Chapter 186: Mikael's dreams

Mikael DRIFTS IN and out of consciousness.

He could somehow hear the hushed voices around him so he can tell when he is alone in the room and when he is not.

However, he struggles to wake. But in the infrequent moments when he does wake, all he wants to do is fall back asleep.

His limbs feel weighted with lead, and there is a large, numb ball of nothing where his stomach and chest should be.

Night, day—he can't tell which is which. The blinds on the windows are always drawn.

At the same time, he dreams uneasily.

Pastor Valdez visits in one of those dreams. The other party's bald head gleaming under the light of the ceiling lamp. In the dream, Valdez is talking to him, kindly and reassuring, but there's something in his eyes that frightens him. 

The pastor lifts up the blanket, his fleshy hands clammy all the while talking to him in a friendly and gentle manner.