𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙊𝙉𝙀
—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—

     𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙄𝙎𝙊𝙉 𝙂𝙇𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙎 𝙊𝙑𝙀𝙍 at Carlson, who slides his last knife into his vest. He then proceeds to help secure hers, snapping the front clip into place, and tightening the strap around her waist.

"Fifteen minutes until commencement," Carlson reminds her, taking a step back as Allison begins to tie up her hair. "Bretton needs to know the lay down for team two."

"Two groups of fifteen, right?" Allison asks, getting a nod in responce. "Well, did the second van come in today?"

"This morning, actually," he nods. "Bretton's team already had the cameras on the X-force van and commander's house. Our van is parked behind the South Loft."

"If everything is set up already, send team two to the commander's house. Make sure they aren't spotted as Bane's force leaves, or our plan will go to shit."

"On it," Carlson chuckles, turning as he turns on his radio.

Allison pulls her favorite gun from a crate of weapons— a pistol. It was the first gun she had ever purchased, other than the ones she had used for protection. She imagined using the gun the day she got it, and immediately had the idea of hiring a team for the purge.

Her parents hadn't approved the idea, of course. But she decided her choices were no longer their worry, as she had moved out five years ago. Allison was an adult, and therefore needed to make her own decisions and suffer the consequences.

"Time is moving too slow," Allison mutters, glancing over at Carlson. "Is there anything else we need to do? I really need to kill time, we can't load up the bus yet."

"Who the hell is that?" Carlson questions, moving the drapes over her shoulder to the side. Outside was a black bulletproof car, and a very well-suited man was standing next to it.

By his side were a large group of others, suited in the same heavy equipment. Allison stiffens in her spot, before turning and exiting the room. She shoves through the living room, and out into the bitter growing air. Glaring at the man, she crosses the street with Carlson and three others on her tail.

"What the hell are you doing, Leo?" she demands, her eyes angrily roaming over the car next to her.

"Getting ready for the commencement," Leo replies, studying her weapons. "It seems as though you're ahead of me."

"Why are you preparing for commencement?" she asks, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

"I'd like to stop this bullshit," he says steadily, clipping a knife onto his belt. "What's up with all the soldiers and vans?"

"I'd like to kill Bane," Allison mutters, stepping back beside Carlson, "and I have a team that's guaranteed to help me do it."

"You've got to be kidding me," Leo rolls his eyes. "This— this purging isn't helping anyone, Allison. You're just risking your life to kill one person."

"Yeah, well, that one person happened to kill my brother," she grits her teeth. "And plenty of others, I'm sure. And don't act like you weren't in my position four years ago. You did the same thing after—"

"After my son was killed in a car crash," Leo finishes for her. "Just so you know, that wasn't on the night of the Purge. I didn't get revenge, but I sure as hell guilt tripped the son of a bitch that hit him."

"Guilt tripping will get me nowhere," Allison scoffs. "You think Bane regrets what he did?"

"I'm just reminding you what tonight can mean," he states. "You could die, as well as any of the people on your team. You won't enjoy this— it's not right, Alli. And I think deep down inside, you know that as well as I do."

"I signed up for this," the woman shakes her head stubbornly. "I'd be lucky to die tonight. Living is already enough of a punishment . . . and don't judge me, just remember that this was you a few years back. Good luck tonight, Leo."

With a last nod in his direction, Allison turns to face Carlson with a stern and secured expression. "The van by South Loft is loaded," he informs her. "We're on clear if you're ready to board."

"I've been ready," Allison grins, moving forward with he and the others in tow. "Is van one still secure?"

"Bane's team is currently still loading," Carlson nods. "But so far, no one has noticed anything. Bretton did report that he seemed watchful, though."

"Watchful?" Allison questions, matching his pace. "What do you mean?"

"Like he knew there was someone on him," he dismisses. "He's been more secretive this year. Normally, he deploits his plans to his company. But from we can tell, he hasn't spouted any information on weapon purchases or plans since before last year's commencement."

"That's risky," she mutters. "Do we not have footage of his loading?"

"All the weaponry is concealed under black tarps," Carlson shakes his head. "It's like he knows what we're planning."

"Why didn't we access the information before this?" Allison questions, stopping once she reaches the South Loft, and turning to face him. "This is some serious shit, Carlson. Did no one notice his change in direction and how quiet and closed off he was being? We had a full year, and I'm just now hearing about this?"

"It wasn't something we took heavily; he might just be taking precautions. I'm sure we're not the only ones after him, Allison. It's better to set it aside, it's not that important."

"Bane is a smart man," she shakes her head. "Why would he all of a sudden jump from one lane to another without warning?"

"Like I said before— precaution. Now come on, we have five minutes," he says, grabbing her arm and boosting her up into the bulletproof van.

"Is everything ready?" she raises her voice, glancing around at the crew that have loaded weapons readied in their hands.

"As soon as the commencement, we'll set," a tan assassin— Heath Waters, as Allison recognizes him— replies, loading ammo into the slots of his security bulletproof vest. "Four minutes and thirty seconds left. Any last advice?"

"Yeah," Allison mutters, strapping her gun a little tighter to her vest, before slipping on her black leather gloves. "Do me a favor, alright?"

"What's the favor?" Carlson asks from behind her, slamming the van door shut behind him as he secures the latch.

"Try not to die."

_______