Timeskip(4 Days.)
In the serene morning of Manhattan, four days post the nationally broadcasted high-speed chase, the streets outside the N&L Investments building resumed their bustling routine.
Within an office, Heiden sat, the haunting image of Lena lingering in his mind, despite the apparent normalcy of the surroundings.
Heiden remained seated in his office, a semblance of quietude enveloping him, nearly unconscious, and emotionally numb from the weight of his sorrow, his head hanging low.
Heiden Lathers(INT):
"Why...?"
"Why did you do it, Kade...?"
"How could you do that, to all of those people..."
Breaking the silence, a woman enters his office after a gentle knock – his secretary, an indispensable assistant, and also a cherished friend, bringing with her a compassionate presence into the subdued atmosphere.
The woman had wavy blonde hair tied in a low ponytail, of short stature, and sporting blue eyes behind glasses
Heiden Lathers:
*Clears throat*
"Diana?"
Diana Widley:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Lathers."
"I understand this is a difficult time..."
"The team is awaiting your presence in the meeting whenever you're ready. Take the time you need."
Following the secretary's calm departure, Heiden collected himself, wiping his shoulders before rising to his feet. He directed his gaze to the small photo frame on his desk, containing a picture of him and Kade, and with a sigh, he turned it over, choosing to shield himself from the poignant reminder of what used to be.
Heiden exits his office, and with Diane trailing behind, he strolls through the office space.
Diana Widley(INT):
"It's been an awful four days for the office after his crimes were announced public, especially for Mr. Lathers..."
"He's barely spoke to anyone after what happened."
Diana Widley:
*Clears throat*
"How are you feeling, Mr. Lathers?"
As Heiden and the secretary traversed the office, a somber expression adorned Heiden's face, a visible sigh escaping him before he directed his gaze directly at the secretary.
Heiden Lathers:
"I'm doing fine, Diane. No need to worry for me."
"After what Kade had done, I don't think I could ever find it in myself to forgive him, especially the victims families."
"All I know is that Kade must be put in prison, before he hurts himself, and others."
Heiden and Diane make a detour to an office meeting room near an elevator. Upon entering the already crowded meeting, Heiden lets out a sigh, followed by a subdued clap as he rubs his hands together, mustering a smile as he assimilated into the room.
Heiden Lathers:
"I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting, let us begin this conference."
Cut to 1st floor lobby near front entrance.(same time)
The front desk attendant engaged in a pleasant chat with two security guards behind the desk, their conversation abruptly halting as a hooded figure approached, the receptionist let out a soft smile while one of the security guards tipped their hats.
Receptionist:
"Welcome to N&L Investments. How may I assist you today?"
Upon the hooded figure lifting their head slightly, a security guard narrowed his eyes, recognizing the familiar contours of the mouth.
A collective step back ensued as all three present realized the hooded figure was none other than Kade Northwood.
Before the two security guards could draw their guns and the receptionist could utter a word, Kade swiftly extracted his Uzi from his duffel bag, mercilessly gunning down all three of them, crouching behind the desk and gunning down another security guard. Panic ensued as everyone on the first floor scrambled to flee the building.
As Kade deftly extracted the magazine from the Uzi to reload, his gaze shifted down to the security guard he had gunned down, a moment of recognition crossing his face as he observed the man bleeding out.
Kade Northwood:
"If only you stayed home with the wife and kids today, Ken."
"You wouldn't be on the floor, dead."
With an air of indifference, Kade casually tossed the magazine onto the bleeding corpse of the security guard before strolling into an elevator. As the doors opened, a woman and a man already inside recoiled in terror upon seeing Kade, who nonchalantly entered the elevator, the pair too frightened to utter a word, scream, or even make a move.
Kade Northwood:
"James, where is Heiden?"
James Nguyễn:
"Wh– what???"
Kade Northwood:
"...Where. Is. Heiden Lathers."
James Nguyễn:
"Uh– u– uhm–"
Kade Northwood:
"I don't have all day."
James Nguyễn:
"...I– I think he's on the 17th floor..."
Kade Northwood:
"Good boy."
Amidst the chilling silence within the moving elevator, faint screams lingering in the background, Kade turned his back on the terror-stricken woman and man, his attention fixed on the doors.
Kade Northwood:
"Just know."
"That if you two try anything, I will gun you both down before you could even think about your family."
Though the woman and man initially had no intention of intervening, Kade made it clear that any attempt to play the hero would result in their deaths. Leaving them in the elevator as the doors opened, he walked past the fleeing employees through the office corridors, gun in hand as he advanced.
As Kade approached a corner, he was suddenly confronted by two security guards, all three already firing their guns. In the heated confrontation, the disregard for potential collateral damage was evident, as neither side cared if fleeing individuals got caught in the crossfire; the both sides harboring a relentless intent to see the other die.
Kade with his tongue stuck out and a crazed look on his face, exchanged gunfire with the two guards, swiftly grabbing a grenade from his duffle bag. Without hesitation, he unpinned and hurled the active grenade at them. The explosion not only hit the guards but also caught a few other fleeing employees in its impact.
The two guards, disoriented from the explosion, were swiftly gunned down by Kade as he walked past them, seamlessly continuing his advance through the office corridors. The building alarms blared, and ceiling sprinklers activated, responding to the smoke and fire triggered by the grenade explosion.
Upon reaching the main office, an employee suddenly leaped from his desk, firing a shotgun at Kade. Barely evading the gunfire, Kade lunged and ducked behind a desk, yet the birdshot pellets found their mark, striking his right chest and shoulder. Wincing in pain, Kade clutched his injured areas, emitting groans from the agonizing experience.
???:
"What the hell do you think you're doing, Kade?!"
"Have you gone crazy?!"
Kade clutched onto his shoulder and grits his teeth.
Kade Northwood:
"I'm as sane as I can be, Nate!"
"I'm just paying a friendly visit!"
Nate Cabrera:
"Just turn yourself in, you idiot!"
Kade Northwood:
"Not until that son of a b##ch is beneath my feet!"
Dropping the duffle bag and dodging behind desks and maneuvering to the side of the office to flank, Kade fired at the employee while on the move.
Swiftly reacting, Nate sought cover behind the desks, engaging in a rapid exchange of gunfire with Kade. A bullet pierced through the desk, striking Nate's thigh, eliciting groans of pain as they retaliated with more shots.
In the exchange, a birdshot bullet grazed Kade's head, leaving small shallow bullet holes on the left side of the face and ear.
Roaring in a mix of anger and pain, Kade charges towards Nate behind the desks, lacking the time to reload. Nate continues firing until running out of bullets. Seizing the opportunity, Kade lunges at Nate, the silhouette of the shadow revealing Kade with his tongue stuck out, mercilessly bashing the employee's skull in using the Uzi.
Cut to Heiden Lathers in the meeting room(same time).
Amidst the rising panic in the conference room, Heiden stood resolute. Without hesitation, he approached the door, swung it open, and gestured for everyone inside to follow him.
Heiden Lathers:
"Come on! We have to move!"
Even though everyone was panicking, Heiden's calm demeanor served as a reassuring presence, alleviating them from their frantic state. Reluctantly, everyone followed behind Heiden.
As they stealthily moved through the office corridors, the background echoed with multiple shots and shouting. Despite Heiden's calm demeanor, a sense of fear gnawed at him, uncertain of what might happen to him and the others.
The sounds of screams, shouting, and gunshots in the background gradually faded into silence as Heiden and the others stealthily moved through the office, seeking an escape route. Outside the building, the wail of multiple police sirens and the hum of helicopter rotors reached their ears, instilling a renewed sense of hope among the group.
The entire building fell into an eerie silence, with alarms and ceiling sprinklers shutting off. Heiden hushed the group and motioned for them to follow closely, moving through the quietness with caution.
Heiden whispered to the group.
Heiden Lathers:
"Stay close, everybody..."
Continuing their advance through the office corridors, Heiden and the group approached the corner where the exit lay just beyond, their anticipation heightening as they neared the potential escape route.
Heiden Lathers:
"Okay, we're almost there."
"Now just gotta move around this corner–"
Their luck took a grim turn as they were met by Kade, patiently awaiting around the corner.
Horror struck the group and Heiden as they recoiled, confronted by Kade with the left side of his face grazed by small shallow holes, bathed in blood.
Frozen in shock, Heiden and the group witnessed Kade extracting a pistol from his pocket, firing shots at some of the people behind Heiden, causing a frantic dispersal.
Heiden Lathers:
"NOOO!!!!"
As Heiden attempted to fight back by tackling Kade to halt the shooting, Kade swiftly front-kicked him in the stomach, sending Heiden hurtling into an adjacent office room.
Heiden held onto his stomach just when he looked up, Kade entered the room closing the door behind.
Kade Northwood:
"Tell me, Heidi."
"How did it feel, when you took everything from me?"
"And when you had it all?"