A/N: I know it's kind of late, but I wanted to make it longer. plus, some stuff actually happens in this one! And also, know what makes me happy? Ideas! I'm running very low, to be honest. Low enough that I'm not sure how to continue it. Anyway, here's chapter 11.
When Nico woke up, the first thing he heard was his stomach growling. Followed shortly by a fierce pain in his stomach.
He had to eat, ASAP.
Holding an arm around his stomach, he pulled himself out of the rocking chair, and stood up on shaky legs.
This didn't normally happen. Normally, Nico could go for a week or two eating nothing but ambrosia.
Nico stepped out of the dark alleyway into the morning sunlight. It was about eight or nine in the morning, if he had to guess. He set off down the sidewalk, looking for a place that might have food. You know, food he wouldn't have to steal.
Because Nico didn't really want to steal food, but if the alternative was starving… Well, that would get him out of this mess, at least. Or no, that would get him a one way ticket directly to his father's palace.
That settles it, no dying. Not until this is all gone away.
After walking a bit more, stomach pain increasing by the minute, he spotted it.
His saviour.
The golden arches, representing the most wonderful place of food in the entire world. Nico's face slipped into a smile, and he started to walk faster, suddenly with motivation.
He didn't have money, and he didn't want to steal, but Nico figured he would cross that bridge when he got to it.
The pleasant aromas of fast food nearly punched Nico in the face as he walked in. He stood in the doorway, a smile on his face as he inhaled the scent of America.
Sure, maybe he was being a bit over dramatic, but he was hungrier than he could ever remember being in his life.
His smile fell as he contemplated exactly how he was going to get some food. Smelling it just made the hunger worse.
Nico slid into a booth, since that seemed like a good place to start. There was a fry or two on the ground, but Nico hadn't stooped that low. Yet.
The McDonalds was kind of crowded, most of the tables were full but there were still several open ones. It was noisy, but Nico didn't mind. It would look a lot more suspicious if he had been the only one inside.
Anyways, Nico was drawing a blank on how to acquire any food. If he asked for some, people would ask questions. Plus, that would mean begging, and the Ghost King did not beg. Nico sighed.
Behind him was a family with a couple and their young child. The kid was laughing, a lot. It was starting to get on Nico's nerves. She was in a highchair, she was so young.
"Mommy! Look at this toy! It goes in my hair!" The little girl shrieked. Nico glanced at the family out of the corner of his eye. The kid had gotten a plastic bow, and her mother was busy clipping it into her daughters short hair. The father was sitting beside his wife, watching with a stern face. He wasn't that strict, though. He let a smile slip every now and then.
Nico's eyes drifted through the rest of the people. No threats were detected.
Then, something hit his head. Nico jumped, but was relieved and in fact happy that an entire chicken nugget had just landed in his lap. He looked up, the little girl was smiling at him while her mother looked surprised, to say the least. The father looked amused.
As Nico's gaze drifted back to the piece of food, he quickly tossed it into his mouth, savoring the amazing taste of unhealthiness. The mother's face was even more shocked-looking, as the father's turned into a frown. The kid just giggled more.
The man stood, and Nico swallowed nervously. He slid into the booth next to Nico, effectively cutting off his one escape route. This was… Well, this was bad.
"Hungry, son?" He asked. Nico took a deep breath, but didn't say anything. "Where are your parents?"
"Um, they're waiting for me outside…" Nico mumbled. It was a terrible lie, but he had been caught off guard, not to mention he had had a rough few days and was hungry out of his mind.
The guy raised an eyebrow, and said, "I am a police officer, I can tell when people lie."
Well that's just great. A cop. Nico had to admit, he probably looked kind of suspicious in his all black clothing and thick jacket. Not to mention he ate a slightly used chicken nugget.
"What was your name?" The officer asked.
"Ni- Nick." Nico said, barely catching himself.
"Mm-hmm. Well, Nick, if you come back to station with me we can find your parents. They must be worried." Yeah, sure. Maybe. Nico thought. But Percy and Sally are probably pissed.
"No, I'm meeting them in a little while." Nico said firmly.
"Now, let's not make a scene. Come back to the station with me, you can call them from there. Come on." Then the guy took Nico by the arm, and pulled him out of the booth. Nico guessed that not eating had taken a larger toll than expected, with minimal force he had slid out of the booth easily. He was lighter than he would have guessed.
With a hand firmly planted on his shoulder, Nico was led out of the McDonald's and towards a minivan. The lady and her kid were following behind them. Is this what being a normal kid feels like? Breaking the law, being rebellious?
As he was being pushed into the car, he had a moment of panic. What if this guy wasn't really a cop? Was he being kidnapped by mortals? Isn't that what mortal teenagers were always afraid of? And wasn't Nico now basically a mortal teenager?
It was a Tuesday, if he was a cop, then wouldn't he be in full uniform, with a car and stuff?
Well, what a mess he had landed himself in. But, Nico reasoned, he was probably making something out of nothing, and this guy was a cop, and he was probably only trying to help. Innocent until proven guilty.
Nico was told to sit in the back row of the van, while the lady and her daughter sat in the middle row, the man driving up front. As Nico thought, he couldn't see a way out. He would normally start throwing punches or something, but Nico hadn't really dealt with cops before. Plus, if they were going to a police station, then there would be a ton of them, and they were all trained to stop people probably much bigger than Nico from getting away. For now, he just had to go with the flow and keep looking for a solution.
The police station wasn't far away, so even though the streets were packed they still got there within twenty minutes. By now Nico had calmed down a bit, enough to think rationally. He could run, but he defiantly didn't have the energy or strength for that. He could be arrested, but that would be awful in itself, even if it would shield him from not only Camp but his father, too. A demigod with ADHD stuck in a prison cell for Zeus knows how long? Bad idea.
For now, all he could do was wait.