6:41 am, 19 minutes until the end of The Annual Purge.

"Quite a Purge this year, eh?" Mark asked as he placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I'll say!" I replied with a chuckle. "I'm glad the really dangerous stuff happens up north more; at least we're somewhat protected down here."

"Oh, definitely!"

"Boys! Want any more cookies?"

"Sure, Carmen!"

My wife then came into the living room holding some leftover sugar cookies from last night.

"Better get them before they go stale!" She said with a wink.

"Don't gotta tell me twice!" I replied with a smile.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

My 9-year-old son ran into the living room holding a piece of paper.

"Yes, Logan?"

"I managed to finish my story about how I would survive The Purge if I was on the streets!"

"That's wonderful, sweetie!"

"Can I read it to you guys?"

"Once The Purge is over, OK?"

"OK!"

Mark just chuckled.

"That's quite the kid you have, James."

"Well, he's only a little boy, Mark; he's just using his imagination, like every other kid his age."

"Good point."

He then just deeply exhaled.

"Can I just say something to you all real quick?"

"Of course!"

"I'd prefer if you all just sat on the couch."

"Well, okay then..."

We then sat on the couch with Carmen on the left, Logan in the middle, and me on the right.

"What's on your mind?" Carmen asked.

"Well, I've been thinking lately," Mark started off. "We've known each other for years now, James. Ever since high school we've been best buds and all that. Yet, despite our friendship, we have always had our friendly competitions in life."

"Yeah, that's true," I said with a laugh. "You won prom king, I got a Ferrari, you got a promotion, I got a family."

"Yeah, that stuff!" He said with a smile. "Look, don't get me wrong, James; you're a great guy with a great life!"

"Thanks..." I said with a confused tone; I didn't know where he was going with this.

"But, and this is a big but, you having a great life with a great family and a great house and a great job... It causes... What's the word... jealousy!"

I then suddenly got really nervous.

"You see, I really wanna thank you for letting me stay here this Purge," he continued with a smile on his face. "Because the truth is I didn't really feel unprotected this year; I can afford protection! No, the reason I wanted to stay here... was because I needed to cleanse myself."

In fast motion, Mark pulled out a gun, pointed it at Carmen, aimed at her head, and fired!

"MOMMY!" Logan screamed as he stared at his mother's now bloody body.

BANG!

Blood splattered over me as I froze in terror; he had shot Logan in the head, too!

I then turned towards Mark, who had the gun pointed at MY head now! I could feel my eyes watering up and my throat getting dry.

"MARK!" I shouted in anger and confusion. "WHAT THE HELL?! THAT WAS MY FAMILY!!!"

"Exactly," he replied calmly. "It 'was' your family. Now it's nonexistent."

"WHAT THE FUCK, MAN?!"

"Now you don't have a family anymore. Now the playing field is even!"

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" I was definitely crying at this point. "THIS ISN'T A GAME, MARK! THIS IS LIFE!"

"Exactly, James!" He replied. "Don't you see? Life IS a game! And to win, you have to succeed! And to succeed, you must crush the competition by eliminating their strengths!"

"YOU'RE A LUNATIC!!"

"That may be so, but I'm a lunatic... who's winning!"

BANG!

He then shot me right in the shoulder! As I screamed in pain, he then grabbed the bowling ball I kept on the shelf and chucked it at my head! That was when I blacked out. I don't know how long I was out, but I remembered waking up to the smell of smoke entering my lungs! I opened my eyes and saw my whole living room was in fire! I thought I might have been dreaming, but I couldn't risk it; I then got up and instantly grabbed my shoulder in pain; it still hurt like hell! As I ran out of the living room, I turned around and saw my family's bodies sitting on the couch. It was funny; they somehow looked peaceful sitting like that. A second later, the living room ceiling collapsed completely, creating a tidal wave of ash that went right in my face! I coughed and teared up as I ran through the kitchen and out the back door. I then saw our swimming pool and instantly ran towards it. I wasn't sure if I was on fire or not, but I wasn't taking the chance. I then splashed into the pool and stayed under for a few seconds before coming back up and gasping for air. After calming myself down, I looked back towards my house. No, my HOME. The entire place was completely ablaze. Even if the fire department was available right now, they wouldn't have been able to save it. I then felt more tears pummel down my face. In a matter of a few minutes I lost my wife, my son, and my home. I then leaned over the pool and sobbed like a baby. I wanted to believe this was a dream. That I could just wake up and realize Mark didn't do what he did. There was no way he could have... That was when I passed out again. I woke up a few minutes later to the sound of a familiar loud noise. A series of long, low-pitched noises roaring through the streets. I lifted my head up and saw what remained of my home. The only thing still standing were a few beams and the living room wall. The rest was completely destroyed. Burnt. Collapsed. Ruined. Gone forever. I felt like crying, but I thought I might have used all my tears up. I then stared at the front lawn of my house through the rubble and saw someone on the grass. He was wearing the same thing Mark was when I last saw him... That's when I suddenly realized it WAS Mark! I then noticed he could see me through the house, as well! He certainly looked surprised to see me alive, but I couldn't blame him. He then ran away from the remains of my home like a total coward! I then closed my eyes and tried to hold back the tears. My family was dead. My house was destroyed. My life was gone. I had nothing left.