Sixty Shades Of Ice

Nathaniel

Tapping my foot nervously on the ground, I checked my wristwatch, feeling an invisible sweat trail down my forehead.

“Mr. Lockwood, do you mind telling us which artery is responsible for delivering blood and nutrients to the cerebral cortex?” The professor’s eyes fixed on me. Instantly, my thoughts snapped to the present, feeling an unhealthy amount of eyes now gawking at me.

I wiped my sweaty palm on my pants, slowly getting to my feet. “Can you please repeat the question?” I tilted my glasses slightly. “I didn’t get the entire question.”

Professor Leo gave me a not-so-impressed look. “I said, what artery supplies blood and nutrients to the cerebral cortex?”

My throat tightened, my mind scrambling like a faulty engine. I knew this, I had studied it yesterday, but my brain decided now was the perfect time to betray me.

“I… uh…” My voice wavered, barely above a whisper. My classmates shifted in their seats, the silence pressing down like a physical weight. I could feel every heartbeat echoing in my ears.

“The… middle cerebral artery?” I blurted out finally, the words tasting metallic in my mouth.

Professor Leo’s eyebrows shot up, sharp and calculating. “Correct,” he said slowly, his tone a razor of patience. “But let’s not make a habit of hesitation, Mr. Lockwood. Precision in medicine isn’t optional, it’s survival.”

I nodded quickly, trying to shrink into myself, wishing the floor would swallow me whole. Around me, a few of my peers exchanged subtle smirks or raised brows, though some looked impressed.

“Very well,” Professor Leo continued, scribbling something on the board. “Today’s class has come to an end. I want all assignments submitted before the end of today.”

Happiness slit through my chest, and the next second I picked up my bag, swinging it over my shoulders, already aiming a dash through the door—

“Mr. Lockwood, a minute please.” The professor’s words sounded, and it felt like a bucket of ice was dumped on my body.

I glanced at my watch, four minutes to eleven. Shit! I was really late.

Trying to compose myself and mask my anxiety, I slowly turned around and made my way toward the podium.

Professor Leo barely raised his head from the pile of papers on his desk.

“I noticed that you have been off for the past few days.” He finally raised his head, his thick British accent signaling that he wasn’t impressed by my recent behavior.

I cleared my throat, gripping tightly on my bag. “Just school work stress getting to me. I promise I will—” He didn’t allow me to finish, cutting me off mid-sentence.

“You’re one of my top and favorite students, Nathaniel, and the fact that you haven’t been focused lately is something that deeply claims my attention.” He leaned back, eyes seriously ogling me, and I nearly shrank under his gaze. “If there’s something bothering you, I want you to know my office is always open to you, Nathaniel.”

“I understand, Professor Leo.” Unintentionally, I glanced at my watch again, biting my inner cheek.

He shook his head, though he seemed barely impressed. “On Monday, I am going to be having a surprise pop test.” His voice lowered. “And though I know you will deliver nothing less than what’s expected, I’m just giving you a heads-up.”

I blinked, my heart stuttering at the words. A pop test. On Monday. My stomach dropped. I’d barely managed to scrape through last week’s assignments, and now this? I really need to get my shit together.

“Y-yes, sir,” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady. My fingers dug into the strap of my bag, knuckles whitening.

He shook his head. “That’s all for now. You can leave.”

Giving him a tight smile, I slowly backed toward the door, trying to keep my body from flipping into flight mode. Unfortunately, immediately after I exited the hall, my footsteps picked up, and soon I was running, allowing the oxygen to burn through my lungs.

Finding myself at the abandoned library, I stopped midway, holding my chest as I tried to catch my breath.

Entering the place, I looked around—

A kick landed on my back, prompting me to stumble, nearly falling.

“What the bloody hell?” And in the next second, my hair was pulled, and a punch connected with my face, knocking me off balance.

I fell flat on the ground. My glasses were knocked off. I groaned under my breath, feeling the sharp pain needling my jaw.

“It hurts like a bitch, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me when I didn’t get my assignment. The damn professor had given me two weeks suspension.” Mcoy stood before me, cracking his knuckles, giving off a ready-to-kill vibe.

“I… I’m sorry…” I choked out, but the rest of my words went down my throat when he stomped on my fingers.

An agonizing scream lunched from my throat. “Argghhhh!!!” Tears blurred my vision.

“You’re fucking sorry? You fucking scholarship parasite.” He stomped harder, and I almost went blank with the pain buzzing through me.

“Don’t damage his pretty hands, Mcoy. I heard they’re really precious to medical students.” Reina commented, and it was then I realized that it wasn’t only Mcoy who was present. His squad was there.

I curled instinctively, protecting my hands as Mcoy’s boot hovered threateningly over my fingers. Pain radiated up my arm, sharp enough to make tears sting my eyes.

“P-please…” I gasped, my voice trembling, but it barely registered over the laughter from his squad.

“Please? Oh, you sound adorable when you beg,” Mcoy sneered, leaning down so his face was dangerously close. His breath smelled faintly of mint and something sharp, like he meant to intimidate me even in something as small as that. “But begging won’t fix the fact that you’re late. Two hours late. And that’s two hours of me not getting what I paid for.”

I shook my head violently, trying to force the words out. “I—I couldn’t… I had class. Professor Leo—”

Mcoy snorted, cutting me off with a sharp laugh. “Professor Leo? Don’t care. I pay for results, Nathaniel. Results don’t care about professors.” He stomped again, and pain shot up my fingers like lightning.

“Stop—please, I… I have it now… let me…” I rasped, teeth gritted.

“It seems your brain has stopped functioning. Don't you understand that I was suspended because of it? I don’t fucking need it anymore, Nathaniel.”

Reina hopped from the desk, walking toward us. “Give the kid a break, Mcoy. It was just one-time thing.”

“I was fucking suspended, Reina, just because of this incompetent bastard.”

“It wasn’t like you cared about the professor’s class or his course anyway, Mcoy, so stop bullying the poor kid.” Reina flashed me a smile, and I shook my head, instantly grateful for her interference.

Unfortunately, my relief was short-lived.

“I have a better idea of punishment for him, which doesn’t involve his fingers being chopped off.” Hearing her say this, the blood drained from my face. I wasn’t liking the sound of her statement.

She lowered herself to the ground after which Mcoy freed me from his foot stomp. My fingers were glistering blue from the cut-off blood supply.

Reina picked my chin, angling my gaze at her. “I have the perfect punishment and job for you, scholarship kid, and it involves a huge amount of money, which means you’re going to be getting paid handsomely for it.”

“Don’t get him involved, Reina. He’s too nerdy for it and might ruin things for us.”

“Which is why he is going to be our scapegoat, Mcoy. Keep up with that dull brain of yours.”

“What… what’s the job?”

She smiled eerily. “Now that’s the spirit, scholarship kid. See, he gets the drill,” she circled her gaze on Mcoy before focusing on me.

She smiled eerily again, making my stomach twist.

“Tonight,” she said softly, almost sweetly. “There’s a club downtown, which is hosting a private event.” Her fingers tapped lightly against my cheek. “You’re going to slip something into someone’s drink.”

My entire body went cold.

“I—what?” The word barely formed.

Mcoy straightened. “It’s simple. You walk up, act all shy and harmless, maybe stutter a little. No one will suspect a nerd like you.” He smirked. “You’re perfect for it.”

“I can’t—”

His expression changed instantly. The amusement vanished. His hand shot down, gripping my injured fingers and squeezing just enough to make me hiss in pain. “You can.”

Reina crouched closer again, lowering her voice. “It’s not murder. Relax. Just something to make him… cooperative. We need information. He talks too much when he’s sober.” She then stood up. “And then you will need to deliver a package to someone private.”

My heartbeat pounded violently in my ears. “Package?” I whispered.

“Yes,” she replied smoothly. “Small package. You hand it over, you get paid. You don’t open it. You don’t ask questions. You just deliver.”

Mcoy tilted his head, studying me like I was something fragile and amusing. “You want to keep your scholarship, right?” His lips curved slowly. “Imagine what would happen if someone found out you’ve been doing assignments for money.”

The blood drained from my face.

They had me.

My hands trembled, still throbbing from earlier. I stared at the dusty library floor, trying to steady myself.

“I…” My voice cracked. I hated how small I sounded. “Who is it?”

Reina’s smile widened. “I will send you details later today.”

I shook my head, knowing better than to argue.

“And Nathaniel, don’t fucking mess this up. And if things go south, the blame is on you. Got it?” Reina’s voice deadpanned.

I swallowed hurriedly, shaking my head.

Congratulations, Nathaniel. You just got yourself fucked.