Hunted

Charice usually liked grocery shopping, but not on March twenty-first. If she had not grown up in a safe little country town, she might have known better than to go out in the streets of the busy city on the night of the Purge. She had only moved to New York somewhat recently- less than a year prior. She had never experienced a Purge in Suffolk County before, so she could not begin to expect what greeted her as she walked to the store only four blocks from her house. The curvy brunette turned onto the right street and stiffened, her red-painted lips turning down in a rare expression of dismay. The place was crawling with strangers in creepy outfits. Weapons were brandished carelessly. The Purge was starting soon, and participants were eager to begin.

Walking quickly into the store, she ran her shaky hands over the skirt of her dress. A dress was a silly thing to wear on such a night, but for one thing she never expected to be leaving the house. For another, she was in mourning. The loss of her grandmother was devastating, causing Charice to feel quite alone. The black attire suited her emotions. The recently-eighteen-year-old moved swiftly to the aisle she needed, her ivory skin looking especially pale now that she was realizing the danger of her situation. Her parents had misunderstood- they did not know how bad the city was. She would have to run home if she wanted to make it in time. If I don't find what I need in two seconds, I'm leaving, she thought anxiously.

It was at that moment that she turned the corner at the end of the aisle and ran right into a man. He skidded to a halt, barely touching her as he jumped back with the reflexes of a cat. He stepped away nervously, running his fingers through his golden hair. He had brown eyes that glimmered above a dimpled smile. The polite and handsome young stranger spoke in a charming tone. "Wow, that was embarrassing. My apologies miss, for invading your space. " Charice's smooth white skin went bright pink, her dark brown hair falling forward as she dipped her head apologetically. "The fault was mine. I suppose we're both in a hurry?" The stranger smiled, a motion that crinkled his eyes. "Tonight is not a night in which you would want to get stuck on the road. Getting home as soon as possible would comfort me most." He rolled his eyes a little, as if thinking himself silly for being outside. "My name is Caleb." He offered his hand, and Charice shook it. "I'm Charice, but most call me Cherry."

Caleb was handsome, but something about the bright fervor in his eyes made Cherry shiver- his eyes burned with a fierce anticipation. His was the look of a child about to play his favorite game. His smile widened slightly, revealing gleaming white teeth like fangs. "Cherry. It is a pleasure to meet you- you have an interesting name, unlike me." He was looking at her, examining her. Perhaps her wavy brown hair and chocolate eyes pleased him, for he seemed to linger a moment before turning. "A girl like you shouldn't be out so late. Some people Purge early, so I do hope you'll be careful. I'm scared, myself." Cherry chuckled nervously. "I'll be getting home, then. Perhaps we'll meet again?" Caleb nodded. "Farewell, good luck." Quickly he was gone, passing her smoothly and letting his tall frame brush against her slightly. Cherry looked the other way, noticing a girl with a knife hovering nearby. With a shiver, Charice left the store, abandoning her task.

Caleb's words drummed against Cherry's ears. He had given her advice, spoken kind things, but something was off. His expression was so carefully formed, masking something, and the way his mouth wrapped around the word "Purge" was like a caress. He had not seemed threatening. He did not ask her for any personal information, though that was expected. Nobody gave away details on Purge night, not even within a week of the Purge. Everything the man had said was cautious, friendly, but that did not explain the chills permanently running down Charice's spine.

Beginning to run in her ballet flats and seriously regretting her choice of clothing, Charice was not far from home when the sirens began to ring. They were so loud, shattering what silence there had been and shrieking a warning for some- it was a beacon for others. As Cherry darted home, a group of people crossed the street ahead of her. If she kept going, she would cross them. Freezing, she was trying not to panic when she heard someone behind her. "Cherry?" called the voice, and she whirled around to see the boy from the store. Caleb was holding his hands up, showing her he meant no harm. Charice must have looked like a fawn in the hunter's scope- her eyes were wide in fear. Caleb spoke again, looking concerned. "I know you don't Purge. Why are you still out?" He crept toward her on long legs, and Charice glanced up to notice that a second group of people was in the distance behind him. His own Purge group. Cherry spoke carefully but firmly. "You're right, I don't Purge. But you do, I can see that. We just met in a grocery store, so I'm going to try and run home while you go do…whatever it is you're going to do."

Turning on her heel, she was about to take a step forward when she remembered she was completely unarmed. The group ahead of her was moving on now, meaning she could run towards her street as long as Caleb did not follow her. Caleb chuckled darkly behind her. "Why do I have a feeling you are stuck out here? Missed lock up at home, dear?" The group in front of them stopped again, seeming to deliberate before turning and heading straight towards Charice and Caleb. Caleb quickly ducked into the dark alley beside them and grabbed Cherry's hand, pulling her toward him. Charice was pressed tightly against him, squirming for a moment. She froze when the group passed by the alley, her breaths halting.

After an eternity, Charice heard the enemies engage with Caleb's own people. There were gunshots and screams, but eventually silence. Caleb let Charice go, and she pushed away from him, her back hitting the opposite alley wall. "Don't grab me like that," she whispered defensively, her mind reeling. "I believe I just saved your life, miss," he said, crossing his arms and smiling. "I may purge…a little. But trust me dear, I am a saint." he spoke the words like a promise. "I can save your life again, if you wish. I mean either you run loose with a tiny little knife..." he paused, opening his jacket to reveal a gun and a small pocketknife. He closed the blade and tossed it to her. "…With a tiny knife." he continued. "And likely get killed. Or, you can come with us." Cherry winced. "Us? I think your friends just got slaughtered." Caleb glanced out into the street and sighed. "Shit. All right, we're both screwed. Now I have to find new friends to Purge with." Charice stared. He was worried not because people died, but because he needed new comrades. He's insane. I'm trapped with a psycho. Truthfully, that bright light in his eyes was looking more and more like the glimmer of madness.

Caleb spoke again, with intensity. "Look, my house is further away than yours, but you can't guarantee your parents will let you in. I can take you into my house and you can lock yourself in a room or something if you're afraid I'll…hurt you." He looked forceful; like he needed a partner the same way she needed protection. He wanted to be alone on Purge night just as much as she did. The girl nodded at last, frowning. "Alright, since it's my only option I will follow you. But once we get there you are staying far away until I decide to trust you...which will not be likely to ever happen." Cherry was normally very sweet. She loved everybody and never even questioned regularity. Purging was something she rarely worried about; Purge night for her was Taco Tuesday, with locked doors and windows. Taking a deep and shaky breath, Charice followed this man, practically a stranger, into the blood-soaked streets.