The Purge was supposed to keep us safe… but now, I don’t think we’ll ever feel safe again."

I’m Zoey Sandin. Before tonight, my biggest concerns were school, music, and sneaking around with my boyfriend, Henry. I never really thought about the Purge—I mean, why would I? We were protected. We had money, security, walls to keep the chaos outside where it belonged. At least, that’s what I thought.

But then Henry snuck into our house, telling me he was going to talk to my dad. I told him not to. I begged him not to. But he didn’t listen. He had a gun. He thought he could fix everything by killing my father. Instead, my dad killed him. And I had to watch him die right in front of me.

And that was only the beginning.

Tonight, my house—my home—became a battleground. My family was hunted like animals. My father was murdered. We fought, we bled, we barely survived. And when it was over? When the sirens blared and the Purge officially ended? It didn’t feel over at all.

Because I finally understand the truth. The Purge isn’t about keeping people safe. It isn’t about some twisted release. It’s about power. It’s about who gets to live and who is left to die. And next year? It will happen all over again.

So tell me… how am I supposed to go back to normal after this?"