BELLAMY! Snap out of it!” Dan coughed violently and sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm the raging vibrations in his head. The air stank of blood and shit and death, and it felt like his skull was fracturing. Herb, he thought. That’s Herb. Focus on his voice. “Oh, fucking hell…Dan? Can you hear me?” He took another breath. Let it out slow. And the world began to swim into focus. Herb was standing over him, his face twisted in concern. “It’s okay, we’re safe,” Herb said. “For now, anyway. It can’t get in.” Dan pulled himself to his feet, and his eyes widened when he saw the kitchen. The large group of men he expected to see suddenly wasn’t so large at all. Two of Herb’s followers were lying on the floor, one panting out rattling breaths and clutching at his bloody chest; the other was motionless, with a towel draped over his face.
