The Worlds Already Dead

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As we know it…

“As we know the world is dead, what is there to say?”

“Start from the beginning… Please first state your name, age, and race.”

“My name is Asha Jane Lopez. I am 24 years old and hispanic…” I sighed softly looking down in the dark room. My eyes were still adjusting “where do i start?” i asked the man in front of me

“From the purge if that's alright” the man in front of me said i nodded softly fidgeting with my hands i felt how sharp some of the corner of my nails where from breaking couldn’t remember the last time i was able to properly do them i looked up at him he waited patiently “the purge…”

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“Happy birthday Asha! You turn 21!!” my mother said she was clapping and laughing softly my sister smirked “means you can finally get drunk with me!” my sister exclaimed happily

mother gave her a scolded look though my sister didn't shy away she was never the type to shy away from anything anyways “you still have to be a good example for your sister even if she's now her own mini adult” my mother turned to me smiling softly “i get it mom” i laughed and she sighed “you’ll still be my baby girl in my eyes but yes now you can finally drink… in moderation.” she said raising her eyebrows

she cut slices out of the cake my sister bumped my shoulder with hers "don't worry you'll get drunk at least once today” she winked i laughed softly “thanks sis” i smiled i rest my head on her shoulder she softened and watch mom set cake on each plate i thought back through my life it was rough my sister stayed through it all with me and so did my mom honestly my sister was my best friend honestly my only friend the only REAL friend i had… especially after dad left… Mom went insane calling his phone wondering why half of his stuff was gone one day after picking us up from school. It was a lot. We got kicked out of our house, had to leave the state, started to move and live down in Florida, not exactly an isolated state but one that wasn't that bad…

though a lot of ghetto places my mom doesn’t like them though we found an not so bad place in a small town not to close to the water because those places are so expensive but a nice small place

it took me and my sister a few tries at school i started failing a lot in middle and high..i wasn't used to being in a new state learning english and more but it was so long ago that we almost seemed to lose our spanish but we still are a family now i was 21 finally i had a nice job and a awesome sister and Mother who support me in my work and mental health

I looked over at my chaotic sister doing something stupid again trying to take some of moms liquor but then I heard a long beep. It was weird?.. “hey sis you in the living room?” she poked her head out from the kitchen curiously

Wait, no she's in the kitchen. I realized then I looked for mom. She was in the living room standing shocked. She stared at the TV, a hand over her mouth “mom?” I asked and then looked at the TV and saw the word purge on the TV. I froze, then I started to listen…

—--The governmental system all fully came together and has made an important decision officially in The Year of 2026. The President Mr —------ has decided that a purge will be allowed through for the next 96 hours. It's now stated as of today September 10 of 2026 will officially be known as C-13 but to the people we will know it as The Extended hour… Caution is advised for those with children and younger… May God watch over us and stay safe people…

The TV broke off into static. Mom turned off the TV and it felt like the world stopped. My mind clouded. My sister had sometimes joined the room hearing everything no one spoke. The silence felt heavy with a thick tension. The outside world seemed too quiet…too still… Finally mom looked at us still processing it all. Four. long. Days. in…hell…

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“And after that she took you somewhere safe?” the man presumed

I sighed now annoyed with the guy a bit “who's telling the story here me or you? Shut up dud…”

He hummed quietly “my apologies continue asha”

I huffed, crossing my arms “like I was saying ... .Hell…”

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Me my sister and my mother were going to survive four days in hell

I finally broke the silence in the room “mom…how are we going to do this” she stayed silent my sister got quiet honestly this was the longest i havent heard her speak usually when she’s this quiet it was cause she was in trouble or passed out asleep

“I dont know asha..” she said quietly

“What do you mean you don't know mom?”

“I DONT KNOW” she yelled and i flinched

So i did what i could think of “alright Maria lock all the windows and doors mom just went grocery shopping so we have enough food to last us four days” my sister nodded already ahead and started locking the doors

Mom finally started to get back into her head she started to nod softly “ill get the safety guns from the drawer now im glad i got three for each of us” i hear my mother mutter to herself i sigh softly i went to the kitchen

In the kitchen i looked in the fridge already planning 18 meals for the four days i was always the one with the culinary skills or at least that's just what my mother and sister say

I sigh again softly i closed the fridge and looked in the pantry making sure we had anything editable thankfully we did i quickly started to make some goods nothing fancy just sandwiches and soups crackers snacks and maybe some- BANG BANG BANG

“LUCIA! OPEN UP” a man outside yelled i quickly looked at my mother she froze recognizing the voice she rushed to me “shh go hide with Mari now.” she said softly I felt her hands tremble softly as she held my face softly

“Mom? What are you doing, don't open the door!” i quietly yelled “Don’t question me now HIDE NOW” she whispered back my sister softly held onto my arm “come on sis lets just listen” she whispered i let her pull me to the side into one of our old rooms in the closet she held me close to her chest

I heard my mother open the door…

“Alejandro… what do you want” i froze hearing my mother say that name he was a guy we knew from far back with dad not a good person always was looking a little to hard at mom when i was younger i never knew what bad things happened between the two but i just knew it wasnt good

“Lucia darling, remember that money I lent back in Mexico? I came for debts” i hear the guy reply i stayed silent me and my sister listening in closely we could hear the shudder in our mothers voice

“What do you mean? I already paid you back years ago? I had your daughter!” she said me and my sister froze, we looked at each other confused “daughter?” my sister mouthed i shrug just as confused as her

Not Knowing what she was talking about either

“My daughter? You mean the child you kept away from me? Telling her she was a part of that stupid Carlos sperm?” he scoffed “i came for my daughter cause i know you definitely cant protect her in these four days”

I could hear my mother tearing up from the soft sobs in her voice “No! You can't have Maria! She's MY daughter!” he scoffed “not if you dead” he said me and my sister stilled frozen i covered my mouth as i flinch hard hearing a gunshot…it ringed in my ears everything in me felt…dead

My sister was already crying hugging me i stayed silent we both tried our best to stay quiet as they searched the house for us i felt my breathing close in my breath getting fast the closet suddenly felt to small for the both of us i could feel the faint breeze come through the closet door the silent that seemed to echo after the gun shot…was deafing…

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“My condolences to your mother..” the man said

I sighed “yeah well she wouldn't have survived anyways probably would have taken her own life on day two like most did” i looked off

The man looked at me softly with sadness at my bold words

“Very well continue…”

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Me and my sister realized very quickly they'd be checking the house for us so we quietly opened the closet and escaped through the window we noticed some people trying to go around into the backyard for us so we snuck into the neighbors backyard over the fence

Another very alarming thing we had to be careful with our neighbors a 16 year old boy named Jason with his father alex lived there they never really liked us because of well i never knew

Me and my sister quickly hopped fences again to the next neighbor so we quickly snuck out and ran down the block like our lives depended on it because well it did….

After a while we finally found a bridge. A small river of water went underneath and he hid beneath the bridge and I couldn't help but tear up. I covered my mouth and fell to my knees “mom…” i sobbed out softly my sister then broke down as well she sat down next to me her hair falling forward i couldn’t see further then that

I wasn't able to think anymore. I was drowning… if I felt like I was drowning my head felt like I was ripping it apart I cried and cried and cried my mother IS DEAD SHES DEAD MY MOTHER IS DEAD MY MOM my…. Mommy…

“PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER ASHA” maria yelled at me i flinched and looked up at her my hands were trembling

“We have four days to survive, think of something! We can't crash right now We have more important things to worry about” she said i nodded softly wiping away my tears i pulled my hair up into a high ponytail

“okay..okay” i breath softly pulling myself together i then i looked at my sister “alright plans what the hell do we do we only have four days and people are probably already about to die around us” i said my voice trembled a bit

“I dont know sis we lost our food sorce and ma and safe house…” she said burying her face in her hands then she looked up “do you think AJ will be about to house us?” She asked “your ex? Are you crazy hell no he would turn on us in an instant plus we don't know if we can even trust him i mean comeon sis are you even thinking??” I said

she nodded to me “yeah yeah you're right” she sighed softly then i realized “wait why dont we buy guns?? We are old enough to get them and plus they are basically handing them out to the public for free” i said “we dont need anything too large or hard to handle just a simple handgun or SOMETHING!” I yelled

felt like i was going insane.. moms dead amd some rando is after my sister and i could be for dead meat anyday or anytime we have to play this carefully very carefully i didnt know what do i do what do i do what do i do what do i do what do i do?!

My sister broke my train of thought “yes, your right lets get guns even if it's something small” she said i finally looked up at her and nodded “where's the closest gun shop?” I asked standing up finally i brushed off my knees feeling the soreness from being on them kick in

She pulled out her phone and looked at the map “fuck” she said “what?” I asked “the next gun shop around here is an hour walk away” she sighed softly and raised a brow “why walk?” I asked “sis if we drive someone would shoot us to death” she said i scoffed feeling the tiredness of the tears kick in the dgaf kick in “who said they’ll catch us?” I smirk

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“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH”

was all anybody could hear my sister scream with me speeding down the road

it only took 5 minutes to get there

I parked crookedly of course she looked like she lost her soul

“Heh never knew you werent one for speed sis” i couldn't help but chuckle at her state she shoots me a glare getting out of the car she slammed the door “how the hell do you know how to highjack a car anyways?” She asked not wanting to bring up about how in highschool i would sneak out of class to steal cars and dump them somewhere off a bridge dangerously…

“Uhhhh friend taught me” i shrugged and walked in the shop the walls looked bare and the person behind the glass was some old rusty guy who smelled strongly of rust or was that copper? cigarettes, and body ax… and like something was dying?...(not the best combo)

I had to put my scarf that i was thankfully wearing over my knows so i didnt gag over the smell sadly my sister wasn't so fortunate so that made me do the talking i looked at the guy but before i could say anything he coughed while saying “all out of- *COUGH-COUGH* of guns” he said i visibly flinched back seeing some weird thing pop out of his mouth he looked spaced out not really blinking oddly… freaked me out a bit i just nodded “o-okay thanks” i said turned to look at mari but she wasnt there she was waiting outside…didnt blame her the scarf didnt do much justice for me…

I pulled down the scarf when i got outside “no more guns all bought out didnt take that for account..” i said softly she nodded “yeah i didnt think much about that… shit plan Bs to shit now..” she said with a sigh she pinched the bridge of her nose i cross my arms “what about those guys…” she said quietly

i looked at her curiously “who?” I asked “those guys who killed mom…” she finally said with a sigh “Mari you're not actually thinking-” i started but she cut me off “yes, yes i am they have a huge gang and the guy seemed pretty adamant keep me safe. What if he can keep us safe?” I asked “how do we know he will keep US safe mari?! How do you know he wont just take you and kill me off” i said

upset now that she was even thinking of the idea “what if i asked if he really is my father then i can ask him-” she said “NO sis… he would kill me!” I said “but what if-” she tried “No thats final we are not going to the MOTHER FUCKER who killed mom….” i said walking to the car i wasnt gonna listen anymore i was done with this conversation and i was done talking about moms killer “first” i said turning to her with a deep sigh

“Lets find shelter somewhere to sleep, we are lucky no one's already tried to kiss us com-on” i said walking to the cvar with her this time i drove to the woods “remember how to hunt from dad when we were younger?” I asked while driving the window was down wind blowing into the car she nodded “yeah he taught me how to hunt and you to camp right?” She chuckled drily I nodded

“Yeah…too bad he's probably dead now..” i said but internally…i hoped he was dead. The man deserved to die after leaving mom like that.. for leaving us… “so you want to camp in the woods for four days straight? That's your plan really?” She asked “thats the best ive got give me a better idea that DOESN'T evolve our mothers killer” i said giver her a look which was a half glare she scoffed “you know for someone who just turned 21 you really know how to act like the older sister” she scoffed “maybe because im so reckless to go a Murderer for help and you know not wanting to die and all” i said dryly with a sigh

soon we reached a clearing with woods “dont we need camping stuff? Like food, water and tents?” She asked “what did you think i wanted to do for my birthday?” I asked, lifting the trunk “sit around and do nothing?” I asked if she was surprised to see all the prepared stuff in my trunk “this stuff will probably last us two days, the water filter lasts a month..” i said with a sigh “day three and four we'll have to survive on what you hunt” i said turning to her “You good with that?” I asked she nods “yeah ill handle the messy bloody parts” she said “deal”

later i found a better place near the mountains “mari over here” i called out “ill set up here did you hid the car?” I asked “yeah i put it in a bit of a ditch…but we are all good” she shrugged my eyes widened in shock “GIRL YOU DID NOT” i yelled she smiled nervously “Yeeeeah…” she said i sigh deeply “i just got that car too!!” I cried “dont worry sis ill pay you back one day” she said i sighed deeply again “fine first camp” i said

i started setting up tents my sister went off to focus on seeing what animals were in the area she could hunt i heard a branch snap i looked up from the tent i looked around not seeing anything i hum feeling like i was being watched it was the woods so it would make sense if it was a bear or something maybe even a predator of some sort but it felt colder

I listen to the crickets while listening to the forest. I remembered my father saying if the forest is quiet you need to hide or be quiet. Loud forests are the safest because its safe to speak… so i listened…and listened…i heard another branch snap from my right. I panicked and turned quickly.

“Hey Asha, I noticed some iguanas are nearby and some ducks seem to be common here. Are you good with that when rations run now?” She asked “jesus fucking crist Mari you scared me!” I said she looked surprised “oh sorry” she said i sigh a breath of relief it was her i looked around again “we might not be alone out here keep an eye out okay?” I said she froze “wait someone else might be out here?” She asked i shrug “i dont know but lets stay together for now and take turns sleeping” i said she looked confused

“like military people? Why do we need turns?” She asked me to look at her and deadpanned with a long sigh “because if there is actually someone out here one needs to wake the other to either run or talk to them” i said “oh” she said “yeah..” she nods awkwardly now…

“Anyways you said ducks and something about what crocks?” I asked “uh no iguanas they are around here a lot so when we get low on rations that's what I'll be hunting” she clarified i clearly nodded “alright.. you take first rest theres creek just down that hill im going to get water and come back okay?” I asked “yeah that works with me I'm exhausted from the day..” she said

“ill finish up the tent while you get the water before i nap” she was already walking over and working on it i stood “okay” i said quietly getting the water filter bag i went down to the creek filling the bag then soon walked back i noticed the tent was up “nice you got the tent up correctly this time-” i walked in she was already asleep i got quiet not wanting to wake her i sat outside of the tent

Some time later I looked around noticing it was getting dark. started a small fire warming up food. It smelled delicious and mari woke up popping her head out from the tent “food?” She asked and I laughed softly “yeah hungry?” I asked “oh my god is that a question?” she said getting up I was already handing her a bowl of warmed up chicken noodle soup from the can of course i cant cook for shit…. (A/N: …same girl..;-;)

she ate quietly looking around “wow its scary out here in the dark” she commented and i looked out as well i nodded “yeah.. it kinda is..” i said quietly the forest was now dark and quiet the woods looked like long pillars the sky looked like it was had splotches of black dots but it was really the tree leafs if you looked to closely for too long your brain made you think you'd see a pair of white eyes… always… it always unsettled

i looked at my sister “you good?” I asked and she sighs “I'm trying… now that everything's settled its almost off how quiet it is especially after everything with mom being dead now and my dad apparently not being who i thought he was..” she said softly

i understood what she was going through well as best as i could i mean i was only in part of her boat.. Alenjado wasnt my father but i know he definitely killed mom “yeah i get that…” my eyes fell down to the bowl of soup in my hands

i got lost in thought and thinked about everything that was going on i mean fuck man we are in a four day purge… What else shitty thing can happen?... fuck i probably just jinxed myself didnt i.. i sighed softly “im sleeping next wake me if you notice anything” she nods and i went into the tent it was warm compared to the cold outside

Finally… i layed down with another soft sigh i slowly fell asleep

Day 1 - end