before. She could only sit there and stare at it.

"You're going to need it. To protect them." Skylar said softly.

Her eyes rose slowly to see everyone staring at her. She reached forward, her hand wrapping around the heavy handle, pulling it to her. She hoped she didn't have to use it at all.

"Let's eat everyone." Skylar moved to his seat. "One last reminder." He said, pausing. "Don't forget to always wear your masks. Also, have fun purging." He grinned and finally took his chair.

It was easier to escape Skylar's intent glaring after the dinner as she departed to her room, Marly and June on her heels. They had also followed her lead on making their masks. Marly had gone with the Joker and June had gone with the Ace of Spades. Finally, they had a solid two hours to get their final touches together.