He hadn’t been prepared. He hadn’t been prepared
          and now he’s suffering the consequences. He should
          have just been prepared. The frustration is the only
          thing pushing him to stumble away from the site.
          It’s the only thing keeping him off the ground. At least,
          for the time being. It’s all so disorientating. He’s been
          so used to being able to listen for things approaching
          that this hopefully temporary deafness was more than
          a bit hindering. He’s not even all that worried about the
          blood trailing down from his ears. He just needs to be
          able to hear again. It’s why he’s eventually crashing
          down behind a counter in an old convenience store
          and doing what he can to try and at least clean out
          his ears. Maybe it’s just the fact that the blood is
          clogging them. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

                                           Maybe that’s why he doesn’t recognize
                                           a shadow approaching until it’s far too
                                           late to move. He can feel his heart stop
                                           and all he can hope for now is a visual
                                           advantage. One he does not seem all
                                           that likely to get.