[center][color=BDD1FF][h2]Holly[/h2][/color][/center]
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Holly lived in a small apartment on the edge of the West End, where the lights of the bustling city in the East barely grazed the windows and rooftops. Housing wasn’t cheap in the metropolis; the closer to Downtown, the more costly it becomes. Her home was barely a home. She spends most of the day in the East End, exploring and interacting with its residents to her heart’s content, only to return to her abode to sleep. The place had hardly a sign of the previous tenant. In fact, the entire building had been abandoned for ages, save for a few squatters and a family of rats, and no indication of turn-over for low-income housing cooperatives. It probably would’ve been easier to go without a home, but she didn’t fancy living like a stray cat when she’d rather be a part of civilization. 

Ever since Holly got a job at the OIA, she’s been excited by the idea of living in the concentration of people and technology in the East End. She still wasn’t sure what else she’d do with her apartment: decorate, perhaps? It was the location that mattered the most to her; she wanted to feel the energy of the world around her as she slept.

Holly wasn’t thrilled about being studied at the OIA as part of her employment. Her R&D handlers were too cold for her taste. Though they have started to treat her as more of an equal the more they observe her behaving like a regular human, she was happy to be out of their grasp once she’s on the job. On her first day of work, she boarded the van in the morning, around the same time as her team members boarded theirs, but got off much later. She was frustrated about it but said nothing. 

Holly eagerly parted from the R&D van after uttering a short “Thanks. See ya.” and headed to the building she was assigned to. Her eyes scaled the height of the wall of decay and overgrowth as she approached it, just to see if she could catch any trace of intrigue before going inside. The Precinct Chief, a woman by the name of Daza Sendros, was waiting for her at the entrance. After Daza gave her a rundown of their investigation so far, the two entered the building and moved quickly through the desecrated halls. Holly let her eyes wander as they walked. She had hoped that she’d get the chance to explore the area more but she wasn’t about to protest. Thankfully, where they were headed she knew would be much more interesting.

At the top of the stairway that led to the basement, the same candlelight spell was casted on Holly, who was overjoyed. She inspected the ball of light over her shoulder and looked into the abyss beyond the steps she could see from above; she giggled in excitement. The way down was something that Holly never experienced in this world, yet it was familiar. The biting cold, the smell and taste of death, and the all-consuming blackness wrapped around her like a warm blanket. She felt conflicted. Her life on earth thus far has given her many other sensations she has grown fond of. In her previous existence (to call it a life would be too generous), she had no ability to be fond of anything. These thoughts stopped in its tracks when they arrived at the bottom.

Holly tasted the room’s atmosphere: bitter and sweet - a gross kind of sweet. She could hear her team members remarkably clearly; the dark was an excellent amplifier. 

[color=BDD1FF]“Good morning!”[/color]