Safe Street - A Purge Fanfic

CHAPTER 2

Annabelle still couldn't believe they were actually doing this. It was suicide to go out during the purge! Sixteen was too young to die! How Mr. Heartsford had convinced her parents that this was a good idea was beyond her. But there she was, grabbing a shovel with her mother, getting ready to tear apart their garden.

She looked across the street at Jay, Mr. Heartsford's son, and waved. After a moment he waved back. She'd have to ask him how he felt about all this later. 

"Come on," Her mother said, "the garden won't tear up itself."

They got to work.

The plan was simple. Everyone on Happy Lane knew and trusted each other, there were no hidden grudges as far as anyone knew. With this in mind they would block off their small street and post guards. Then everyone else would start working to build and do everything that the homeowners normally wouldn't allow but would be unable to do anything about once it was done. The long term plan was to build a sort of 'Purge Refuge' over a series of years. They would turn their flower gardens into vegetable gardens and start growing their own food. The elderly Langster's and newly wed Grey's would relocate a tree in the Grey's yard to cover the in-between area of the two houses, there they would build a chicken coop away from prying eyes. Between the other houses they would eventually build mini-jails, on a day when all crime was legal so was all vigilante heroism. They would let people in, but only under close watch and only if they gave up all their weapons. 

There was more to it all but Annabelle had failed to note more than just that. She wasn't considered one of the adults either, so no one felt it was imperative that she was in on all of the nitty-gritty details, though they would have told her had she asked. Anyway, she was just in charge of helping with the vegetable garden anyway.

As the sun sank Annabelle became very glad that the purge happened at night. It was late March and, as the saying goes, it was out like a lamb. A very sunny, very hot lamb. She and her mother finished pulling everything out fairly quickly, they weren't trying to be careful with them after all, and Annabelle was set to the task of getting everything into bags while her mother dug the holes for the leafy vegetables lined up. As they did so the sun disappeared entirely.

Danny, Jay's younger brother, happily ran up to Annabelle and her mom, holding out a bright camping lamp. He and the other little ones had been given this task to keep them out of everyone's hair and they had taken to it quickly. 

He ran around giggling until Annabelle's mom said, "You know Danny, what you're doing right now is probably the most important task any of us have. I hope you're taking it seriously."

Danny slowed down and made a very solemn expression. "Really? I mean, yah, I know that. I'm taking my job very seriously Mrs. Harkhoven." The seven year old walked back up to them very carefully, making sure to hold the lamp so it gave out the most light possible.

"Mom," Annabelle said finally giving in to her doubts, "why are we doing this? I mean, isn't this incredibly dangerous? If we're quiet enough I can even hear gunshots in the distance."

Annabelle's mother thought for a moment. "You're right Anna, normally it would be incredibly dangerous, but trust me when I tell you that I wouldn't have agreed if I didn't think it was safe. Mr. Heartsford made sure we hammered out every single detail. We have a safe plan for every scenario of what could possibly go wrong. And hey, if you're still worried just remember that our neighborhood has one of the lowest crime rates in the U.S. on this night specifically."

"That's only because everyone is too afraid to go out." Annabelle retorted.

"If no ones out," her mother finished, "Then there's no one to worry about."

They lapsed back into silence, Annabelle only slightly more comforted than she had been before. She knew her mother was right but, on the night if the purge, it always felt like anything could happen.

So far all was quiet, but not even an hour had passed since the announcement starting the purge. There was still so much time for things to go wrong.