[b][center][h2]Joel Nicolosi[/h2][/center][/b]

Joel wrapped his fingers restlessly on the table watching as events turned quickly from bad to worse. [i]Should have just went back to the fucking house[/i]. He thought. [i]This is exactly why I don’t go anywhere[/i]. The main exit wasn’t going to happen as the floor tore into what looked like a full blown riot of shouts, yelps and broken glass in the mob of humanity. His eyes scanned around, faces blurring in the quick survey of his vision. He hadn’t recognized Victoria in the crowd, but Sio picked her out without problem stirring up drama as usual. With the drinks paid for, he grabbed Sio by the hand again without a word moving quickly, much more serious in knowledge guided by experience of where the atmosphere in the club was headed and led her hastily towards a side exit he’d seen the two plain-clothes officers use to leave.

It was about that time the first police forces arrived and barged through the front entrance vigorously with whistles blowing and batons at the ready. He held on to Sio’s hand tightly not to lose her in the madness as he firmly moved people aside with the exit in sight. Others had the same idea and he saw the door swing open to sweet freedom as a few made it there before them. For some reason, [i]The Empire Strikes Back[/i] came to mind and he felt like Han Solo escaping the rebel base on Hoth. Sio could be Princess Leia if she liked… or Chewie, either way. He was too focused on the prize to have time to even smirk at his own bizarre sense of humor, but as a muscle-bound security force that looked more like they belonged in the UFC than a security detail burst through like an avalanche he knew they were going to have to find another way out.

Turning and looking back the scene was pure chaos as the new contenders arrived. Screams, bellows of pain and sweat filled the Club. He thought he saw a tooth on the floor then watched as a man was tossed like a ragdoll several feet in the air crashing through a table that broke his fall. It was almost something to behold. The security seemed more interested in beating the shit out of everyone than restoring order. Then he saw it: A free swinging door with light on the other side. [i]The Kitchen[/i]. He pulled Sio, [i]hard[/i] and burst through the swinging door as it appeared one of the cook staff was in the process of locking it. Not stopping, he kept his eyes looking straight ahead and finding the code-required, red, EXIT sign amid the protests and curses of the staff, but Joel kept going as they were more interested in keeping anyone else from escaping. He leaned into the exit-door mid stride and they nearly fell out the other side into the back lot where the car was parked and waiting like the Millennium Falcon.

Joel let Sio’s hand go so she could dash to the passenger side. He looked back at the parking lot as more police vehicles rolled up along with more bruising security forces. When they jumped in the car, he immediately pushed the key into the ignition and started the fuel-pump sequence watching the lights come up as he worked to refasten Sio’s harness like they were in the middle of a Grand Prix. Everything in the engine compartment was still mostly warm from their short stay at Club Aether and he thumbed the ignition bringing the car back to life with a visceral howl and sharp pops of exhaust flame. Spotting an opening in front of an ambulance that no one was going to block, he secured his own belts quickly and dumped the clutch.

They were already sideways as the car swung on to the main drag of The Run with white smoke bellowing from the rear tires and the elemental scream of the Japanese-tuned V8. Almost in slow motion, Joel looked an SCPD patrolman dead in the eyes mid-drift as the officer turned in to the club too late to change course and give chase. In two gear changes and an exhaust scream that echoed off storefronts and buildings, they were out of sight. Shifting his eyes briefly over at Sio as he took the ramp back to the interstate, he exhaled letting some of his adrenalin dissipate. “I don’t think we’re goin’ back there for a while.” He said casually as if they had just left a bad restaurant.

[@Almalthia]