Kitty

The air was thick with humidity. The young woman rubbed her eyes groggily as she sat up in the dirty single bunk. She leaned on her left arm to steady herself, her right hand coming up to cover her mouth as she yawned. She blinked repeatedly, taking in the surrounds of the dimly lit room. A few paces across, and there was another set of bunks, just as grimy as the ones she was sitting on. At the end of the bunks, were two lockers, one knocked slightly askew. The door to the small room was closed, but the shutters beside the only entry were slightly open.

Something wasn't right.

"What the fuck?" She whispered, realising that she wasn't in her own bed. Her own room. Her own house! "This cannot be happening..."

The young woman then stood, flexing her limbs as she did so. "I feel ok" she said to no one in particular. She looked down at her clothes. Yep, they were still her own clothes. Was she dreaming? She shook her head, eyes clenched shut. But when she opened them, she was still in the same grimy room. Someone's idea of a sick joke perhaps? She scuffed the concrete floor with her black leather boots. Seemed real enough.
She sat back down on the edge of the bed as realisation washed over her like a cold bucket of water. Was this... Pandora? She stood again, taking a deep breath, trying to steady herself and calm her racing mind. Only one way to find out for sure. She flicked her long red hair back over her shoulders, and stepped forward. She reached out, touching the cold steel of the tall lockers. Taking the handle, she yanked it open. She smiled as the contents was revealed. A hand gun. A dark red pistol, emitting a soft white glow.

"Hmph, a Ladyfinger" she reached out and took the weapon. No sooner had her finger tips touched it, and the illuminating white light disappeared. "No shit!" She chuckled to herself, checking the clip. Still loaded.

Bracing herself, she faced the door. She realised her hand was shaking as she pushed it open. Another empty room. But this one was all too familiar. She felt her stomach churning, still unable to believe what was happening. It had to be a dream. Surely! The only way she knew to find out, was to continue on. The room was empty, like it usually was. A dirty and torn couch on one side, and a bench strewn with beer bottles on the other side. She could already see the large holographic map above the table in the next room. She now knew where she was, and knew she was safe. Somewhat. For now. She was at the Crimson Raided Headquarters.

She ventured further ahead, into the next room. Again, no one was around. She stood in front of the map, studying it more carefully than she ever had before. The holographic image flickered slightly, and she noticed the table emitted a faint humming noise. She listened carefully. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up when she heard the voices coming from downstairs. She walked hesitantly towards the stairwell, back through the two empty rooms. She paused at the top, and listen carefully. She made out one voice, her heart pounding in recognition.

"No way!" She said in a barely audible tone. Her mind began reeling at the possibilities. Her mind was jerked back to the present as she heard the second voice more clearly. She was startled to discover she also recognised this person. But he wasn't from her beloved Pandora. This one she new from real life. He was like her. She gripped the handgun, now warmed by her sweaty palms. And without thinking twice, she bounded down the stairs, taking two at a time. She came to an abrupt stop when she reached the bottom. The two figures before her turned their heads in her direction. The tall and ragged Hunters expression hardly changed. But the shorter, paler man beside him almost fell over when he saw the woman. They stared at each other for a long moment, each unable to form words.

Finally, the other man mumbled

"Jo?"