Recently I saw a film called The Purge. Basically the plot is about a family dealing with home invaders one evening in late March. You're probably thinking that's not very uncommon given the crime rate and the behavior of society these days BUT in this film it is 2022 and on the evening of March 21 at 7pm through the morning of March 22 7am there is a window where all law enforcement as well as health care providers cease all responsibility. If you don't quite understand it means that during those twelve hours anything is legal, including murder and no one is there to help or save you. The justification behind this odd and sadistic night during the year is that it gives citizens an opportunity to indulge in their anger, jealousy, hatred, etc. which in turn is said to bring crime rates down and keep society lifted. According to the film there is but a 1% unemployment rate and crime is at an all time low. It sounds all well and good and the folks in the movie seem to be totally accepting of it but the catch is that they are wealthy and can afford a fancy security system to keep them safe. The poor on the other hand have absolutely no means of protection and must hide and fight for their lives.
With those points explained I am finally getting to my point in all of this. After leaving the theatre I started to think "where the hell would I hide?" I'm not exactly poor but I don't believe I'd be able to afford a complete lockdown security system in my house. Therefore I would have to find some other means of survival. As the film progresses you come to realize there are folks just out for blood and kill people who are by no means a nuisance in their daily lives so you have to think would I really be safe just locking the doors? I wouldn't chance it. I went through different places in my head trying to figure out what I would do. There was the thought of hiding in a dumpster or in some water tunnel somewhere but than again SPOILER ALERT it was made apparent that homeless people were ideal targets for the aimless an blood thirsty so I decided it may not be a good idea to hide where the homeless would. Another thought was the trunk of a car, who would think to look there right? That option wouldn't do either because I considered if a victim was running and the killer had a machine gun (totally allowed) and fired as the victim passed the car I could easily be killed by one of the many bullets. So that hiding spot was out. Then I considered going to a car dealership and hiding underneath some car, with all those cars how could someone possibly find me? But as you well know car dealerships are lit up at night and usually in populated areas so someone may see me assume my position and come after me, cancel that one too. I then thought travel out of town and stay in a random hotel paying in cash and changing my name incase someone I knew had it out for me but I also had to consider the fact that maybe another guest or even the clerk would turn and take their aggression out on me. Another no good option. There were few more but you get the point all of them were to risky. UNTIL....
I configured a full proof plan as long as all the following rules are treated with care:
1. Take the day March 20th - 22nd off of work.
2. Drive to a highly wooded area several hours from where you live. IMPORTANT: Be sure you are not followed.
3. Park your car in a secure area you will be able to locate after the "purge" is over.
4.Begin a hike as far away from your vehicle as possible during the hours before the event begins. IMPORTANT: Be sure you are not followed.
5. Once you have cleared the necessary space between your car and yourself find the tallest tree you can climb. NOTE: Specialized tools may be vital.
6. Before climbing tree be sure to put on bullet proof clothing (pants, vest, jacket, etc.) as well as protective head gear.
7. Proceed to the highest point physically possible. (Don't be lazy or you'll die.)
8. Once in position, situate yourself comfortably and strap yourself onto the tree with the security belt you brought as part of your vital tools. (It is a twelve hour event and on the off chance you may fall asleep you don't want to risk falling out of the tree.)
9. Wait out the night and hope to god your position isn't compromised.
10. MOST IMPORTANT RULE: Never go back to the same place. Choose a different location every year.
******You should also be aware of how you treat people throughout the year. Be nice to people it'll most likely lessen the risk of someone actually hunting you.******
IMPORTANT: It is assumed you are smart enough to bring your own weapon (I'd go with the shot gun personally). Also I don't know how other folks will go about the possible need to go to the restroom but to be frank I would make sure I went number two before climbing up the tree and I would also wear an adult diaper in case of the need to urinate during the night. Some of you may think that's gross but if you want to climb all the way down and pop a squat or pee from several tens of feet in the air that's fine but I won't be the one dying on the off chance someone comes along and finds you out. Another thing I must point out this is a SOLO OPERATION (intended for you and you alone). I am a single female with no kids therefore I don't care to help anyone else (Of course I would encourage my family and friends to do as I do but I would not allow them to go with me to my location). That may sound cold but in a situation like the Purge who can you really trust? Anyone's allowed to kill you during those twelve hours meaning ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO KILL YOU. Don't be an idiot and share your position with someone else they could turn on you at any moment. Besides if you have families with children you cannot expect them to hike for however many hours and climb up a thirty foot tree. You may as well go with the dumpster friend, I'm sorry. Speaking of children that brings me to my next point, no matter what you choose as your hide out you keep it a secret from them until the night of. They talk AND they will tell their friends which of whom may go and tell their parents who may or may not want you dead. Be cautious. SPOILER ALERT: The kid is the main reason the family is thrown into their screwed up situation. Don't let that be you, don't share any details.
I know hiding in a tree miles away from home may seem silly but if you think about it who is going to find you? Even if some victim just happened to be running through the woods and the killer chasing close behind guns blazing you are not going to alert them of your position and the killer is probably not going to rain terror on the tree tops when his prey is fifteen feet in front of him on ground level. Now, on the off chance the killer was a trigger happy bastard who began shooting aimlessly upward in order to scare the victim even more and you happened to get shot you should be fine. You may be laughing exclaiming, "hell no I wouldn't" but in all reality if you followed the rules above by suiting up in bullet proof clothing and also secured yourself to the tree you should ultimately be fine. If you pass out from the terror the harness will hold you until you regain consciousness. You may still be thinking this is outlandish but honestly if you adhere to the rules and keep your actual intended location a secret it's nearly fail proof. Make sure you aren't followed, wonder far enough into the nowhereness as possible and keep your weapon handy at all times. The off chance a killer comes along he has slim to no expectancy on finding you in some random thirty foot tree. If you do however notice a killer trying to sniff you out channel your inner snipper and take the son of a bitch down before he spots you.
In conclusion, this is the only idea I thought of where I honestly couldn't think of a scenario where my death was a huge possibility. This is my personal plan in the case that something as monstrous as freebie crime and killing one night a year becomes possible. Doubtful, but you can never be too careful. If I save your life somewhere down the line because you use this plan I have done my duty as a movie goer and citizen. Be safe!
