The words - the words Niall Mortimer utters, ancient to the point of feeling inhuman, cut through the dark and into Johnny's head; his eyes snap open, he stares up, frightened and still, at the man standing over him. For a moment, a quivering, transient moment between heartbeats, he can feel the overwhelming profundity of his odd companion, multitudinous experience and capability. The feeling shatters and dissipates as quickly as his attacker when Niall grips his wrist, dragging him up off the floor.

"What," he says, breathless, "what was that? How did you do that?"

Without waiting for an answer he struggles to his feet and propels himself toward the nearest door, his legs shaking. He grips the door's knob, rattles it violently, swearing through gritted teeth. "I - I can't - Help me!"