The young man shuffled nervously as the lift descended. It was taking them deep below London and into one of the many secret places hidden under that great city. As the floors flew by the young man wondered how many other special projects were contained in this facility. It was his first serious assignment for Her Majesty's Secret Service after passing through the academy with flying colours. He had been handpicked by some of the most powerful people in Great Britain for this job. The gun was a heavy weight beneath his immaculately tailored jacket, he hoped not to be using it here.

The lift came to a stop and the doors slid open to reveal a long, grey corridor. A middle aged woman in a white coat stepped forward to meet the young man from the lift. She too, was grey.

"Good afternoon Mr. Black. I'm Dr. Graucus." The woman said, extending a hand that the young man, Mr Black, shook. Dr. Graucus' hand was cool and dry, a little like the skin of a reptile.

"Good afternoon Doctor, pleased to meet you" was Mr. Black's reply. This woman made him uncomfortable, she felt dangerous, and he wanted to move on and meet his new charge. Sensing his impatience, Dr. Graucus turned and began to lead the way down the corridor. It was lined on either side by nondescript grey doors, each locked with a number pad. In silence, they moved passed those doors to one at the very end. It was no different from the others, except for the iris scanner and thumbprint scan locking system.

"Is all this really necessary Doctor? She's just one woman" asked Mr. Black, slightly incredulous at the amount of security.

"Completely Mr. Black. She always escapes. Best you learn that now." Replied Dr. Graucus. Her tone was full of cold disapproval. The young man hoped he wouldn't be working with her too closely. The woman bent to the iris scanner and pressed a thumb to the machine. It whirred and then gave one, loud beep.

"Now you" said the Doctor, motioning Mr. Black forward to the door. He repeated her gestures and the machine beeped once more. The door clicked open a moment later. Dr. Graucus lead the way inside.

The young man was very surprised by what he found behind that door. For a moment he was confused by a ray of sunlight falling onto the floor. Looking up, he found the source of it to be a bright and convincing lamp, like the ones used to keep reptiles. Real grass grew beneath his feet and a cherry tree stood in one corner. An unmade double bed sat beneath the tree with books scattered around it.

In the opposite corner a fountain stood with water gushing down. That same water flowed into a small pond filled with blooming water lilies. There were flowerbeds all around the room, placed in harmony with the soft and comfortable furnishings. In the middle stood a desk, and behind that desk sat a woman.

She was writing, head down in concentration. She had long, curling blonde hair that had been tied out of the way with a blue ribbon. She wore a simple blue shift dress and had bare feet.

"Mr. Black, I'd like you to meet Alice Kingsleigh." Said Dr. Graucus, before loudly clearing her throat.

"The Alice?" asked Mr. Black, quoting the books of his childhood. He never noticed the doctor's piercing gaze as the woman, Alice, chose that moment to look up at him. Her eyes were hazel, huge and wide and piercing. She held the young man's gaze with an intensity that took his breath away.

"Tell me Mr. Black," Alice asked, "Why is a raven like a writing desk?"