A trap, and Cole Night had foolishly walked right into it. This was not his way of doing things, he is supposed to be the person capable of seeing the danger coming from a mile away. But he had not seen this, there had been no warning.
This was a rather quick wake up call. Cole was beginning to rely fully on his really his perception and his precognitive abilities to help him see any immediate danger the moment it is directed at him or how own. But he was not omnipotent, even if he has abilities like that, Cole was still just a mortal. An extremely powerful one, but still he was a far step away from immortality or being able to see every from of danger heading his direction before it happens.