The Purge

Be Good

"Thanks for coming over..." 

The white tips of Lianne's nails traced Roc's jawline slowly. In a sense, it was painful, but something irresistible kept Roc by her side. Perhaps it was the flicker of the red candles which adorned the hotel room, or the ever growing scent of Cinnamon which allured Roc, he wasn't too sure. All he knew was that with each second he was in her presence was the less likely he was to leave. 

"Lianne" Roc muttered, pulling away from her overpowering presence, "I came to make sure you're OK...nothing more" 

"Baby, I know" she whispered, her warm tongue touching Roc's ear. He cringed, but didn't pull away. Even if he wanted to, he knew she would only come crawling back, pulling him with her. The television blurred quietly in the background, counting down to the Purge, and with each time update, Roc became overwhelmed with guilt. It was impossible to even care about Lianne's hands which were exploring his body, regardless of where they were.  By the end of half an hour, he had put on his coat five times, determined to leave, but had always taken it right back off...after a puff of Lianne's joint. 

"Relax Roccy-" 

"Don't call me that!" he snapped, pierced by the sound of Kiyah's nickname. 'Roccy'....he only ever heard that name in Kiyah's voice, and it seemed perverse of anyone else to mutter it, especially someone who's body was all over him. For the sixth time, he pulled himself off the bed, prying Lianne off his arm and flung his coat over his shoulders. "I don't even know why I'm here in the first place" 

"Roc! Just finish this joint with me, then go. Please!" she pleaded, clinging to his fingertips and holding out the paper enclosing a plant unknown to Roc. 

"Nah....that thing is the reason I'm here in the first place" he snorted, snatching his hand away and storming out the room. The hallway of the hotel was silent, but the piercing yell of Lianne was bold. 

"Fuck you Roc! See if you get through this Purge!" 

Roc couldn't help but laugh; 'Oh the cries of a desperate child' he thought to himself. 

00:00

Roc stopped in his tracks as he reached the hotel lobby and saw the clock from the corner of his eye. The receptionist scrutinized him shadily, fumbling with something under the desk. The Purge had begun-nobody was safe...

Meanwhile...

"I don't even know how to use this shit!" Ray hissed, kicking the gun, "And there's no way I'm letting Kiyah see me take someone's life with it. She's already seen it happen before, that's the whole reason we left" 

"But what choice do we have?! Unless you want to die?" Amanda replied. 

"I'd sooner die than kill!" Ray totally forgot himself or the fact that Kiyah was asleep. Amanda could see the tears prickling his eyes, and realised that there was nothing she could do or say to convince Ray to pick up the gun. 

"Fine. If you're not gonna use it, Roc will" she huffed, pulling her jacket over her shoulders. 

"Hold on!" Ray demanded, grabbing her arm tight, "There is no way your going to find Roc! He won't do shit for us!" 

"Maybe not for us, but at least for Kiyah" 

"You're not going outside" Ray insisted, positioning his body in front of the door. 

"For fucks sake Ray, move!" Amanda groaned, pushing him out the way. Immediately, he grabbed his bomber jacket and flung it over his shoulders. 

"I'm coming with you" 

Amanda rolled her eyes before heading down the ladder.

"And leave Kiyah here alone, yeah? OK Captain.Too-Brave-To-Have-Any-Sense, you do that". Ray bit his lip, knowing there was no way he could leave Kiyah alone, or at least unprotected. But then, there was no way he would let Amanda leave the attic alone, unprotected in the midst of a Purge to try and find someone who didn't care about her. His head was whirring, confusion and waves of emotion rushing through him.

Heavy with regret, he kissed sleeping Kiyah on the forehead, and let the cold gun suck the warmth and innocence from her little fingers as he placed it in her hand.

"Be good..." he whispered, letting his hair tickle her cheek "I'll be back soon..."