Empty Closets

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: How About Some Hospitality? (POVs Switch)

(Nico's POV)

The view from my current location is quite interesting. I'm not on the ground, but I'm not in the air either.

To make my location official, I am in the hospital. A mortal hospital. My body is perched on an olive colored windowsill, and my surroundings can be contrasted infinitely.

If I look to my right, there are a bunch of puffy clouds dancing against a blue sky. An abundance of cars are visible if I choose to look down. Looking at those cars makes me feel superior, mostly because in height I am taller than all of them, ignoring the fact that I am in a hospital room.

The room is filled with things I didn't expect. Balloons canvas the boring, white ceiling. Baskets of cards and treats are next to and around my bed. My panda pillow pet even made it here; he is sitting on the sink under the TV, which is hanging on the top of the wall. The fact that people care about me just makes me want to get emotional. I thought no one cared.

My thoughts become interrupted by an approaching figure. It's Jeremy, my nurse. He comes in with a cup of tea that he suggested would help keep me calm in case I were to have a panic attack.

"Can I ask you something?" I ask him as he hand me the tea.

"Go ahead," Jeremy replies. His blue eyes find my black ones.

"Was I in a coma?"

"It was more of a long resting period."

"How long?"

"Four days."

I feel my eyes widen in shock. How could I have been asleep for 4 days? No wonder there's a lot of stuff in the room!

"A lot of people kept asking if they could see you, Nick."

"Sorry to interrupt, but my name is Nico."

Jeremy looks at the patient folder in his hand and then closes it. "Oh. Right. Sorry about that."

"It's okay. So what were you saying?"

"Oh, there was one person, a boy, he seemed like a very nice kid. He kept asking for you."

"What did he look like?"

"Black hair, tall and lean body, eyes green like the sea."

"Percy?" My heart broke just by saying his name.

"Was that what his name was? Huh, he must be some goof friend of yours."

You don't know the half of it, I almost say. But I just nod.

"You look tired," Jeremy says. "Lie down for a little while."

Following his advice, I head to my bed and lie down. The next thing I know, my eyes become exposed to a blank light.

(Percy's POV)

"Please, you don't understand; I have to see him!" I have been face to face with this guy named Jeremy who is apparently the nurse Nico was assigned.

"Look kid," Jeremy tells me, "I'm happy you are concerned about the well-being of Nico, but no one's allowed into his room until further notice."

At this point, I have become livid. I lower my voice and say, "I have been waiting here in this room day and night in that demonically uncomfortable chair," I point to an empty blue-green chair facing away from the TV, "and if I don't get admission into Nico's room but the beginning of tomorrow afternoon, I will go in there myself."