Alexander Stowe and his twin brother Aaron stand beside their parents as the entire town of Quill watches High Priest Justine announces the names of those who are Wanted and Necessary. Alex, chosen from 50 other 13-year-olds, is an Unwanted who will be Purged (13); he has known he would be an Unwanted since the age of 10. Aaron, meanwhile, is among the Wanted. Alex’s wrists are shackled as he tries to remain calm. He says goodbye to his brother as he is dragged away by the governors to a bus that will take him to his certain death. 

Aaron watches his brother board the bus and then sees the High Priest Justine board a large vehicle with her guards and secretary. The crowd disperses, keen to forget the Purge on their single annual holiday. With his parents, Aaron prepares to leave for university. They discuss giving Aaron the clothes left behind by Alex—referring to the doomed twin only as “the Unwanted boy” (15). Aaron refuses the clothes but agrees to try and forget his brother. As the Stowes walk home, they discuss a neighbor who will be barred from reproducing. Mr. Stowe stop talking when Aaron threatens to report such speech for insubordination.