Chapter 118

The One In Vegas

Alternate Title: The One Where What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas

NATE

When we’d arrived in Las Vegas, it was a quick trip to our hotel—where Zara and Chase have gotten a penthouse suite and Arielle and I have a beautiful and large room overlooking the strip. However, checking out the hotel was short-lived because Chase had booked an escape room excursion that meant we had a half hour to rest before we were off.

Arielle and I took a quick shower and then Arielle changed into the most beautiful sundress and with her applying a little bit of makeup on herself, we were headed to the activity planned.

We’re only in Vegas for the weekend, for the combined bachelor and bachelorette party. Arielle, since she’s part of the grooms side of the wedding party, is hanging out with us and the guys. Zara is hanging out with her sisters and Nadia.

We have a few more physical things planned—like paintballing and go-karting—and since Zara is pregnant, she won’t be able to do those activities. However, I believe her and her bridesmaids have decided to go to the spa instead. Although, we’ll have a joint party the night before we leave.

I don’t really know what to expect for the party, but Chase has been bragging about wanting to have a wild evening. He seems to think his bachelor party will be something straight out of a movie, with memories that will last forever because they’re so hard to believe.

I’m currently standing behind Arielle, my arms wrapped around her as we listen to the employees rattle off a bunch of rules for the escape room. I’m not really sure what to expect, but I’m positive we’ll get through this without any problem.

Chase seems to think he’s going to kick this things ass and complete it in record time, but I think he wouldn’t be able to do it without help. I have a feeling Arielle is going to excel at this. She’s super fucking smart.

I’ll admit, this doesn’t entirely seem like my sort of activity. I’d much rather do the go-karting or paintballing we’ll be doing tomorrow, but I guess it’s nice to go with a bunch of friends. Perhaps at least I’ll be able to say I tried it once.

I can’t remember the last time I was in Vegas—it was probably for an out of state street race—but this isn’t the type of thing I’d usually do while I’m here. Typically, it would’ve been more casinos, strip clubs, and bars.

I’d still do all three, even with Arielle here with me. Fuck, she’d probably rather be doing any of those three than being here.

She didn’t seem awfully excited for this either. However, she knows it’s Zara and Chase’s vacation and we’ll do whatever our friends want to do because it’s their thing.

All I know is, that when Arielle and I get married, I’d like to have a jack and jill, too. I think it’d be fun to have Arielle’s bachelorette party and my bachelor party together. Any stereotypical thing that my guy friends would want to do—like going to a strip club—Arielle would be just as down for.

If not more so.

When the employee is finally done rattling off a bunch of shit, we’re allowed to start the activity.

Stepping inside, we’re greeted with a room filled with antique, expensive-looking furniture. It almost looks like something out of the Titanic, with wood trimmed with gold and rounded edges. It’s definitely not my style, that’s for sure.

There’s a fireplace, a desk in the middle, and a series of shelves filled with books and various statues and other knickknacks. Chase immediately begins lifting the many photos off the wall, checking for some sort of clue.

I’m busy studying the fleur de lis pattern on the wallpaper, when Arielle speaks up, “I think I found something.” She lifts a newspaper off the desk, reading out one of the headlines printed on it, “‘Local ice cream store’s ventilation fails, causing them to give out hundreds of dollars worth of treats for free.’ Is it possible this is a clue, guys?”

“Maybe,” James answers.

“What’s the hint, though?”

“Doesn’t it seem odd to mention an ice cream store in a room that’s decorated in like, nineteen-twenties-esque style? They wouldn’t have had ice cream stores.”

I glance around the room as they begin to discuss it when I notice a ventilation register on the floor where the heating and cooling would enter the space through the ducts. Approaching it, I get down on my hands and knees, noticing a piece of something metal and oddly-shaped between the grates.

While I’m doing so, James finds something. “There’s some sort of chest here.” He brushes his thumb over the front, “Looks as if there’s an ornate golden lock on it, but half of it is missing.”

“I think I found the other half,” I point to the vent, positive that the lost piece is down there. “We just have to figure out a way to get it out.” I attempt to pull the fucking thing right out of the floor, but it’s been secured, which leads me to believe there’s something in the room that will help us.

We spend a few minutes scouring the space before Chase finds a metal hanger and begins to bend it to the shape we need it. With careful precision, we sneak it through the grates and I hook the piece at the bottom, bringing it upwards.

Passing it off to James, he puts it on the small chest and it opens. “What’s inside?” Chase inquires, walking up to him to peer in it. “A fuckin’ puzzle? Are they serious?”

We all laugh as James pours the box upside down, spilling the pieces on the desk. All of us—minus Jin and Zara’s sisters—begin putting the puzzle together, finding that it’s of the one bookshelf in the corner. But what could it be signaling to? There must be dozens of different items throughout the shelves, so which is the correct one?