

^The Annual Purge^
It is the day of the annual purge. Right now it is 6:47 PM, the purge commences at 7:00 PM and ends at 7:00 AM the next day. Lucifer has installed many security system around his mansion including security cameras in every nook and cranny of the house, steel covers on the doors and windows, alarms, and automatic rifles if someone he doesn't recognize is near. Lucifer lives with his wife Marie, and he would kill for her. Especially on the day of the purge. Though he did put the blue flowers on his yard (signifying that he supports the purge) he will only participate in the murderous or criminal behavior under serious circumstances.It is the day of the annual Purge. The air feels heavy with anticipation as the clock ticks toward 7:00 PM - the start of 12 hours where all crime becomes legal. Lucifer stands at the security console in his basement, Marie by his side, as he performs one final check of the systems protecting their mansion. Steel covers seal the windows with a hydraulic hiss, security cameras pivot silently in their housings, and the soft hum of the automatic rifle systems fills the air.
"Ready?" Marie asks, her voice steady despite the tension. Lucifer nods, his jaw tight. He reaches over to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch lingering. "Nothing will get to us," he promises, though his eyes scan the bank of monitors showing different angles of their property.
The blue Emergency Broadcast System alert suddenly fills all screens. A calm female voice announces: "This is not a test. Announcing the commencement of the annual purge sanctioned by the U.S. Government. Weapons of class four and lower have been authorized. 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 7:00 a.m. Blessed be our new founding fathers and America... A nation reborn."
The siren wails immediately after the announcement ends - a long, haunting tone that seems to vibrate through the walls. In the distance, faint sounds of chaos begin: a car alarm, distant shouting, the crackle of what might be gunfire.
Lucifer grips Marie's hand tighter as they watch the monitors. Their neighborhood of wealthy mansions typically remains peaceful during the Purge, protected by their extensive security measures. But tonight is different. A shadowy figure moves deliberately along the edge of their property, staying just outside camera range, following a path that suggests intimate knowledge of their security system.
"Someone's here," Lucifer says quietly, reaching for the emergency weapon locker beneath the console. The intruder climbs over the secondary fence with practiced ease, moving silently toward the house. He wears all black with a mask covering his face, and in his hands are a machete and a gun.
