Hi everyone! Lovely response from the first chapter of my second Virals story! (if you haven't read the other one'Everything Changed,', check it out on my page)Thank you both so much, virls1o1 and svc16105! Made my day when I got up and found two favourites, two follows, and two reviews for just one story!

Also a big thank you to cellokitty101, for, you know, everything. I'm a fan of your work too!

Okay, so my computer is telling me that Virals is not a word. It's saying I should change it to Vitals. Yeah, right. Bad computer.

I don't own Virals, or Vitals or anything like that. All credit to the esteemed Kathy and Brendan Reichs.

Hi and Shelton clattered down the cold stone steps. Hawfield had been leashed to their arms, leaving Ben free to carry Tory carefully, a little way behind them. Hawfield muttered directions sullenly, grumbling to himself. He could have been a millionaire by this point, if it weren't for that meddling Brennan girl. Wait. Brennan. Hawfield stopped suddenly as a thought struck him.

Wasn't there a detective, anthropologist, something, called Brennan? A famous one? Tabitha? Tracey? Temper... Temperance. That was it. Temperance Brennan. Too old to be the girl's mother... grandmother maybe?

So. It's a little anthropologist. No wonder she figured it out. Well, if she was connected to the famous Brennan, that was... excellent. Hawfield's eyes gleamed. Famous meant rich. Rich meant money. If he could just get his hands on the Brennan girl, demand money for her safe return... But then the detective's eyes moved to the blood on her neck. Safe? Maybe just her return. It depended. Besides, any hospital worth it's bacon would have an antidote to simple hydrazine. But they better hurry. There wasn't much on the knife, but it was still highly toxic.

A yank on the rope snapped the detective out of his reverie. He stumbled forwards and the procession continued down the stairs towards Francis' room. Shelton unlocked the door and stood aside as Ella Francis came charging out.

"Hit him for me?" Tory requested. Ella turned to Shelton, confused as to who 'him' was. Tory rolled her eyes. Really, who is the one that just locked us both up and fed us nothing? "Hawfield, brainless!"

Ella's confused expression cleared. "Aha. Yes." She marched over to the chained detective and turned away, then used the full force of her turning body to leave a stinging red hand-print that sent Hawfield to his knees.

"Overkill, man." Hi told her, nudging the detective with his toe. But Tory smirked.

"Perfect."

"What do we do with him? should we drag him back?"

"I don't know Shelton, dragging him back might be a little harder now..."

"Why don't we just leave him here?" Ben suggested. "And then we can come back with the police. It'd be easier."

Hi grinned, then shoved him into the cell. Ella slammed the door and Shelton locked it. Tory poked her tongue out and started up the stairs on her own. She wobbled a little, then rushed off. Ben followed her, anxious. Ella and Shelton followed suit, Shelton sort-of explaining to Ella what had happened to Tory. Hi turned to follow them, but experienced a dizzying headrush that almost knocked him over. His hand also seemed to be tingling. Hi shook his head to clear it and followed after his friends.

Hawfield grinned. The Brennan girl's voice echoed in his mind. Perfect.

"Indeed it is, Miss Brennan, indeed it is," he murmured, tugging a ring of keys out of his pocket. He selected an ornate black key, twisted his hand awkwardly and inserted it into the lock. Click. "Yes..!" hissed the detective in elation, pushing the handle. The door swung open and he sauntered out, feeling very pleased with himself.

The only question was, what to do now? Go after Victoria? Or find the Gables? Hawfield considered it. Brennan was a witch, or a devil's servant, he was sure of it. It would only do the world good to have her... disposed of. Then again, her little friends had the same abilities, the same glowing eyes. Maybe it would be better to go after the twins. First, weapons. Hawfield equipped himself in a side chamber, although he only had knifes and small vials of poison. Nothing long distance, but it was better than just fists.

Hawfield hurried up the steps to the gate at the top. They were all there, the devils, the dog and Francis. Hawfield smirked at them. "Surprise!" He laughed, baring his teeth for Francis to see. He turned the handle to the gate, pushed the door, and found that it didn't open. Hawfield tried again, frowning.

"Surprise," offered the black kid. "We padlocked it."

The group walked off laughing. Hawfield smashed his fist into te wall, pain shooting up his arm.

Nobody, nobody, laughed at him.

Go ahead and review.

You know what's weird? Writing the possessive for Hi. A male's belonging would be 'his' but if it belongs to someone called Hi it would be Hi's. His, Hi's. What?