Lucistra wakes with a start. Her head hurts. She raises a hand and runs it over her skull. No bumps. No cuts or abrasions. Just pain, buried just inside the back of her skull. What the hell happened? She opens her eyes, and hisses as bright light stings them. As the pain subsides, the momentary flash of vision her eyes caught before snapping shut suddenly registers with her brain. Where the hell am I? She sits bolt upright and blinks at her surroundings, forcing her eyes to adjust to the light. She is on the mezzanine level of a huge, two-storey penthouse. Early morning sunlight streams in through glass walls overlooking the city. The smell of recently brewed coffee fills the air. A cool air-conditioned breeze washes over her face. Suddenly it comes to her. Tim. The man she met and had dinner with last night. This must be his apartment. She remembers one of the first things she ever asked him - Do you have money? - and his bemused reply as he glanced up at the apartment building behind him - You could say that. But how the hell did I get here? She tries to climb out of bed, but the pain in her head explodes. Her stomach does a sudden backflip and she lurches forward, about to throw up. Slowly, the feeling subsides. She glances over the side of the bed and sees her boots and bag. And, laying on top, a small hand-written note. She ignores the note for now and snatches her bag, rummaging through its contents to make sure nothing is missing. The gun slips out of the bag and tumbles to the floor. She scoops the gun back into the bag and picks up the note. Her eyes struggle for a moment to focus on the words. If only the pain in her head would go away. Eventually, the words come into focus and she reads the note silently to herself. Good morning Lucy! I hope you are feeling better after your big night. You sure are inexpensive to go drinking with! I've never known anybody to get that effect after just two glasses of wine! I also hope you don't mind that I brought you back to my place. I would have called you a taxi, but I wouldn't have known where to tell him to take you, and you were in no state to ask. I've gone to work, but please make yourself comfortable. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, watch some DVDs, whatever you like. I'll be back around 6, so if you're still here when I get back we'll have dinner again. If not, well, it was nice meeting you. Tim The note ended with PS. If you need anything, call me and a mobile phone number. Lucistra reads the note again and slumps back into bed, her head throbbing painfully. Cynicism and mistrust flow through her veins, but for a moment, just a single moment, she allows herself a happy, hopeful thought. For the first time since Suzette, somebody is being kind to her. Credits: La Sombra by Dark_Whisper Dystopia buildings from Free Section Doona cover by me