1: Escape... Or Not

            I ran through the alleyways, frantic for escape. I could hear the footsteps of pursuers resounding off the walls. “I’ve got find that door!” I thought to myself. I came up to a seemingly plain brick wall at the back of some nondescript sandwich shop.

            “Identification please?” Requested an annoying cheerful, computer-generated female voice.

            “Alice Lotus,” I replied, breathlessly. I could hear them closer now.

            “Identification not recognized. Please try again,” said the voice.

            “Alice Lotus,” I replied firmly, attempting to squelch the edge of panic creeping into my voice. They were even closer now; I could even hear one of them panting hard!

            “Identification not recognized. Please try again,” the voice repeated.

            “Alice Lotus! Alice Lotus! Oh, God, just let me in!” I cried desperately, my pursuers were entirely too close. They would be here any moment.

            “Identification not recognized. Please try again.” The voice said again.

            “Alice Lo-“my answer was cut off by a thick, sweaty paw covering my mouth.

            “Keep still and you might live, Kitten,” snarled a nasally voice in my ear.

            The last thing I heard before a chloroformed rag was pressed over my face: “Identification not recognized. Please try again.”