𝐀 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ⚠ 𝘑. 𝘉. 𝘉

𝟎𝟏 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴

AU: This is a short story and will jump straight into the plot. (There is no time to waste)

[Dark Night - The Blasters]
1:40 ─〇───── 2:13
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

Madelyn's POV

As the last customer walks over to the cashier, I slip the change into my pocket, taking my tip for the night. He hands me his glass, the leftover froth from his beer swimming at the bottom. I can tell he is drunk, and I don't blame him. Some people can't deal with this time of year. Even if it isn't happening in their area. He hands me some cash, paying for the endless amounts of beer, vodka shots, and plates of food he had tonight. I wave him goodbye, wishing him a safe trip home.

The bell rings as the door collides with it, signalling his departure. I watch him stumble down the street through the windows, praying for him in my head. Please, if there is a God, let this man live. He has had a hard life as it is.

I run to the door, locking it swiftly, and turning the open sign over. At the movement, the stairs creak as a body walks down them. I turn on the spot, seeing my father walking towards me. We don't say a word to each other. We don't know what to say. As I look over the bar, dad closes the windows, pulling the shutters down and locking them at the bottom. The room is dark, but the glow from the bar lights it up enough for me to see the worried look on his face as he watches me.

"Please, Mads. I need you to promise me that you will be careful tonight." He pulls me into a hug. "There are some deranged people out there who will take the no-law aspect of this experiment to their advantage."

"I promise, dad." I kiss him on the cheek. "I need you to promise me as well."

I need to know that he will be safe. I know how brutal this night can be. I've read the newspapers and watched the news enough to know that when the government decide to do this experiment on your town, people show their true colours. All over America, this night every year, this experiment takes place. Now it is our turn.

"I promise, Madds." He pulls from the hug. "The bar will be locked up and I will be upstairs. Remember, I put in that lock on the door where you need a code to get in? I will be fine."

"Good."

I grab my bag from behind the bar, checking that I have my phone and pepper spray. It won't be all that useful tonight, but it puts me at ease. I won't be killing anyone tonight, not where I am going. Just before leaving, I pull dad into another hug, cherishing the rough smell of his cologne and locking it into memory.

"I love you, dad."

"And I love you, too."

I stalk over to the door, locking it behind me. Cautiously walking down the street, I hold my bag close to my body. It is still light out enough that nobody smart will try anything, but it is always good to be prepared for the what-ifs. Beside me, as I walk, all the other shops begin to lock up, shutting their doors and windows and praying that nothing will happen to them tonight. The walk isn't that long, and I eventually make it to the church. The doors are open and the sign reads 'Sanctuary for all, tonight. May God be with you all.' smiles back at me. I walk through the doors, instantly hit with the smell of pungent flowers and strong perfumes. People all around me are setting up their makeshift beds, getting settled in for tonight. At the front of the church, sits a box TV, it is turned off for now.

"Madelyn! We are so glad you could make it." The Pastor walks up to me. "Once again, thank you for helping out tonight."

"It's a pleasure. I want to do this." I smile at him.

"Well, make yourself comfortable."

I begin walking down the aisle, trying to find a comfortable space to stay. When I find one, I hear the doors hitting the walls, allowing more people inside. They do what everyone else is, trying to find a place to survive tonight. I can't help but get nervous when I don't see her walking through the doors. Daisy said she would be here by now. I pick up my things again, moving them and myself towards the back of the church, closer to the doors. Maybe I just didn't see her walk in. So, I scan the room, still not seeing her. She isn't hard to miss. Her deep ginger hair and wide smile stand out in a big room. My fears are interrupted by the sound of the doors shutting, being bolted locked. Now, my anxiety is through the roof.

Sitting on the last bench at the back, my eyes are focused on the doors. I hope, wish, and pray that a loud knock will quickly appear and Daisy will come borrowing inside. But, she doesn't. I bite my fingernails, getting closer to the skin the more I worry. Suddenly, the TV turns on, and a loud and screechy alarm screams through the speakers, making all the conversations halt, and fear creep up inside everyone.

"This is not a test." A voice speaks to us all. "This is your emergency broadcast system announcing the commencement of the Annual Purge sanctioned by the U.S. Government. Weapons of class 4 and lower have been authorised for use during the Purge. All other weapons are restricted. Government officials of ranking 10 have been granted immunity from the Purge and shall not be harmed. Commencing at the siren, any and all crime, including murder, will be legal for 12 continuous hours. Police, fire, and emergency medical services will be unavailable until tomorrow morning at 7 am when the Purge concludes. Blessed be our New Founding Fathers and America, a nation reborn. May God be with you all."

The sirens go off. The sound rings in my ears, sending chills down my spine. The hairs on my arms stick up, aiming for the ceiling. But the worst feeling of them all is the worry for Daisy. She isn't here. I don't know where she is.

The TV turns off, and the room falls silent. Nobody dares to say a word, too scared to bring themselves to do it. A vibration against my thigh jolts me out of my trance, forcing my eyes down to my jeans pockets. My phone rings and the sound is turned off but the screen is bright. The screen stares back at me, a photo of Daisy and I smiling at graduation and her name at the top. I hurriedly click the answer button, putting the phone up to my ear.

"Maddy?" Her voice is heavy.

"Daisy? Where are you?"

"I don't know." She whispers.

"What?"

"I'm hiding in an alleyway, and I'm hurt. Maddy, I'm scared." She begins to weep.

"Okay, um." I try to sort through my thoughts.

"All I know is that I'm in the middle of the city."

"Okay, go to the Hospital. The big one opposite the old bookstore. Hopeval something, I can't remember what it-"

"I remember! Alright, I'll meet you there."

"Good, I'm coming to get you, Daisy. Please, be careful."

"I will. I love you."

"I love you, too. Hang in there, Daisy." I hang up the phone.

I stand from my seat, her panicked and frantic voice swarming my thoughts. Her fear motivates my steps closer to the back room of the church. An arm stops me as I make it to the door, though. I look up at the source, seeing the Pastor smiling nervously down at me.

"Just going to the bathroom." I lie.

He drops his arm, holding the door open for me. When the door shuts behind me, I sprint towards the office, pushing past the scattered papers and looking for the keys. All the messy papers and equipment aid in the difficulty in finding them, but I throw it all on the floor, finding a cluster of metal in the corner. I read all the tags on the keys, searching for the one labelled 'Back Exit Door'. When I find it, I practically sprint out of the room, my hands shaking as I do. I make it to the door, dropping the keys with my trembling hands before unlocking it and sneaking out. I close the door behind me, put the keys in my pocket and creep down the alleyway, into the darkness of the night.

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