Me: Well... this is probably, without a doubt it will stay that way, my shortest chapter ever. Even though it is five-hundred words longer than my shortest chapter. I blame it on the fact that finals are about to start. I still have a ton of homework (mainly packets with some reports) that is due tomorrow.

Clary: Guess what! Me and, basically, all other Cassandra Clare characters come in in the... into the... from... come into the story in the next chapter!

Simon: Si hoc legere scis nimium eruditionis habes

Jace & Will: Really?

Simon: What? I wanted to say that!

Will: If we are saying stuff in other languages for the fun of it... Hoffwn i yn meddwi felly ddim yn cofio fy enw i.

Tessa: Do you really?

Will: ... Maybe.

Jem: He doesn't.

Hodge: All is well.

Sophie: It is time we start the story. None of us are owned by Krissa.

Alec: Actually, there is still the reviews.

Magnus: And glitter. Lots of it.

Alec: Nope. Just the reviews.

MagicandSparkles: Ha ha. Thank you so much. You rock.

Laurenathalasa: Thank you. You're so sweet! They probably snuck off to do *wiggles eyebrows* things.

SmoochiePooh: Thank you. And yes... I am trying hard to keep their personalities while they are in such a different worldly setting.

Marie E. Brooke: Ha ha. Yes. I do have quite the tendency to be evil. I would apologize for the cliffie, but I'm not sorry (evil tendency streak :). There will be more Gophie and Gabrily, since I seriously ship them.

Me: Onwards... forever... occasionally... maybe... this time... certainly... to the story!

…

Chapter 4

Will's POV

"The real virus is evil. The real evil... is the horde."

-Thomas Hunter

On the threshold stood a tiny, childlike woman with brown hair pulled up into a tight bun on the back of her head. She had warm brown eyes, which were smiling at him.

She thrust out her tiny hand, "I am Charlotte Branwell. You may call me Charlotte. Though most of the officials at the Institute are big on formality, I am not."

Something about the woman exuded confidence. He didn't know how he knew, but Charlotte Branwell was a true leader.

Will hesitantly shook her hand, and was thoroughly surprised. She had a very, very firm grip. Behind him confused murmuring ensued.

"Here, you all will want to change into these. We will arrive at the Institute in about an hour. There you will meet your fellow Immunes." Charlotte thrust an evergreen duffel bag at him.

Will turned around, only to end up with four cloudy pairs of eyes trained on him.

"Who as that?" Jem looked mildly concerned.

"Some woman named Charlotte Branwell. Who requests to be called Charlotte." Will waved his hand wildly around his head- studiously avoiding the angry, confused, and tired gazes of the girls- "she brought us clothes. And told us to change into them. She said we will be at the Institute in an hour."

"Great." Cecily brushed past him, and without touching him, took the bag, "I need a change of clothes."

So... she was still mad at him. If he was her, he would be too. Will sighed and sat on one of the benches. Just as he realized he was sitting next to Tessa, she got up and moved to the other bench. Was everyone mad at him?

Though Tessa would be, he left her best friend. Why did he always have to ruin everything? Was it not enough that his family died?

Cecily came out and handed the bag to Tessa. She offered it to Sophie. Sophie muttered a quick thank you, and then ran out, looking uncomfortable.

Will turned towards Tessa- with the intent to make small talk, at least- only to find that she was already talking to Jem. Jem was always there first, and even when he wasn't, Will always ruined every chance he got. Silently, he cursed himself.

"Will," Tessa was staring at him intently, as if waiting for an answer. "Did you?"

"Did I what?" He was slightly ashamed he hadn't been paying attention.

"Were you and Jem really-"

She was cut off by Cecily shouting, "we're here! Wow! Look how big that building is!" Her head was almost out of the open window. Her arm was entirely out. She was pointing at something in the distance.

Tessa got up, and grinned at his sister. "Cecy... follow me." She ran out of the compartment, Cecily on her tail.

Will looked at Jem. They both grinned, and once again the caboose's door burst open. The girls' giggling filled the corridor as they ran.

Another door burst open as Will past. "Stop running!" Gabriel What's-his-last-name. Gabriel sneered at him.

"No." Will answered curtly, and calmly. He knew it would irritate Gabriel- hey... no one ever said he was mature.

Gabriel snarled, "shut-up!"

"No."

"Go away!"

"Don't," Will smirked, "tell me what to do." With that he set off. No way was he staying with Lightworm a second longer.

Will walked to the end of the corridor, and followed the sound of light whispers. He walked out onto the porch-like observation car in the back. He saw two pairs of legs hanging from the top. Were Cecily and Tessa really sitting on top of the train? Jem grinned, and walked over to the edge, he jumped over the railing, and pulled himself up.

Will gaped then quickly pulled his mouth closed not- he thought- that anyone was there to see it. When did he become so careful, and Jem so careless? Will ran towards the edge, and pulled himself over then up. The rest of their foursome was sitting- legs over the edge- on the end of the train.

Cecily grinned at Tessa slyly. His, and Tessa's, eyes widened. Cecily jumped up, and pulled Tessa with her. She started walking along the moving train. Cecily broke out into a sprint, still dragging Tessa.

"GAH! Cecily! This is so dangerous! You're gonna get me killed!" Tessa looked at the un-winded Cecily- who was running while cracking up- and slumped her shoulders, as much as you could while running. "You're a bloody murderer! I'm gonna end up falling through one of these gaps. We are going to die! Why are we even- GAH! NO!"

Cecily grabbed Tessa's hand and jumped from one car to the other. What in the world was his sister doing? And how was she doing it? On a rapid, moving train? How was that even possible?

Beside him Jem started gasping. Will felt fear clutch his heart. Jem was having another asthma attack... now? Jem turned to Will and smiled.

"Just the dust." Will nodded, stopping.

Jem grinned, and sprinted ahead, beating him. Not gonna happen. Will grinned putting on a burst of speed. They laughed and jumped over a gap.

Will slammed into n unmoving Cecily. It would have been almost comical had he not been worried about the hatch that sprung open in front of them.

Out sprung Tatiana Lightwood's head. Ugh. She twisted a strand of plain hair around her finger. "Will..." she drawled out his name, "Miss Branwell wants me to tell you we have arrived." Will turned seeing that, indeed, they had arrived. How they didn't notice the humongous, stark white building before... he didn't know.

"She wants you guys to come down. She needs to show everyone to their rooms. I'll walk you there." She smiled in what Will supposed was a suggestive manner, but in truth it made him gag.

"No thanks. We can handle it ourselves." She stuck out her lip, pouting. Gross. Did she think she was turning him on? If anything she was turning him off. Tatiana licked her lips, and smirked. Disgusting. Barf in his mouth.

He turned, Cecily burst out laughing. She would take delight in his discomfort. Jem and Tessa looked at each other with raised eyebrows, seemingly uncomfortable.

Will walked over, and hooked his feet on the window sill. He jumped the rest of the way. Jem followed. So did his sister and Tessa. Tatiana was about to jump off the side when she yelled to Will, "Will. Catch me!" She spread out her arms and lept. Into his arms.

Will was knocked back a few feet. Tatiana wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. He stiffened, and pushed her off. The group ran towards the front of the train, Tatiana draggling behind them.

Charlotte nodded and sighed. "Good. You're here. Follow me group. I will assign you your rooms. Our management has taken the liberty to asses your personalities. We have done up your rooms according to what we know. We want your optimum comfort here. So, if you want, or need, anything... call me."

Charlotte walked them across the fields to the gigantic white building that read:

The Institution of Medical Advances.

Providing a better future. A future free of sickness. We will find a cure.

He wondered if this building was here before the virus. It looked new. Something about the Institute made his spine tingle. There was a menacing feel to the building. He brushed it off, the small voice in the back of his head warned him he would regret it later.

Charlotte turned as she opened the door, smiling at the large group. "I will assign you your rooms, after we get you something nice to eat. Follow me." She walked down the corridor and turned to a pair of gigantic mahogany doors, pulling them open. What Will had thought would be a cafeteria could only be described as a dining hall. It was way too grand for a cafeteria.

Will turned to look at the considerably large group that was seated there... and his jaw dropped.

…

Me: I know... I know! Its so late right now it basically doesn't count as Sunday! But its not twelve yet! Hooray! I posted on Sunday! Although...

Me: You guys... I'm sorry! This was by far my shortest chapter. And a filler chapter. And only in Will's POV. But I have had, literally no time to write this week. I did not want to disappoint you guys... since I didn't post last week either. I'm so sorry. At least, though, I posted. I am on Christmas break right now *squeals, and does signature happy dance*, so I will post extra! And maybe publish a few new fanfics!

Gideon: Sorry for the disappointment!

Clary: Remember... next chapter.

Charlotte: Have a very pleasant Christmas.

Izzy: And Boxing day... for those who celebrate it... and like to shop.

Jem: Or... whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year...

Sophie: Soooo... happy holidays!

Me: Till (hopefully) later this week!