The Suppression (Based On The Purge)

Hour 7

(Lacey)

Breathe, I told myself, breathe. I was having trouble staying calm. I couldn't blame myself for freaking out. This was the worst Suppression I'd ever experienced-well, second worst. Maybe it would've been better to just stay at home. I looked around me. Hazel's mother was quietly sobbing in the corner while her husband tried to console her. Hazel was reading to her little brother, trying to get him to go to sleep on the couch. I could tell she was trying to keep it together. Her voice shook as she read about a talking bunny who was trying to find magical carrots. I was trying to get a hold of my parents. I texted them and called them multiple times. Finally, they answered. My dad said that they were bored.  I just said we were in the basement doing just fine. And we were, sort of. No one was physically hurt, or missing, or dying. I told him I loved him and that I had to go.
I sat there a moment, thinking of the Suppression. It seemed to be getting worse every year. I mean, we were safe 364 days of the year, but at what cost? Thousands of people died each year. And these deaths were like nothing. They were commonplace by now. Someone I waved to in the hallway today  might not be there tomorrow. Just....gone. There was a memorial at school every year in the auditorium. Last year there were so many deaths that the principal couldn't even name all of the victims. He just said "all of the students that were lost during The Suppression". There were about 200 students that were killed. Yes, the Suppression was getting worse.
I got up and started pacing. I just wanted this night to be over. I felt a cold hand grasp my shoulder. I jumped.
"Hey," Hazel said in a soft voice. "It's gonna be okay. We'll get through this. I know we will."
I tried to take comfort in her words but they went right through me. She hugged me. It felt warm and familiar. We stayed like that for a while, consoling each other. She kept saying "It's gonna be okay," and I pretended to believe it. Something inside my gut told me she was wrong. The night wasn't over yet. I had a feeling things were about to get a whole lot worse.