As spots danced before her eyes, Lorelai looked at her surroundings. Dark paneling crisscrossed the ceiling, where they joined at a dingy window; the source of the encroaching light. In a corner, there was a washbasin and a shriveled, sad little shape of a girl. Lorelai didn’t know why, but a look of intense terror decorated the girl’s countenance. Lorelai sat up, and the girl, Lorelai didn’t think it possible, huddled into an even smaller lump.

The girl crept, back to the wall, over to the door and slithered out of the room. Lorelai heard the distinct sound of a key in the lock, trapping her inside. Well, it’s always nice to be wanted, thought Lorelai. She left the bed and went over to the window. The view out of the window was significantly more cheery than the little room she was in.

From her, she shuddered at the thought, window, she could see an expansive main street. The wonderful aroma of fresh baked bread was a welcome scent. Lorelai relished the smells of the city and the warm sunshine on her shoulders. There was a slight knock on the door, and a snick as the key was inserted, and the door unlocked. Was her shriveled little captor back? Lorelai hurried to the bed; better for them to think her an invalid than an able-bodied girl that could escape if they were stupid enough to leave the door open.

The girl-lump was back, and she had a tray of food. I guess I could stand to eat, Lorelai thought, torn between her stomach and the fear that the food was poisoned. The girl-lump set down the tray and scuttled away, locking the door behind her. Lorelai heard her retreat down a staircase, and she fell upon the food, not even bothering to go back to eat on the bed. Meat pastries and crumpets were devoured in seconds.

Nearly choking, Lorelai gulped down the cup of water beside her tray. Hello, Lorelai thought. Why am I so dizzy? She staggered back to the bed and collapsed upon it. Her last reverie before she embraced unconsciousness was that the gods blasted girl-lump had put something in her food.