Chapter 8 – Scared
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Friday found Aikrii sitting in the living room area of his new home office, It was located to the far southern wall in the living room on the opposite side of the china hutch which was in the kitchen. He had purchased office equipment so that he could work from home as often as he could when there wasn't much going on directly at the Nessix office. Troy being a very easy going boss and letting him have as much free time as he needed within reason. Aikrii had informed Troy of future plans that were in the process of starting a family for he and his partner and he also asked for it to be kept on the down low as he didn't want every single woman trying to bang down his door trying to get a 'free ride' as Mani tended to call it. People could be greedy and selfish and would and Aikrii also knows that some have actually done some nasty stuff just to get rich quick.  

He was just finishing off a IM with Troy as well as a working with one of his IT friends Dylan who was helping him manage the actual physical prototype for Nessix's newest portable aid product. In the last year and a half he'd been working with Nessix  he had created well over eighteen new portable aid products, and forty-five software programs that helped special needs children and adults alike. He stretched as he let Dylan go and placed his pencil on the desk and leaned in his office chair. He was startled by the phone ringing, it was so quiet in the house today so the shattering ring scared him out of his skin. Fumbling, he reached for the receiver and answered.

“Hello”

“Yes, Hi I'm Janice from C.U.R.E. Fm Radio. I'm calling for Nye Tskii, is he in?”

“Not that the moment, but I can take a message.” Aikrii said as he picked up his pencil again.

“Let him know his flight for the promotional gig he's doing tonight and tomorrow is booked. I'll give you the info hold on.” She put Aikrii on hold for a moment then returned “His fight leaves at six tonight and lands in Curre at seven pm. Can you inform him his tickets for flight 297 Curre will be waiting at ticket wicket 34 all he has to do is pick them up.”

Aikrii wrote things down and repeated them back to her and then thanked her and hung up.

He took the piece of paper and stuck it to Nye's room door. He looked at his watch and realized the time. He picked up the phone made his call and then exited their home. His driver waiting with the door opened as he locked up. He would meet Mani at work and take him out to supper tonight. They did need some quite time to themselves.

************************************

He walked in after unlocking the main house door, it was dead silent. Nye looked around and was shocked to not see Aikrii working like he usually found him now days. He went to his place and noticed the note. He pulled it off and looked at it. He was shocked to see someone had called him about the gig he was suppose to do but he had called last week and told Diane he wasn't coming. He guessed that someone messed up, but that wasn't his problem. He grabbed his phone to call when it rang in his hand scaring the shit out of him. He nearly dropped it. He fumbled before answering it.

“Yo! Nye here” He said
“Hey NYE! He could hear Bain on the other end and was surprised to hear his voice.

“Hey Bain, what's rockin'!” He asked his DJ pal. “Me if I don't get a replacement, I need you for a gig tonight, pays 800, interested?”

“Shit! Sweet! Sure, where and when?” Nye asked his prior task and note forgotten as he got preliminaries on the event that lead to Bain calling him.

Nye hung up his phone and put it into his pocket and smiled this was going to be a rocking night. He walked into his room and fetched his computer and his mixing board and other DJ equipment he'd need. Bain told him that the sound system the people he was hosting for was top of the line so he wouldn't have to stop at Bain's to get his. He locked up his private entrance, exited through the main living room door, he set the house alarm and then went to his car, plopping his gear into the trunk. He then headed off to Elgin St in down town Kearney to his evening gig at Hoppers, not knowing what time it would be over. He smiled and thumped his foot to the tunes he had playing on his CD player, his cell inadvertently fell out of his pocket, silently falling between his seat and his console.

********************************

Josh shooed her out the shop door telling her to go home, he knew she had studying to do and he wanted to get the shop closed down quickly.
“Look thirty more minutes, I'll meet you at the house ok, just go. I know you have stuff to do so move your ass, I won't be here forever.” She sighed and leaned over and whispered to him.

“Sure it's only going to be thirty minutes?” She giggled as she watched him blush.

“Aggg! Will you get out! ... Go! Go! Go!” He did actually push her out of the store while she was laughing the whole way.

“Bye dad, don't be too long now!” She waved as she walked up the hall of the mall. Grabbing her cell from her pocket she dialed Nye's number and let it ring only to get his answering service. She head part of the song Santa Monica, by Savage Garden play 'On the telephone line I am anyone, I am anything I wanna be....beep, beep' then Nye's voice 'Yep, I know you think I'd be more original since I'm a DJ, but I'm too busy to consider it other wise I'd have answered your call, so leave a message I'll get back to you!”

She giggled at his message he always had something unique on his phone each time she called.

“Hey hun call me when you get the chance ok, love you.”

She hung up and headed home. When she got in she started supper and had the TV going in the background listening to the TV show that was on. Six thirty rolled around and right on the nose Dante and Josh walked in.

“Told ya I'd only be thirty minutes.” He grinned as he pecked his daughter's cheek while lifting the lid on the pot to the stew she was making. “Mmmm, that smells wonderful Selina.” She could just see Josh drooling. Dante sucked in a deep breath as well savoring the wonderful scents coming from the stew she was making.

“Oh!” Dante said looking down at his tummy which was making some god awful noises in protest at not being fed right then and there. “Ok looks like I'm slightly starving. I'm gonna go jump in the shower before we eat ok.” He headed out and Josh wasn't too far behind him.

Selina called out “twenty minutes ok and it'll be ready.”

She looked at the clock, usually Nye called by now so she called the house directly. Mardi answered the phone.

“Hey Mardi, Nye wouldn't happen to be there is he?”

She asked Selina to hold on while she checked. She came back to say no. “It looks like he had a gig tonight there's a note on his table in his place. Do you want me to get Aikrii to call you back about it, it's in his hand writing so I assume he knows whats going on.”

“Thats ok Mardi I'll just call his cell when I have a chance ok, thanks.” She let Mardi go and then continued on with getting supper done.



Around 7:40 pm everyone had been served supper and they were just finishing stuffing their faces when the local news came on, they were covering a major breaking story that was occurring in Curre at the time. Without paying much attention to the action on the screen she reached over and grabbed both Josh and Dante's plates and walked them to the kitchen sink, she rinsed them off and placed them into the dishwasher. Drying her hands she grabbed the house phone and called Aikrii's cell.

“Hey Josh” Aikrii said when he answered.

Selina chuckled “Wrong one, but close enough.”

“Oh Selina hey! Sorry about that, it's usually your dad calling, habit I guess, I see bro's number and I think it's him. What can I do for you?”

“Was just wondering what's up with Nye, Mardi said something about a gig, I was looking for him and I can't get through to his cell.”

“Oh, ok yeah someone from C.U.R.E. Fm called today and left a message for him about his flight time and where he could pick up his tickets. I thought you knew.”

Selina had wandered out to the living room by then and sat heavily on the couch at the news he had given her. The news just then flashed apparently for the second time footage of the current breaking story in Curre.

Selina held her breath panic setting in. “Did you say fight to Curre?” She stared at the screen as she a large flaming section of a road on fire.  

“Yes” Aikrii said “Is there something wrong Selina?”

“I don't know, you don't happen to know which flight number it was?” Her voice held panic and he could hear it.

“Selina what's wrong?” He asked.

“Aikrii” She asked more forcefully. “Do you remember the flight number?”

“No.” He answered, “Call home and ask someone there to check ok. Whats going on?”

“I don't know yet.” She replied and she abruptly hung up as she watched the news on TV unfold.

*******************************
“Yes John the scene here at Curre's MacDonald's Airport is that of chaos and panic, loved ones are said to already be calling in trying to find news on their family members who may have been involved in this very tragic accident.”

“Katie, what if any is the unofficial death toll so far?”

“John right now there's only speculation on flight 297, there were a total of 219 passengers and nine crew members. Right now they are saying only fifteen survivors have been pulled from the wreckage. So right now, anyones guess is just that.”

The news played out before Mardi's eyes, the paper in her hand stating the flight number Nye was on. She had Selina on the phone one minute the next she was on the floor sobbing with Sefron's arms around her and she was screaming to him to look at the TV. Selina on the other end wailed in agony with the news that the flight number was the same one Nye was booked on. Josh and Dante were stunned to say the least, it was Dante who got clarification from Sefron on just what the hell was going on. Josh freaked. He hung up from Sefron and dialed Aikrii's cell number.

“Hey Selina.” Aikrii answered.

“Umm it's me bro.” Josh said

“Oh I though it was Selina calling back what's up?” Aikrii had cheer in his voice, it was soon replaced with shock when Josh relayed to him that the flight info that he had taken earlier was the same flight number that crashed in Curre only a half hour earlier. Aikrii passed this info onto Mani who also freaked. He took Aikrii's phone and told Josh they were on their way home to meet them at the house.

Josh hung up and looked at Selina. “We have no news for certain that Nye is on that flight, we're all going over to Mani and Aikrii's placed ok.”

“She told me to make sure he didn't go on this flight, she warned me.” Selina said to no one in particular, still stunned at the news.

“Who told you baby? Who told you not to let him go?” Josh asked as he helped her to her feet.

“Cleo” She said staring almost threw him her eyes somewhat glazed over in shock.

They all rushed off to Aikrii and Mani's place pretty much meeting up in the driveway nearly at the same time.
Mardi was a total wreck and Sefron had a hell of a time consoling her. Mani started to make calls to the airport to ask questions but got nowhere fast. Aikrii had an idea and called Troy. Their television was still on covering the news. In about ten minutes the news was interrupted with new information.  

“Katie I hear you have more news about some of the passengers?”

“Yes I just recently learned that Curre's youngest Millionaire who works for Nessix's Computer industry, the creator of the portable translator is claiming his brother in law may have been booked on this flight but he's getting no more info than other family members and he's finding that the airports handing of this crises is appalling.”

“How was this info brought to your attention Katie, is it true that Troy MacKinnon actually called you directly?”

“Yes John as a matter of fact I still have him on the line now as we speak he's informed me he's watching our coverage in his vehicle as he heads over to the possible victims home to see his family members whom he's friends with.”

“Well we all hope that they get the news they are seeking and may I say from all of us here at SeaTV we send out condolences out to all the families of the victims of this tragic accident, and wishes for a speedy recovery to the fifteen victims who were rescued”

Aikrii walked to the main front door and opened it hoping to catch Troy as he pulled in. He was surprised to see News vehicles pulling into his driveway along with Troy who managed to walk out of his limo and to the door before being mauled by the media. Aikrii shut the door quickly. Troy gave him a hug and said sorry about the bad news. They then heard the news hounds converge on to the front walk way like many starving hounds looking for a morsel to eat.

“Shit!” they rushed back to the living room “Look out guys it's gonna get messy, the media are crawling everywhere and now they are here.”

The news on TV flashed a number for family members to call to confirm whether one of the fifteen who were pulled from the wreckage was one of their family members. It was then confirmed that all other remaining 204 victims are counted as perished. Selina was overwhelmed and through her sobbing she called the number and gave Nye's name. The lady on the other end said that out of the fifteen that were rescued none had the name she had given, she then apologized  and informed her in order to identify his body from the remaining accident victims she'd have to bring a toothbrush or a hairbrush.
Selina wailed as she hung up the phone. Troy was by her side as he watched Selina collapse with grief.
She fainted. Troy picked her up.

“Poor darlin is over come. Where shall I put her?” He asked

Josh and Mani directed him to Nye's apartment. He placed Selina on Nye's bed and covered her. It was then that they heard more commotion in the living room. Mardi was having issues and being pregnant the stress was overwhelming concerned Sefron called for an ambulance. The ambulance pushed through the mess of media hounds and made it to the front door, When Sefron answered they all pushed asking questions. Sefron looked at them all and yelled.


“This is private property, if you all do not clear off I will be calling the cops and having each and everyone of you charged now get the hell out of the way my wife needs help!”  

The ambulance crew made it to Mardi who was strapped in and they moved out. “Sef hun, Clear these assess off and come see me ok. I love you.” Mardi kissed his fingers as they loaded her into the back of the ambulance. He glared at the few who dared to remain on Aikrii's property, He decided his job was time to be enforced.

“Last warning! I am the hired security here! If anyone isn't off this property in thirty seconds I will be forced to use the necessary force to remove you myself! Have I made myself clear?”

Two guys standing by the end of the walk way picked up their cameras and even to the protesting of the journalist who was trying to get the scoop walked away saying it wasn't wroth loosing a three thousand dollar camera to a pissed security guard who's wife was just rushed away in an ambulance.

Only one remained. She looked at Sefron and spoke. “Before you toss me, ask Dante If I can speak to him he knows who I am and so does Aikrii, I did go to school with them both after all.”

Sue watched as Sefron begrudgingly walked back into the house and got Aikrii and Dante's attention.
He informed them that a journalist out side the only one who still didn't leave even after being threatened forceful removal wished to speak to them claiming she went to school with them both.

Dante chuckled he knew who it was Aikrii knew to and both of them together said “Sue!”
Sefron was surprised to see they both looked happy about knowing she was around.

Aikrii walked out to the door and peeked outside. He spotted Sue. “Hey woman get in here NOW!”
She ran for the door quickly. He camera man right behind her. They both slipped in and he closed the door.

“Oh my god you're a sight for sore eyes!” Sue said to her former school pal. “How are you guys all holding up?”

“We're trying to get info from what we know Nye wasn't one of the fifteen who were rescued after the crash.” Mani had joined them at the foyer.

“Do you mind me being here Aikrii? I won't record anything if you don't want me to but I am doing my job I just want to think of my friends first this time around. I'm worried for you all, I seen your bodyguards wife leave in an ambulance. Everyone must be stressed beyond their limits.”

Aikrii gave Sue a very strong hun. He pulled back and looked at her and spoke with trust “Sue you have a job and so do I thou I will allow you to record, it's all to be edited here and yes I have the equipment. I don't want us looking like idiots on TV if one of us breaks down. I hope you understand.”

Sue smiled “Hun I understand. Man it's good to see you again, it's just a shame it's on such horrific terms. Come on lets go sit, I'm sure you could use the chance to relax.”

Aikrii took her to the living room the other following and Sefron leaving to go see his wife, the others agreeing to show when they could.

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MEANWHILE:

She was drifting, the sky was all around. She panicked trying to find something to grab onto but there was nothing. Looking around she noticed the light it was small and fleeting and it grew as it drew her forward into it. 'Was she dead?' She wondered. Selina watched the light grow until she noticed she was flying down to a garden, it looked familiar, she watched as the scene before her grew, she then realized it was the one she had visited before. She landed gingerly as she came closer to the weeping willow tree.

She looked around, Cleo wasn't in sight and the tree had many more leaves but they were different colors now. She called out. “Cleo, I need you!”

“I'm here.”

Selina looked towards the voice and walked in that direction. She spotted Cleo sitting at the edge of the pool. She sat beside her and looked down at the images she was watching. She saw Mardi in the hospital with Sefron sitting beside her and a doctor. She saw Aikrii talking to a lady with a man in the back and a camera. She saw Mani, Dante and Josh all sitting around Aikrii looking quite sad.

“I failed Cleo, he's gone.” She cried into her hands her sobs wracked her body.

“You didn't fail my dear.” Cleo said calmly

She waved her hand. Selina through the tears saw Nye he was smiling and there was music all around him. She could hear the song 1000 miles by Vanessa Carlton.

She looked at Cleo, “How didn't I fail, he was booked on that flight.”

“He never went.” Cleo said. “He's working at a gig your red haired friend booked him on.”

“Bain?” She was shocked. “Where is he? We can't get a hold of him.”

“Where the music hops and never stops you will find the love of your life safe and sound.” Cleo touched her cheek kissed her head and shoved her hard. She felt like she was flying but screamed as she went back into the air.

***************************************

He head her scream and he bolted leaving everyone on the couch. Josh made it to Selina's side in less than three seconds, everyone else followed.

He looked at her as she reached for him tears in her eyes. He hugged her close, “It's ok baby we're here.” He could only imagine how bad her heart was aching now that she lost two friends.

“Answer this” She said against his shirt. “Where the music hops and never stops you will find the love of your life safe and sound. What place would fit that?” She asked as she pulled back.

Mani looked at her like she was a bit nuts but Sue was the one who answered that question.

“That's part of  the slogan to Hoppers, it's a dance club over on Elgin St. Why?”

“Nye wasn't on that flight” Selina said. She was so calm. Everyone thought she had lost her marbles.
She looked at her dad, “Do you trust me?”

“With every fiber of my soul.” He answered “Your my baby girl, both your dad and I trust you.”

“Then listen to me when I say, Nye wasn't on that flight. He's at Hoppers. Bain got him a gig. He took it.”

“How do you know this?” Sue asked.

Selina backed up and looked at the lady and asked for her hand, Sue did as she was requested. Selina took her hand and looked hard at her. She didn't usually do this but this lady made her want to.

“I know this the same way I know you went to school with Aikrii and my dad Dante.”

Sue chuckled, “Ok they spoke about me but that doesn't mean they told you about your friend.”

“Nye is my soul, my heart and the air I breath.” Selina said to the lady making sure she understood that Nye was more than a friend.

Dante interjected on the comment Sue had made. “Umm actually Sue, she's never been told about you.”

Sue looked at Dante. “Ok so how did she know?”

“Do you believe in Spiritual connections? Do you believe people have the ability to read others?”
Selina asked her.

“I do, and there are days I wished I had that ability, then I would know a worth while interview when I seen one and I could weed out the liars.” She smiled at Selina. “You read people then?” She asked not seemingly too thrown off by Selina's question.

“I do, I also have a spiritual connection that links me to Nye through a friend who passed not long ago.”

“Fascinating” she said looking at the girl with awe and amazement “Do you mind if I record this, I want to see the outcome.”

Selina nodded. Aikrii tried to protest but Selina looked at him and said “I'm right ok. Don't worry I won't make you look like an ass, there won't be any need to edit the footage either.” With that she got up and looked at her dad Josh. “Take me to Hoppers please.” Selina and Josh piled into the car along with Dante. Mani and Aikrii with Troy followed in their car and Sue and her camera man followed in their own van.

It took twenty minutes to get to Hoppers. Selina waited as they parked and then proceeded to the door. The bouncer stopped her.

“ID” He said.

Troy walked up to him and spoke to him privately, the bouncer walked into the bar and brought out a small fella who had bright blue hair.

“You're looking for Nye?” he yelled over the beat pounding through the open door.

“Yes, we're family, there was an accident and we thought he was on the flight that crashed in Curre, he was suppose to be on it.” Mani said to the young man. “I just want to see if my baby brother is ok.”

“Why does she want in then?” He asked pointing to Selina.

“That's his future wife!” Mani said to him close to his ear so he could hear over the music playing.

“Oh shit, sure then if you're only going in to check then by all means go ahead, he's on the second floor.” The blue haired man let them in and they all followed Selina. She spotted him and ran.

He felt her presents and he turned in time to see her flying toward him, a look of relief on her face, why was beyond him but he was glad she was there. He grabbed her and hugged her tightly as she crushed him sobbing and smiling and talking a mile a minute.

“Oh my god I thought you were dead, we all did.” she kissed his cheeks and ran her hands through his hair.

Sue was recording it and was so impressed. She walked up to Nye and asked him if he had heard about the plane crash in Curre tonight. He hadn't and was stunned to learn it was the very flight he was suppose to be on.

“Damn, Selina you were right!” He took her cheeks and smiled down at her, “You saved my life”

“We really thought we lost you” she said “I thought I failed on my promise to protect you.”
She hugged him again.

“Oh sweetie you could never fail me.” Nye's eyes held his love it was visually apparent and anyone who saw that tender moment would know it was there. Sue's camera man caught it all.

Things settled down after about an hour. Selina was insistent that she stay by his side but the blue hair guy who's name was Tuck wanted nothing of it. Nye told him what had happened and how he wouldn't have been even there if it wasn't for her and Bain. He said he couldn't allow it due to regulations, she was under age.

“Can you give me an hour break then? I'll be back as soon as I can ok.” Nye waited to see what he'd say to make sure he got a yes he added “I can set up and hours worth the tracks you won't loose a single beat ok. I just want the booth locked I don't need my stuff pinched.”

“Ok.” Tuck said “An hour anymore and I'm docking your pay!”

Nye gave Tuck a slap on the back and grabbed Selina's hand took her in the booth set up an hours tracks in about two minuets and left with his friends and family along with the lady with the camera.
“She found you because of a dream, how does that make you feel?” Sue asked Nye.

“You guys get to have a happy ending you know that right?” Mani said he was so happy to see his baby brother alive and kicking, “I was scared shit less when I thought you had been killed on that flight”  

Sue looked at Mani “A happy ending out of a tragedy is always a good thing, so Nye got an answer for my question?”

Always Sue, forever the journalist.

“Selina and I have the same connection I use to have with another person that I loved dearly, the only difference now is she has that connection with her now and it's a spiritual one. I'm grateful to have two guardian angels looking over my shoulder and watching out for me, at least I know I'm loved.”
He hugged Selina and kissed her forehead. Smiling down at her.

The interview that Sue was putting together was going to be amazing, a love story, a positive outcome from a tragic situation. She tied up her interview and then spoke to Aikrii.

Nye took Selina aside and kissed her so soundly she was left breathless and weak in the knees.

“I love you!” he said to her “Thank you.” He shuddered as he hugged her tightly the shudder was of fear the thought of loosing the ability to hold her in his arms.

She hugged him back just as fiercely She sighed in his arms knowing just how he was feeling, she could read the fear in his heart at not being able to hold her, She knew in her heart that wouldn't happen for a very long time. She looked up at him and ran her hands through his dark auburn hair and pulled his head down and kissed him again. Neither noticed the camera trained on them.

*****************************  

Next Morning: News paper headlines

A tragedy with a happy ending for one luck couple

Out of a tragic situation this one reporter was able to find a happy ending for one family. Aikrii Oratii, computer genius and one of my former school friends though his family was made smaller by one with the possible tragic loss of his young brother-in-law Nye Tskii.

Nye is the baby brother of Mani Tskii, Aikrii's life partner and owner of Pic it Prints and Tskii's Ti-kwon-do in Kearney.

The situation leading up to the possible loss was due to a gig Nye was suppose to attend in Curre. Family thought he had gone to do a gig for the local radio station C.U.R.E. Fm. Speaking to Nye's girlfriend Selina Ericson-Trask I got this from her.

“I was so scared, watching the news and knowing it was the same flight he was booked on.” I could see the fear in her eyes and wanted to reach out to her. “I thought I had lost him forever and after just loosing a good friend it was too much for me to handle. I apparently fainted.” She looked very upset at the whole ordeal, her family thou was there to help her along.

She did faint and was laying resting in Nye's private abode which is connected to his brothers home when I had the privilege to meet this wondrous young lady who told me who I was without ever meeting me before. Not only was I witness to her ability to 'read' me but she informed everyone that Nye hadn't been on the flight and lead everyone directly to where he was working that evening much to my surprise but to the great relief to his family. He was alive and well and thankful that his girlfriend was watching out for him. He stated when I asked him.

“She found you because of a dream she claimed to have, how does that make you feel?

In turn he replied like it was nothing new

“Selina and I have the same connection I use to have with another person that I loved dearly, the only difference now is she has that connection with her now and it's a spiritual one. I'm grateful to have two guardian angels looking over my shoulder and watching out for me, at least I know I'm loved.”

He then in turn hugged her and kissed her forehead. The love was so strong between these two it made my heart go out to them both, they were luck enough to have a happy ending. I for one am pleased to know that a friend and his family are still together only because a destined flight that would have, could have lead to one young mans untimely demise was forgone and left to see this couple to continue their future together, it really makes this reporter think that if angels don't exist then there's something definitely out there protecting these two.

Sue Swain Sea News/TV
Catch this story and many others at 6 pm
on our sister station SeaTV

Nye folded the paper and passed it across to Mani who was smiling. “I'm just happy your still here with us bro.” Selina leaned into her boyfriend. She had crashed that evening at his place, after last nights drama she wasn't leaving his side. She planned on staying with him tonight as well.  He draped his arm around her shoulder, “Well have to watch the news tonight to see how the video version to that story turned out.” Nye gave a hearty chuckle as she smiled and sighed she was too content to have herself right where she was, parked by his side.  

Sefron walked through the door with Mardi, Sefron knew of the evenings events but Mardi wasn't aware he was back and when she seen him she boogied her big belly right to him and for a tiny lady she squashed the living shit out of him.

“Oh my god your ok!” she kissed his cheeks and ran her fingers through his hair. “Yep, I'm not dreaming he feels real enough” everyone giggled everything would return to normal soon enough.

Selina took Nye's hand reached over and hugged Mardi “Welcome back home”