Chapter 7
March 23rd 2022, flashback
"Zoey!" Nicole yelled out to get her attention. She and Chloe were just on their way out of Snyder's Purge shelter. It was literally like spending twelve hours in a dentist waiting room, while Snyder's high and mighty friends were partying in his penthouse all the families were given was a small lounge that she's pretty sure was a maid's break room outside the Purge. Barely anyone paid attention to them, even the guards didn't bother looking them in the eyes. Once the alarm went off and the Purge was over everyone was getting out of here as fast as they could.
"Oh hey Nicole…. Ugh I'm a bit busy right now, I have…" Zoey stuttered "I can't talk right now" she said as she walked off
Nicole almost pursued her but decided to give her space. Nicole looked at her hand and noticed Chloe wasn't holding on. Nicole desperately looked around and saw Chloe run up to her "honey you're not supposed too-"
"It's not true right, you'll tell me the truth right?" she asked out of nowhere
"What do you mean?" was all Nicole could say
"They said Daddy didn't work here, that they can't find him" Chloe said, talking extremely fast.
Nicole bit her lip in confusion "ugh obviously there's been some mistake" Nicole said in as calm a manner as she could muster "I'll go speak to them" she said as she made her way to an information booth "Um hello, when will Jacob Bristow be off duty, we're leaving soon"
The booth attendant typed a little on her keyboard "I'm sorry I'm not getting anything" she said with a creepy smile
Nicole raised both eyebrows "Check again"
"No no I'm quite sure we have no record of him" the attendant said, rushing to get rid of her "next!" she said even though Nicole had no one behind her
"Alright everyone, we're gonna need you all to clear out and return home, the Purge is over" a spokesperson said, standing beside Snyder.
Nicole forced herself on the glass of the attendant booth "look I am not asking you, I'm telling you to say he's alright and can come home"
"What's going on here" the Snyder said with his man servants following behind
"This woman claims my husband doesn't work here, his name is Jacob Bristow, he's about six one and ha-" Nicole explained before getting cut off
"Bristow?" Snyder said "Ruben is that name in my cove -up list for this year" he said as one of his man servants pulled out a book the size of a dictionary and had them turn the pages for him "aww here we go… we have no record of Jacob Bristow being and employed and or interning at any Snyder enterprise sanctioned, therefore we are not required to bestow any benefits or severance to the family of the deceased and or missing in action" he spoke as if he had memorized this speech and said it to a thousand other people
Nicole's eyes were exploding out of her head, she wanted to strangle him right now, but he was surrounded by guards "You… you-"
"Look Miss, your annoying me so ugh here's six hundred dollars, don't let the door hit you on the way out" he said tossing the money at her face
Nicole's shaking hand clenched into a fist. Let's just say what happened next got her and Chloe thrown out of the building.
Back to the Present
Michael! Oh god Michael. Logan ran out of the security room to the elevator.
"If there's one thing I can't respect it's a weak stomach" Snyder said rolling his eyes "Serenity that was so cruel and unnecessarily violent against someone who didn't ask for anything" he said, Stacy expecting him to really hammer down the right message "you make me so proud everyday" he instead praised "Dippson you wipe down these controls, I'm getting her a drink" he leaving a crushed and insulted Stacy.
Serenity stopped to look at Logan's phone left on the table, she was about to open it….. But she didn't want to inspect a phone that still needed a case "ugh get out of the stone age Reese" she said before tossing it on the floor.
Just keep going Nicole, just keep going. Nicole thought to herself as she fidgeted with someone else's basket so she would simply appear to be bateking in front of the security camera. If the goal was to turn a decent basket frame into a shitty bird nest then she nailed it. But she was still keeping it, it would actually look very nice under her self made spice rack she made in Wichita. Kinda a weird use of time but they had to act natural until Logan-
Her phone vibrated, Logan was calling her "Hey Logan are clear to-"
"GET TO THE SIXTY-SEVENTH FLOOR, MICHAEL'S HURT" he screamed
Nicole dropped the bird's nest and ran towards the elevator and mangled the floor 63 button. She got to the floor and searched around, and eventually found Michael already being attended by Chase.
"MICHAEL, COME ON MICHAEL" Chase said trying to wake him up
Nicole ran over and kneeled down. Michael was in terrible shape, he wasn't mutilated but he had spots of blood on him and a lot of ash. She checked his pulse "no pulse" she said as she and Chase laid him on a better spot. Nicole started giving compressions, 100 to 120 a minute. She laid her ear near his face, no breathing "come on Michael I need you to stay with me". She repeated the compressions
"(coughs)" Michael coughed as he started to regain consciousness
"Good man" Chase said as they helped him up "Good man"
They needed to help him walk to the elevator, by then Zoey and Lola came out for them. "Michael are you ok" Lola said running up to him
"I'll live" his voice was so scratchy and low
Nicole scratched her brain wondering how to proceed "Maybe we should find a place to hide him before going up"
"We don't have time, it's already….. 1:00 AM" Zoey said sounding urgent
"I can go" Michael asserted
Nicole called Logan again "Logan we're ready, let us up"
They all got in the elevator and rode it up back. They all circled around Michael in a futile attempt to hide the damage and ash all over him. Nicole kept her hand on her gun, knowing that this plan could easily go wrong, still better than a route full of spiders.
Logan was waiting for them by the door and kicked them a body bag "Michael get in"
"Wha-"
"These asshats have been carrying these in and out all day, it'll be safer" Logan insisted
They didn't exactly have time to argue so they obliged and closed the doors to put Michael in the bag, left the zipper open enough so he could breath, and reopened the door and carried Michael through their overly pretentious party. The way everyone was so unfazed by people carrying a body bag in the middle of their party was unsettling. Another group of guards actually carried one right by them and threw it down a garbage chute.
"And the award for most bigotry motivated kills goes… John Smith" Serenity kept announcing her sick awards
"Where's the entrance to the safe" Nicole whispered toward Logan
"Upstairs past that weird security room, you guys can get in up there" Logan instructed "but first we-"
"And the award for the best retention of hair goes to…. Logan Reese" Serenity announced as applause came across the room
"Wait, I won something?" Logan said super confused
"I know, how'd you win best hair with that receded hairline" Zoey insulted causing Logan to cover his forehead
"SPEECH SPEECH" people started calling out
"Reese buddy get up here and give a 45 minute speech" Snyder said tugging him
"Ugh I actually-"
"Oh if you don't want to then I guess I can fit you in to discuss my offer for your company now" Snyder said with a sly look
Logan shot him a hateful glare before walking on stage "Ok I wasn't expecting this award, at all. Ugh I'd like to thank my amazing wife Quinn, ugh our two children Eric and Brooke, and of course my friends who will always help me get out of a seriously uncomfortable situation-"
Logan continued his speech as the others got the idea and needed to get him off stage. The alternative was just standing there for 45 minutes and letting him risk losing his company, and none of them wanted to wait around at this psycho party.
"You know I was up for that award" Chase quipped at Lola
"Your hair is awesome" Lola said
"UGH can you guys be any less professional" Zoey insulted
"OH FUCK OFF" Nicole defended without thinking "You've been a complete asshole ever since we sighned up for this shit, I can't believe we used to be friends" she said telling her off
"This is gonna look great on Instagram" a stranger said recording the argument
"Ok ok I'm sorry" Zoey said wanting to get the conversation over with
"Thank you" Nicole said not wanting to drag this argument out. "Ok Zoey find someplace to hide Michael, the rest of us will save Logan" Nicole said, taking charge in Logan's absence
"...Ok" Zoey said before she dragged Michael's bag away
Ok so they had to cause a distraction…. How would they do that? Nicole examined her surroundings and formed a plan as they strolled by like they were guests. "Ok here's the plan I'll sneak up to that hanging light, put one of Quinn's seizure inducing grenades in it and…. They froze as they walked by the announcement board that had the next performer coming on after Logan's speech. She was the spitting image of Lola except her name was Tori Vega "Ok ignore everything I just said" Nicole said getting a new idea
They approached backstage "ok, Lola this is your next big role, your a pop singer who needs to get backstage and steal Logan's spotlight, you're gonna be amazing" Nicole said trying her hand at coaching
"I…I don't know, what if I screw up again" Lola said starting to chew her hair
Nicole tried a different angle "Lola, Logan's company and our very lives hang in the balance and you're the only one who can save us"
"Seriously?" Lola said looking even more nervous
"Too much pressure?" Nicole said realizing her mistake
Chase approached Lola "Lola look at me, look at nothing but me" he said with a stern but calming tone "you can do this, you don't need to believe in yourself because the rest of us do" he said as Nicole nodded "we'll catch you if you fall" Chase finished.
Lola took a deep breath and nodded "Ok, I'm ready"
Lola took her security jacket off and confidently walked up to the backstage, the bouncer asked her who she was "Don't you know who I am, I'm supposed to be performing" she said pointing at another announcement board
"Oh I'm so sorry Mrs. Vega we thought you were already inside" the bouncer apologize
"Don't be sorry just get out of the way of me and my entourage" she said as Nicole and Chase approached "now I need to get to hair and makeup, not like I need it that much" Lola said finishing her act, knowing when to stop.
They made it out of earshot of the bouncer and lost the act "Lola that was awesome, you were a complete bitch" Nicole praised
"I know I'm so proud" Lola said, after years of thinking she lost all her talent she finally proved she still had it
Lola and Chase jumped into a tight hug only to awkwardly break apart "thanks the pep talk" she said to Chase "have you been working out?"
"A little" Chase answered "have you?"
"Just cardio" Lola said twirling her hair "so what do I do, I can't sing"
"Just sing a song that's mostly talking" Chase suggested and Lola nodded
Nicole then heard Lola's voice without her mouth moving. She turned to see who she assumed was Tori Vega talking on the phone. Lola jumped behind cover right before Tori noticed them. Nicole approached her "Hi Mrs. Vega I'm your makeup artist…. Rosetta Tutiya" Nicole made up to make sure Lola got on stage
"Oh it's nice to meet you, I wasn't sure if I looked right for this crowd" she said rather politely
"Well come on, see if we can somehow make you prettier" Nicole said trying to stay undercover
"Thank you so much, I love your hair by the way you must be really talented" Tori said as they stepped into the only dressing room
Dammit Tori was actually really nice, now she felt bad. Nicole sat her in the chair and started filling the hair washer with warm water, she then saw an american flag shirt and jacket hanging in there with Tori's name labeled on it. Nicole needed a way to… perfect "would you like a hot towel Mrs. Vega"
"Please, call me Tori and yes that would be nice" Tori said as Nicole put the hot towel over her face. She then quietly opened the door and let Lola in, gesturing for her to put the oufit on. Nicole grabbed a pink shampoo bottle and avoided looking at Lola by actually shampooing Tori's hair.
Lola finally got it on and tried high fiving her, but they were interrupted when they noticed Nicole's hand was pink. What, Nicole looked at the shampoo she was using. HAIR DYE!
Nicole covered her mouth in shock, only to realize she smeared pink all over her face. While Lola needed to save Logan, Nicole made another hot towel to fix what happened.
"Are ok Rosetta" Tori asked, completely unaware of what happened
"Yeah" Nicole said trying to avoid sounding guilty "so how come you're not wearing your own jacket, it looks wonderful on you" Nicole said as she vigorously scrubbed her hands to get the pink off. Then she noticed a bottle of vinegar and poured that on her hands, it got the stains off.
"Oh Thank you, my wife actually got it for me" Tori answered
After rubbing some on her face Logan came in and gestured for Nicole to follow him. In a last minute way to help Tori, Nicole dumped the rest of the vinegar into Tori's hair washer and shrubbed it into her hair before walking out with Logan
"Thanks for getting me out of there" Logan said
They could hear the American Pie melody play as Lola was on stage "A long long time ago, in a galaxy far away, Naboo was under an attack" she sang
Lola needs to finish at least one song so Chase volunteered to stay with her until they're ready to go to the safe. Nicole stopped by him "Hey Chase your a marriage counselor right, you helped Lola get her confidence back and you cheered me up after the security incident"
"Yeah, don't worry spines grow back" he quipped
"Well can I get some advice for a friend" Nicole deceived "he really likes this woman but I think he's too scared to start something up again or he thinks he doesn't deserve it after he ruined his last relationship for his ex, what should he do" Nicole could have face palmed herself at how obvious she made that story, Chase was definitely gonna call her out on that.
"HAHA what a loser" Chase said "he's not gonna be happy again until he decides to be, he's gotta move one from the bad times in the past and should focus on making the future good whatever way he decides, he should confront this woman asap, the worst that could happen is he wastes his time focusing on the past….. You bitch" Chase said realizing what happened. Nicole smiled and nodded, Chase's scowl turned into a smile as he looked at Lola "thanks Nicole, you're alright" he said giving her a fist bump
"Those are pretty wise words Chase" Nicole complimented before leaving Chase be
"-Sayin soon I'm gonna be a Jedi" Lola said finishing the song and the crowd cheered. She ran to Chase and hugged him "I didn't have sing a word" she said in a perky way
Chase took a deep breath "Ok I've got a new role for you" he said terrified to continue talking "a hot woman who considers going with Chase Mathews to dinner next week"
Lola tried to hold back a smile but broke "can her name be Lola". Chase just smiled and before they knew it they were trapped in a kiss. After it broke Lola opened her mouth and
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH" someone screamed from the dressing room
"Run" Lola said dragging Chase away
Meanwhile…
"Ok I downloaded all the intel I need to hotwire the copter and know where the explosives are," Logan explained. He stopped by a mirror and measured his forehead with his hand "I do not have a receded hairline"
"Where are they?" Nicole asked, trying to get the conversation back on track
"I've got the info right here…" Logan said before realizing he didn't have his phone "shit I left it in the security room"
They nonchalantly brisk walked towards the stairs again, Nicole accidentally bumped into a large business man "Watch it"
"Sorry… Rosetta Tutiya, I manufacture all the evil drugs for the evil dealers… that turn children evil" Nicole nervously introduced trying to make a cover
"They don't need your life story… Rose'' Logan said ending the conversation and getting them back on track
"Giving Rosetta a nickname that was a smart move" Nicole complimented
"I know right, I was worried it would give us away" Logan responded
They carefully walked to the stairs, looking around every few seconds to make sure no one spotted them. They made it to the stairs only to look around again and see that no one cares. The two of them ran down to the control room ready to finish their mission and-
Nicole dashed out of the doorway and covered Logan's mouth, she peaked past the corner to make sure she wasn't seeing things… but she wasn't. The L.A. owl was inside going through the monitors and recording where all the guards were. Logan took her hand off and peaked inside, he saw his phone sitting right where he left it.
Logan gestured for her to stay while he went after it. He softly walked toward and reached for the phone. The owl stopped typing and stood at ease, causing Logan to stop. Luckily the L.A. owl didn't turn, he just turned off the monitor to the safe and kept his attention at another one. Logan slowly reached over and picked up his phone, he slid it in his pocket.
Just when he was feeling relieved he noticed Stacy tied up and gagged in the corner. Once they exchanged looks she started nodding for help. Logan kicked himself then slowly went towards her and gestured for her to stay quiet. He inspected her knots and couldn't pull them apart. Nicole waved at him and handed him a nail file, just what he needed to cut the ropes. He cut as quietly as humanly possible, thinking every thread split or file slip will alert him and then that's it.
Logan finally cut the rope and helped Stacy up, her mascara rushing down her face. Stacy removed the gag and slowly made her way out with Logan. The L.A. owl just stood there, if Logan didn't know better he'd think the owl wasn't even focusing on the screen.
Nicole led them a good distance away, to the point where they could breathe normally again. Stacy are you ok" Logan asked
"Remind me to thank that bastard Snyder for a wonderful party" she sarcastically said "I'm Stacy by the way, have we met" she said hand shaking
"I'm Nicole, you look kind of familiar" she said as Logan shook his head
"Stacy you go back to the party and tell them to send all their guards after him" Logan said, Stacy obliged and ran back to the party
That was extremely clever, while the owl and Snyder's men fight each other then the six of them will be able to escape with the safe.
Logan turned his phone on and went through the data "ok I'll get the helicopters outside off our backs, you get the explosives"
"Where are they, like a bunker, or hidden behind a painting or something?" Nicole asked
Logan scrolled through the intel "(sighs)... it's in his medicine cabinet"
"What?"
"Look I've been trapped here all night with that maniac so I'm really not shocked if we're being honest" Logan said looking dead inside "upstairs third from the right" he said looking at the map
"Ok then" Nicole accepted seeing how tired Logan was
Nicole ran up the stairs back into the penthouse and went into the top floor. Third from the right, she went through the door horrified of what she would find, she opened the door to find an extremely unmade bed, some posters from the eighties, and a masseuse table. There was also some tiny taxidermied yellow animal that she couldn't identify.
Oh what was she doing, she wasn't there to critique his interior design. She went into his private bathroom and opened his mirror to look in through his medicine cabinet to find….. No explosives. Anti-anger, anti-drinking, anti-smoking, Russian wine for some reason, but no explosives. Then she noticed something next…. A handprint scanner?. You don't just have one around unless you're hiding something.
Nicole inspected it, she pulled out Quinn's emptied pen gun and used it to unscrew it off. A PCB circuit board just like when she worked there. The hand recognition scanner was connected to slot C which meant she had to open the slot there for it to activate. She needed something small and sharp enough to open it. She grabbed Snyder's disposable razor and used his tweezers to rip out one of the blades. She carefully used the blade to open the slot "world smallest Violin, really needs audience" she mumbled before there was a zap noise which activated it.
A secret storage area was opened behind the back wall of the medicine cabinet, inside was an emergency supply backpack, a twelve gauge shotgun, and the explosives she was looking for. According to Quinn each one is strong enough to blast through concrete and steel. She emptied the emergency supply backpack in the secret compartment and filled it with as many explosives as it could carry. She looked around for how to close the secret compartment, all she needed to do was push it shut. She also lifted the scanner back and screwed it back on, it wouldn't work but no one would notice it had been tampered with.
She tossed the bag over her shoulder and went to open the door…the knob was turning. Nicole didn't know what to do, before she could think of her next move she hid behind where the door closed and had the door smashed in her face.
Some guy came in and looked in the mirror "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T FIND REESE, HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE SIGNING THOSE PAPERS" he yelled into his radio "And find Serenity, did look like that Columbian from the security footage earlier". He was on to them, Nicole needed to get out of here so they could finish the heist. He grabbed his anger meds then decided against it.
Wait…. She knew that voice… Snyder. Nicole kept her gun in hand in case this turned ugly. She could take him out right now, put him in the ground for what he did to Jacob and everyone else he got killed. It wouldn't put too much of a dent in her conscience right? He deserved it. She then looked at the chief's blood on her shirt and thought about the L.A. owl, he must've killed a lot of people who deserved it… yet he was still a monster. She didn't want that, she needed to be better than that, she didn't want a murderer going home to Chloe tomorrow.
Snyder then proceeded to try and use the hand scanner, nothing. He kept trying and nothing worked. He started stroking his chin "did I break that thing recently" he said leaning on the door leaving Nicole crushed between a door and a wall.
Her gun slipped.
It fell on the floor and made a sound. "Hmm what was that" the guy said so close to shutting the door. Nicole started to panic on the inside, she'll have to fight her way out of this, would she be enough, would she make it out alive.
Nicole couldn't wait and find out. With extreme speed she kicked the door shut and trapped his neck and mouth with her arm, trapping him in a chokehold. The man elbowed and punched her over and over again, it hurt but wouldn't stop her. All of a sudden he jumped back and crashed her into the counter, that hurt like hell but she couldn't give up. Finally the guy passed out and Nicole could let go and crack her back.
For a second she was just happy to be alive, but guilt and fear started to settle in. "don't be dead, don't be dead, don't be dead" she mumbled as she took Snyder's pulse, he was alive.
Nicole let out a sigh of relief just as someone started banging on the door to the bedroom "SNYDER…. I… I REALLY NEED YOU FOR SOMETHING, GET OUT HERE" she immediately recognized Logan's voice.
"Logan I'm alright" Nicole confirmed
Logan made his way in and figured out what happened pretty quick "I guess you didn't need my help"
"Apparently I did, what do we do now?" Nicole said referring to the unconscious body
"Nothing" Logan said tying Snyder's hands "Chase has already started cracking the safe, you got the explosives right" Nicole nodded as she helped him stuff Snyder under his bed "then we're all set to leave, I'll see you there" Logan said lightly punching her
Nicole grabbed her bag and rushed up the stairs to the safe. While going up she couldn't help but smile and skip. She did it, they succeeded, and no one died. By this time tomorrow she'd be talking with Chloe about what house they should buy or what tropical island to go to vacation on, maybe Paris.
She did what she set out to do and made it out without a scratch(well not a noticeable one), nothing could ruin this
Logan ran to the hangar only to brisk walk towards Snyder's yacht sized helicopter. Everyone in the hangar was either really drunk or didn't care. He jumped into the copter, a 1200 horsepower engine strong enough to carry a massive safe plus three grown elephants if they wanted.
Logan got underneath it to start hotwiring… but it started on its own. What was going on he didn't even do anything… he looked up to see Serenity holding a gun at him with a key in the ignition "you lost Reese"
Nicole leaped into the safe room where Chase and Lola were sucking faces "you guys ok"
They both stopped and got into position "OH ugh WORKING, WORKING REAL HARD OVER HERE" Chase said pretending to use his tools
Nicole gave them some space and went to the roof where Michael was working hard to set up the cables, and Zoey was yelling at him to get it done "Come on, I can only demand you work for so long"
"Who wants to blow this place sky high?" Nicole said, pulling out one of the explosive packs.
Zoey snatched one from her and the two of them set them up around the safe on all the supports holding the safe in place. Once ready the cables will blast through the concrete once they are ready. And Logan would be by to airlift the safe out.
"Hey can I do the honors, I like watching things explode" Zoey asked
"Go ahead you little pyromaniac" Nicole playfully said. Zoey might not be that great a friend anymore but she helped out.
There was a creak right by Michael as he readied the last cable. He tested the magnet and it worked perfectly once Logan flies over "We….WE DID IT" he shouted but covered his mouth trying not to make too much noise
"So… that's it?" Zoey said seeming genuinely shocked "that's it, the jobs done" she said gripping her hair, her voice seeming slow and timid
"Yeah, we're finally done" Michael said gripping what would be his hair "Once you blow it"
"Ok then" Zoey said nodding
Michael raised a glass, Nicole followed. Michael took a deep breath "Chee-"
BOOM
Nicole's world slowed down to microseconds as Michael flew backwards, specs of blood flying in all directions, some crashing into her. In that one second the world froze, everything went quiet. She looked for the source only to see Zoey pump her shotgun for another blast…. In her direction.
She leaped out of the way behind cover as another shotgun blast impacted the pillar she hid behind. Nicole could barely breathe let alone move, her heartbeat being heard miles away. Zoey leaped to a viewpoint and shot again, but Nicole instinctually dodged again.
There were two more shots but from a handgun. Nicole peaked around to see Michael using the last of his energy to try and shoot Zoey. But she kicked the gun out of his hand and aimed at his face. Nicole instinctually didn't sit and watch, she ran to the stairs. She ran down so fast she slipped and fell most of the way, next to the doorway of the hangar. She heard a shotgun blast come from up the stairs
"CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN WHERE ARE YOU" Snyder screamed into his radio getting no answer. He turned his attention towards Logan, an ice pack pressed up against his head "Reese, Reese, Reese….where are your associates… what's your end goal"
Logan might not get out of this, he wasn't gonna drag the others down with him so he stood his ground and stayed silent.
"Alright, maybe you'll talk in exchange for a tourniquet" Snyder said "Ruben" he said towards his second holding a rifle at Logan. This was it, Quinn take care of Brooke and Eric, please.
He thought right before Ruben fell to the ground with a knife sticking out the back of his head, everyone looked back as a black blur in the shape of an owl fell to the hangar floor before a maniac in a mask stared at his opponents.