The air in the night had solidified like an impenetrable concrete wall; the man sandwiched between two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arched his body as if he were a fish pulling itself from the water, muscles tensing.
He placed his hands on his chest, trying to tear away the invisible pressure, but all he felt was his rapidly beating heart.
Accompanied by the pitter-patter of rain, it seemed as if a switch had been lightly flipped, or as if a sovereign from high above had mercifully averted his gaze.
The terrifying pressure, akin to death itself, slowly dissipated.
"Ha—huff—"
Levis's tense muscles suddenly relaxed, he lifted his head like a drowning man being pulled from the water, gasping for air as sweat the size of beans leaked from his cheeks like raindrops, soaking his clothes.
He looked around bewilderingly, his face naturally filling with a blank joy of having survived after the ordeal.
"Now, can we talk?"