Jessica and Nikki looked at each other with growing dread as they heard sirens outside the apartment complex. She had used up the last of the power boost Behm had given her to save Nikki’s life, and now they were both vulnerable and weak. Despite the circumstances she was curious as to the extent of her new powers. It would be a feat she would have to thoroughly test, but for now, they had to escape before the cops found them.

Jessica grabbed Nikki’s hand and squeezed tightly. “Come on,” she said urgently. “We have to move. Do you think you can manage?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Nikki said despite her face contorted with pain. “What about the horns and blood? Don’t you think we’ll stick out like a whore in church?”

“Like a sore thumb?” She asked with a raised brow. She opened the closet and tossed a hoodie. “Here, put this on.

“Same thing.” Nikki stiffly changed and rubbed her shoulder. “Why’s it so itchy, and don't you have anything without a bedazzled cross?” She eyed her back in the mirror.

“My mom gave it to me,” Jessica sighed. “We’ll find you something else later. Right now, we have to go.”

With an affirmative nod, they peered out into the hallway together. Once satisfied the coast was clear they began to make their way for the elevator. Then the squawk of police chatter over a radio echoed from behind the doors.

“Shit, the cops are already here! Now what?” Nikki gritted her teeth.

Jessica’s heart leaped into her throat as the elevator dinged. They only had seconds to act before the door would open. Her eyes landed on the trash chute next to them. “I'm sorry,” she said and pushed Nikki down the chute. Without delay, she dove in after her friend just as the elevator began to open.

The walls felt like they were closing in on her. She loudly banged into the metal wall as she continued to fall at an alarming rate. Desperately, she reached out with her arms and legs to try and slow her descent. She hoped Nikki had the same idea. Suddenly, the ground rose up and consumed them both. Pain flared through her body as she rolled onto her side atop the pile of garbage bags and discarded junk.

“Nikki?” She cried out, “Nikki, are you okay?”

“I fucking hate you,” Nikki groaned. Somehow, she was lying on the ground outside of the trash cart. “But, I think I’ll live.”

Jessica breathed a sigh of relief and waited for the pain to subside. “Thank God.”

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“I can’t believe you just did that. That’s like the most hard-core thing you’ve ever done!” Nikki chuckled. She slowly climbed her way into a standing position.

“Turning Lucifer into a cat wasn’t hardcore enough?” Jessica grinned stupidly.

“Okay, okay,” she raised her hands in protest, “You’ve been pretty badass lately.” Nikki paused for a moment to look around the room.

The basement was dimly lit by a few old incandescent bulbs that somehow remained functional. The walls were lined with an assortment of rusted tools, and the room was cluttered with dismantled appliances. The faint glow from the bulbs cast shadows on the scattered debris that created a scene that seemed almost otherworldly. Despite the dim lighting, it was clear that the room was well used, with greasy handprints that smudged the walls and a musty smell that permeated the air.

“What is this place? Some sort of torture room?” Nikki scrunched her nose at a greasy handprint on the wall.

“It’s the maintenance room. I had to come down here one time to get Donald to fix my sink,” Jessica explained. “He doesn’t have a phone. Otherwise, I’d have just texted him to avoid coming down here.”

Nikki pointed at an 80’s bikini magazine on the workbench, “I don't think he likes anything modern.”

“Yeah, he’s a bit of a throwback,” Jessica said with a chuckle. She turned the rusted doorknob of the access door and peeked outside, the red and blue police lights cast wild shadows on the trees that brightly illuminated the surroundings. She retreated back and turned toward Nikki, “It looks like the coast is clear. They have the street and parking lot covered but if we cut through the bushes…”

Nikki nodded and followed Jessica as they made their way out of the maintenance room and into the bushes. They moved as quietly as possible and tried to avoid making any noise that could alert the police to their presence.

As they navigated through the bushes, Jessica felt the thorns scratching at her skin and clothes. She winced in pain as blood trickled from the wounds, but she knew they had to keep moving. They were briefly illuminated by a police spotlight, and the moment felt like an eternity as they held their breath and waited for the light to pass.

Finally, they emerged from the bushes and found themselves at the edge of the street. They cautiously stepped into the open and briskly crossed the road, Jessica’s heart pounded in her chest. They were still in danger, but at least they were one step closer to safety.

“Where do we go now?” Jessica placed her hands on her knees and panted. “My place is a crime scene and yours is probably being watched by those goons from the night club.”

“Shit, you’re right.” Nikki scratched at her side. “We could go to Tony’s place.”

“Your old coworker from the coffee shop?”

“Yeah, that guy,” she said aggressively scratching her back against the corner of a building.

“I thought you hated that guy?” Jessica eyed Nikki with a worried expression, “Are you okay?”

“I do. This thing itches like crazy. I feel like I have sand in my asshole… but everywhere is asshole!”

“You can be a bit of an ass sometimes,” Jessica mumbled quietly. “Maybe it just needs to be washed? That thing was in my closet for a while,” she said with a hint of hesitation. “But anyway, if you and Tony didn’t get along what makes you think he’ll help us now?”

Nikki offered a mischievous grin, “Oh, don’t worry. He’ll help us.”