The Purge: Surviving The Night

Shedd Aquarium

12:04 am, 6 hours and 56 minutes until the end of The Annual Purge.

I ran back to the truck and froze. A good sign I may have gotten back in time was the fact the truck was there. However, I also saw what looked like a body lying next to it. I ran towards it and concluded that it wasn't Kelsey; it was a grown woman with long blonde hair lying face up with bullet holes all over her chest. I then looked in the truck and saw the driver's window shattered and Kelsey's phone on the floor.

"Kelsey!" I shouted off in the distance. No response, but it's not like I was expecting one. I then groaned. I felt like an idiot for leaving her out in the open like that. I wondered if she was going to be okay.

"EEEK!"

I heard a familiar screech in the distance and I gasped with shock. I looked around and, in the distance, I saw a figure running away from me. It also appeared to have a smaller figure around its shoulder! Without a second thought, I opened the truck door, grabbed a random gun, and bolted towards the figure. I was 99% sure it was Kelsey being carried away by the stranger, and I was equally sure the stranger was out to do serious harm to her. I used all my stamina to run to the person, but I needed to be quiet, as well. It was quite a long trek along the walkway; I'm surprised I didn't lose my breath. Kelsey kept screaming for help, totally unaware I was behind her. Finally, the man turned and I saw where he was headed: Shedd Aquarium. I used to go here a lot a few years ago; I actually felt pretty nostalgic. But then I remembered I needed to save Kelsey. Eventually, the man stopped in front of the aquarium doors. I saw what appeared to be a few other people around him. After sneaking my way towards them, I could see they were a man and a woman, each with a smile on their face.

"Look who I found!" the man who had Kelsey said happily. "She's quite the fighter; she managed to off my wife easily, but I managed to get her!"

"Good to hear!" the other man said with a smile. "Now that we have a child, let's begin the sacrifice!"

SACRIFICE?! I knew I had to get her out of there! I took the gun in my hand and looked at it. It was some sort of machine gun that looked very menacing. I had no idea how to use it, but maybe I didn't need to use it.

"NO! STOP!! EEEK!"

I looked back and saw the 3 adults in a circle with Kelsey laying on the ground. They seemed to be tying her up! I looked back at my gun and tried to figure out how to work it, just in case.

"Thank you, New Founding Fathers," I heard them say in unison, "for letting us Purge and cleanse our souls!"

I looked and saw them all holding knives in the air!

"May this young and innocent sacrifice allow us to release our pain and suffering!"

"No! No!! NOOOO!!!"

Fuck it. I stood up and pointed the gun towards them.

"Hey!" I shouted.

They all turned around and saw me. They then actually looked scared.

"Let her go!" I commanded.

They all then looked at each other with confusion.

"Do it!" I shouted. "Do it now or I'll shoot you!"

They then just started laughing hysterically!

"You think we're going to stop Purging because some stranger with a gun says so?" The woman asked with laughter.

At that moment, I felt enraged at the thought of them thinking I was just some punk! So without thinking, I pointed the gun at her and pulled the trigger!

RATATATATATAT!!! I felt the gun vibrate in my hands as I screamed with frustration. I didn't know where those bullets were going, and I somehow didn't care; I just felt like shooting! After a few seconds, I stopped shooting, deeply exhaled, and paused in fear. I looked in front of me and saw the woman lying on her back completely motionless and covered in blood. The two men were speechless. After a few more seconds, they bolted off in separate directions, leaving the corpse and Kelsey behind. I walked over to Kelsey and looked at her. She was on her back, still tied up. There were tears in her eyes and blood on her face and chest. I deeply sighed and picked up the woman's knife, which I used to untie the frightened little girl.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

There was a pause before she slowly nodded. I smiled and helped her up.

"That's the third person..." I could barely hear her whisper. I then stood in awkward silence. She was right; that was the third person I killed tonight, and none of them were Mark. I definitely was quite the Purger.

"I did it to save you," I finally told her.

There was more silence. We then finally started walking back towards the Pier.

"So, I heard them say you killed the woman by the truck?" I asked casually.

She then stuck her head down with shame.

"You don't need to be embarrassed!" I told her with a smile. "I'm proud of you! You defended yourself!"

She then looked back up at me with watery eyes.

"It was kind of an accident," she admitted. "I accidently pulled the trigger when she surprised me..."

"Well, then you accidently saved your life!" I replied with a smile.

She then looked back down at the sidewalk. We kept walking for a few more minutes in total silence, save for some car crashes and gunshots in the far distance.

"If you don't want to help now, I understand," I told her.

"No..." she said quietly. "I'll help."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes... This Mark guy clearly ruined your life... He needs to pay."

More awkward silence as we continued down the path. I was just hoping we would survive long enough to get back to Navy Pier.