Nikola Mirotic lay in his hospital bed, watching the TV but not really seeing it. His thoughts were swirling, as they had been for days, thoughts of injustice and of…
A sudden rap on the door startled him out of his reverie. Nikola cleared his throat, then rasped “Come in”. The door opened, and a familiar face greeted him with a familiar toothy grin.
“Niko!” Lauri Markkanen quickly walked in, clutching something that he was seeming to conceal underneath his Bulls-branded hoodie.
“You have the stuff?” Niko asked as he propped himself more upright on a pile of pillows. “I can’t be eating this hospital food any longer.”
Lauri pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed. “Only the best for Mr. Mirotic!” he exclaimed as he pulled out a clear Tupperware container containing a dark brown, gelatinous substance.
“Give.” Nikola reached out and snatched it, quickly opened it, and began grabbing large handfuls to stuff in his face.
Lauri smiled. “They don’t have Mämmi here? Somehow I am not surprised.” The two sat in silence as the entire container was quickly consumed.
“Anything else you need to talk about? I know you like Mämmi, but that can’t be the only reason you had come all the way out here.”
Nikola threw the finished container onto the floor and slumped back down in his bed. He closed his eyes. “Lauri… I need you to doing something big for me. Big favor for friend Niko. Lauri, I am not well. The doctors say I am probably die. My injuries is to horrible to overcome.”
Lauri’s eyes grew wide as Nikola pulled out something concealed under his blankets. “…I need you to kill Bobby Portis” he croaked as he pushed an AK-47 towards his teammate. “Revenge must be made. Revenge on man who killed me.” His voice grew quieter. “You must do this for… me. For… Nikola Mirotic… who… was murdered in… coldest… blood…”
“Dude, what the hell? Where did you get that?”
Nikola had closed his eyes, his mouth slightly agape. Lauri shook his shoulder a few times, but could get no response.
“I know you’re not dead, Niko. I talked to the doctors and they said you can go home any time. And the EKG you’re hooked up to clearly shows you have a heartbeat. In fact, I can see it getting faster.”
Nikola, again, gave no response.
Lauri stood up. “I am NOT going to kill Bobby, you can just put that thing away before a nurse comes in and sees. This is between you and him, okay? See you at practice.” With that, he walked out, leaving Mirotic once again alone with his tumultuous thoughts.
“Revenge… kill. Injustice…”