The 1st Hour

****WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT IN GORY DETAILS****

To my surprise Dad helped haul Damien's limp body into my bedroom. After dragging him upstairs I eventually told dad why I drugged my boyfriend and he sighed deeply.

"You know, he's going to be super mad when he wakes up tomorrow, right?"

I pulled the covers to Damien's neck and half-smiled.

"But at least he would be here tomorrow, right?" I turned to dad.

He nodded once and rubbed my shoulder for support. I don't know why we were both still standing here, watching my unconscious boyfriend. Thankfully, the doorbell rang before the silence got awkward.

There's about another half an hour before the commencement. It's probably dad's crew.

I followed behind him as he unlocked the twenty-seven locks on the front door.

"I don't need to see the security lockdown you got there, I can hear it." That voice sounded familiar.

My dad snickered as he unchained the last lock and gave his friend, who was also a former war veteran, a bear hug.

"Al, I'm glad you made it." My dad grinned.

"Unlike last time, aye Kieran?" Al is a big man, not fat but not all muscle either. He's skin is significantly darker than my dad's sunburnt, worn leather complexion and although dad was taller, Al had a large frame that would have made him a great quarterback. But now his mass was supported by a prosthetic leg which he is more accustomed to.

I tried not to frown when I saw it.

I was there when it happened. When they skewered his leg to pile of dead bodies with a sword. I was there...hiding among the piles of dead bodies-

"And if it isn't the birthday girl!" Al's hug snapped me out of my reverie. Wow. It was a crushing hug. I could barely breathe. My dad just smirked at my panicked face. "I got you something." He quickly released me. Thank god. But I hated getting presents. It was tough enough, accepting a sapphire ring from Damien, when people's lives are risk. That was until I saw the bow and arrow he tossed me.

"For future archery lessons?" I smiled. This is awesome! He always boasted about archery in the training camps and how he was better than the instructor. I did remember nagging him about giving me a few pointers, even though I didn't have the equipment. "Thank you Al, this is perfect."

"Pfft. Wait till you see what your dad got you." Al nudged my dad and I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. We had this agreement that he wasn't supposed to get me anything.

But I guess that didn't stop him from getting me a freaking machine gun!

It was on the second floor, parked near a window. Totally convenient for shooting trespassers. Great....

"I don't even know how to use it." I said as I stroked the exterior. Everything about giant machine guns looked complicated. I usually just stick to a handgun or a pocket knife. Small but effective if used right and I've had plenty of practice with those.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. That's what Uncle Al is here for." My dad winked. I suppose this means the crew has decided not to include Al in this year's rescue mission. Can't blame them. He lost his leg. It's kind of him stay with me though. I feel safer already.

Then something blared from the speakers.

"Anouncing the commencement of the annual Purge. All crime, including murder, will be legal. If you are not purging, we strongly advise you to evacuate the streets. Your government thanks you for your participation."

My insides cringe at this sudden announcement. It echoed down the streets and sent a violent chill down my back. I tensed up and my dad placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder after he has secured a bullet proof vest. His crew arrived in a van. There's a about five of them now, including dad. I hugged him tight. I always feared for him. But I know he would never stop fighting until he made it home to me.

"Please, be safe." I whispered.

"You too, sweetheart and Happy birthday." Al and I waved him goodbye as the van sped off in the late afternoon...which had already begun to burn. I immediately armed the house and gone over the security systems. This is what Al and I decided to do. I look after the house, be vigilant of purgers whilst Al watches the live footage and calls to warn my dad of certain routes and hostages.

Things were going as they usually go. I flinched at the sound of screams and explosions. I continually check on Al, who has planted himself on a computer chair, barking demands to dad and the crew.

"You don't want to head up north, not in the van. They have snipers on the rooftops-"

I practiced on my breathing. Last year, I was locked outside with dad and the crew. I remembered how scared he was. He didn't want to lose me like he lost my mum.

I felt a painful jab in my stomach.

It doesn't matter if you're locked out or locked in. You feel just as shit.

Maybe it's time to check on Damien. Al knows about my whole knock out situation. He even pat me on the back for it.

I climbed the stairs to my bedroom and noticed that the closed door is now open just a crack. I raced to it and flung the door open.

He's gone.

"Damien?" I paced around the room. Nope. He's not here. "Damien, can you hear me?" I checked the bathroom. No sign of him. I searched the entire second floor. He's gone! "Shit."

This doesn't even make any sense. I gave him the red pills. The knock out drugs. It shouldn't have worn off so quickly. I had my hands in my hair, ready to scream but I dashed to the kitchen and got out the drugs. I opened the red capsules and white powder poured out. I examined the white stuff. It looked awfully familiar. I dipped a pinkie in and tasted it.

Sugar.

He filled the capsules up with sugar!

"Fuck."

I sprinted to the computer room where Al was supposed to be sitting. He was also gone. Seriously? Lets hope it was a bathroom break.

"Al, where are you? Damien's gone. The pills were false-"

Something caught my eye on one of the live footages. I saw a man in a black bullet proof vest being nailed to a makeshift cross. He was bleeding severely. His face was bruised and almost disfigured. Some teeth were misisng. A small crowd surrounded him with hay. They were spitting on him and chanting something that wasn't audible. I took a step back.

A masked man from the chaotic crowd had a dagger in his hand. He approached the man, turned to the security camera and I saw it. His mask. White foundation with black smudged eyes. The letters G O D were scribbled on his forehead. I gasped.

He held the dagger up, threateningly and then stabbed it into the eye of his victim.

"DAD!!!!"

I stumbled back and covered my mouth as tears trailed down my face. The masked man was hacking at my dad's face with his dagger. There was an array of blood, and the crowd loved it. Most of the were masked themselves. Some of them just had bandannas.

Once the masked man was done. They lit the hay on fire and I watched my dad burn, his head barely attached to his neck. His eyes...scoured.

I stared at the screen for what seemed like hours when I caught a dark silhouette at the doorway.

"Al?"

He was holding the bow he bought me, with the shealth of arrows slung over his shoulder.

"Al, my dad is...he's dead!" I cried.

"I know." Al replied bluntly. What?

"Why is he dead?" I asked. I cautiously took a step back.

"Because I gave him the wrong directions." He began to string an arrow and was slowly aiming it to me.

"He trusted you...HE TRUSTED YOU!" I screamed. An arrow flew and it skewered my jacket to the wall. What the-

"Your dad was supposed to die tonight. With or without my help. The government organised his execution. It's The Purge for Christ Sake. THERE ARE NO HEROES." An arrow skewered the other side of my jacket to the wall. I gasped, wondering where the next arrow would land.

"So what now. You're going to kill me too?" Betrayal never hit so hard before. My boyfriend and now a dear friend. How could the people you trust...be the most destructive ones. A tear slid down my cheek.

"I'm not going to kill you, Elle. It's your birthday. Consider this as a parting gift," he turned to leave then stopped abruptly. "I didn't want to do this. A few days ago I got a message. Kill Kieran or my family dies," he spun around to face me again. "Last year I sacrificed this limb for him. This year I cannot sacrifice my family. I'm sorry, Elle."

"Bullshit!" I spat. He frowned at me and walked out. "Al, you freaking bastard! I hope you rot in hell! Do you hear me, Al? FUCK YOU!"

I knew he left when he disarmed the house. I slid out of my jacket and bolted to the basement where I knew the motorbike and wall of weaponry would be. I was about to reach for a hand gun when a thought hit me.

Some people do it for revenge. Others do it for fun. Which one are you?

I stared hard at the handgun.

"Revenge."

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A/N

1st hour - dead father, missing boyfriend, betraying bastard, one vengeful teenager and did I mention the masked man is still out there?

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