What the hell, I thought, someone had just shaken me as I slept on my back. I lay there in the dark trying to figure out where I was. I put my left arm out for Helen before realizing she wasn't there. Of course, I thought, I'm in the Super 8 in Anthemopolis. I must have dreamed someone was shaking me.

I thought I heard a sound, nothing much. It was like someone was walking softly on the rug. There was a brief moment of fear before I thought, How silly. Just go back to sleep. I grabbed both of the extra-thick pillows that came with my king sized bed and pulled them both over my chest like I was hugging Helen. I was just starting to doze off when I felt pressure on my chest. Almost instantly there was a muffled 'pweeeee' sound, and the bottom pillow exploded in my arms.