Howard shakes his head quickly, still gasping for breath. No, he doesn't need help. He's gotten through worse than a little shortness of breath on his own. He just needs a moment to process everything Jack just said, which sounds insane, and sadly, way too coherent to be some kind of dream objective.

"Don't - no - stay away!" he backs up from Bunny. "I'm fine! Just give me space."

He can talk, he tells himself, which means he can breathe, no matter what his instincts are telling him. He takes a few more deep breaths, now a little more controlled. He listens as Bunny talks to Mami, as Bunny tries to paint this as a nasty situation for everyone when Howard's feeling as if somehow, Jack and Bunny are at fault. He wants them to be at fault. It's easier to rail at things in front of you than intangible spirits.

"You can't keep me here. There's someone..."