Make America Great Again

Sixteen years have gone by since Americans made the decision they regretted most. A vague promise was all it took, a promise to make America great again. After 2016, we became the Republic of America.

Reproduction rates skyrocketed with Millennials being the nation's largest living generation, and in addition to a now-corrupt government system, America was faced with its next greatest problem: Overpopulation.

A decade has since passed. We now live in a world where, at age two, every child is injected with a virus, and any refusal of treatment will result in termination of the toddler. It was inevitable.

Each year, on October 31st, the virus activates by reacting to a certain blood type. The person who has control over which type becomes that year's catalyst, President D.N. Prumt. Upon activation, the host presents symptoms of extreme rage, neurological impairment, cannibalistic behavior and hunger. There's no warning about who will be affected. All Americans know is that on Halloween night, anytime between 10PM ET and sunrise, the streets and homes of citizens will be bathed in blood. Halloween no longer required costumes and scares because the fear became a reality.

It's already a quarter past midnight.

"Maybe they're not doing it this year?" Hannah whispered, chains on her limbs rattling as she moved nervously.

"Don't be stupid!" The most pissed of us all was Vince. "They fucking tease us every year!" He harshly tugged on his chains, drilled to the walls. "These things better fucking work."

"They will." I said, demanding the cuffs to hold. I hope. My heart was beating fast, anticipating the upcoming hell. Gulping down the desire to scream and shoot myself before the massacre begins, the annual dread crept onto me. It scares me more each year, but I knew I couldn't lose sanity. I couldn't let the President win.

Hannah began hyperventilating. Everyone backed away from her.

"Hannah?" I whispered. It's starting. My heart pounded faster, afraid for my life. Then came the screams, gunshots from the streets and a cry from directly behind. There was a snarling. Vince. He bit into the neck of his brother, shoulder already half devoured. Panic washed over me. RUN! I unlocked my restraints, as did Hannah, and we escaped.

I froze. "What's your blood type?" I demanded from her. She hesitated. "Hannah!"

Hannah was breathing hard.

The beating in my chest was now rapid.

What's Vince's blood type? I knew the answer. B-Positive.

One second, she stood in front of me. Then followed a heatwave. Everything was painted in scarlet. She scratched me, tearing skin from my face, but I couldn't feel it. Citizens scattered the streets like mice and predators, filling ears with cries and growls. I saw a woman shove her child as bait in attempt to escape the cannibal. You need to run! Frightened, I left Hannah.

As I paced across the lawn, I remembered the question I had asked her earlier. What's your blood type? She never answered, but I knew mine. B-Positive.