THIRTY

       Dominic awoke slowly in his office, a feeling of foreboding resting heavily on him. He couldn't place his finger on it, but he knew that something was terribly wrong. He rose to his feet, brushing his hair away from his face. But, just as he picked up his car keys, a wave of dizziness slammed into him. White hot pain attacked his stomach and he doubled over. With a groan, he sat down on his seat. Sweat slid down the sides of his face, panic quickly setting in. He let out another groan when he began to feel terribly nauseous, his limbs trembling hard. He reached out to pick up his phone to call for help but, the blinding pain that hit him next stopped him in his tracks. He fell to the ground, gasping for breath as a result of his discomfort. His temperature had soared considerably and he was tottering on the edge of consciousness.

"No, no. God, no" he gasped as he vomited a dark red  substance. Clutching at his aching stomach, he tried to