The week of confinement would turn into a week of hell for Morgan. The man was moody, defensive and the smallest things set him off. As the days passed he managed to break one of her dining room chairs and put a hole in the wall. However as much damage as he had caused she was grateful that it was the house taking the hits and not her own body. As soon as news spread about Morgan getting the Flu her phone began to ring off the hook. Cadence was worrying herself to death over her friend, telling her that if she needed anything to just give her a call.

"Cadence I'll survive….promise! I'm stocked up here and I've been ordering in. I'll live." She assured as she leaned back against the couch. She had a few minutes to herself at the moment seeing as her lovely uninvited guest had slipped away for a moment.

"Morgan those foods are not good for you! They are soaked in grease and deep fried." Cadence snorted as Morgan laughed.

"Are you telling me to watch my figure?" She gasped then as Cadence giggled.

"Nnnooo." She laughed. All the noise drew Mr. Grumpy back in, his shadow looming in the door way.

"Uggg…Cadence I better go…I think it's time for more medicine." Morgan sighed as she sat up more. He never let her have much time to relax…it was all work and then sleep.

"Awww…well…okay. I'm calling tomorrow though…to make sure you're alive and all." She reasoned.

"Alright…bye Cadence."

"Bye…" Morgan hung up the phone then, sighing as she looked over and glared. "You know…you're a terrible buzz kill." She grumbled as she moved back to her computer. He just ignored her, watching from the doorway with crossed arms. "And I can't fix all your problems from this computer I hope you know...I can work on theories then you'll have to go to someone else…" Again she was met with silence which was becoming more obnoxious than spooky at this point. "So what? Are you not going to talk to me today?" She demanded, turning to look at him. He shifted before starting to trail though the living room, eyes looking over things while his hands went into his pockets. Morgan rolled her eyes, turning again to start working on her computer and run some more scenarios.

"You know…I don't even know your name." She pointed out then, sitting back then before looking at him. He paused, eyes on the tv before looking at her.

"What?"

"Where you EVEN listening!" Morgan groaned.

"Not precisely, no…" He admitted with a shrug.

"I was pointing out the fact that I don't even know your name…I've been calling you 'guy' and 'dude' all week." She sighed, resisting the urge to grab her keyboard and hit him with it. The man hesitated, seeming to think for a moment before sighing.

"Alex.." Morgan had turned back to the computer but the name made her turn slowly. Was…he…?

"Your name is Alex…?" She asked, watching as he paused before giving a stiff nod. She had to admit she was a bit shocked that he had given in. He'd fought with her on everything the last few days so this felt like a big victory for her. "Well…Alex…" She sighed as she turned and held out a hand. She wanted to try and civil, truthfully she did. "I'm Morgan." She introduced, not sure she could say it was nice to meet him. She hadn't decided yet…. Alex would stare at her hand then, not sure if he wanted to shake it or not. Morgan just rolled her eyes an sighed at him heavily. "Really? I'm not going to eat you." She smirked. He had to fight a smirk as well, something about that oddly funny for him apparently. He finally took her hand then, giving it a firm shake before letting it go. Once the shake was done she gave a small smile before turning back to her computer. "Was that so hard?" She asked then, not able to see his smirk.

"Torturous." He sneered back, his tone letting her know he was getting enjoyment out of pissing her off at this point. Morgan just ignored him then, continuing to type on the computer. She focused for some time before she realized something. He had been there with her for almost a week now and not once had she seen him eat.

"Aren't you hungry?" She asked, turning then to look at him. He had wandered away again and had moved to sit on the couch. He looked over at her question but didn't answer.

"Umm…hello. Hungry? I have food…you can eat something." She reasoned, crossing her arms as she watched him.

"I'm fine." He shot back, giving her a look.

"How can you be fine! It's been 5 days and I haven't seen you touch a thing." Maybe this was another symptom…

"I don't….exactly eat." He grumbled then as Morgan continued to watch him.

"How can you not eat?" He gave a shrug and met her eyes. "Have you tried to eat?" She asked then, starting to get up. She wanted to try…

"No. I have no desire." He explained as he watched her. His answer made up her decision and soon Morgan was flipping through an order out menu. She kept a few stashed in her kitchen drawer and at the moment she was thinking burgers.

"I'm ordering you something." She reasoned then, hearing him rise to walk over to the counter.

"It's pointless." He reasoned, giving her a look.

"I don't care…I want you to try."

"Why?"

"BECAUSE!" She groaned, throwing a fist down on the counter before looking at him. "It's going to help me work out some other theories." She added, wondering if this excuse would pass. He seemed to buy it for once and left with a sigh to go and sit on the couch once again. She would order from a local burger place and got enough for him and herself. Once that was done she came back out in the living room but didn't sit. She watched him, curious about how fast he flicked through the news stations but slowed when any other type of program was on.

"When was the last time you had a shower?" She asked suddenly as she watched him. He looked up and made a face, not sure how to take that question.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, when was the last time-"

"I heard you…..why are you asking?" He asked.

"Well if you don't remember the last time you ate I had to wonder…these are the basics of human life here and you don't seem to understand them." She pointed out. At the word 'human' he seemed to tense up but he didn't speak.

"You can have one you know…just go up and get under the hot water. It may improve your attitude." She snorted as his eyes narrowed. He didn't move though and so she sighed.

"Come'on Alex…leave me alone for 5 minutes and go relax." She reasoned, noticing that saying his name seemed to do something to him. The ice from his eyes left for just a moment before he sighed and started to get up.

"If it will get you to shut up." He growled while Morgan smiled.

"Do you remember where the bathroom is?" She asked then only to receive another nasty glare.

"Yes." He replied coldly. Morgan held up her hands then and moved away from him. If he was going to be moody she was going to back off. The man would head away and once he was gone Morgan smirked and moved to sit on the couch.

"Sucker…" She snickered, most definitely not going to spend the time he was gone on the computer. After all there could only be so many minutes she would have free to relax! Turning back to the tv she kept it low as she flipped to the news. Once the local news was over information on New York started up, just like normal. Interviews with army generals and impressive looking politicians flooded the screen and soon Morgan just ignored it all. Hearing the water come on upstairs another idea came to mind and she smirked. Rising she headed up the stairs as softly and quietly as she could. He was using her bathroom as she suspected and soon her target was in sight. He had left his clothes in a heap on the floor just inside the bathroom and this she could see through the slightly cracked open door. Slipping close she only dared to put her hand inside and pulled out all the articles she could find. By the looks of the clothes they were due for some washing and maybe some replacement. Shaking her head Morgan would hurry the clothes down to the laundry room where they were swiftly placed in the washer. She checked all his pockets for anything that could be of value and found nothing. Once the washer was going she took a moment to look over the leather jacket. It was still in…shockingly good condition. The design on the back still bright red and the leather itself seemingly flawless. This she hung up before heading back into the living room to relax. If things went the right perhaps he would be awhile and when he did get done their food would be there…

Morgan wasn't sure what happened but the next thing she knew she was jerked awake. She had fallen asleep on the couch and woken on her side, though….what had pulled her from sleep?

"MORGAN!" The raging voice from upstairs answered that fleeting thought and soon she was upright on the couch. Rubbing her head she looked up towards the stairs and yawned.

"What!" She whined, her voice loud but still cloaked with a sleepy tone.

"What the HELL did you DO!" Alex was roaring, the sound of him rushing down the stairs soon filling the house.

"I didn't do a DAMN-" Morgan stopped half way, blinking a bit in shock at what she saw. Alex had come raging down the stairs in nothing but a medium sized white bath towel that was around his waist. He still looked a bit wet, his short brown hair dripping just a little as he glared at her from the stairs. The rest of him was…well…dry but she had to admit she was a bit shocked to see he was as fit as he was. Then again from all the clothes she had thrown in the wash he layered up a lot. She didn't see why he needed to either. The man was built and there was no way around that fact. She rose then and sighed as she came over. A hand of his was holding the railing on the stairs as the rest of his body shook with what she assumed was rage. She tried not to show fear and proceeded to come lean against the railing near him.

"So….you have brown hair huh?" She mused as she looked at him innocently. The railing cracked as his hand closed around it and soon those tendrils began to flicker around him. She took a step back at that and braced herself for what she was sure to come.

"Where. The. Fuck. Are. My. Clothes!" He seethed, the railing starting to splinter and crack more.

"Okay…calm down…I just…stuck them in the wash!" Morgan reasoned, holding her hands up. "I thought I was doing something nice! GESH! Go sit and relax for a second." She reasoned though he didn't seem phased. "Okay….admittedly this wasn't well planned…I realize you have nothing else to wear but…it should be done soon." She reasoned, looking back towards the laundry room. "Just….go back upstairs and relax or something…" She reasoned, shrinking down some as he continued to loom there and glare. Maybe they could get him some new clothes…well…if he ever let her go at least… The minutes would tick by as the silence lasted between them and it only vanished when the doorbell suddenly rang. Morgan actually jumped in shock before looking to the door then back to the seething half naked man on her stairs.

"That's um….what I ordered…" She edged away from him and foolishly turned her back to him. She would head to the door and open it while her hand went to her wallet in her pocket. The boy at the door seemed so oblivious and chip, his naïve grin almost making Morgan laugh.

"Hello there! It'll be 23.40 ma'am!" He said as he held out the bag.

"Thanks…" Morgan laughed weakly as she fished out some bills. She heard something happen back in the house and she wasn't sure what it was, only that it was strange. Luckily the boy outside didn't notice and continued to watch her and smile.

"Here." Morgan offered him 35 cash and moved to take the food. The boy seemed to tense up though and his eyes went behind Morgan.

"I'll take that." A gruff voice that didn't sound like Alex at all replied. An arm came around her and took the bag from the boy but this arm…it was dressed in Army camouflage. Morgan wore a face of total shock as she turned around and saw the man behind her. She had never seen him before in her life…this man…WHO was that!

"Um…thanks…" The boy nodded, looking back to the bills then as he counted.

"You can keep the change." Morgan noted then, feeling the mans other hand take a hold of her shirt and start pulling her back into the house. Her heart picked up some as she was pulled back. For a second she thought about bolting. Maybe she could make a run for it and at least get enough witnesses before Alex cut her in half or something… those thoughts vanished as she watched the door shut and the boys fleeting back vanish. Once she had a moment to drift back to reality she spun around and faced the man. What the HELL was going on! The man was dressed head to toe in complete army gear that she was almost too familiar with.

However before she was given a chance to demand who this guy was, where he came from and what he was doing there his form seemed to….shake. Tendrils flashed all around him like writhing snakes as the flesh seemed to melt away and be replaced. In seconds the army man was gone and once again….Alex was there in front of her. Something finally snapped in her conscious and Morgan felt her knee's turn into jello under her. She collapsed before throwing her back against the door in an attempt to get away from him. This….this was new…and completely unnatural in every way she could think of.

"What…what the hell did you just do…?" She hissed, hands going through her hair as she fought shudders.

"Get up. I want my clothes." He growled, leaning down and yanking her up. Morgan squirmed at his touch and quickly moved away from him. How on earth could this be a virus just…how! He had…he had just BEEN someone else! She hurried away from him and into the laundry room, trying to process what had just gone on. His clothes were finished in the washer but now she had to toss them in the dryer. Thinking a little she did remember she had a few things that could possibly fit him. She would avoid the living room as she headed back out, rushing upstairs and digging around in the bottom drawer of her dresser. She found a normal, guys tee and some jeans that she hoped would fit and put those out. She even managed to find some boxers and left everything on the dresser before heading back out of her room. Carefully she would move back down the stairs and peek into the living room. The bag of food was on the dining room table and Alex was brooding by the couch. When she entered he looked over and his eyes narrowed.

"Um….your clothes are drying but I found some stuff that er…might fit you. You can try it all on in my room if you want." She offered, slipping over to look at the order that had arrived. Without a word the man slowly left which allowed Morgan to set up dinner. Each burger and side of fries Morgan put on a plate and was set out on the table along with a drink. She would wait then, staring at her food as occasionally stealing a fry before nervously glancing up the stairs. It seemed to take hours before she finally heard him coming down. She didn't look back, she merely waited for him to step back into her line of sight. He did soon enough but only doing so in order to look at the hamburger skeptically.

"Sit….try and eat…?" Morgan asked softly before looking up. It was…strange seeing him in those clothes. One because she had gotten rather used to his bulky, layered form and two because….well….

"I don't see why. I don't need to." Alex huffed as he looked at the food with almost a lost expression. Having clothes on seemed to have dulled his rage she noticed before Morgan chose to speak.

"Because…every little detail about what's happening to you is important to me…if you want me to help figure out what's going on." Morgan explained as she started to eat. Alex seemed to hesitate again before he actually did sit. He didn't touch his food though and kept his eyes on something across the room.

"For example.." Morgan began nervously. "That whole….turning into another person thing…" She waved a hand weakly. "That would have been nice to know beforehand." She admitted before glancing up at him. He was looking at her and for once the look didn't make her cringe. "How…does that work…exactly..?" She asked nervously, not sure why she felt like she was walking on ice. There was a long silence as the man seemed to think before finally he decided to explain.

"I can consume people."

"I…what?"

"I can consume people…I can…I just can. I'm not sure how else to explain it…" Alex sighed. "I just have to get a hold of them and then…the tendrils pull them in and they just…they become a part of me…everything about them. Their looks, their clothes….their memories…" The last one made Morgan drop her fry back on her plate and her eyes focused on him.

"You can…eat peoples memories?"

"Not exactly but…when I consume them yes….their memories become mine…I can see everything they've seen. I remember everything they ever knew." It was mind blowing…that something like this could even be possible…

"I….don't know what to say…" Morgan admitted, playing around with her fries a little. "That's…kinda insane…" Alex snorted some and leaned back in his chair a little.

"It's not exactly something I enjoy…I can't forget the things I've learned. What I've seen and felt…" Well no wonder he was such an ass all the time. Having all of that on your mind…so many other people in your head so to speak…it had to be maddening. Thinking about all of this brought something to her mind and she didn't have a chance to stop the words from leaving.

"How many people have you killed?" She asked rather suddenly before shutting her mouth and bowing her head. She was probably dead now or as good as. There was a long, heavy silence between them then before he sighed.

"I don't know…I couldn't begin to count…" He muttered as he looked away. Morgan nodded to that, slowly and solemnly before she dared to look at him again. They didn't speak, not a word and ended up just…looking at one another. They didn't hold the gaze but they did look back to the one another from time to time before Morgan finally spoke up.

"Okay well…look there are some things I need to say then." She sighed as she felt some bit of courage come back. "In light of these new…developments I have a few rules I'd like to lay out…" Alex looked to her and smirked just slightly but didn't speak.

"Number one: No consuming which ends up combining with number 2. You will not be murdering anyone while you're staying here. Got that? This is a small town…things like...people getting cut completely in half is kinda noticeable and makes big headlines." She explained. "With all that in mind I have only one final rule. No more terror-tactics." Alex seemed to raise an eye at that and crossed his arms.

"Terror-tactics?"

"No more scaring the shit out of me to get you god damn way." She snapped. "I'm tried of it. This is my house. You're asking for my help and if you want it you'd best stop terrorizing me." She was feeling her courage come back now, not sure why or how that was possible but…

"And what if I don't agree with these…" Alex reasoned as he leaned closer and something flashed in his eyes.

"Then….then…." She didn't have a good enough threat...hell she didn't have any kind of threat. "Well I guess you'll just have to kill me and find someone else to do all your work…because I can't work knowing you're running around doing those things. Killing people, people who could possibly be my friends….or family…" She added softly as she leaned back and looked to the floor. Again the silence came flooding in, the air growing heavy and thick as the minutes ticked by.

"Fine."

She looked up, shock there in her eyes.

"What?"

"Fine. I accept the terms…"

=DDD yay for chapter 3! Take that college! XD Anyways yes, Chapter 3 is here! Once again I would like to thank all of you (my readers) for being so supportive of me. I wouldn't be anywhere or worth shit if it wasn't for you guys. You keep me going when I start to question writing this thing. With that said I have a question for everyone! If you haven't already heard Prototype 2 is due out in 2012 (Does anyone find this funny in a twisted way?) and while news on it's plot and story is scarce I have learned this. Proto 2 is set to begin 14 months after the bomb. With that in mind comes my question for YOU! Yes YOU.

That question being: Should I change time frame for Open Door?
This would probably mean the story would start perhaps a few months after the bomb rather than 4 years. After all I may try and incorporate stuff from Proto 2 into this story at some point if it progresses that far. SO! Leave a comment/review with YOUR answer! I need to know you guys, seriously.

With that said I'd also like to share this with you. I found the newest best thing EVAR! (Yeah I spelled it wrong on purpose :P) I found a Prototype Soundtrack on the Tube of you and I wish to share...or I tried and no links allowed. Darn. Ahh well.

Tell me your fav or not, I think it's amazing. New writing music right there. Bahaha. Oh, and hope you all enjoyed the slight fan service. Who doesn't Alex in a bath towel in there house? ;3 tehehehe 3 to you all!

~Aurora

P.S

Guys I know I have a lot of grammar issues and I apologize. These chapters sit in my computer for weeks before I touch them again and when I do I get overly happy to write again and yeah, I rush a bit. What more? I don't have Microsoft word like some people and so I never get a grammar check so if I screw up, sorry. I'm a poor college kid without money to buy fancy Microsoft products or to have the time to proof read so go easy on me would ya? If it bothers you then I'm sorry.