The 4th Hour

"Damien?" I whispered into his ear. Yes. I'm scared. I'm scared of losing him, even though I was fine with leaving without him an hour ago. I just couldn't walk away from him, not like this, not after he launched himself onto me to save me from the glass grenade. "Damien, you asshole, wake up." I nudged him.

The makeshift bandages which are practically just strips of his shirt, are soaked through with blood. Although I have succesfully moved his body to the back of the alleyway, he's not going to remain safe for long. He groaned softly, squeezing my hand to brace himself from the searing pain that has ravaged his back.

"Come on, Damien, we have to get you out of here." I urged him to sit up, but even that is a mission at this stage.

"Leaf meh." He mumbled.

"What?" I shrugged him, gently. I cupped his face in my bloodied hands and looked him dead in the eyes.

"Leave...me.." He breathed.

If I leave him...He'll die and I can't have that. He might slow me down but that's better than leaving him out here to rot!

"You idiot, I'm not leaving you, okay? I'm going to get help-" I stopped myself. All emergencies services will be suspended until the Purge is over. I can't get him to a hospital or a doctor. How could I get help?

Frustrated I raked my hands through my hair and sat back down, thinking of my next motive. I don't know what to do. Damien's eyes were slowly drifting off as if to sleep, but I kept shaking him awake with gut-wrenching fear.

When all seemed hopeless, I had what you would call a lightbulb moment.

"Damien? Damien you faggot, listen to me," I slapped his face gently until he paid me full attention. "This sounds bad, but it will probably be the easiest way to hide because you look half-dead. If we could just get you to stand and take baby steps we could break into Walmart or something. And if you we get sidetrack all you have to do is play dead while I fend off the bad guys. Got it?"

I looked at him, a little too hopeful. I saw a glimpse of a smile play on his lips before he gave me a nod. I lifted him up onto his feet, he was wobbly at first but got the hang off it by transferring his weight onto me and so we proceeded out of this stinking alleyway.

I half dragged and carried him across the street which was surprisingly clear of the red bandana

gangs. Perhaps they moved terroritory or maybe they're just out hunting, playing Purge games. The mere thought of it all made me sick. But there's nothing I can do to stop it.

I'm barely surviving.

"Elle...my...b-back...I can't- it...hurts." Damien mumbled.

I gently placed him down on the sidewalk, making sure his back wounds didn't impact with anything. I didn't really know how bracing his body could have exerted me so much until my lungs were battling for air.

"Leave..me." He murmured, eyes half-open. I squatted down in front of him with my hands cupping his face, again. He can't be serious. I'm not going to leave him. Not like this. I'm thinking of dumping in body in a safe house or something, a basement would also suffice. Just somewhere safer than these anarchic streets.

"Damien, if you tell me to leave you one more time, I will slap you so hard you won't wake up until next week. Do you understand?" I said sternly. A soft chuckle escaped him and it made me feel a sense of relief. We stayed like that for a while, just staring into each other's eyes for comfort. I suppose with Damien's lazy eyes and my lack of focus, I didn't notice anyone sneaking up behind me until I felt cold steel being pressed to my skull.

I froze.

Damien's eyes widened but he failed to compose words. I didn't blame him. I was all tensed up ready to shit myself because someone's pressing a gun to my head! I could be dead in seconds.

I just prayed it wasn't another red bandanna guy because I honestly thought we've seen the last of them. But what's possibly worse at this stage is encountering another gang member...a more lethal one.

This time I shivered and felt all my courage drain out of me. Damien's eyes were slowly fading, I'm thinking he's playing dead, hopefully. I swear if he dies and leaves me to die...I'm going to kill him.

That made no sense whatsoever.

"Locked out?" A male raspy voice asked me. I bit my bottom lips which has significantly crusted with dry skin. Okay, breathe Elle. Just comply, and somehow find a way out of this. Like always. So I breathed. My cheeks are a little flushed. My hands are slightly trembling. My mind is racing with the possibility of death. "Let's try this again. Were you locked out?" I could almost hear his finger tapping the trigger, prompting me. The tone of his voice also changed. It was impatient and severe.

"I wasn't locked out. Not this time." I answered honestly. Damien's breathing had softened, his eyes closed. Damien I swear you better play dead.

Then just when I thought I'd probably die right here right now, the gun was withdrawed from my skull. I didn't have time to sigh in relief when I was handled roughly to get on my feet. The stranger spun me around to face him. He was concealed by a black turtle neck stretched over his nose. His blue eyes pierced through me. The lines that gathered underneath suggested that he was probably in his early thirties if not late twenties. He had this balance of looking old yet maintaining youthful aspects.

"Did you come out here for him?" He pointed his gun towards Damien's bloodied body, which was slanted against a wall. I didn't know if I should be honest. I don't think it's safe to announce I'm a daughter of an executed citizen. I still have my guns at the ready but I doubt I can overtake this man. He gave off this experienced vibe.

"Yes," I lied. "He's my boyfriend. I came out here to find him." My voice was almost robotic, my words sounded rehearsed, well they were, in my head. The man seemed unconvinced. I could see it in his eyes. It scrutinised me severely. But I didn't falter, at least I didn't show it.

"He's as good as dead with all the blood he's lost. I think it's time for you to move on or get yourself killed." The man said, casting a glance at Damien again. My insides knotted. No!

"He's not dead!" I whipped my head around, only to have the man grab my hair and then shove me forward. Now I was face to face with Damien.

"Look at him!" The man hissed. "You have ten seconds to make a decision-"

I twisted from his grasp, ripping some hair off but I didn't care.

"I am not leaving him! Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?" I exclaimed in frustration. Screw keeping my cool, I had to retaliate. Damien cannot die! I refuse to let that happen. The man pressed his gun towards my chest and looked at me fiercely.

"Does it matter who I am? Does it matter who anyone else is? It's the Purge, there's no-one in charge. Therefore we all have authority. If you want to survive the night you have to eliminate the liability." The man aimed his gun at Damien this time and I screamed. He whacked me across the face and my vision blurred for a second. I hit the ground, hard. But I couldn't let him kill Damien. I forced my bruised body up and launched myself in front of Damien. He saved me. I should at least return the favour. Even if it's useles.

"I said I'm not leaving him. ARE YOU FUCKING DEAF?" I raged.

From the sinister look in his eyes. I could tell he had something planned for the both of us. But my expectations were suddenly shattered when he pulled down his turtle neck to reveal his face.

He looked a hell of a lot like Ryan Gossling and I don't mean he's handsome or anything, he just had the features; blue eyes, straight nose, thin pink lips and pointed chin. His hair was concealed under a black beanie but I assumed they were brownish blonde. I had no idea that I was staring until his impassive face changed into a sneer.

"Recognise me?" He asked. I shook my head slowly. "I'm a doctor," Great, I totally asked for your profession. You douce bag. "And that's why I know that your boyfriend isn't going to make it." Suddenly his words sunk in. He's a doctor....Damien isn't playing dead...he is literally dying...But this man can't prove that he's a doctor! He could be lying! He has to be!

"You need to back off, right now. This doesn't concern you!" What the hell is this guy even doing here? If he really wanted to kill us, he would have done so. I'm so confused! "Are you going to kill me or what?" I asked, incredulously.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"I save those who can make it out."

What? Shock immediately registered on my face. He sounded a lot like my dad except sinister and mysterious. I backed up a bit. What does he mean by save? The stranger seemed to pick this up quickly and explained.

"There's an unwritten rule in the purge. Tonight we take lives. There must not be any inference. There must not be any heroes. Hence why all the emergency services are suspended. Tonight is all about unleashing the wrath that's been bottled up for so long. But there are people who refuse to watch death being televised like a coping mechanism to sanity, and so instead they save them. I am one of those people."

I stared hard at him. At his blue lucid eyes and intimidating aura.

This is a desperate hour.

I was so determined to kill my father's murderer, the man with the white mask, but after almost dying and then have Damien lie in a heap of blood was a wake up call that tonight was going to take a lot more than just anger to fulfil my mission.

"I killed people tonight-"

"Self-preservation, it happens. You are lucky to even be able to still lurk around at this stage. The purge games are getting worse." He started fumbling with his belt which was ridiculously stocked with weapons. It was then that I noticed his attire. Bullet-proof vest and everything.

"Did you know my father?" I asked randomly.

The stranger blinked.

"Kieran. Former war veteran. He died...a few hours ago." The words came out painfully. Gosh, I hated showing my emotions in front people. But I couldn't help tear up a little at the thought of my dad's death. "He died because he saved people. Him and his crew would risk their lives for others. He was sold out by one of his trusted comrades...I guess that's what the Purge does to you...deconstructs relationships." I added, solemnly.

Gunfire snapped me out of my melancholic state. My vigilant eyes scanned the streets for upcoming cars or gangs.

"We should get going." The man said and pulled my arm. I twisted it back and looked at him incredulously.

"I said I am not leaving my boyfriend!"

The man looked at Damien's almost lifeless body, eyes concerned at the growing pool of blood leaking for his back wounds. I knew it was hopeless to wake Damien up but it hurt so much to think of leaving him on the sidewalk in these bloodthirsty hours.

"He's slipping in and out of consciousness. You're better off without him." The man tugged at my wrist again and practically dragged me away from Damien, ignoring my protest. After about ten metres, he whipped his head around and glared at me, seriously. "I know your father," that was enough to let my muscles relax. "He was a good man. But unfortunately no-one could save him. However, unlike you're father I am not kind. We mightshare the same ideology; to save those who can be saved...but Death is to be feared, especially in times like these," I felt his graps loosen a bit. "I know where he was executed and I know who killed him." As selfish as it sounded, those words were enough for me to leave Damien behind without a second glance back.

I left the dead, to follow a trajectory, inevitably leading to death.

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A/N

Fourth Hour- dying boyfriend, mysterious stranger alert and renewed determination in initial revenge plan.

Super late update but I got there in the end, sorry guys!

I know this isn't the most action packed chapter, I promise the next one will be! Stay tuned x