Myka POV
After a productive trial day with Professor Nole for the TA position I felt good about my day and was ready to head home with Nico, but when I got to parking lot the car was not there. No biggie. I sent him a text. Me: [Hey you Dirty Dog, I am waiting for you in the lot. We going home sometime this year?] I waited almost 20 minutes before I called. It rang through to voicemail. I hung up. Now I am worried. He ALWAYS answers me. So, I went to his only class on Tuesdays, Engineering.
I walked to the Engineering Building, and I knew exactly where to go. Nico worked with the designs and components of Jet engines. I know he had been working on a specific engine that aligned with the current Rockets we launch to space, but he said it was to be what we would think of as on a Miniature scale. Something like that anyways. I never did get the concept of the mechanics for it. I was happy he would tell me what he was working on even though he knew I wouldn't get it.
When I arrived at the room he used to draw out and note changes with the design I saw his professor going through his papers like he was trying to find something. He did not hear me arrive which I thought was odd as I was puffing harder than a smoking chimney. I heard him Mumble "It is genius. I have to find it and lock it up."
I finally caught my breath just as the professor turned around and saw me. He jumped with surprise and said "Myka! I didn't see you there. Is there something that you needed?" "I didn't mean to startle you Professor Matthews. I really hate to bother you with this, but I cannot seem to locate Nico. Did he happen to tell you where he was going after class?" Professor Matthews stared at me intently and then asked "Myka is this a joke?"
I responded that it was not and that I truly couldn't find Nico. What the professor said next scared me. "Myka, I am really sorry, but Nico couldn't tell me where he was going after class because he was not in class today. He stated with a concerned look. I was not sure why Nico had not been in class and the Professor was going through Nicos papers, Can I trust him? I was not sure that I could. So, I pushed everything way down and gave him my Brightest smile. "Thank you, Professor Matthews, I appreciate you talking with me. I am sure he probably just went home early. Maybe he left the stove on. I will catch a uber home and tell him he needs to text me next time." I said as calmly as I could manage.
As soon as I was back out to the lot all the emotions I pushed down came rushing back. What happened? I am so scared right now. Where is Nico? Is he okay? Did someone mug him and then drop his body in the river? That thought made me stop, take a breath while allowing my emotions and logical thoughts to fight it out. Ok...Calm down Myka. You're being a drama queen. He may have dropped his phone somewhere and didn't notice. What about class? He may have decided to chase tail instead of class. It's not like his GPA will suffer any. What about the car? He could have left the car. Maybe he got lucky and she didn't have a car? Why did he not tell you then smarty pants? And I am right back to my biggest fears.
Just before I was completely consumed by my self-induced panic attack, I remembered that he usually ran before class. Maybe he was still at the park. I rounded the corner to the park shortly after and had to stop to catch my breath. My chunky self needs to run more apparently. I looked up from grasping my knees bent over to look in that parking lot and I found our outdated light blue Chevrolet SUV. I walked over slowly and leaned on the passenger fender for support still trying to slow my breathing and racing heart.
I could not have been with the car for more than about three minutes and I heard something that was not my heaving breaths. It sounded like mumbling coming closer. That is Nico! He mumbles like that when he is working something out. Elated, I spun around.
He was sexy as ever dressed in his Jeans, T-Shirt and sneakers like he never intended to work out today, or decided not to change? His face was not his distinctive bronzish but a pale-ashy color. His eyes were unfocused, and his steps were measured and slow like each one allowed another phrase to escape his mouth. He kept mumbling "lives in a tree" "not real" "no Fae" "Crazy, Hallucinated." He walked right past me, hit the key fob for the doors and got in the driver's seat and turned on the car. Scrabbling with my still shaking muscles I grabbed the door and hefted my chunky ass in the passenger seat before he moved the car.
I had no idea what was going on with him, but I was not about to let him leave me in the parking lot! There was something clearly wrong with Nico and I had to find out what it was. I tried to engage with Nico and get him to talk to me or look at me. Something. I asked about his day with no response. Then I told him that I was now sleeping with the entire 35-person roster for the school's baseball team. Again, no response. Nothing Jarred him. I kept looking at him and tried to wave my hand in front of his face to get him to look at me even if he was annoyed. I tried pushing him and punching him. When that didn't work, I stayed quiet the rest of the way and listened to his mumbles. I think I was less scared when I was worried, he died.
Something bad happened to Nico. He has never been like this for so long. Somehow, he lost his mind. My Nico went bat shit crazy! His mumblings were about living in trees, magic, Fae, and disappearing teal people?
I stayed right with him all the way back into the house. I grabbed his hand, and he still didn't look at me. Maybe if he had a drink he could calm down and talk to me. I don't know why I thought that would help. I believe my panicky self was trying to find a measure of something normal or comforting and relaxing to bring Nico back to me. I went to check if there was some Scotch or Rum left from Sunday's movie night. I searched and all I found was Brandy. So, Bottle and a glass in my left hand I lead him into the living room by the arm with my right hand.
My hands were shaking still when I put the Brandy and glass on the coffee table. Then I had led him to the couch. My Freak out was not getting any better because he let me move and guide him like a mannequin. I stopped and poured two fingers of Brandy into the glass. I was so nervous and scared My words ended up running together like I was drunk. As I pushed him to sit, I said "Now yousitrightherean…."
His head snapped up and he stared me right in the eyes and said clearly and firmly "No. Shetas' Siterian." Then his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he passed out.
WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK?