The Purge

You and I

"Loony...Mr.Loony!" 

Kiyah prodded at Ray's stomach as he lay, splurged across the stained mattress, floating on a sea of grey-ish carpet, crawling with dirt. She pouted as he failed to move, still motionless of the mattress. 

"Wake up, the monsters are coming!" she squealed, excitedly jumping up and down, tugging on his shirt. Suddenly at the sound of monsters, Ray sprung up, his eyes brimming with life. 

"Monsters? Where?" he cried, swinging Kiyah into his arms. She pointed jitteringly at the shadow that was slowly pacing towards her. "Run Ray, Run!" she squealed, tugging on his braid, "RoccyMonster is coming!" At that, Roc emerged from behind the curtain, bearing teeth with his hands curled into claws. He wriggled them in Kiyah's direction, indicating the deadly tickling which was to come. She screamed and tugged Ray's braid as he flew her around the room, swinging her high in the air, just missing Roc's deadly fingertips."Get me away!" she laughed as she touched the ceiling and scaled the floor. 

Finally, he flung her onto the mattress, letting the foam engulf her until she kicked her way out, panting for breath. 

"Oop...RoccyMonster's all tried out" Roc said, panting heavily. 

"Already?" she groaned, putting her hands on her hips, "Just one more go, come on Loony!" she insisted, clinging to Ray's leg. 

"Not this time Kiyah" he said, looking over to the clock. It read 7:34, but the darkness though the grease streaked windows said otherwise. Checking his phone, he confirmed that the time was 10:57. "It's time for you go get to bed...".

Kiyah examined her surroundings:a small, cramped attic covered in a stained carpet, almost impossible to see under the tissues and bottles which hid it. The only thing which resembled a bed was the mattress which lay lonesome on the ground. She scrunched her nose, unamused. 

"Can we go home now, Loony?" she whimpered, holding her arms out. Ray, just as disappointed as she was picked her up and held her tight in his arms. His forehead touching her own, he explained that from here on, this was their home. 

"But I don't like it..." she whispered, shaking her head. 

"Neither do I...but it'll be safe and warm. And we can play games all the time!"

"Can RoccyMonster live with us?" she asked, looking over to Roc who was crouched on a cardboard box. 

"Sometimes..." Ray answered, flicking her nose. "But its gonna be me and you most of the time, OK?" 

"No Mommy?" she mumbled. Ray's eyes dropped as he tried to conceal the tears which quickly built up in his eyes at the sound of the word. When he felt strong enough, he looked into Kiyah's large, hope full eyes and smiled. 

"Not for now...Mommy didn't want to play the game, OK. Now it's just the adventures of Kiyah and Loony". At this Kiyah's eyes lit up. She smiled, and seemed to, for the minute, forget about the bleariness of the room, or the lack of people she loved.

"I like that game" she smiled, wriggling out of Ray's arms an stumbling as she placed her feet on the ground. Blinking distantly at her surroundings, she rubbed her eyes, gave Roc a hug and clambered onto the mattress. In comparison, she was tiny and it seemed to swallow her up, but even still, she was contented, and it wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep. When Ray was sure she was sleeping, he sunk onto the mattress at her feet, hopeless and lost. As he ran his fingers through his hair, he felt the comforting touch of Roc's hand on his shoulder. 

"Look bruh, don't worry...you'll be safe here" Roc tried to assure him. When Ray replied, Roc was sure he could hear the wavering, teariness in his voice.

"I don't know...they've always found our family- it's like a fucking curse!" 

"Look Ray", Roc began, pushing Ray's head out of his hands so they were eye to eye. His voice was stern, and Ray knew better than to carry on tearful, "The Clan will not find you and Kiyah here....and even if they do, you know Im'a protect you both" 

Ray nodded, wiping the moisture from his face. "I appreciate that Chres" 

Roc smiled, playfully punching Ray in the collar "I'm just returning what I know you'd do for me...just keep my little one safe OK, and yourself too" Roc turned to leave and made sure to silently close the attic door behind him before making his way down the rickety ladder. 

"24 more hours, Kiyah", Ray whispered to the ceiling as he huddled onto the mattress next to her. "I'm gonna see us both through this...you see"