Family Shattered
In Columbia, South Carolina, Nick Hume lived an ordinary life. During a stop for gas after his son’s hockey game, tragedy struck. Brendan Hume, Nick’s eldest son, was fatally attacked by a gang initiate, Joe Darley. Nick witnessed the crime and rushed Brendan to the hospital, but the boy succumbed to his wounds. Brendan’s younger brother, Lucas, was left struggling with survivor’s guilt.
A Broken System
Nick identified Joe in a police lineup. However, prosecutors warned that without sufficient evidence, Joe would receive only a light sentence. During the pre-trial hearing, Nick, disillusioned, recanted his testimony, allowing Joe to walk free. Determined to exact justice on his own, Nick tracked Joe to the gang’s hideout and killed him in cold blood.
A Vicious Retaliation
Billy Darley, Joe’s older brother and the gang leader, learned of Nick’s actions. Revenge was swiftly sought. Nick was ambushed during a tense chase through a parking garage, leading to another gang member’s death. A suitcase Nick dropped was returned to him, containing a phone number. Upon calling it, Nick received Billy’s chilling warning—a “death sentence” had been declared on his family.
Escalation and Loss
Nick, now a target, contacted Detective Jessica Wallis, who placed his family under police protection. Despite this, Billy’s gang attacked the Hume home that night, murdering the officers stationed there. Nick was subdued, and his wife Helen and son Lucas were shot. Helen died from her wounds. Lucas was left in a coma. Nick, guilt-ridden and vengeful, decided to take matters into his own hands.
Descent into Darkness
After apologizing to Lucas, Nick escaped the hospital through a window. He procured weapons from Bones, an underworld arms dealer later revealed to be Billy’s father. Using interrogation and violence, Nick uncovered the gang’s location: an abandoned mental hospital known as “The Office.”
Vengeance Unleashed
Nick initiated a brutal assault on “The Office.” One by one, the gang members fell. Confronting Billy in the chapel, both men suffered severe injuries. In their final moments, Billy remarked that Nick had become a mirror image of himself. Nick, cold and broken, delivered the final shot.
A Hollow Victory
Returning home, Nick watched home videos of his family, consumed by grief and isolation. Detective Wallis arrived to arrest him but delivered unexpected news: Lucas had survived. Amidst the ruin, a small spark of hope remained.
