Chapter 53: The Beloved Child (1)

“Waaahhh!” I sprang up from the bed like a shrimp curled in reverse, my back arched violently, only to slam my head straight into the wall. Dazed and seeing stars, I fumbled for the bed’s edge. Blinking hard, I took in my surroundings: a crumbling room and the pale morning sunlight streaming through a drafty window. “Hong—Brother Hong? What the hell are you screaming for? Damn.” Booker’s groggy voice came from the opposite bed. I turned and saw him crawling out of a tangled pile of…