I felt dazed, and my head pounded as though the cogs of Big Ben were hammering inside it. "Mr. Fredrick?" I grumbled nonsensically to the impeccably smooth smooth white floor.  "It wasn't James at the door..." I squeezed my closed eyes tighter, then opened them, some sense returning to me. There had been bright purple light, and then I had been thrown into the air; I was sure of it, though neither my knowledge of science, nor even God could explain it. Holding down panic, I pushed myself onto my elbows, then my knees and finally my feet and inspected my surroundings.<span style="font-style: italic">Always use your eyes to find out what is what before you strain your mind</span>. They were Father's word, and if there had ever been a time to follow them, it was now. I was in a large room, purer white than any of Queen Victoria's swans. The light came from candles or lamps that hung from the ceiling, that burned so brightly they stung my eyes. Tables and countertops, like those in the kitchen, lined the walls, but were made of hard, shining, silver metal.<br/><br/>Then, with a jolt, I realized that I was not alone. A few people lay listless on the floor, but that is not what frightened me. It was the girl crouched in front of me. At least, I believed it was a girl, a person. She wore<span style="font-style: italic">leather</span>tight across her entire body, like a ruffian and had an uncivilized look in her eyes, similar to what I imagined the Wild Men of Borneo must have. But one should not judge appearance, and whether she had caused this strange kidnapping, or was a fellow victim, I needed to speak with her. "Hello," I said, putting as much strength into it as I could muster. "My name Miss Gregory. May I ask who you are? Do you know what this place is? What is wrong with these people on the floor?"