Page 100 of Play Room Actor

“Yo!” came a voice from the other end. “This is Oliver.”

“Hey, it’s Dominic. How’s my friend doing?”

“Well … I’d say not great. Looks like he hasn’t slept much the past few days.”

“I’m coming to get him. Where are you?”

“At the Blue Bar in Engelberg.”

I stopped in my tracks. “Engelberg?” In the mountains? That was farther away than I’d anticipated.

“Yep.”

“Listen … uh … can you keep an eye on him until I get there?”

“I’m working.”

“It’s Tuesday. It can’t be that busy.”

“Where are you coming from?”

“Zurich.”

“Okay, but hurry up.”

“Thanks, man! Can I talk to Kilian again?”

Kilian’s weak voice came through. “Are you coming here?”

“Yeah.” I motioned to Nico’s phone. “Look up a train connection for me.”

Nico did as I asked while I could hear Kilian sniffing on the other end.

“You won’t make this one,” Nico said, scrolling through his phone. “There’s one right after 7:30. You’ll get there around 9.”

“Stay where you are,” I told Kilian. “I’ll be there soon.”

Moments later, I was in my room, packing a backpack with the essentials and on the phone with Yaël.

“Pack clothes for him,” she said. “He’ll be grateful to you.”

I shoved a pair of pants I figured would fit Kilian, along with two pairs of boxers and a T-shirt into the bag.

“He’s probably been awake for days,” she added, “or at least hasn’t slept much. I can send you a prescription for sleeping pills. It’ll help him sleep.”

“I’ve got my own prescription,” I said, checking my wallet to see if I had it with me. After Nico had used up the last of mine, I’d been meaning to get more. “Is it okay if he takes it? I mean …”

“He needs sleep, so it’s fine for now. But you should head out first thing in the morning and use the aftereffects to your advantage. It doesn’t help with the hypomania, though. And please, keep an eye on him and stay with him.”

“Okay.”

“He’ll be on his bike. Can you ride?”

“Yeah, but it’s been a while since I last drove.”

“He always has a second helmet. You’ll just need a warm jacket.”

I appreciated Yaël’s advice. It helped me stay focused. But there was one thing still gnawing at me.