Chapter 45

Marcellus woke up with a start. His head was pounding, and his vision was blurred. As he tried to make sense of his surroundings, he realized he was lying on a bed in a room that was blindingly bright. The white light was shining directly on his face, making it difficult for him to see anything else in the room. He squinted his eyes and tried to adjust his vision.

As his eyes began to adjust, he saw several people in white coats moving around the room. They looked like doctors and nurses, and they were talking to each other in hushed tones. Marcellus tried to move, but he realized that he was strapped to the bed. Panic began to set in, and he started to struggle against his restraints.

One of the doctors noticed his movements and walked over to him. “Good, you’re awake,” the doctor said in a calm and reassuring voice. “You’re in a safe place, and we’re here to help you.”

Marcellus didn’t believe him. He had no idea where he was, or how he had gotten there. The last