Gregory sat up, a sharp prickle of pain coursing through his chest. He extended his arms to his back and felt his torn shoulder-blades. His chest and back were bandaged with soft linen cloth. Someone had rescued him.
“Good God.”
He slid out of bed and onto his feet. Spasms shook his body and he groped for something to steady himself. His fingers wrapped around the top of a stick lying in the corner.
Straightening, Gregory hobbled to the door.
He glanced down in horror at one of his worst fears: stairs. He faced the slope, dreading it. The walls were unlit so that the corridor was pitch black. There were no railings. Gregory sucked in his breath, lifted his foot, and took the first step.
Currents of fire-like pricks exploded in his body. Sticking his fist into his mouth and biting down
