“GAAAAKKKAAAAARRGGGKKKK!!” Waking up screaming incoherently, absolute agony ripped and rippled through every inch of Michael’s being. His lungs felt as if they were on fire, his heart clenched and locked up in his chest. Torment, pure and total torment, cascaded over every inch of his body. Time slowed to a crawl, his mind with blank from agony. Limitless suffering was his whole existence for what felt like an eternity.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the torrent of torment washed away, leaving him weak, tear-streaked, and endlessly grateful for the soothing darkness that washed over his mind and let him slip back into unconsciousness.