"Chloe don't forget what tonight is. Text me when you're leaving the surgery and I will too, okay?"
"I haven't forgotten, I could never. I'll be sending everyone home at four so I can beat the traffic. Downtown's going to be a nightmare. And before you say anything, Beca, Chinatown will be just as bad, I tried that last year and it was gridlocked, remember?"
"I know, I know. You know me, I worry on this night. Fuck okay. If you can get out earlier then let me know and I will too. I need to go into a meeting now, I'll talk to you later."
"I know, but I'll be fine, trust me. It starts at 6, so there's plenty of time for me to get home and getting everything sorted. We've gone through this a few times already, ok? Good luck, you'll do amazingly in the meeting. You know what you're going to say, so just tell them everything you told me and soon you'll be producing Ed Sheeran's next album. Break a leg, sweetie."
"Ok ok. Please just let me know when you are on your way home okay, please? I love you, Chlo."
"I will do, and you better let me know as well. I love you too, Becs. See you at home."
Tonight, was the night that one day a year has mixed views and emotions. It was the night of the purge as they call it. You get 12 hours to kill and there are no prosecutions. But do it a minute before or a minute after, you are in trouble. It's how Los Angeles keeps their numbers down and it started five years ago, voted in by the majority. It is monitored throughout the whole of L.A and live recorded so people all round the world can watch it if they wanted. As long as anyone's on the street, it's fair game to kill.
As five got nearer Beca was frantic. She'd not heard a peep from Chloe. Beca did call but it just went through to voicemail. She was heading to the surgery in her range rover, non-stop calling and calling Chloe.
"Chlo? Please pick up. I'm heading to the surgery now we need to get home!" She left a voicemail.
"45-minutes until the annual purge. Whether you are partaking or not, either have fun or stay safe" Was announced on the radio.
"SHIT" Beca shouted, banging her hand on the steering wheel. She just wanted Chloe to answer her calls.
10-minutes later and Beca got to the surgery. She got out of her car as she saw the lights were still on, but as she went to open the door, it didn't open. She banged and banged until giving up. 'They must've rushed out' she thought. She went round to the back of the Animal Hospital and saw the thing she really didn't want to see. Chloe's car. Beca was frozen. They had 25-minutes until the night they dreaded the most would start. It was her worst nightmare, Chloe being out there. Any other night neither of them cared, but this night every year for the last few years, they always let each other know when they would be home.
She tried calling Chloe's phone another few times but no answer. Beca got back to her car as she needed to head home. As she was driving her phone rang through the car and without looking at who it was on the dashboard, she just said "Chloe?".
"No, sorry Beca, it's me, Stacie."
"Stacie, where's Chloe? She's not picking her phone! It starts shortly and I don't want her out here. You know what she's like! Please tell me you're with-"
"Beca, just shut up for two minutes! I don't know where she is, I thought she would've headed home to you?"
"WHAT" She pressed her foot as hard as she could on the brake. "When did she go? Her cars still at the fucking surgery! Lights are on but doors are locked, I've just sped there. When did you last see her?"
"I don't know. I don't know, Beca! We got an emergency to Glendale about two hours ago, she was getting the car and I've not seen her. She didn't even get the car, I'm in it now, I'm heading home."
"Fuck fuck fuck! So, when did you last see her? Why are you JUST calling me now, Stacie? You do know what day it is, right?"
"Of course, I fucking know! You don't think I don't know that! I have called and called her. I've been driving around for the last hour. I didn't know your bloody number, I had to call Aubrey to bloody get it so don't have a go at me!"
"HOUR? She's been gone an hour? I need to find her! Where was the emergency?"
"By Vertugo Park. Beca you can't go there on your own."
"What do you expect me to do? Leave my wife out there? That's not possible. I wouldn't make it home before 6 anyway, I may as well try and find her in whatever chaos is going to be. I always said that she'd be the bloody death of me."
"I'll meet you okay. I have a good vehicle and firearms out back. Can you handle a gun just in case?"
"What makes you think I don't have a good veh-"
"Beca, I know what you drive, trust me, it wouldn't survive if we got fucked! Meet me down the preserve, down the road from park, we're least likely to get found there. Gives us time to sort everything out"
"Ok ok. I'll be there in 20-minutes"
*Waaaaaaahhhhh waaaaaaahhhhh waaaaaaahhhhh*
ONE MINUTE UNTIL THE PURGE.
*Waaaaaaahhhhh waaaaaaahhhhh waaaaaaahhhhh*
Blasted through the towns.
"Fuck fuck fuck!"
"Beca, it'll be fine, just put your foot down and go, ok?"
"Ok, call me if you hear anything. I'll call when I'm nearly there"
As Beca put her foot down through the city, she knew it would be bad. She just kept driving and driving. To her surprise, she'd not seen a single thing just yet. 'Maybe everyone's in the streets and in the actual towns' she spoke out loud. She looked around as she was driving and didn't see a single person. There was another car on the opposite of the road, speeding as well, she looked in her rear-view mirror and car drove further and further away. She assumed that car was trying to get home as soon as possible.
Beca's phone rang, immediately thinking it was Stacie.
"Stacie, I'm nearly there, did you get through?"
"Bec, who's Stacie?"
"Holy shit, Chloe? It's Stacie from your work, where the hell are you?"
"I don't know"
