The Purge ➵ a.i

7

Annalise

12:37 a.m.

It's not easy. It's actually very difficult to do it. But I have to. I don't want to kill him. I really don't. I wasn't planning on killing anyone my entire life. That changed.

I promised Ashton I would though. And I'm going to. Unless I die before it happens. Well, what if he's already dead? I'll be going through this for nothing.

7am needs to come fast. I need to take Ashton to the ICU as soon as possible. I cannot let this happen. I cannot let him die. If he dies, I'll feel guilty.

"Anna!" I heard someone yell. I turn to Luke with blood on his hands and face. "Luke," I say. "What the hell are you doing. You're supposed to stay home," he says.

"I'm purging for someone," I say. He gives me a what-the-fuck face, and I roll my eyes. "No time to explain it all, it's still purge night," I say.

I continue walking, knowing that Luke will now follow me. "I gotta take you home," he says. "No! I have to do this. I promised him," I say. "Him? Who is him?" he asks.

"Ashton," I say. "Since when were you friends with him?" Luke says, clearly pissed. He has no reason to be mad, there's nothing wrong with Ashton. He and Ashton don't have any problems with each other. Yeah, they aren't friends, but they have no reason to hate each other, which, they don't.

"Nobody said I was friends with him," I say. "Still, you're out here, by yourself, on purge night. Why in the hell isn't he out here with you?" Luke says. "Because, he fucking got shot by a dumb ass," I say.

"Who's the dumb ass?" He asks. "Calum Hood. The guy who killed Ashton's sister. I promised I would kill Calum. I can't let him down. When this is over, I'm taking him straight to ICU. I can't let him die," I say.

I really like Ashton. I have for the longest time. Though, we never talked. I don't know if he likes me though. Yeah, he kissed me. So what? I think he only did that because he thinks he likes because I saved him. I won't know for sure until this is all over, and he's all better.

"Annalise," Luke says, catching my attention from my thoughts. "What?" I say. "You can't date him," he says. "I'm helping him Luke. I never even said I like him," I say.

"Do you, Anna? Do you want to date him?" Luke asks. "I'm not talking about this right now, asshole," I say. "You do. You like him," he says, laughing sarcastically, "I can't fucking believe you right now."

He stops laughing when we both hear a click of a gun. We both turn to Calum. "Anna, I know you're here to kill me. Please, I'm begging you to keep me alive," he says. "I can't do that," I say. Before I even knew what was happening, Luke pulled a gun out and shot Calum down, almost killing him. I don't know where he got it, he only came out here with a machete.

"You made a promise, Anna. Kill him," Luke says. I walk over to Calum and shoot him in the head. "Thank you," I say. I walk in the direction that I came from. "Where are you going?" Luke asks.

"I have to go back to Ashton," I say. "Of course you are," he says. "Luke, shut the fuck up," I say.