Marcus Conrad was watching the evening news. Not surprisingly, it was talking about nothing but REDD Night.

"As we all know, the chaos that will occur tonight is by far the worst and most dangerous event to happen to our planet," the news anchor told the audience. "But it cannot be stressed enough that it has forever improved life on Earth. With unemployment and crime at remarkable lows, it's obvious these last 5 years have been very productive."

Marcus just scoffed. He was never a fan of the REDDs or what they did. No matter what the statistics said, he would never like a REDD. After all, why would you like something that only wants to kill you?

"However," the anchor continued, "that doesn't mean it won't be safe out there. That's why I'm saying this: if you are not fighting back, please get off the streets as soon as possible. With REDD Night commencing in 15 minutes, you better go somewhere safe; it's going to be chaos out there."

It then went to a commercial.

"Why didn’t we pay to go to the Government Safe House?"

Marcus turned and saw Casey, his 8-year-old son, standing in the doorway.

"Because it's too expensive," Marcus replied. "Besides, it's a long drive from here to Washington, DC."

Casey looked scared out of his mind, not that Marcus blamed him. REDD Night was ultimately his first real memory of the world, so one can only imagine how he pictures life on this planet.

"Buddy, it's going to be okay," Marcus said calmly. "We've never had troubles before with the REDDs. And if they ever decide to go after us, we have a safe security system that will stop them."

"Still..."

"It'll be fine. I promise."

"Okay..."

"Yo, Pops!"

Marcus looked and saw his 13-year-old daughter now standing in the doorway.

"What is it, Angie?"

"Can I go out tonight and fight some REDDs?" Angie replied.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Marcus shouted.

"Whhyyyyyyyy?!" she asked in a whiney voice. "It's in the rules that humans can fight back!"

"It also says it's not highly recommended because you'd surely lose. I'm not risking losing you."

"But I hate being cooped in here all night! I get bored and I can never sleep!"

"Nobody can, sweetie. We'll find something to do. I promise."

"Okay..."

"Now then," Marcus told both his children, "what do you say we lock up?"

Both kids remained silent.

"We're going to be okay," he told them. "I promise you."

"But what if they go after us?" Casey asked shakily.

"Like I said, the security system will handle it," Marcus replied.

He then got up and walked over to the wall where the control panel was. After pressing the PIN number, the flipped the switch. Suddenly, the metal walls lowered all over the outside of the house. The only part of the house not covered in solid metal sheets was a bullet-proof window in front of the front door.

Many homes in the United States had security systems similar to this. It's been rumored that 30% of homes with the system had been broken into by REDDs and the people inside were massacred. However, it was the best money could buy, other than a ticket to the Government Safe House, aka The White House.

Every country's capital building was converted into a safe house to protect the world leaders, as well as some priceless treasures and celebrities. The president always says he wishes everyone could be protected with him, but Marcus would only believe it when the prices for tickets are lowered.

"So now what?" Angie asked.

"We wait," Marcus replied.

In 10 minutes, Hell on Earth would commence. It would be tough to survive, but the Conrads felt confident. If only they knew how this REDD Night would forever change their lives.