"Henry!" Coreen shrieked. Henry was by her side before Coreen had chance to draw her next breath (not to mention launch her attack on his ear drums). They were in Vicki's office, late, since a new case involving an out of control harpy had turned up.
"What?" As soon as he opened his mouth, Henry caught sight of Vicki's body on the floor. Panic crashed over him like a tsunami. He always panicked around Vicki. How could one woman get herself into so much danger? Henry didn't think of it often but deep down he knew it was his fault. If only he had he strength to stay away.
"What happened?" he spat, kneeling next to Vicki's still body. Coreen crouched next to him. His hands were shaking as he checked for a pulse. He breathed a sigh of relief. Vicki's heart was still going.
"She just collapsed. One minute fine, checking out possible UFO sightings for the harpy, the next minute, down." The panic that had crushed Henry's chest receded somewhat. Vicki was fine. Probably hit her head on the door frame (it was rather low- he had complained about getting it raised a few times himself). "We should get her onto the couch and let nature take it's course." Coreen had stopped shaking and seemed reassured. "You take her legs," Henry commanded. He was being deliberately domineering. He didn't want Coreen going into shock. There was a limit to the number of damsels in distress he could take care of. Gently Henry tucked his hands under Vicki's slime frame and lifted her up. She was so fragile. He smiled to himself as he felt the hot blood pounding round her body. She was fine. It was at that moment Vicki let out a piercing scream.
Vicki sat down. She had been pacing for goodness knows how long and it hadn't done her any good. She didn't know where she was or how she had got there or how she would get back. Mist swirled around her like a blanket. She couldn't see more than a metre in front. No one seemed to be around. Which was why she screamed when she head a voice.
"Victoria Nelson?" it inquired politely when Vicki had finished yelling (that, like the pacing, had also done her no good). Vicki's hand twitched towards her hip where her hand gun had once been. Still she wasn't in the force anymore. Guns and arrest warrants had given way to fangs and voodoo charms.
"Where are you?" 'What are you' was the most important question on Vicki's mind, but it had seemed a little rude. She was playing by this thing's rules for the moment. There was a tinkling laugh that seemed to come from the mist around her.
"Of course. It will be easier for us to converse if I take a form." Just to her right the mist thickened. It coiled and twisted upwards forming a figure. The silhouette lengthened and grew, filling with colour, at first pale pastel then deeper oils. A woman stepped out of the mist. She was tanned, with coils of black hair and a rich red robe stretched down to her bare feet. She glided towards Vicki, the mist around her changed to match her colour and shape. It was like she had a halo.
"Greetings Vicki," she smiled suavely, "it is an honour to have you here."
"Where am I?" Even though she had no intention of being rude, Vicki was not going to be polite to the thing that had kidnapped her.
"Why," the woman laughed, " in your mind of course." Stretching out olive fingers, the woman brushed her hand against Vicki's forehead. The blackness came swiftly and suddenly. With a surprised gasp Vicki blacked out.