"Pinch" forced herself to open her eyes again.

It was dark. The lamp had gone off. Still she was able to make out her surroundings. It was still the same cave, and next to her on the ground were her lamp and her weapon. She sat up, still feeling a little woozy.

What was that stuff?

She was well aware that it had to be some kind of drug. How long had she been unconscious? Hours? Days? She had no sense of time. And no watch on her to look up the time. But apart from her dizzyness she felt nothing. No pain, no nausea, no hunger or thirst. Nothing.

But she sensed all of a sudden that she wasn't alone.

She hoicked her gun and stared at the gigantic person standing at the other end of the cave and staring at her. This cannot be! This is impossible! The bulky, massive appearance was just standing there motionless, and wherever the light came from that illuminated the cave, it sufficed to show his face.

And "Pinch" recognized it.

She pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened. Not even a click sounded from the gun in her hand.

But the man at the other end of the cave had noticed it. Soothingly he raised his hands. "Don't be alarmed!" he tried to calm her. "I mean no harm."

She still couldn't believe it. Although her gun was useless - and she pulled the trigger twice again to be absolutely sure - she kept it pointed at this man. With her free hand she felt for the lamp. Just to find out that it wasn't working anymore either.

Still, the light in the cave was enough. And as the man made one step forward and she was able to see his face even better, she was certain.

"Whitmore!" she exclaimed breathlessly.

The man stopped. His hands were stretched forward, with his palms open, showing her that he was completely harmless. "Pinch" stared at these enormous hands that were enough on their own to squeeze all her life from her body, and didn't buy this gesture for one second.

"It's gonna be hard to convince you then, eh?" Whitmore bellowed in his unique voice. "Come on then! I ain't got all day." He stepped close enough to her and reached out with one hand to help her up.

It was Whitmore. No doubt. The same feisty face with the big beard and the clean-shaven skull, the same shabby attire. There was just one thing missing. "Pinch" sniffed to be sure. She smelled nothing. "What's going on here?" she asked mistrustful. "How did you get here?"

"Ah..." Before she was able to take his hand, he retracted it again. "Right, there's that. I'm not really here." He waited patiently for her to get up on her own.

Groaning "Pinch" worked herself up on her own feet. As he was standing right in front of her, his arms wide open, peacefully, she couldn't help it anymore. She raised her foot and kicked him right between the legs with all her power.

She hit empty air.

"See?" Whitmore grinned joyfully. "It's complicated. Long story."

"I don't get it," "Pinch" mumbled after gaining her balance back. "No way you can be Whitmore. He's in prison."

"Yes," Whitmore confirmed. "I am. Well: He is. Hence what you are seeing right now is just a... how shall I put this... projection of him. So that you might feel better."

"So that I..." "Pinch" couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Is this some kind of bad joke?"

"No joke." Whitmore shook his head. "It shall prepare you for what I am about to show you. For a better understanding."

With an inviting gesture he pointed towards a part of the cave that for some mysterious reason had begun to glow even stronger than the rest of her surroundings. "Pinch" followed the invitation and stepped towards this area. The light seemed to brighten up, almost glaring, as she went in...