I apologize for the time it took for an update on this story but I have been writing another story at the same time and I kind of got carried away. : Not to mention, school is a bit of a bother and I had to focus at least SOME attention on good grades. Anyways, I hope you enjoy and you have my promise that I will update more often.

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Never before had silence been unnerving to Helena yet, as she sat in the chilly attic of her beautiful home, she shook her leg in impatience and anxiety. Down below her, the place where she had once felt security and peace, Richard moved through the rooms in an attempt to check the house. Did it not occur to him that perhaps nurturing her after his stupid experiment blew up in his face was an important thing?

Pulling her legs to her chest as best as she could, though difficult being as how Zeus slept peacefully in the crevice between her legs and chest, Helena looked down at the door. Nothing.

"Damn it, Richard. You better get your arse up here soon," Helena whispered, though in the back of her mind she knew that her whispers would never reach his ear. Zeus looked up curiously before closing his eyes again and resting his head on his paws. Sighing, Helena stroked the top of Zeus' head and pulled her attention away from the door to her small dog.

"You know, I thought dogs could detect supernatural things? You know, stuff that isn't in the normal world. What's wrong with your supernatural radar?" she said to him and lightly shook his body. Zeus again looked up, but this time didn't close his eyes. Instead, his ears perked up as he looked down to the door.

"You hear dad? Well, it better be him because if it isn't, I don't know who it could be. Didn't exactly send out invitations for people to come visit me in my attic," Helena said sarcastically before releasing her grip on Zeus and she stood up after he had hopped off of her lap.

Yet something didn't seem right.

Zeus' ears now pulled back slightly and his lips curled into snarl, his throat emitting a low growl of aggression. With widening eyes, Helena stepped back though her eyes never left the door.

"Zeus. Get back. Be quiet," Helena whispered again and beckoned him. Still, Zeus didn't look away, rather his ears pulled back against his head even more and his lips curled higher. Helena bit her lip, her teeth cutting softly into her lip, and crouched slightly.

Then, there was a loud 'BANG!' a thump, and the door opened.

In walked Richard, one hand holding a simple handgun that Helena had hated and in the other hand was a file and folder.

"If one got in, Helena, boxes aren't going to help you," Richard said light heartedly as he closed the door as quietly as possible.

"Yeah well, my weapon and protection left to get. . ." Helena glanced at the folder and file in his hand," . . . a folder? What happened to protection?"

"You said you didn't like it. Something about it feeling different."

"Richard! You know what I mean!"

"Oh calm down, Helena. Zeus had it under control, didn't you little man?" Richard said with a smile and bent down to give the dog a pat on the head. Helena sighed yet again and stood up.

"I thought you were checking the house. Protecting me and what not," Helena reminded and put her hands on her hips.

"Aren't I supposed to be the one overreacting about this? It's my career in jeopardy," Richard said with a smile and set the folder down.

"Not if your experiment eats all my clients!" Helena stated with a hint of fury in her voice. Now it was Richard's time to sigh, and he did so before walking over to her and putting his hands on her shoulders.

"Calm down. Breathe. Relax. Nothing will be improved by going bonkers," Richard said with a smile before kissing her cheek.

"Well, I am glad you are safe," she relaxed slightly but still gave him a cold stare. Zeus, on the other hand, wagged his tail and attempted to climb up Richard's leg, more then happy to see him.

"So am I. If I died, where would your protection be?" Richard said with a smile and bent over to pick up the overexcited pooch.

"So, what's with the folder and file?" Helena asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and nodded at the objects in his hand.

"Nothing important," he answered with a smile and kissed the dog lightly atop the head.

"Well, obviously it is if you risked your life to get it. What is it?"

"Stuff," he said again with a smile.

"Richard. Just tell me what is in the damn folder?"

"Paper," Richard stated simply. As quickly as she could, Helena uncrossed her hands and made a grab at the two things. Instead, Richard, much quicker then her, put Zeus in her hands and moved the stuff behind his back. Sighing in frustration, Helena rolled her eyes and stroked the dog.

"Fine, if you won't tell me, then I am going to ignore you," Helena announced and turned her back to him, walking to the window as proof of her new mission.

"Oh, Helena, now you are just acting immature," Richard laughed and walked behind her before resting his chin on her shoulder. She didn't say anything, just made a 'hm' noise, as if showing no interest in him. Smiling, he bit her neck and poked her side. Her body jumped in surprise but she still said nothing. Repeating these actions, he smiled wider. Now, Helena giggled.

A scream made its way into the attic, cutting through the chilly air as easily as a hot knife going through soft butter. The two bodies stopped their playful behaviour and froze. It was easy to tell where it came from and not even remotely difficult to tell what the screamer was feeling. There was pain in the scream, the sound waves from the screamer's throat revealing the pain and horror it must be feeling. Scanning the ground for the screamer, Helena gulped. Only now did she realize how quickly her town had gone from quiet and peaceful to utter chaos.

Doors hung open from the houses along the street and the two could see occasional figures running by the windows. Darting quickly through the street was a woman, with bed head blonde hair and pajamas included, and following just as fast after her was a man with the same colour of pajamas. It almost happened in a flash, how he caught up to her and tackled her to the ground, ripping out the back of her throat soon after. Her body jerked and jerked and then stopped.

"What the – She's dead. . ." Helena whispered, a fear of the same thing happening to her if her voice were any louder.

"Just watch," Richard said sympathetically.

"For what? Nothi – " Helena stopped immediately when she saw the body of the girl rise up and shake, blood shooting out far enough to land on the pavement. "Richard. . . What. . . I thought. . ."

"Rage. She's infected. And by the looks of it, so is everyone else," Richard answered.

"Except us."

Richard gave a nod in agreement.

"Except us."