Henderson, UT to Santa Monica, NV

Henderson, UT to Santa Monica, NV

Saturday - 12:11pm

Forcing her burning lids open, Niko peeked around the space. Her chest was tight and her breathing wheezy. She couldn't remember much after leaving the biker bar - There was a pool party without a pool and lots of flashing colours - but other than that, the only thing she was sure of was that she must have smoked and drank too much. From the weight in the bed, she should tell someone was led behind her. Peeping over her shoulder, she saw it was Ren; everyone else seemed to have left beside that one guy curled up on the floor at the threshold to the bathroom.

Harsh sunlight broke through the slight gap in the thin curtains, illuminating the horrific state of the space. Unlike last night, the motel room was trashed. Empty alcohol bottles and cans littered the abode while ashtrays overflowed with cigarette dimps and what looked like the after-effects of a carnival were everywhere. The stench of what she found earlier to be Cannabis masked the room and a faint twinge of puke wafted through the humid morning air thanks to the dodgy air con system.

Doing a brief scout of the space through stinging eyes, the blonde eased her aching body up off the painful mattress with care.  Making sure not to wake Ren, who happened to be laying face down without his clothes on, Niko tip toed around the empty drink containers and collected her boots and bag. Resting her belongings on the small circular table by the front door, the blonde ventured back into the maze of drugs and booze.

Picking up one of the half empty bottle of Jack Daniels and then a small pouch containing pre-mixed tobacco with Cannabis, the blonde shoved the stuff in her bag. She was about to reach for the handle when her greed couldn't help itself.

She had never had planned on staying more than the night, so she might as well get as much as she could from the situation. Think of it as compensation for the banging headache and churning stomach.

Carefully shuffling back across the space, Niko found an unopened bottle of Southern Comfort, a packet of cigarettes and a half smoked joint. Just as she'd finished collecting the items in her hands when an out of place, open black duffle bag caught her eye. It would have been inconspicuous to anyone not looking to loot the place, but she was, so she found it relatively easy despite it being on the floor behind the mini-bar.  Crouching down, the blonde snatched up the hold-all flashing notes of money and made haste for the door. Shoving her boots in her own backpack and then slinging it over her shoulder, the girl grabbed the newly acquired bag tightly and reached for the front door handle, but not before swiping the aviator shades off the table. Twisting the knob gently, the blonde opened the barrier with ease and snaked around it, closing it just as quietly as she'd opened it.

Rushing barefoot across the sand debris covered car park, Niko rooted through her bag for her car keys. Thankfully, she found them in little time. Unlocking the vehicle and jumping into the driver's side, the female chucked her belongings on the passenger side and slipped on the sunglasses before started the engine. Dusty feet pressed the gas pedalling as sore hands tilted the steering wheel to turn out onto the empty main road. She was free again.

This was beginning to seem easy; she could possibly do this forever.

Hitting the radio on and changing the station to something more modern, the blonde blasted the volume. Winding both windows down and putting the pedal to the metal, Niko's blank expression started to fade away. She never thought she'd feel like this again, the feeling of weightlessness.

 

Saturday - 12:27pm

After twenty minute's driving down the seemingly abandoned dirt road, the young woman caught sight of a gas station. Racing for it for no reason other than fun, the blonde turned to the right and pulled up onto the clean forecourt. Easing up at the pump, Niko filled the tank and then hopped back into the truck to put her boots on. Driving up to the window, the blonde got back out and headed inside the store. Seeing as no one else was in the queue, the female was seen to right away. "The gas, rolling paper and a lighter." She pointed behind the man at the black trucker hats lining the wall. "Oh, one of those caps too please."

A middle aged man told her the total and the blonde handed over a $100 bill. Frowning for a second, the cashier checked the note for authenticity before shrugging and shoving it in the till. The employee handed over what she had asked for, plus her change and the recipe and then sat back down on the small stool he had been sitting on.

"Have a nice day, Mister."

Stunned by the unusual politeness, all the greying man could do was tip his baseball cap in thanks. "Drive save."

Getting back into the truck, Niko scraped her hair up on top of her head and slipped the cap over it. Now mostly concealed to passing drivers, the female had one thing on her mind, finding a payphone.

 

Saturday - 1:18pm

Upon finding what she was after, Niko pulled up to the phone stand out in the middle of the desert. Catching a handful of coins, the blonde jumped out and shuffled for the device. Picking up the receiver, the female prodded a few buttons and then waited for an answer.

"Hello?"

"Privet? Dyadya Mishka?" She always spoke in her Mother's native tongue when introducing herself over the phone to her relatives.
 
"Nikolenka?"

"Are you in Santa Monica? Can I call around?"

"Of course. What's happened?"

"I'll tell you when I get there."

"Right. Hurry up."

 

Saturday - 5:37pm

Just over four hours later, Niko had made it to Santa Monica. The city was just as bad in terms of heat, and worse yet was the amount of traffic. Amongst the busy streets, glittering lights and bikini bodies, she had easily found the familiar home not far from the beach. Coming to a set of black wrought iron gates as high as thirty feet, the female pressed the intercom and waited to receive permission to enter. When the barrier had opened up, the blonde sped down the tree lined gravel driveway and parked the car that was about to give up on her right in front of the main entrance to the grand house. Collecting her stuff, the guest hurried up the wide stone steps and into the white-washed mansion.

Opening the front door without waiting for a prompt to do so, Niko walked through the home to the room she knew the homeowner would be in.

Like she had thought, the man she was after was in the study. It was just how she had remembered it: his desk to the right as you come in through the door, patio doors spanning the majority of the wall in front, and books upon files upon books lining the left wall. A faint scent of aged Brandy and luxury cigars gave off a familiar comforting feeling as she stepped further inside the cream space accented with richly coloured antique furnishings.

Sat on a high back leather chair behind a desk, a young man with jet black hair neatly combed back off his face gave a welcoming smile and stood up with his arms open. "Dobro pozhalovat, Nikolenka!" Without warning, the older male hugged the girl warmly and then returned behind the desk. "Kak dela?"

"Dobriy vecher." Dropping her bag down by the empty chair beside her, the blonde gritted her teeth as she thought of a way to say what had happened. "I'm in trouble."

Frown crossing his face, the homeowner gestured for the female to sit before retaking his own seat. "Get her a drink." He spoke to the other present - A broad and very tall blond suited man - who had been conversing with him prior to the girl's arrival.

Like he had been told, the stocky blonde eased up off the edge of a smaller table in front of the glass panelling and made a start on preparing drinks without a word.

"Come here and sit." The brunette leaned over his desk slightly and scooted at the young woman.

Niko pulled up the chair some bit smaller than the one the man was sitting in closer to the desk and fell back into it.

"Tell me what's happened."

The silent blonde handed over a tumbler half filled with strong smelling alcohol and the female nodded her head in thanks before turning back to face her Uncle. "It's Nikita."

Mishka instantly went on the offensive, his brows knitted together tighter as he bared his teeth and raised his voice. "That bastard did something, didn't he?"

That bastard, as her Uncle had said, was her Mother's boyfriend before she passed away. He - John - was a sorry excuse for a Step-Father and only stuck around for the sake of the house and the money he received rather than because he cared for his deceased partner's children. Mishka hated the man and didn't hide the fact. Even when her Mother was still alive, the pair would constantly argue and would have come to blows if not for her stepping in the way of it.

"It wasn't...I..." The girl's voice strained as she tried not to break.

"Tell me everything and take your time."

Sniffling sharply, Niko rubbed her right eye with the  back of her hand before heaving a decent breath. Rummaging through her pocket, her hand caught her new vice. Lighting a cigarette while Mishka refrained from voicing his surprise of his niece acting so out-of-character, the blonde took a deep drag on the slim white stick. Exhaling it shakily, Niko promised herself she wouldn't start to cry. "On Friday, Nikita was beaten to death."

Horrified by the news, Mishka closed his eyes for a moment, wondering what he could say to the girl in front of him to help. "You should have called me sooner." He brought his drink up to his lips as he watched his relative's expression slipping into a blank one. "What happened?"

Downing the expensive brandy, Niko gazed straight ahead, past the man in front of her like she was looking right through him. "I killed them."

Mishka coughed up his drink. Placing the crystal tumbler down on the antique oak desk with a unintentional thud, the home owner stared at the blonde in absolute shock.
 

Updated: 30th August 18:50