"Okay…so you're Danielle's sister?"

"And murderer."

"Wow."

"Yeah," Lenora paused for effect, "if you don't cooperate then your's as well."

Shannon fidgeted in her seat. "What do you want?"

"Children."

"I don't think I can help you with that."

"Oh but you can. I chose you because Danielle described you as a clever girl. The rest of your prisoners are more…irrational."

"Aw, she thought I was clever."

"Yes," Shannon can hear the derision dripping in Lenora's voice, "so listen up. My boys are dying…"

"No, wait. Are they really your kids?"

"Not biologically, but emotionally, and mentally they are."

"Where'd they come from?"

"They were on the ship! Are you going to listen?"

Shannon sat back and reached for the bottle of water on the table. "Sure."

"My boys are dying and I need them most at this stage…"

"Stage?"

"Of my experiment. I have created a virus that when exposed to any male turns them into those creatures outside. They are completely controllable…the perfect minion if you will."

Shannon snorted. "Minion? Who are you…Dr. Evil?"

"Who?"

"You won't get it. Okay, so virus?"

"Yes, the virus. While on the ship, unbeknownst to the others I had been hired by the Soviet Union to create a biological weapon."

"And this was when?"

"Right before it's collapse."

"That was, like, a long time ago."

"Yes. After it's collapse I decided to continue my work. I was a genius and this was to be my work of art."

"What happened?"

"The crash happened. When are ship was marooned on the rocks it released my prototype into the air, and it infected the men. Danielle and I were the only females and she had no idea what was going to happen. I did and I made preparations. Within months the symptoms began to manifest. Possessiveness, violence, etc. etc. All signs that the virus was spreading. Soon Danielle had gone into hiding and I was in control. Everything was fine for many years." A regretful smile crossed Lenora's face and for a half a second she reminded Shannon of someone else. "Then problems started to happen."

"What sort of problems?"

"My men began to die. They began to die in horrible, horrible ways."


(Flashback)

"Momma! We're home!"

"She might be sleeping princess. Why don't you go find her while I start dinner? And then we'll play monopoly and have sundaes and watch TV!" Jack said as he squeezed past his daughter. In his hands were grocery bags filled with all the makings of his wife's favorite dinner…homemade spaghetti. Tonight was party night, one of the few nights of the week the family spent together. Someone's favorite meal would, then their favorite game played, and finally either their favorite movie or show was watched. Tonight was Emily's turn. So, it was spaghetti, monopoly, and then probably they would watch Charlie's Angels.

"Okay!" Shannon exclaimed. She took off up the stairs to throw her things into her room, and began to search.

Mommy wasn't in the hallway closet, nor was she under Shannon's bed. She wasn't in the bathroom, and she wasn't on the stairs. Finally Shannon checked the bedroom, and alas! Success.

"I found you mommy!" Shannon screeched as she threw herself onto the bed. "Mommy?"

Shannon's mother was not answering. "Are you sleeping mommy?"

Shannon nudged her mother with her leg but she still got no answer. "MOMMY! Wake up!" Shannon sing-songed but still she received no answer.

Finally Shannon began to jump up and down on the bed (something she had been strictly forebode against) in an attempt to wake her mother. While she did jostle her, Emily did not wake.

Instead, all Shannon's jumping did was make the bed move enough that her mother fell off it. She slammed into the floor and for the first time Shannon felt fear. Her mother still had not woken up.

Shannon crawled off the bed and knelt next to her mother. Her skin was so cold! "I know mommy. I'll get you a blanket!" Shannon hurried to her room to get her favorite blanket. It had a large unicorn on it.

"Baby? Is everything okay?" Her father's voice drifted up the stairs.

"Yep! I found mommy!" Shannon yelled back as she hurried back to her mommy.

"Good. Tell her dinner will be ready in half an hour!"

"Alrighty!"

In the bedroom, Emily lay in the position into which she'd fallen. Shannon tucked her blanket around her and sat back. "I know! You don't feel good! I'll get Mr. Bippity to keep you company. He always makes me feel better."

Shannon retrieved Mr. Bippity, a large purple kangaroo, and set him next to her mother as well. Shannon was feeling sleepy by this time, having spent most of the day with her father running errands. She didn't even notice when her father stepped through the doorway.

"Shannon…oh my god!"

Shannon turned to look at her father sleepy eyed. "Daddy. Mommy's not waking up. I t'ink she's sick."

(End Flashback)


"What do you mean by horrible?"

"The virus mutated into a disease. It began to ravage the brain cells, destroying the person. They bled from their ears, their mouths, their noses, their…"

"I get the picture."

"Yes. Do you understand my problem?"

"Nope."

Lenora sighed. "I need more minions."

"There's like a dozen out there." Shannon gestured to the outside.

"Yes, but they'll die like the rest."

"Is there a cure?"

"Yes, but they're too far gone to have it affect them at all."

"And you need me for…"

"Bait."

"Huh?"

"You're going to be my bait."

"For who?"

"The rest of the survivors?"

"So you can infect them?"

"Oh, no my dear. They're very much already infected. I just need them to be drawn here."


Ohmigod! They're already infected. That came out of left field. HAHA! I am evil! You will have to wait to tomorrow for a new chapter!