#21: Calm Down.

“Calm down” the voice is very faint. He can barely hear it. He does, indeed, calm down. The voice? His interest peaks. The Voice? Had his old buddy from the Tunnels returned?

“Sorry dear...I’m the same but different. He’s gone. I’m new.” Shelby could hear better now. It was still faint. But better.

“Gone? What do you mean Gone?” Shelby felt a stirring of panic. The voice, his friend, his companion, was gone?

“Gone. My predecessor sacrificed himself in order to save you.“ It said.

“Who ARE you ?” Shelby was hanging onto his sanity by bleeding fingernails. First the barrage, then the dragon... then BEING a dragon..if only for a little while....it was all he could not to run screaming into the outer darkness.

He was agitated. His body kicked and squirmed. He muttered and screamed and talked to himself. The nurse noticed and gave him a shot. Another shot. It was easier on everyone that way.

“Now see what you did?” The voice-who-was-not-the-original-voice told him sadly. It was fully audible now.

“Go ahead and take a little nap.” it said"We’ll talk later”.