A Changed World

by Flurry of Freezing Flames

A bout of frustration led to the release of a virus that turned all of the human woman population into Monsters. Five years later, the survivors of one city will embark on an adventure, aiming to solve the mystery of the Monster Virus and how to possibly reverse it, at any cost. Rated M for general reasons and depictions of horrific situations.

2. Ch 1 Evolution

A/N: Hey all, here we are with the next chapter of a Changed World. Thank you for the follows, faves, reviews, etc Im surprised this got any since most of my stories get more in the line of follows and faves than the reviews. The Virus takes an intense turn this chapter, but I planned it to go this way fast so the story has higher stakes that were alluded to in the prologue. There are not many characters present in this story, I realize that but the geoup will get bigger as time goes on and the harem begins to expand. Again, no actual harem shenanigans until at least near the end of next chapter, for now the slight inkling that the idea is there is floating around within the context of the chapter.

Also, before I go, would anyone care for more detailed accounts of the Monster species? Like, every now and then if I'm in the middle of writing a full chapter I can sideline it for a shorter, more encyclopedia entry-esque chapter? I was going to pop some up on Deviantart where the art I do have for this and my other stories is so I figured for consistency it might be a good idea, I dont know. Anyways on with the show!

Chapter One

Evolution

A Week Later..

Nick drummed his fingers on the desk as he contemplated whether or not it was a good thing to send his all-but wife out into the dangers of the city. Ever since the dredges of the Hostile Monsters had begun gaining higher sentience again, the city was more dangerous then ever, especially with those like the Nagas or the Arachne, who didn't care whether they were hurting others as long as they could eat. With this development, Nick wondered if his mother may have regained herself if she'd been allowed to live on past day three of the Infection. He just worried about the now bunny, knowing that Serenity's pregnancy would most likely attract other predators to her like moths to a flame.

Serenity had gone out to look for some more supplies, their reserves beginning to run low even though Nick knew the Hostiles would be gobbling up anything they could eat. He found it strange, however, that prey species of Monsters like Serenity could eat anything- although meat didn't agree with them as much as it used to- while the predators could only ingest meat. If a Werewolf tried eating a salad, they'd just throw it up and be even hungrier after the fact. That had proven true the few hours the other survivors of Crystal Springs had tried holding Tim as he transformed, hoping to at least keep him docile enough to stay where they'd had him. In the end, however, Tim had caused three others to need to be killed before Nick had pulled the trigger on the wolfman himself, thankful a few of the guys had put together tons of silver bullets from the various silver across the city.

From Nick's original group of friends, not many still stayed around. There was Serenity, but she had vowed to stick by him ever since he'd woken up, and experienced the hurt from Lilith's flight to flee him. Lilith, of course, was still stalking around the city as a sexy fucking vampire, which still made Nick rethink his priorities despite promising Serenity he would let Lilith go. Unfortunately, as she also knew, years of pent up romantic feelings wouldn't let Nick forget that his first love was still out there, pleading for help she thought she didn't want at all. But Nick had seen it reflected in her glowing violet eyes that night: She missed him, and that pain hurt her incredibly so. Possibly even as much as the pangs of thirst she must feel, the very thing that had driven her away.

Sighing and resolving to get the thought of Lilith back out of his head for a short while, Nick got up and went to wander down to another section of the hospital.

Several Blocks Away..

Serenity's nose twitched as she tried to smell anything of value around her. After five years, her nose was one of her most powerful assets other than her now rabbit-esque speed. Of course, many of the Hostile species could outrun her easily but that wouldn't stop her from trying to at least gain enough distance to use the handgun Nick made sure she always carried when outside of the base, along with several clips of ammo, each developed specifically to take down the varying Monsters. Unfortunately for her nose, the stench of other things in the vicinity made it extremely hard to find the supplies she was out to gather as she kept walking down the street.

Suddenly, she heard something clatter against the street, one ear twitching to turn towards the noise as Serenity followed suit, gun held out in front of her. She hated how weighty the thing was, but Nick had told her the desert eagle would counteract and penetrate most of the tougher hides on the Hostiles.

"Oh, look. The little bunny decided to step foot outside," Serenity looked around, trying to find the source of the echoing and familiar-sounding voice as the mystery person giggled, another familiar sound. "I wonder why he would send his pregnant girlfriend out into this shit by herself?" The voice sounded again, this time coming from behind Serenity as she turned..

..Only to be face-to-face with Lilith, her violet eyes conveying amusement. "Hello, Serena."

Serenity jumped up in fright, the extra muscles in her long legs making her jump much higher than, say, Nick would manage. The bunny girl reloaded the handgun quicker than Lilith could see before shakily pointing the weapon at the vampire. "Don't come any closer, Lilith! Nick may hesitate at the sight of you, but I won't."

Lilith pursed her lips, watching the blonde girl for a moment before laughing boisterously, throwing her head back before she replied. "Oh, Serenity. You really think I'm going to hurt you?" The dangerously beautiful vampire glided around her former friend, smirking mischievously. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead and drained already, your body left on the doorstep of the hospital for Nick to find." One corner of her lip curled up in a now sinister smirk. "No, I can't kill you, can I? Even if I did, it would only send Nick after me with the rage and force of a thousand supernovas. He always was so dramatic when he wanted to be." Another giggle as Serenity refused to lower her weapon.

"Then what are you doing here, Lilith? How are you even outside right now, dressed in no protection?"

"Please, girl. I have.. changed again, now fully able to move within the light. And I have been having so much fun because of it. This new evolution is amazing!" Lilith said gleefully as two huge, angelic wings sprouted from her back, the vampire looking at them with a slight frown. "Oh, and I guess I have wings now. Thankfully, retractable ones." She demonstrated by the wings folding back in on themselves as they seemed to be absorbed into Lilith's back.

Serenity had dropped the gun by now, the surprise and shock at Lilith's words evident. "W-what? How?!"

"Beats me. Woke up the other day able to do so without pain, haven't really questioned it. My question is why are you outside? You're not wearing any protection from the Monsters like me either."

Serenity took a breath, trying to steady herself. As long as Lilith wasn't making a hostile move, she wouldn't either. "I'm only on a short supply run, Lily. And if Nick thinks I've been gone too long, you know he'll come looking for me. And finding both of us in such a position will not be to anyone's liking. Of course, he's all that truly scares you in this world now, isn't he?" Serenity said, her confidence finally regained as her eyes conveyed a challenge to Lilith.

Lilith took a step back, surprised at the sudden change in attitude as she chuckled. "Oh, really? What makes you think I, the pinnacle of Apex predators in this new world, fear my own ex-boyfriend who is nothing but a fragile, little human?"

"That's just the point though, isn't it? He's your ex, and you can't bring yourself to do him harm. He makes you feel something. But why? I mean, he knocked me up, you should have me at the top of any kill list you have if the target objective is to set Nick off the deep end. Or do you figure if something happens to me and you somehow stick around him then he'll rush back into your arms? He may not have moved on from you fully, yet, but he's committed himself to me. You aren't taking that away from me after all the fucking work I put into making him see me. You had your chance, hell I gave you that chance and you squandered it. Fucking abandoned the boy who loved you since we were goddamn kids! You never deserved him, Lil-agh!" Lilith had had enough, her eyes slitted and claws elongated as she gripped the bunny girl's neck.

"You know nothing of how I felt that night, bitch! How the thirst steeped into every nerve of my body! The pain of being thirsty trying to stave it off with anything around to no avail! We've all suffered from this new world, Serena, and despite how it seems I am the one who continues to suffer! And unlike those fucking beasts that think they rule the city, I am the one who remembers everything and I fucking hate it! I wish I could just shut my fucking humanity off but I can't!" The young woman was crying, her grip on Serenity's neck unwavering even through the sting of her tears.

"You all who weren't turned into monsters like me are so lucky. You don't have to deal with the fucking shit I do! Fuck off, Serena, go back home." She tossed the bunny girl to the ground and turned around. "And tell Nick to keep you inside. It isn't just me who's evolving, and they won't hesitate to go after a two-for-one special. Protect that baby, Serenity, I'm fucking serious. We aren't friends anymore, but she's still my niece and God forbid another predator tries to harm her.." Without another word, Lilith was gone, using her vampire speed to get the hell out of dodge while Serenity picked herself up, holstering the desert eagle again as well. Frowning at the vampire's dual behaviors, Serenity decided she would heed Lilith's words and headed back to the hospital. Nick needed to know what was going on so he could update his little side project: The Monster Encyclopedia.

The book technically already existed, at one time, but Nick was taking it a step further thanks to this damned apocalypse. Ever since he'd settled into the hospital and gone out in his depressed state, he had taken notes on everything he'd seen out in the city pertaining to the Monsters. Currently, he had entries on most of the usual suspects: Bunnies, Sows (those who became human cows that came in two varieties; ones that had udders in the form of a set of four breasts and cow women that instead had their tits balloon out to normally impossible sizes), Arachne (He even included an anatomical view, started with the corpse of his fucking tattmmkk my yydead mother and then completed more recently when he had literally carried the head into the hospital three months ago) and of course Vampires. That was the longest, most in-depth entry, as Nick's culling of the fanged Monsters was legendary.

In fact, Serenity had encouraged him to actually put all the material together into its own time, which she had provided him several 5 subject notebooks- college-ruled, obviously- and two sketchbooks in order to rewrite everything. He later went out and, after returning with a ton of paper slipcovers and the largest binders he could find, began to do just that. Now, though.. If Lilith was evolving into something more than just a vampire- Serenity refused to call her a Daywalker even if Nick would- then he'd have to know what Serenity had observed. There was one problem, though, and Serenity knew she wouldn't be able to change the outcome of her tale..

.. Nick would know it was Lilith, and he would go after her. He'd reason it was because he needed to see it for himself. Serenity would know that he was telling the truth, although it was also because Serenity would see the light really spark in his eyes again. The light of hope. An angel wing on what was considered a demonic entity of sorts was.. definitely not heard of as far as the bunny girl knew.

Forty-five Minutes Later, Hospital Base, Nick and Serenity's Room..

".. And then she left, speeding, not flying. I came home right after." Serenity finished her tale of the encounter, Nick already packing a bag and 'armoring up' as the bunny girl sighed, her ears flopping down sadly.

"I knew you'd go, you know? I hoped you wouldn't, that it could wait.. Nick, why am I not enough for you? When I'm the one who never left your side even when you were hurting the worst?" Serenity sniffed, her nose twitching as she began crying.

Nick stopped what he was doing and sighed. He moved to the bed where Serenity sat and wrapped his arms around her. "Serenity, I love you, I promise. But, Lilith is doing this on purpose, or so I've been pondering the last couple of days. Last week, she showed herself to me, no attacking, just a little talk and then she left. Now, she's met up with you, a delicacy for her in your current condition and still no attacking, just a.. heated talk," That earned a tearful laugh from Serenity making Nick smile. "And she called our child her niece. Something is really up with her, and I just want to get to the bottom of it.

"She won't hurt us, I'm mostly sure about that. I'm just going to talk to her. That's all, I promise." He turned her head towards him and kissed her, the action making Serenity's ears twitch back up. "I'll be home soon, Serena. My Sailor Moon."

"Ugh, fine. Why am I such a sucker for your anime references?" She pouted up at him as he stood back up.

Nick smirked. "I mean, that one's too easy,your full name is Serenity and your nickname is Serena, both names of a form of Sailor Moon. Anyway, I'll be back by midnight, I'm gonna have to find her again. Where did you say she confronted you?"

Serenity scrunched her nose. "Around.. Thyme Street and Broadway."

Now Nick looked confused. "So close? So where could she..? Maybe..? Ugh, I'll find her, talk to her and be right back. I love you, Serenity. Lilith doesn't compare to you anymore, she's just.. complicated."

Serenity giggled. "Yeah, I can tell. Go, then, I'll try to wait up for you." Her and Nick shared another kiss as he finished readying himself, the girl sighing again before laughing. "She gets one, Nick." Nick looked at her, confusion evident on his face. "If something happens, she gets one kiss, that's all I'm allowing, and I will go after her if she tries for more."

Nick tilted his head. That's not something Serenity would normally allow.. "Are you sure you're okay, Serenity? You're just gonna let me kiss my ex? Even if just the once? That's not normal for you."

"You're right, but.. I've been thinking. Just some stupid thought, nothing you need to worry about, baby, promise. Just be warned you'll both have a pissed off, pregnant bunny after you if anything more happens."

Nick chuckled at Serenity's bravado. "Alright, love, alright. Not that I'm just going to do that or anything, permission or not."

Serenity laughed as Nick left the room, shaking her head. Oh, the thoughts this preggo bunny has, babe..

Mendez Bodega..

Nick knew she had to be here. The old bodega had one thing missing from its racks, something that Lilith shouldn't have even been able to eat after her transformation but was also very specific to her: the fucking barbecue pork rinds. "Lily! I know you're here. Just come out, I only came to talk."

He didn't have to wait long for a voice to sound. "I was not expecting you to show up so soon. How did you even know I was here?" Lilith said, emerging from one shadowy corner of the bodega.

"Serena told me where you confronted her, I connected it to the bodega. Then, coming in I knew you were here because you were the only one who ever bought those fucking pork rinds, and even Pedro admitted it." Lilith looked at him, impressed. "Now, what's this I hear about you, a vampire, having angel wings?"

"What? These?" Lilith unfurled her wings, Nick seeing the wince of pain as she did so. "Impressed?"

Nick was in awe of the two large white-feathered wings. "They're beautiful.. But, Lilith, what does this mean? You can walk outside in the daylight with no issue, you have wings now.. and you're eating regular food.. What the fuck?!"

Nick began ranting about how it was unprecedented, how Lilith's Vampiric nature should have been considered near perfect already and was saying plenty of other scientific words that made Lilith roll her eyes despite the fact her skin was flushed from Nick's words about her wings. She absently looked at one as she kept her focus on Nick's little tirade. ".. Are there any more Monsters out there who have evolved in such ways like this?" He asked, Lilith realizing he was asking her and not himself.

"Hmm? Uh, not really? Maybe a few, I'd say lower than ten total but I couldn't tell you what's new or not. Except for that one chick, Dahlia the now shark lady? She's been up out of the water for a couple days now but I'm pretty sure you guys know about the fishies gaining their regular old lungs again."

Nick nodded, leaning against a shelf just behind him. "Yeah, no that's old news. So there still isn't much we know about how this virus mutates, then. Fuck, I really thought you might be key for figuring that out, with the changes you've undergone. Guess this was a waste of time, then. Sorry to disturb you, Lily, just don't wander too close to the hospital." He sighed, moving to leave even as he heard the whooshing of papers flapping in a sudden burst of wind as Lilith appeared in front of him.

"Wait, Nick. Don't go yet, please." The vampire looked ready to say something but quickly shut her mouth again. "Nah. Forget it. Just go.." Her voice lowered until her last words were barely above a whisper as she stepped out of his way again.

Nick frowned. Now he knew something had to be wrong. "Lilith, what's going on with you lately? You've been meeting up with me and Serenity as if you have something to tell us, but then you just go all full vampire on us and antagonize the situation. Is it really so hard for you to just talk to those who used to be your friends?"

Lilith laughed dryly. "You're kidding, right? Nicky, you and Serenity are the only true friends I still have after.. Marin.. is too all-in for being a fucking Naga to even try rationalizing anything with. And despite what I did five years ago, I miss you, Nick. I shot your own mother's head off just to make sure you were alright. Kind of surprised you didn't wind up another Arachne."

"Yeah, I actually thought about that, myself. Mom kept me alive for two days after everything started, and even if she was in her right mind, the Virus should have made that instinct into one to turn me, not let me live in a comatose state until she decided her humanity was useless. But, Lilith, why can't you just tell us what's troubling you, then?"

Lilith found she couldn't look at him as she answered. "I.. I won't let myself.. or at least, the darker vampiric side of me won't, even though her influence on me has been thankfully close to non-existent since the other day. But, she's still there, like she's waiting for something to make me bring her back out and it scares me that I don't have full control over myself. Right now, she's letting me speak freely but she can still take that away if she chooses."

"Lilith.. Well, when she decides to woman up and let you truly speak your mind, then come to us. Serenity and I will make sure no one does anything to you. I'll probably see you around, Lily, but I should get back home.."

"Go, I get it." Lilith turned away as Nick opened the door to the bodega to leave. "Oh, and Nicky?" The young man stopped in the doorway. "Watch out around the old abandoned JCPenney. Marin and her brood of Nagas have been staking it as their territory, and her humanity isn't present anymore. Be careful out there."

Nick chuckled as he turned to her one final time. "I always am, Lilith."

Once Nick had left, Lilith retreated back to the office in the back of the bodega, the same spot she had been in when Nick had called out to her. She looked at herself in the mirror present in the room, not completely surprised she saw a more sinister visage in her reflection. "Ugh, can't you just leave me alone for a while? I'm seriously not in the mood for your shit right now."

Her darker self smirked. "What fun would that be? You're sickening, you know, denying us the ki-"

Lilith growled at.. well, herself. "No, you listen to me, you fucking parasite! I'm done with the killing. Haven't you noticed, yet? We haven't been thirsty like that for almost a week. I've been able to eat actual fucking food! Whatever we are now, it isn't just a vampire and I'm loving all the new perks. If only I could get rid of you."

"Oh? And then where would you be without the animal instinct I provide for you? I am the one who has ensured our survival all this time despite your stalking of that shithead and his little bunny. I should have taken control and wiped that hospital out that day, so early in this new world. Then maybe you would just embrace yourself and end this nonsensical fight with yourself." Her dark side laughed. "And then that prick Nick wouldn't be around to stop us. Or, we could always just compel him. He'd never leave our side then."

In her mounting frustration, Lilith screamed an inhuman growl before her fist smashed through the mirror and the wall behind it. Panting, she withdrew her hand, unsurprised by the lack of marks or wounds on her hand. Staggering durability with ten times the temper.. She thought with a sigh as she decided to find something else to do to keep herself occupied. Sitting around would only make her argue with herself again. I know what I want to do, but with you hanging over my.. our head, I can't act on my own. Not truly..

~C.W~C.W~

Nearby Abandoned JCPenney Department Store, Shortly After..

Nick shone his flashlight into the darkness of the back of the old department store, looking for any trace of Marin or her brood of other Nagas. He should have gone right back to the hospital, but he had something to ask Marin, if she would even speak with him. He was faintly aware of what sounded like a burst steam pipe, but that wasn't possible when the store itself didn't have anything that required steam, which made Nick believe it had to be related to the semi-humanoid serpents. He cursed under his breath, knowing the Naga and their more dangerous counterpart the Lava Adder (who had gained control over fire, somehow) were near the pinnacle of dangerous as far as the more Apex Hostiles were concerned. At least, from the few evolutions Nick had seen since the Infection had begun. Lilith took the cake for a drastic change in appearance, with those wings. Nick had figured she'd get bat wings if anything, not something akin to an angel's.

"Who dares intrude on our lair!" Came a voice as Nick whipped around, the katana he had grabbed from the hospital armory pointed towards a yellow-scaled Naga, her eyes having lost their original green color.

"Marin.. Exactly who I wanted to see." Nick lowered the blade. "I just came to talk, that's all. I'm above culling a lair that isn't troubling us."

Marin narrowed her eyes before realization hit, a frown forming on her lips. "Nick?! Huh, look at you, still human. The fuck do you want?"

"Hm. You seem to still have a bit more of your old humanity than Lily gave you credit for."

This turned out to be the wrong thing to say, as Marin clutched Nick's throat. "The prissy vampire's talking to you? And you're not drained to death or turned? The fuck did she tell you?!"

Nick struggled to get his words out due to the claws pressing into his neck. "She didn't say anything, just that there was none of you left inside that head of yours. Is it true, you actually ate your entire family?"

The Naga girl smirked, nodding. "Yeah, I did, and it felt amazing satiating my hunger that night. You know I turned while you and her were off at that fucking party? Mom was first to go, didn't even give her a chance to transform before she was in my stomach. Daddy came next when he came to check on why Mom was screaming. And of course I couldn't help but gobble up little Ethan." Ethan had only been two when the Infection struck, and that pained Nick to hear.

"God, Marin.. This fucking Infection.. I'll go now, I just wanted to know. Stay away from the Hospital, and we'll have no issues with each other. I won't have my child in danger."

"Child?! Who had a kid with.. Oh!" Marin exclaimed as her tongue flew out, tasting the air around Nick. "Serenity, huh? I saw her a few times around the city, but that bunny is just a bit too little for my appetite. Lily must be pissed."

"Lily and I were together for two days before she ran off, Marin. At least Serenity was there, is there. Lilith is acting odd lately, I know you've seen it. I just want to get to the bottom of things right now, before I figure out whether venturing out of town is ideal or not. This city is already a jungle, and as far as I know there aren't many of us guys still human, let alone the prey species." He knew something had taken out another survivor base on the coast, Nick figuring the merpeople had been out for blood and massacred the place.

"Yes, it seems the number of human functioning Monsters is getting lower and lower lately. For all you know, though, it wasn't a Monster who did in the other survivors. I've heard whispers of some of you men going insane and turning themselves on purpose." Nick's eyes widened. "Food for thought. Now get out of here, Nick. My sisters have been just dying to get a male in the lair." Nick nodded, sheathed his sword and turned to leave back out the door. "Oh, and Nick?" He turned again, seeing a couple of Marin's other Nagas beginning to stir.. "For what it's worth, you look good. Stay safe out there. If we're on a hunt, don't expect mercy from me."

"Of course, Marin. And for what this is worth, I'm sorry all this happened although it wasn't my fault. I miss the gang."

Marin nodded as Nick turned away again and rushed out, not waiting to see if she would go after him. Her somewhat present humanity didn't mean she wouldn't go against him in a heartbeat. Marin sighed, the noise framed with a hiss. The fact you still try to look after us all is noble, I guess. She thought before resuming her regular routine.

Hospital, Shortly After..

When Nick arrived at the hospital, everything seemed to be in chaos. There were bloody marks on the walls, some reminiscent of claws and others like a geyser of blood surging forth. He found several of the- slowly dwindling number of- survivors he'd loved here with dead where they lay, throats torn out or entire chunks of their body just.. gone. Nick took out both his sword and the crossbow he tended to carry along with him, silence being the best weapon against enemies that could hear a gunshot from a mile away and be able to track its location just from the sound itself. His sword held out perpendicular to the gun, he slowly began stepping further into the hospital, his thoughts full of worry over Serenity.

"Hospice, do you copy?" He whispered over his headset. "Serenity, please be alright.."

His prayers were answered as Serenity's voice sounded over the connection. "Nicky, thank God you're back. Something's gone horribly sideways." She whispered back, most likely hiding somewhere away from whatever had attacked the place.

"What happened, Ren?" Nick asked simply. He just really needed to know what was currently roaming the grounds for food, but the whole story wouldn't be a bad thing to learn either, he mused.

"It was Samantha.. That scratch she got from that werewolf three days ago, it.. she mutated, Nick. It's starting to affect the rest of us even if already turned.." Nick knew what she meant. Samantha had been outside the other day and gotten scratched by a werewolf before she cut its head off with a random piece of metal she had found at the time. Everyone figured things were alright, as no older injury had even turned someone who had already turned into a Monster into something more. Now it seemed that the Infection had jumped the fence in terms of how it worked, now creating hybrids or apparently being able to change an already Infected and turned Monster into something else.

"Shit. I had a bad feeling we'd have to deal with this one day.. Are you alright?"

"We're fine, Nicky. Down in the bunker. The last report I heard was Sam was mauling someone on the fourth floor."

"Alright, I'll go take care of it. Stay there until I tell you it's safe. Do we know if anyone else has been only attacked and not killed?" Nick hated having to cull his own fellow survivors, but it was the only way to keep surviving in such a high stake and high-risk world.

"I'm not sure, but the wolves are always looking to add to their numbers like a second instinct to hunting, so just.. take care of it, whatever the case.."

"I'll take care of it, Serenity. Just wait for my call." He shut the earpiece off, knowing several species of Monsters were able to somehow track radio signals just as well as a scent trail. He quickly shifted his ammo to silver bullets, thankful they'd always been effective against the walking wolves. However long that still lasts, with Samantha's turning. He thought as he scored every room he came to, investigating every body he came across, making sure the victims were either dead or still alive and probably in danger of turning into another hybrid werewolf like Samantha.

By the time Nick had reached and searched through the entire fourth floor, there was no sign of Samantha anywhere, but the base effectively now had the bare minimum of survivors, seemingly only Nick and Serenity left by the look of the fourth floor hallway, so covered in blood that he found it incomprehensible. "How the fuck does one wolf take out what amounts to two army platoons?!" He asked himself as he made sure none of the victims were in other danger, meaning he had already had to kill so many people he'd become friends with over the last five years. I guess it's about time we move shop..

Suddenly, there was a loud bang from down the hall, Nick pointing his crossbow down the passageway as he watched a door swinging, the handle hanging from its socket as it swung back and forth from the intensity of whatever force had hit it. His finger ready on the trigger, he cursed seeing Alisa Grayle, a human turned cow girl, stumble out. She looked at Nick, her eyes darting wildly around as she groaned. "Nick.. thank God you got here. I think something's.. wro-" She seemed to cough, hacking roughly as her green eyes bled a deep red, a snarl replacing the groan she then let out as she exploded in a shower of blood down the hall, now replaced with another werewolf.

"Fuck! I'm sorry, Allie." Alisa was the sweetest girl, her kindness being on par with Serenity herself. Now, however, all Nick saw was the insatiable thirst for blood in her eyes. The cow turned werewolf rushed down the hallway as Nick pulled the trigger on the crossbow, the silver-tipped arrow piercing right through her skull.

As the wolf fell to the floor, her form not changing back to human or her cow variant as it would in most media mediums, Nick heard another noise from behind him, twirling around with his sword out again, this tike the blade hitting its mark as another wolf howled in pain from the strike. The massive form shrunk back as it's wound hissed from the silver of the sword that had made contact with it and Nick was able to take a couple steps back, aiming to reload the crossbow. It was then Nick noticed that this werewolf had a necklace on, an ordinary braided cord attached to a diagonally-angled star. Sam.. He thought as he readied his next shot.

The wolf shook itself as it snarled at Nick, baying a long howl before flexing her claws, lunging at Nick. Taking the shot, he missed and cursed as he went to dodge Sam's swipe at him. He knew he was still within reach, however, and feared the worst as he ducked down.

No pain came, though, as Nick heard something push themselves into the wolf before a soft fluttering sound was heard followed by the clacking of heels on the hospital tile. He looked to find another shape over him, the unmistakable silhouette of Lilith standing with one hand out, clawed nails retracting to a normal length as Nick saw the now beheaded Samantha lying on the ground. "The fuck happened here, Nick?! Wasn't that Samantha? She was a fucking horse." She asked, the young man leaning back on the floor and laughing. "What's so funny, Nicholas?" Lilith pouted, one eye twitching.

Nick calmed down with a relieved sigh. "It isn't just you that's changed, Lilith. Can you hear anything still living up here?"

Lilith shook her head. "No, just us two, and who I can only assume is Serenity down in the basement. Not a single heartbeat anywhere else in this place."

Nick tossed his head back. "Fuck. I guess that means we're going to have to change hideouts, then." He picked himself up, walking past a semi-confused Lilith. "This is all too much space for three people to maintain.." He said as he turned to her. "You coming or are you gonna stay here and stare at the pure carnage Samantha laid to this place?"

Lilith was surprised at the inclusion, but then she figured she had just made sure Nick could still live to fight another day as she followed along.

The two found the basement devoid of damage, thankfully it seemed Serenity got the hint of the situation's danger fast enough to avoid even being somewhat followed. Nick approached the door to the bunker he and the rest of the guys had constructed themselves the first few months they had made the hospital their home. He entered a code on the keypad next to the door as the lock slid open and the door popped out of the frame, revealing a frightened Serenity who sighed at the sight of her would-be rescuers. "Nicky! Thank God you.. Lilith? What are you doing here?"

"I heard shit going on in here, arrived just in time to save Nick's ass from a wolfed-out Samantha of all people. I thought there was no crossing of strains of the Virus like that?"

"Samantha was just the first, Lily. A lot of the bodies on the third floor are ones I killed after she'd gone through. Serenity, it's just the two of us left. There was Alisa but Sam got to her just before I could."

Serenity groaned as she sat back down in the chair she had gotten up from. "Damnit! You mean one fucking wolf took out over fifty people in a matter of an hour?!"

Nick nodded. "Whoever she didn't outright kill she turned, or attempted to. Alisa turned right in front of me, Ren, this Virus is starting to become way too dangerous for us to stay here. Not with no one else. I think we need to go to Darren and-"

"No, absolutely not! Do you not remember what he tried doing here before we kicked him to the curb to find somewhere else to hole up? Darren is just as mad as those Psycho fuckers on the North Side of town." The Psychos, as they were known, were a group of people who had, since the Turning, effectively lost all moral sense, some even offering up prey species Monsters like Serenity to the Hostiles for some peace and quiet. Darren had gone almost as crazy, trying to kill Serenity in a twisted sense of blaming her for everything that had happened to the world.

"I do remember, Serena, otherwise I'd suggest staying here but we were just wiped out by a single Hostile species. We need help, babe."

Lilith just watched the conversation before turning to leave. "And where do you think you're going?" Serenity finally asked the vampiress.

"What do you mean? I only came to make sure you guys were alright, and that's done with. I'm going back-"

"You don't have to stay away anymore, Lily! You're not the mindlessly thirst-controlled vampire anymore, not with those wings. You don't have to isolate yourself from us." Serenity said, frowning.

"But I should, Serena! I'm not the same girl I was before this Virus turned us into fucking freaks, alright? I'm not jeopardizing the people I still love any longer. Plus, no one will accept me into their safe zone, not for what I am.."

The bunny girl got up faster than the other two could register, her feet kicking off the floor to propel her forward as her palm made contact with Lilith's cheek. Smack! "Stop it, Lilith! You aren't mindless anymore, that much is abundantly clear. Keep fighting what you want and you'll only drive yourself further in that fucking hole you believe yourself to be in. You obviously wany to be back around us and I'll be damned if the Virus somehow allowed you to do so, but that chance is now. We need to get the fuck out of this city, Lily, and I would pwrsonally feel much better knowing you were with us. For our sake and this child, your self-proclaimed niece. Deny yourself this now, and you very well may never see either of us again. I refuse to go to Darren for help, not after he tried sacrificing us to the damned Arachne nest that used to be in the mall."

Lilith looked at Nick, whose hands were up. "This is between you girls. I know not to get between Serenity and what she wants."

"So what's it gonna be, Lily? Stay here and be alone to the point of madness? Or will you come with us?"

Nick whistled. "I'm going to go and pack some things up. If we're not going to see Darren, then it might be a long trip."

When Nick was outside of the room and the two girls heard him exit the basement, Lilith frowned at Serenity. "What's the real reason you want me along, Serenity?" The bunny girl looked at her, confused. "Come on, Serena. This is a bit weird, don't you think? Having your man's ex along as we find someplace to stay now that the bastion you kept up these last five years has fallen is not the best idea, so what the fuck is going on in that carrot-adled brain of yours, Usagi?"

Serenity groaned, pinching her nose. "Ah, fuck.. I forgot you were on par with Nick when it came to the anime references. Alright, fine, of course there's an ulterior motive, Lily." Her smile became a serious tight line, her nose twitching. "I want you there for him, and I would hope the baby, if something happens to me. Like, the danger level has escalated, Lilith. Big time. As far as I can figure about your abilities with this Virus, you're the best chance of survival for any of us, but I know you'd put your family first."

"But, Serenity, I don't fully trust myself not to endanger Nick, I'm not.. the darker side of me won't stop. I surprise her by even having the restraint not to attack you right now."

"And.. why don't you, then?" Lilith glared at a defiantly smirking Serenity. "Don't look at me like that, you've had multiple chances to take either or both of us out and you haven't already. Face it, Lilith, you're fighting a battle you've already won against a ghost you choose to let haunt your decisions otherwise. Stay here for now, think about it. This.. It isn't only in case of my death or turning that I want you with us but you just have to trust me on that part." Without another word, Serenity rushed after Nick to pack her own bags of supplies. They would need to be prepared for whatever they found once they left the relative safety of the hospital walls.

Lilith stood there for a few moments, contemplating Serenity's words as she realized the bunny girl was right, the dark side of her was quiet, there wasn't even a bubbling anger at Lilith's continued fighting of her new existence and the habits that go with it. I'm.. She sighed and laughed, twirling around the room giddily in the revelation of her mental freedom.

~C.W~C.W~

Across Town..

Darren looked at the sight below him in unbridled, maniacal glee. Everywhere along the prison floor below the catwalk he stood on, the survivors he had gathered here exploded one after another, replaced with chittering, slime-covered Arachne. "The Hour of the Change has Come!" He laughed even as he felt the pain from his neck where the Arachne that started all this had bit him not minutes earlier. He watched as his skin split open and all he could do was laugh at his fortune to join the damned now roaming the prison walls as his own form exploded in a shower of blood and all the now unnecessary bits of human organs that rained down on the emerging Arachne below.

Next Time (Feel Lucky, I dont always do this due to inconsistency with this as opposed to the actual chapter contents but we'll see): Lab Visits, Truths Found and Eight-Legged Freaks!