The Red Death scare

Thanks to MillieGriffin for the transcript!

Ez leaned over his desk, examining his latest experiment: a tiny white mouse, trapped beneath a glass dome. He almost felt guilty about how it was to meet its end. But the end justified the means, he supposed. With a gloved hand, he took the small cube containing a sample of his virus and placed it carefully underneath the dome. He held his breath. The mouse eyed it suspiciously for a moment, as if it knew what would happen to it in the next few hours. After a moment's hesitation, it took a bite of the sample tentatively. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the open window, causing his door to slam shut with a loud bang. Ez started at the noise, knocking the fragile dome to the floor. It shattered, shards of glass scattering about the room and the mouse within it freed from its prison. Ez watched in slight shock as the mouse scampered out through the gap beneath the door and into the halls of the Society. Helen Jekyll  Litterateur

Hela happened to be passing through the hallway when she spotted a mouse scampering along the floor, her expression brightening.

"Oh, hello there, little fellow..."

She smiled and crouched to scoop them up in her hands.

"What are you doing over here? Running from Griffin?"

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez burst into the hallway, slamming the door open and glancing around for any sign of the escaped mouse. Hearing a voice he didn’t recognise, he turned a corner and saw someone holding it. His eyes widened and he called out. “Wait! Put it down, it’s–“

Helen Jekyll  Litterateur

Hela tensed at the sound of someone shouting and drew the mouse protectively against her chest, retreating half a step back.

"What do you want?"

She eyed the man before her warily, tension laced in her expression and every muscle coiled to flee.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

"That mouse, I've been... using it in my experiments, and..." He realized how heartless he sounded, using an animal to experiment. "It's not safe."

Helen Jekyll  Litterateur

Her eyes narrowed further, her disdain and disapproval plain.

“Well, if you think you’re getting it back, you’re wrong,” Hela told him flatly, rubbing her thumb over the small creature’s back, “It’s likely suffered plenty at your hand already.”

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to keep calm. "Please put it down."

Helen Jekyll  Litterateur

“Why, so another lodger can stumble upon it and subject it to more tortures?” She growled in a low voice and backed away another step. The mouse remained carefully cupped against her shirt.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

"It's just a bloody mouse!" he exclaimed, making a grab for the animal.

Helen Jekyll  Litterateur

"Stay the Hell away from me!"

Hela jumped back from him with a snarl, teeth bared as she sank into a half crouch.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez took a step back, holding his hands out in front of him protectively. "N-now, there's no need to fight... Just put the mouse down--it's infected and frankly quite dangerous. I don't want the disease spreading."

Helen Jekyll  Litterateur

A growl of displeasure rumbled in her throat.

“You’re the one who’s trying to go after me.”

She ducked her gaze briefly to look back at her tiny friend, petting their head.

“If this mouse is so bloody dangerous... then why the Hell was it wandering the halls?”

A huff.

“And if I set it down, it’ll only start running away from you again, and then another Lodger will find it.”

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez looked guilty. "E-er... it kind of... escaped? And I don't exactly have something to contain it with, but..." He cursed under his breath.

Helen Jekyll  Litterateur

Hela snorted. Clearly somebody isn't good at their job.

"If you don't even have somewhere safe to put the poor thing, what do you expect to do with them?" She asked, scowling, "At the very least, I can hold onto them, disease or no."

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

"Alright, fine. But, er... probably don't touch it more than you have to." He lowered his hands. "Sorry about that."

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"What's this about a disease?" asked Lewis as he came around the corner to find Hela holding a mouse, Ez nearby.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Hela immediately brightened at the sight of Lewis, relaxing from her almost fight-or-flee stance.

"Apparently, this man here managed to not only infect a poor little mouse with some sort of sickness," She filled Weir in, shooting Ez a glare, "but he let the little guy escape too. I found them in the hallway, all by their self, and now he," Another cold look to Ez, "Wants to have them back, but he doesn't even have somewhere to keep them."

While speaking, she stroked the mouse absentmindedly, seeking to calm both it and herself.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez turned to see Lewis. "Oh, er, hello again! And unfortunately, what this young woman says is true. Sorry."

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"What type of sickness, and is it contagious?" asked Lewis quickly with a look of forcibly quelled alarm. He well remembered Ez's field of study.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Hela shrugged.

“I’d assume yes on that second part, considering how worried he is about getting them back...”

A brief glance down to her own hands petting the creature.

“...and he told me not to touch it much.”

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

“Rubrum Mori. Contagious and usually fatal.” He glared at Hela. “Hence my need to contain it.”

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

Red...Death? Lewis silently translated.

His eyes widened. A vertiginous feeling whipped through him as his stomach suddenly sank.

"Hela," he said, voice hardly more than a whisper. "Give him the mouse. 'Tis already doomed."

He looked at Ez.

"Vector of infection?" Weir asked, suddenly all business.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Hela frowned, feeling a flicker of unease at the command and her protests dying in her throat.

Sighing, she gave the mouse another little pat on the head before reluctantly offering them back to Ez.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

“It consumed a sample of food containing the virus. I knocked its enclosure to the floor accidentally and it escaped...”

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"Have we been exposed?"

The sober question hung in the air.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Hela remained quiet, awaiting the answer, having been wondering herself.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez breathed in slowly and bit his lip. Silence for a moment. "Probably." Beat. "I mean, I can't be sure because that's what I was about to test, but according to historical outbreaks the likelihood is quite high..."

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

Lewis closed his eyes, struggling to rein in the intense fury he felt at Ez's incompetence, at himself for even opening the door that first day, at what was likely going to happen now.

But anger and anguish were utterly useless in this moment. Counterproductive.

Do what is necessary.

He opened his eyes.

"Ez," he said, tone at once deadly serious and briskly efficient. "Have you any vaccines or treatments for this?" That was the first answer needed.

Hela bit back a quiet whine, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

It was never good when Lewis was losing control on his emotions.

She hovered anxiously near him, wishing to help but uncertain if touch would be allowed, seeing how she'd likely been infected.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

"I-I don't have a vaccine, because they take weeks to prepare and make safe. As for cures, not... not yet, exactly." His gaze shifted sideways.

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"Understood," said Dr. Weir.

"Is the pathogen spread by air, touch, bodily fluid, or other means? I need to know all possible vectors of infection.

"Also, how much time elapses from first exposure to death?" For he had read Poe's story, in his own dimension. It wasn't lost on him they might have less than half an hour to live.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

A thrill of alarm jolted through her.

Bloody Hell, the disease can't be treated yet?

Now Hela was beginning to understand the reason behind Weir's emotion from before.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

"Well... I believe it's passed on by air and touch. And in the other mice I've used the time seems to be about an hour, sometimes two if they're lucky," he said quietly.

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"Right. We're all going to your room. Now. As a quarantine. Touch nothing. Hold your breath if you can."

He put on a pair of black, leather gloves from his pocket and took Ez and Hela by the hand to Ez's lab...where he beheld an open window.

"What the Hell were you--?!" he exclaimed as he dashed forward and slammed it shut, then bolted it.

"Millie," he called out the door, which was nearly closed, confident her preternatural hearing would pick up his words, "we need you! It's the Red Death--Ez's room! Make haste!"

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie heard Weir's cry from the garden where she is feeding her multicolored rabbits, alarmed by the call she dropped a whole bag of carrots into their pen. "Sh*t!!" She exlamed as she sprinted back to her room for equipment. She burst though the door, startling her uncle and frantically gathered most of the tools and supplies she need while constantly repeating the word, "Sh*t!", Over and over.

"What the hell!?"Griffin asked completely confused.

All Millie could answer was, "Stay in the room! Toxic!" Before leaving, slaming the door behind her. One last item was required as she faced down into the basement that lead to a secret lab she made for her more dangerous experiments. There she took some of her 'blank slate' viruses and some files of geneticly altered Cobra venom. With this sprinted back to where she heard Weir told her to go, the whole trip in total took a little under five minutes. As soon as she got there, arms and pockets full of what she needed, she knocked on the door with her foot.

"Lewis!? Dr. Ezekiel!? I'm here! Are you alright!?"she called through the door.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Mutely, Hela walked alongside Weir, halting her breathing like he requested.

Though her lungs burned, the near thought-crushing panic in her mind was worse.

She sank to the ground in a corner of Ez's room as soon as they'd arrived, sucking in a ragged gasp of air and shuddering.

Stay calm, stay calm, for F*ck's sake, stay calm.

Drawing her limbs close to herself, she tried not to touch anything nor be a distraction, painfully aware of each breath she took.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez followed close behind, his eyes wide. "S-sorry, I just..." He began clearing his workbench, sweeping stacks of paper and books aside. "Right, er, we need to find a cure." He buried his face is his hands. "Not again," he murmured to himself.

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

Lewis's eyes widened at Ez's words. Weir resolved that if they survived this, he'd ask what Ez meant by that.

For the time being, though, Lewis heard Millie at the door, and quickly answered her.

"Ezekiel, Hela, and I are in here, along with an escaped mouse Ez infected that Hela found and picked up in the hallway not ten minutes past. We've shut the window and door. The other lodgers must stay away--strict quarantine. Assuming we're infected, we've less than an hour, perhaps just under two if we're lucky, according to Ez.

"That's where things stand."

Please tell me we've a chance, he silently pleaded.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"Understood!" She acknowledged through the door, "Lewis, I think you, yourself, may be fine considering your-uh... physiology... But for Hela and Dr. Ezekiel, I'm going to have to take a blood test immediately!" As she instructed this her anxiety rose. In her head she pleeded to whatever God there may be to have mercy and let all this be okay. Troubling memories started to pop up in her head again, of her parents... How they died... How she failed... This isn't the same... This isn't the same thing damnit! I won't let it be!...

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Hela exhaled in a muffled groan at Millie's response, curling tighter into her ball.

"God, this just keeps getting worse..."

She almost wished she'd forgotten to take her medication that morning--at least while unconscious she wouldn't feel the prick of a needle.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez looked up. "Millie, isn't it?" he asked. "Right, any ideas?" Blinking a few times, he opened a cabinet beneath the bench and took out two syringes. He moved to hand them both to Millie but stopped. A wave of sudden dizziness swept through him and he swayed slightly. Jekyll1886  Wizardblizzard

"On it," Weir replied to Millie.

"We'll do what we must," he attempted to reassure Hela on his way to Ezekiel.

The latter suddenly swayed a bit, not looking entirely well.

"Have a seat, Ez," said Lewis, assisting him into one.

"I'll get those." Weir nimbly handled the syringes; following proper protocol, he'd soon collected samples from Ezekiel and himself.

He removed his gloves and got a fresh syringe for Hela, on the off-chance she wasn't infected.

"I am sorry," he apologized as he disinfected the inner bend of her right elbow and took the requisite blood.

He labeled and wrapped all three samples separately, then put them into a small, waxed sack, which he handed to Millie.

"Godspeed."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"Thank you" Millie said as she took the specimens with thick yellow rubber gloves on. While Weir was taking the blood samples, Millie had already constructed a little lab infront of the door out of a pop-tent and set the inside up for the emergency resurch. Before letting Weir receding into the tent Millie gave him two other syringes containing very small amounts of the geneticly altered Cobra venom that had two little red lines two centameters apart from each other on each of them. "Right, if either one of them starts showing symptoms give them a dose of this but don't go past that first red notch unless I tell you otherwise, hopefully it will slow the process and buy more time. And after a few minutes I'll want another blood sample to make sure it's working, and I'll need constant updates on their condition." She explained hastily but sturnly then disappeared into the tent and zipping up the door without checking if he confirmed understanding her instructions or not, she couldn't afford to wait. Putting on a pair of multi-lens magnifying goggles, she set to work immediately, carefully squeesing corps of the blood samples between pairs of tiny glass windows and placing them under a microscope, using her goggles to enhance the images through the lens to observe the specimens. Her hearts jumped a beat when see saw the Ez tested positive for the virus but she didn't think she had time to breed the microbes from the samples. In second she unzipped the door just enough to stick her arm out and knock on the door again. "I need the source of the infection, please!"

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Hela didn't speak, merely giving Weir a rather miserable look before tucking her head between her knees again.

She tolerated the drawing of blood with a quiet grimace and swallowed back any complaints.

It would be best not to distract those fighting to save her.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll Ez did as Millie asked, handing her the mouse through the door. The mouse was beginning to look decidedly less content with its current situation.

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

Lewis accepted the syringes from Millie. If he recalled correctly, dizziness was one of the first symptoms of the illness.

He backed away from the door so Ezekiel could hand her the mouse unobstructed.

"Did or do either of you feel at all dizzy?" Weir asked Ez and Hela.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie took the mouse in, extracted a blood sample from it and sealed the creature in a mason jar. Of course it's blood was riddled with the with the disease and thankfully (for her not the mouse) there was enough to test the virus's genetic make up. She opened a portable sewing box containing what looked like a collection of long thin and very uniquely odd looking needles that were actually fine specially made instruments just for this kind of work. Sqwartng the rest of the mouse's blood sample into a petri dish and selecting two of the tools she started the delicate procedure of extracting the virus and dropping samples of it into a number of test tubes containing verious acids and bases to see what kind of bace traits it virus had. This took six minutes after which Millie asked, "How is everyone!?"

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

"I'm fine right now, no dizziness," murmured Hela, rubbing the crook of her arm where her blood was taken, "Just... trying not to panic or get my heart-rate up and make everything worse..."

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

At Lewis’ words, Ez’s heart sank to his feet. “Y-yes. I have.”

Ohgodohgodohgod.

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"Hela thus far shows no symptoms. Ez experienced dizziness. Prepping the syringe now."

He did so, stepping over to Ezekiel.

"As Millie said, this may slow the process." Weir explained as he disinfected the injection site. Pray it works.

After administering the proper amount of fluid from the syringe, he capped the latter and set it aside.

"'Tis done," he informed Millie. "I'll take another sample shortly."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"Right! I'm receiving the results of the virus's genetic traits now." She replied as she watched the watery clear liquids in the eight test tubes change colors.


 * 1) 1) blue.
 * 2) 2) purple.
 * 3) 3) green.
 * 4) 4) orange.
 * 5) 5) milk white.
 * 6) 6) violet.
 * 7) 7) ink black.
 * 8) 8) scarlet.

"Wh--what....?" Millie muttered under her breath, utterly stunned by the results. Never in her life had she ever expected these types of bace traits from a "wild" virus, it left her with a sinister feeling. She went back to double check the infected blood samples under the microscope. As she feared the virus showed all the signs of what the test results said. It took a moment for Millie to get over the terrible shock of this revelation, her expressions turned from frightened disbelief to trim determination.

She placed the tools she just used in a beaker of one hundred proof alcohol and grabbed another set along with some specific chemicals, then momentarily took off one of her rubber gloves to reach into her pocket and take out a sealed petri dish containing her "blank slate" microbes. Then putting the glove back on she placed the now opened petri dish under the microscope and set it and her goggles to max magnification.

"I'm working on the counter for the desies now!" She informed them as she commented to the precarious and complex task of reshaping the blank virus to her exact specifics. At a time like this she really missed her advanced technology from her world, doing such delacit work against a deadly pluage with such (to her) old-fashioned tools was like doing brain surgery with a double edged sword, one miniscule mistake could end in absolute desaster.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

“Lewis,” asked Hela in a small voice, her eyes downcast, “Am I going to be okay? Do you think we can fix this in time, before...?”

She trailed off and swallowed audibly, a slight tremor to her breathing.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Still terrified but slightly more resolute, Ez noticed the grim silence from outside.

“What? What’s wrong?” he asked.

All the things that could go wrong began running through his mind.

Ohgodohgodohgod.

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"It is my sincere hope," Lewis answered Hela. The look in his eyes conveyed the gravity of the situation. The odds were dicey...but not impossible. There was still a chance. "For now, stay where you are and remain as calm as you can. We'll see this through."

He turned to Ez as the latter spoke.

"I'm as curious as you," stated Weir, "but please calm yourself as much as you can, and try not to distract Millie. Leave her to her work. Slow your breathing if you're able. One step at a time."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie could hear the conversation on the other side of the door and it was adding to her own anxiety that if she could sweat she'd be drinched. The unpleasant memories started cropping back up with a vengeance and Millie had to momentary set her instruments down because she felt her hands start to shake as the vivid flashbacks and attached emotions temperarly blinded her. She wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed tightly in a sheet force of will to bring her back to the present. I don't have time for this...! I can't afford to have this happened now...! Come on...! After a few minutes and some deep breaths she spoke up calmly and slowly to assure everyone behind the door. "Everything's going just fine! I'm already working on the cure, and making out fine...! I'm sure you'll all be safe in hardly any time at all! Uh... how are things now?"

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

“Alright, doc,” She breathed, shutting her eyes, “You’re the one in change.”

Quiet, Hela stayed put, turning her thoughts to time spent with her little black bunny, Lepus, in attempt to relax.

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez took a slow, deep breath in an attempt to calm down. "I'm alright," he replied. "The dizziness is gone for now." He stood up from the chair and made his way across the room to where Lewis stood. "Is there anything I can do to help? I understand that most of this was my fault, so... er..." God, I feel so useless...

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

"Everyone's still able to stand, at least," commented Lewis.

He left Hela to her daydreams, praying they'd reduce her stress and therefore help keep her immune system on track.

"Ez," he suggested, "I believe Millie has this well in hand. And you shan't be able to help her directly without risking infecting her. So please do have a seat and let me take the next sample. That should be help enough," he assured.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"Good... Good to hear!" Millie answered back. She looked back down at her hands, still trembling but not as much as a few seconds ago. She clinched them into fists and tightly closed her eyes taking another deep breath.

you can do this... Just focus on the work... Nothing else... Just work as usual...

She started focusing her mind on only the memories of her previous resurch from years ago, then while her brain emmurst itself in the more agreeable memories she picked the her instruments back up and resumed her work. It was aalmos ready just a little more work done and all she would need was to let it grow enough and quickly test it before giving it to the others. "I'm about ready for the second blood tests." She amounted.

Hela uncurled herself only slightly, holding out her arm so Lewis could do what was needed.

She squeezed her eyes tighter shut, thinking of when she first was given her pet and he could easily fit in the palms of her hands.

“Go ahead, I know you have to.”

Litterateur  Helen Jekyll

Ez sat down reluctantly. "I'm so sorry about all of this..." Not again, not again, I don't want this to happen again...

Jekyll1886  Litterateur

Actions speak louder than words, came the unbidden thought, though Weir did not voice it.

Concentrate on the task at hand. Concentrate on the task at hand.

"Let's get this done."

He took Hela's blood, then Ezekiel's, and handed the new samples to Millie.

"Let us know if we can be of any further assistance, no matter how small the task or unusual the request."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"Thank you." Millie said as she took the new blood test and put it under the microscope like the first ones. She was pleased to see that the venom was helping the blood keep the ability to clot unlike the untreated samples, which would help keep the blood from becoming so thin that it would cause internal bleeding and to sweat out of the body, but this was still only a temporary fix as she saw the little parasites fight even harder to finish thier job. A very small part of her wondered if there was any curitive possibilities of this desies if recreated right. She had no time to be curious however, she was reminded as she switched back to her work. As she started to finish her procedure she got another reminder when she heard a tiny scratching sound and saw it was the mouse scratching at his jar looking much more worse for wear then he did earlier. The pathetic sight retriggerd some of those terrible memories, she blinked hard and shook her head vigorously.

"A-actuly Lewis... I would like for you to you lot to do something for me..." She paused hessitenth before her request, "Could you have a talk with me...? It can be about anything... I just..." She trailed off as she tried to focus long enough to get the finishing touches in place before she could enqubate the cure.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Hela sank back into her daydreams once more with a shivering sigh, refusing to acknowledge the dread crawling up her throat.

She was already unless, she didn’t need to be a distraction as well.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. He hoped that whatever Millie was doing was working.

Jekyll1886 MillieGriffin

"Certainly," Weir answered Millie. "I saw some rabbits of very unusual color the other day in the garden. Might they be yours, by any chance?"

With a cold shiver, he realized he'd begun to sweat.

MillieGriffin Jekyll1886

Millie perked up at the recollection of the topic, " Yes actually! You remember me mention what I was going to show in the exhibition? That was one of my experiments! Nothing to fear though they're completely harmless." She exaimed as she finally finished and set the petri dish under a portable black light to breed as she set the timer for a little under ten minutes. "Usually keep them in a pen close to the garden but one sort of wonderd off.... When I dozed off..... While peting it..." One could hear the embarrassment in her voice if they were listening for it, "Did you catch it? It's quite docile!"

HelenJekyll  MillieGriffin

At the mention of rabbits, Hela raised her head from where she had been sitting with her face buried in her knees, blinking somewhat blearily at Lewis.

“What sort of col—?”

She cut off with a sharp cry of pain and wrapped her arms around her torso, sinking onto her side as dizziness suddenly overwhelmed her.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“Hela?” he said, turning his head to see her clutching her torso.

Oh god, it’s already started.

He looked at the clock. 1 hour and 15 minutes to go.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis had been about to answer about the rabbit when Hela abruptly cut herself off in pain.

"Hela?" he cried.

He rushed to her side and knelt down, gently putting his hands on and under her to help ease her position and enable her to catch her breath.

"Breathe gently now. I have you."

He turned toward the door and, beyond it, Millie.

"How long before the treatment is ready?" he asked her, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice despite his efforts to appear calm.

He addressed Ezekiel in like tone. "How long do we have before things are past the point of no return?”

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie was suddenly shot up into a standing position at Hela's pained cry. She rushed out of the tent and swiftly but gently placed her hands on the door, it took a lot of restraint not to bust through the door to see what's happening for herself. The beat of her hearts pound in her head as panic whaled up in her chest, but to the best of her abilities she answered Lewis's question as calmly as possible.

"The... The counter virus needs some time to breed. I set the timer for about ten minutes, if I could I'd speed up the wait time but even then minutes is pushing it a considerable amount really." Millie's stomach twisted in knots as she spoke, "d-did... Have you used the uh... serum on Hela yet? If you haven't please do it has been successfully holding back the red death in the samples I have, it will keep her blood from getting too thin!" There was a slight tone of ergency in her voice at the last sentence despite how calm she tried to sound.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Hela exhaled in a shuddering groan, fear and misery swirling into one.

I'm dying. This must be what it feels like, this must be why Lewis is in a panic-- Gods, I don't want to die.

She placed one hand over Weir's and squeezed (though she wasn't certain if the gesture was for her own comfort or his--perhaps both?), doing what she could to steady her breathing.

The word "serum" caused her to flinch, though she pushed back the emotions she had on that particular diction.

Even if it was the doctor's own concoction, if it had even the slightest chance of helping, she'd cooperate. The alternative was too horrible.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

This would be all his fault, wouldn't it? He couldn't even stay for a week without messing it up...

At Lewis' question, Ez took a deep breath. "We have about twenty minutes until there's no going back. An hour and a half until we're dead."

Oh god.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez closed his eyes, trying to block everything out. "We have about twenty minutes before there's no going back... As for what happens if we pass that point? An hour and a half, at the most."

Another wave of dizziness swept over him and he clenched his fists.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis squeezed Hela's hand in turn.

He nodded to Ez.

It's worse than I thought.

"Millie, what precisely is in the serum? Hela has a heart condition we can't afford to aggravate," he explained, discarding all semblance of doctor-patient confidentiality out of sheer concern for her life.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie fell silent for a moment, her left eye twitched as she had an internal mental rant. 'Heart condition?'... 'A heart condition!?'... What heart condition!?!?!.... Why didn't you tell me about this sooner Lewis!? Don't you think that this is kind of important to know before hand!?!?!? This better be a joke Weir but if it IT'S NOT FUNNY!!! She did her best to restrain her beastial featers as she drummer her fingers on the door and after a deep breath through her nostrils. "Wh-what *ahem*... What kind of heart condition?" She asked in a deadpan tone.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Desperation grew in that quiet pause, nearly smothering her as she inhaled through her nose, exhaled through her mouth, trying to keep the pain and panic from jolting each breath.

When the silence was broken not by an answer but with another question, frustration breed from fear sparked into a fiery rage.

"You don't need to know, just answer the d*mned question before you waste time and I die because of you!"

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez started at Hela’s sudden outburst. “W-wait, there’s no need to–“

A spark of pain similar to Hela’s screamed in his chest and he drew breath quickly.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"Please tell me what's in the syringe, Millie. I'm a doctor--I'll know if it would aggravate Hela's condition. I can't inject her without knowing, and I can't tell you her precise condition without her consent. My hands are tied."

As he spoke to Millie desperately, he noticed Ezekiel out of the corner of his eye.

Shit! Even with whatever's in here, we've not long! thought Weir, gaze darting to the syringe, then back to the door beyond which Millie stood.

Thinkthinkthinkthinkthink

He hit upon a gloriously elegant solution. Neither Millie nor Hela would have to reveal information they'd rather keep private. It wouldn't matter what was in the syringe--Hela's heart condition wouldn't be a factor.

"Hela!" he exclaimed with relief and urgency as the realization shot him through. "I need you to change to Helen--she has no heart condition!"

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie clinched her hands against the door, unintentionally leaving clawmarks in the wood as she did. It took eveylittle bit of control not to let her beast features show even if no one on the other side of the door couldn't see it. In response to Hela's out burst and Lewis's denial Millie was about to let all of her rants rain down on the both of them as to why this kind of information is important to have first-hand until Lewis let out his sudden solution, something in Millie's skull popped like a single fire cracker. "WHHHAAAAAAAT!!!???!!!??? HOW IS THAT EVEN SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE!?!?!?!?" she bellowed through the door then stopping herself as she held both sides of her head, forceing back any mineute bits of her beast from that started to creep in from her out burst as she struggled to keep control.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Understanding flashed in her eyes and Hela nodded once even as she cringed at the thought of changing form. She already felt weak and miserable without the added strain.

Hell, this isn't going to be pleasant.

...

But dying wouldn't be either.

...

Ah, well, obvious choice or not, it doesn't make it any less awful.

The bellowing shout from Millie actually managed to draw a laugh from the Hyde as she braced herself for the coming pain, seeking distraction, however brief it may be.

"Really, that's what you're worried about now?"

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez was totally oblivious as to what was occurring. He glanced at Lewis and Hela, before looking down again.

I hope Lewis thinks of something soon.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"It's a matter of--" Weir began to answer Millie, hoping the distracting conversation would calm her somewhat--for everyone's sake.

However, a wave of dizziness rolled over him like the tide; he soon found himself bending over Ezekiel's desk, using it for support so he'd not faint. Lewis did his level best to steady his breathing.

"Metaphysics," he managed after a moment, voice sounding far weaker than he'd hoped.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Lewis's short explainion did little to tame her rage. "OH F#CK YOU AND YOUR F#CKING METAPHYSICS! I'M TRYING TO DO MY G#DDAMN JOB AND YOU TW#TS ARE JUST MAKING IT TEN TIMES MORE HARDER! I'M NOT THE ONE WHO PICKED UP SOME STRANGE RAT OFF THE GROUND, I'M NOT THE ONE WHO INFECTED THE RAT, AND YOU LOT AREN'T THE ONES OVER HERE BUSTING YOUR ARESES TO MAKE THIS CURE IN UNDER A BLOODY HOUR!!!! ARE YOU OR ARE YOU NOT CAPABLE OF ACCEPTING MY TREATMENT, WOMAN!?!?" Millie had no patience and even less time left, every fiber of her being wanted to let her beast form out but she still fought to keep herself under control.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Alarmed by the sudden lack of energy in Weir’s tone, Hela almost asked if he was alright, only for Millie’s screaming to cut her off before she could even begin.

Irritation flared within her, but she held her tongue, instead using the burst of energy to shove herself up onto her hands and knees, then into a sitting position.

Now upright, she could see that Lewis didn’t seem well at all, hunched over the desk as he was.

She grit her teeth.

All three of us—three, since Weir has fallen ill trying to save Ez and I—are dying and yet you don’t hear us cursing and yelling bloody murder, oh no, we have to be patient and cooperate or you’ll simply stop doing the one thing Lewis asked of you.

Her breath left her in a faint huff, though she continued reining herself, ensuring the only sign of anger was the blaze in her eyes.

Fiery outrage would do her no good—she would only burn herself along with everyone else—so, instead, she made a shield of icy contempt.

“I, Hela Hyde, cannot be treated, but if you’ll allow me time to switch to my counterpart, the doctor—Helen Jekyll—will be able to be treated,” She finally answered with chilling calm, speaking slowly and carefully so as to be understood, “Since the two of us have different forms, her heart is perfectly functional while I admittedly have some trouble with my own, due to some malfunction in the formula she used for my creation.”

“I’m afraid I can’t explain much more, as neither of us have made an attempt to find out how it happened, but rest assured you’re more than welcome to ask all the questions you’d like once we get out of this alive.”

Another breath, this one slow and steady.

“Now if you’ll excuse me a moment, I have to take a brief stroll through Hell so the doctor can come ‘round.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Only a little fazed by Millie's sudden outburst, Ez frowned. Counterpart? Dr Helen Jekyll? Didn't I meet her the day I came to the Society?

He shivered.

"Millie. We only have a number of minutes before it's too late to administer a cure... I believe you can do whatever it is you're doing, but you need to calm down. Please."

He took deep breaths, trying to slow the virus down. If his experiments were anything to go by, the characteristic bleeding symptoms of the Red Death would appear within about twenty minutes.

The seconds ticked by.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Millie's words came at Lewis as if from a great, far distance as his vision went unfocused and he felt suddenly faint.

It was with the feeling of a detached observer that he became aware of his knees buckling beneath him. Even as he wanted to respond to Millie, to protest and thank and rail against and comfort her all at once, he knew no words would leave his lips as he watched the ground rise to meet him. The fall felt as if it took as long as molasses does to drip.

His eyes focused briefly on Hela before they rolled back.

And, with that, he was out.

MillieGriffin  Helen Jekyll

Hela's most recent response was a bit more satisfying to Millie that she started to clam down a little, though she was the still shaking. "Fine! Do it!"was all she had to say to Hela as she did her best to rain in her anger. A moment later she heard someone on the other side collaspe on the floor which gave her cause for alarm. "Who was that?.... Lewis?" Her voice sounding more worried then she meant to. Her hearts dropped, she thought that the antivirus She gave him would keep him immune but the sound of him falling and lack of response from him started to sew seeds of doubt into her mind. She looked back at the timer she set for the cure, it was almost halfway through but every second felt like it was traveling at a snail's pace.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Hela likely would've bristled at Millie's command... had Lewis not fallen unconscious right before her eyes.

At the sight, the whole world seemed to freeze for an instant, before lurching back into a breakneck pace.

Oh bloody Hell, this just keeps getting worse--!

She quickly moved to Weir's side, wincing at a swirl of dizziness that threatened to overcome her as she pressed two fingers to the jugular vein in his neck and a palm to his forehead for a moment.

His skin was burning hot and his heartbeat fluttered weakly beneath her touch, which did little to ease her dread... but he wasn't dead, at least not yet.

Alright, there's still time--Not a whole lot, but some, thought Hela, exhaling shakily as she pulled her hands away and sat back on her legs, I'll just let the doctor out and she'll hopefully come to her senses fast enough to help.

...

Right... Here goes nothing.

She allowed herself only a second of hesitation, of quiet fear and mild discomfort, then sank into the mind-numbing agony of transforming from one side to the other.

Helen awoke to every fiber of her being singing in exhaustion and pain, unable to even open her eyelids, barely aware of the floor pressing from beneath her side.

Her smaller form didn't completely fill her counterpart's clothes and so they hung a few sizes looser than would fit her right as she shivered violently from a bone marrow-deep chill.

Hela, from within her mind, showed no mercy regardless. Get up, doc, you can't rest now, we've got work to do.

A faint groan was the doctor's only response.

I SAID, GET! UP! WEIR IS DYING AND SO ARE YOU!

A few moments, then:

...Lewis? Dying...?

That's right, doc, now get your selfless rear-end in gear and don't even think about dozing off. He needs you.

Helen struggled to comply, only making it up onto her elbows before a shooting pain sent her back to the floor with a yelp.

HEY! No, you have to get up!

...tired... it hurts... can't...

I swear by the gods above and devils below, if your giving up gets us both killed, I am going to haunt Elaina from the grave until she joins us.

If this concerned Helen, or if she even heard it at all, she didn't seem to show it as she inhaled and exhaled in quivering gasps.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Dr Helen? he thought, standing unsteadily. He’d ask about that later. That is, if they got out of this alive, which he was beginning to doubt.

Now that Lewis was down, he needed to do everything he could.

“Hela—Helen...? Is his pulse still there?” he asked nervously, fighting back against a wave of dizziness as he gripped the arm of the chair in an effort to stay standing. Surely they didn’t have much time left.

“Millie—how long is left on the timer? Lewis... Lewis is unconscious. He seems to be breathing, still...”

He shut his eyes, trying to concentrate. Oh God, everything was going to end horribly, and there’d be nothing left and it would be just like what happened all those months ago and he’d need to move on again and leave the Society but only if he SURVIVED at all-

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis awoke to the sound of unsteady gasps from Helen and the tail end of Ezekiel's conversation with Millie.

Disoriented, he opened his eyes to the sight of Helen lying on the floor, unmoving.

Dizziness and a wave of nausea washing over him didn't help matters any--for a moment, he simply lay on the floor, getting his breath.

When they subsided, he unthinkingly reached out for Helen, better able to focus on her now.

Marginally, he became aware of Ezekiel's and Millie's locations.

Helen...was not doing well. Her temperature was high, her pulse weakening. She seemed to be slipping into unconsciousness even as Hela grew more agitated.

A jolt of adrenaline coursed through Lewis at the realization of her condition; he sat up suddenly, only to kneel beside her.

"Helen? Hela? Helen?" he asked rapidly, his tone betraying the worry he felt--worry which was, frankly, more appropriate for a loved one than for a mere doctor for a patient.

The change, came the chilling realization. It's stolen her energy to fight.

His own respiration and heart rate increased as panic threatened to consume him.

He glanced rapidly about the room, looking for...he knew not what, but they needed a solution--and quickly, too!

"Millie," he said hoarsely, only just tamping down his anxiety, "if the cultures are set and you don't need to do anything to them in the next few minutes, I've a tremendous favor to ask. Please go to my office and bring the locked trunk I keep by the left-hand bookshelf to me. Its contents will help me smooth out the quirks of her physiology so your treatment has its best chance of curing her. In the meantime, I'll administer the contents of the syringe you gave me, as she's physically Helen now."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"Six minutes, therteen seconds!"she answered while still watching the timer.

She heard Lewis start to stir, "L-Lewis...?" She heard him calling out to Hela/Helen, Then she heard him speak to her which she listened with care. "Right, got it!" she said before she was off, going at her top speeds to the office, after a few seconds she came back with the trunk on her shoulder. "Alright, it's here."

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

The sound of Weir's voice had faded to an indistinct murmur, comforting in all its familiarity as Helen drifted somewhere between waking and sleeping.

Had she the strength to spare, a smile likely would've found its way onto her lips.

Meanwhile, Hela was struggling not to go down with the sinking ship of Helen's consciousness, still aware of the world in ways the doctor was no longer but unable to move without seizing control... and doing that now would likely only drag them both into the dark. So, she could only wait, feebly attempting here and there to move a finger, flutter an eyelid, anything to show she had some sort of control in this.

For if she fell asleep like Helen, she might never wake up.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez's world seemed to spin before his eyes. He shivered, almost not noticing when he fell to his knees.

His eyes closed, blinked for a time that seemed too long. Perhaps sleeping would be easier, he thought distantly, ears ringing.

The floor was cold under his hands. He shivered again.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"Slide it in," said Lewis quickly, some of the tension draining from him at the sound of Millie's voice. "I can take it from there."

He noted with detachment the sound of Ez falling to his knees behind him. Weir's eyes fell to the syringe he'd used earlier, but Millie hadn't yet said to use it on him again, so Lewis turned his gaze back to the door.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"I'll can just carry it inside." She said as she nimbly slid her coat off while still carrying the trunk before opening the door a jar and squeezing herself and the trunk in and closing the door behind her. The scene inside was about what she expected which wasn't a comfort to her, between Weir kneeling next to an unconscious Helen, looking like he's having as much luck keeping his composer as Millie was and Ezekiel showing every sign of him about to pass out showed a grave site. Millie set the trunk right next to Lewis and took the syringe previously used on Ezekiel. "I'll handle Dr. Ezekiel myself." She went and kneeled next to Ezekiel, and trying to speak as calmly as she said, "I'm going to give you half a dose more of the serum. Try to sit up right, lean against the wall or on me if you have to but please try to stay conscious." She was able to gently maneuver his body in a siting position and keep him proper long enough to administer the half dose. "The cure is almost ready, do you think you can stay with us for a few minutes more?" She inquired, keeping a hand on his shoulder to keep him stable.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Hela could feel herself slipping, fear and wild desperation reaching a fever pitch as she clung to awareness.

It wasn't long before she lost the fight, unable to call for help or let the others know that she was still there, even if the doctor wasn't.

And so, as her counterpart fell into unconsciousness as well, Helen sank further out of reach with a soft shudder of breath, the motion barely visible.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez looked up, made out the vague shape of Millie in front of him. He nodded -- the simple gesture seemed to rob him of energy, so he supposed he should stay still. Her hand on his shoulder, a tether to reality.

He shuddered.

"I can... I can try..."

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"Excellent," Weir replied to Millie. One conscious person per patient was a doubly effective arrangement.

He pulled a key from his pocket, unlocked and opened the trunk, spread its contents on top of a nearby, waist-height shelf, and set to work.

"Hela, I know you're still present," he said as he pulled out a match, lighted a burner, and gave her hand a squeeze.

"I need you to hold fast for as long as you can."

He pulled out a test tube filled with red liquid, removed the stopper with his teeth, and held the tube in place with same. Next, he took up a pair of tongs with his free hand, gripped said tube with them, and held it over the flame.

"If you need to take over the body," he continued, mouth free now, "so be it, but at least one of you must remain conscious."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie kept a hold of Ezekiel's shoulder slowly lifting his arm to let the half dose flow through out his body. "Ezekiel...? Why don't you talk to me? Uh... How did you become interested in viruses?" Millie muttered into his ear hoping that talking would keep him from going under.

Helen Jekyll

There was a pressure on her hand, distant and faint, but Hela felt it nonetheless, immediately using it as a lifeline and a foothold to drag herself slowly, painstakingly back into the light.

Weir's words came from just as far, taking a handful of moments to register during her struggle.

When they had, though, her heart fluttered with a spark of hope. He knew.

In response to the instruction, she gathered what strength she had left (and a little that she didn't, for that matter), then took control of Helen's form with a brief flare of pain that she simply ignored.

Though almost at once she'd begun to tremble violently from the effort, Hela managed to force herself onto her stomach, then her hands and knees, her fatigue only a passing thought.

Anything would be better than dying, even trying to remain in a body that wasn't quite hers and prying open weighted eyelids.

" 'm up," She rasped, gaze unfocused, but at the very least she was awake.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez’s eyes managed to focus on Millie.

“I… don’t quite remember… I think—” He stopped and took a moment to catch his breath. “—I took a class in… in university… when I was studying to become a doctor.” Despite himself, he smiled at the memory.

“I never… never got the qualifications in the end… Never became a doctor…” he trailed off and closed his eyes. Talking was difficult.

“You?”

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"Hela," said Lewis softly, overjoyed to see her despite the shape she was in.

He took his hand from her, took the test tube off the burner, and opened a sealed, glass jar he'd set on the shelf.

He added a pinch of the granules within it to the translucent, red liquid in the tube. As they dissolved, it turned opaque yellow and began to effervesce. Afterward, as the bubbles faded, it became first a watery green, then a nearly iridescent blue as it finally stilled.

"Here," he said, offering it to Hela even as he helped support her. "Drink this. It'll hurt like Hell," he said, tone apologetic even through his desperation, "but you'll live."

MillieGriffin

"I didn't even bother going to school," said Millie. "It just wasted the time I could've been using to conduct my research so I just paid some street girl to go for me so my parents wouldn't know. Aheheh...but enough about me, please keep talking. I know it must hard but I need you to stay focused just a little bit longer."

Though Millie was relieved to hear Helen or Hela speak again, her worry was still on Ezekiel; her grip on his shoulder tightened as it became more like she was holding him up than just keeping him steady.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"I didn't even bother going to school. It just waisted the time I could've been using to conduct my research so I just paid some street girl to go for me so my parents wouldn't know. Aheheh... but enough about me, please keep talking. I know it must hard but I need you to stay focused just a little bit longer."

Though Millie was relieved to hear Helen or Hela speak again but her worry was still on Ezekiel, her grip on his shoulder tightened as it became more like she was holding him up then just keeping him steady.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"I didn't even bother going to school. It just wasted the time I could've been using to conduct my research so I just paid some girl off the street to go for me so my parents wouldn't know. Aheheh... but enough about me, please keep talking. I know it must hard but I need you to stay focused just a little bit longer."

Though Millie was relieved to hear Helen or Hela speak again but her worry was still on Ezekiel, her grip on his shoulder tightened as it became more like she was holding him up then just keeping him steady.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"I didn't even bother going to school. It just waisted the time I could've been using to conduct my research so I just paid some street girl to go for me so my parents wouldn't know. Aheheh... but enough about me, please keep talking. I know it must hard but I need you to stay focused just a little bit longer."

Though Millie was relieved to hear Helen or Hela speak again but her worry was still on Ezekiel, her grip on his shoulder tightened as it became more like she was holding him up then just keeping him steady.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"Hela," said Lewis softly, overjoyed to see her despite the shape she was in.

He took the test tube off the burner, took his left hand from her, and opened a sealed, glass jar he'd set on the shelf.

He added a pinch of the granules within it to the translucent, red liquid in the tube. As they dissolved, it turned opaque yellow and began to effervesce. Afterward, as the bubbles faded, it became first a watery green, then a nearly iridescent blue as it finally stilled.

"Here," he said, offering it to Hela even as he helped support her. "Drink this. It'll hurt like Hell," he said, tone apologetic even through his desperation, "but you'll live."

MillieGriffin Jekyll1886

"I didn't even bother going to school," said Millie. "It just wasted the time I could've been using to conduct my research, so I just paid some girl off the street to go for me so my parents wouldn't know. Aheheh...

"But enough about me; please keep talking. I know it must hard, but I need you to stay focused just a little bit longer."

Though Millie was relieved to hear Helen or Hela speak again, her worry was still on Ezekiel; her grip on his shoulder tightened as it became more like she was holding him up than just keeping him steady.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

“Aheheh...I wouldn't bother going to school," said Millie feeling a bit of empathy to Ez’s tell. "It just wasted time used to conduct my experimental investigations, I employed a flower girl to go in my stead so my parents would be none the wiser.” she stopped herself from taking to much. "But enough about me; please continue. I know it must difficult right now, but I need you to stay focused just a little bit longer. I'll tell you all about my experiments when you're well again, okay?" Though Millie was surprisingly relieved to hear Helen or Hela’ voice again, her worry was still on Ezekiel's condition; her grip on his shoulder tightened as she was holding him up more than just keeping him steady now.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Hela gave a mute nod of acknowledgement, forcing herself not to linger on the godawful scent of the concoction.

Tipping her head back, she tried to swallow it in one go and almost choked, gagging as the taste was somehow even worse than the smell. She took a half-breath, shuddered, then finished the rest.

Even once she’d forced it down, things hardly improved—the liquid burned fiercely on its way to her stomach and she had to blink back tears, letting out a low groan as she slumped forward with a hand at her throat.

She was miserable. She was tired. But, if Lewis was right... she would live nonetheless.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

His gaze flicked briefly to Lewis and Hela on the other side of the room before he closed his eyes again. God, he was tired. He'd sleep for a long time once -- if -- he got out of this.

"I'm... afraid I don't have... much else to say..." he mumbled. "Left... left university early... needed to go, to come here..." His fists clenched, almost without him knowing it. "Not really... my choice..."

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Within a few seconds, the potion began to work its effects on Hela. A jangling of the nerves gave way to full-body twitching of the muscles. Deadly nausea, coupled with the sensation of every nerve fiber and drop of blood catching fire, followed immediately thereon, the heart a particular source of agony. These were succeeded in turn by the feeling of drowning while still drawing breath, the world retreating as her vision dimmed.

Throughout it, Lewis held and helped and supported her as best he could, ensuring she didn't injure herself as the alchemical concoction wracked her body, her soul.

"Fight to stay conscious--fight for your life!" he encouraged her, even as her heartbeat and respiration began to slow.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"How so was it not really your choice?" She asked legitimately curious. She heard the strain of Hela's body and the slowing of respiratory system accompanied with Weir's exlamtion; though she was trying not to it infront of Ezekiel but it was mentally freaking her out.

What the hell did he just give her!? I thought he was going to stabilize her not kill her faster...!

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Given her seven years of experience with concoctions of the soul-altering variety (a period that felt like a lifetime to her), Hela had hoped that maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be so terrible.

That hope died shortly after the potion’s effects kicked into gear and sensations worse than the Red Death overwhelmed her system.

It seemed that all those previous times she spent writhing in agony would only grant her one advantage—No matter how torturous it grew, she would not cry out.

And so, with her teeth gritted and bared in a grimace, Hela fought against the river of fire beneath her skin and the spasms that shuddered through her muscles, fought with rage towards the pain and unfairness and how ‘this always f*cking happened to her!’.

Then, when her ire was exhausted, fear and desperation sank in to take its place, driving her still on in a panic.

“Lewis,” Hela tried to plead for help, but the sound never made it past her lips, her form violently trembling now for she hadn’t the energy to spare to control the tremors.

Far past drained, only willpower and terror and a stubborn wish to just stay awake, stay living, kept her struggling even when her vision began flickering out and the air didn’t seem to fill her lungs.

She had nothing left to give, but she refused to die nonetheless with every fiber of her being.

And, she continued to refuse even as the potion stole consciousness from her, her body going limp in Weir’s arms with a muffled whimper.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“I’m—”

He was cut off as Hela — or was it Helen? — struggled in agony before going silent. “What… what’s going on?” he murmured, looking past Millie and trying to focus on what was happening across the room.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Weir kept hold of Hela in her agony, ensuring she'd not injure herself. He saw her lips move with his name...and, as she faded, he held her close. She lost consciousness shortly thereafter and, with it, control of her systems. He listened to the ebb of her heart and breath as they shut down down, one by one.

For a time that seemed to stretch to infinity, she was slack and still, quiet as the grave.

Yet the emotions present in her last moments of consciousness boded well. If he'd formulated and produced the potion correctly, they and it would be exactly the right combination to make this seeming death but a temporary change in states.

"There you are," he said at a whisper, barely audible to anyone with normal hearing. He knew not how, but he was certain she was still present.

"Fight," he said quietly. "Kick death in the bloody face! Take back your flesh, your form renewed and bettered."

This earthly tabernacle is yours, for now and always.

"Come back, love. Come back."

With every ounce of his being, he willed her back, if such things were possible.

He pressed his ear to her chest and listened.

Nothing.

...

At first.

Suddenly, a thunderous beat, the heart awoken anew. At first, it hammered, driving her quickly from near-death to mere unconsciousness.

Then it leveled out, even as her form began to change to that of Helen.

Lewis cackled with glee and out of sheer relief, a mad look of glorious delight animating his features.

By the time Helen regained consciousness, she was fully herself, Hela present as well.

They woke to Weir smiling down at them, overjoyed, tears of happiness cresting the rims of his eyes to flow over his cheeks and drip down onto her.

"There you are," he said softly, beaming with joy, relief, and pride. "There you both are, thank...you."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie watched Weir and Helen/Hela with an uncomfortably forced calm expression on her face, feeling a mix of awkwardness, frantic worry, and a little bit of tenderness for the strange and very troublesom scene that just transpired infronin of the her and Ezekiel. In response to Ezekiel's question Millie faced him with a very small uncomfortably forced smile now on her face, "Um... It's... Complacated." Was all she could answer since, though she had a good idea, wasn't quite certain herself. She promptly checked the time on her watch; Millie gave a heavy sigh of relief. "Oh thank God...only fourty four seconds left..."

Helen stirred and opened her eyes to find Weir above her, gradually becoming aware of his arms around her as well.

A quick succession of emotions flitted across her expression—worry, confusion, and then finally a dark-blushed, exceedingly self-conscious embarrassment as she realized her situation.

“Ah, what exactly is the thanks for?” She asked of Lewis without meeting his gaze again.

We’re... still alive.

Helen’s counterpart sounded absolutely stunned.

Well, this certainly isn’t what I had pictured for Heaven nor Hell, so... I do believe you’re right.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ezekiel decided that silence would be wise. He shuddered, but at Millie's second comment his expression brightened.

Thank God.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"Surviving," answered Lewis.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie leaned Ezekiel's back against the wall. "I have to get ready now, do you think you can hang on for a few more seconds?"

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

"Oh... you're welcome, I suppose."

Helen ran her fingers through her hair and kept her chin tucked.

"I think I could sleep for a week now, and..." Her face flushed a deeper shade of crimson, volume dropping to a meek, indistinct mumble, "A new set of clothes would be nice."

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"As soon as you're out of quarantine," agreed Lewis with a nod, his tone efficient yet fond.

"Millie's treatment should be ready any second now, thankfully."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie left Ezekiel leaning against the wall as she passed the other two shooting some slightly worriesom glances at them while leaving. Coming back inside the tent she saw the timer read thirteen seconds, her eyes wandered towards the mouse in the jar; It was too late for the tiny creature. She closed her eyes shaking her head. No time for that now, it's almost done... She went back to stairing at the timer counting down in her head. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! The timer nearly ding before she took her new creation and transferred it into fresh syringes. She then came back through the door out of excitement holding up the cure in her hand. "S'Ready!"

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Quarantine? She thought, puzzled.

I’ll fill you in later, just... take whatever medicine you have to so we don’t die of the plague.

Al...right then. If you insist.

Helen began to roll up her sleeve in preparation for the injection, frowning slightly.

I look forward to that explanation, Hela.

I’m sure you do.

Her counterpart’s tone made it clear she wouldn’t be sharing anything just yet.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He looked relieved at the sight of the syringes. "You have to... tell me how to create that cure some time," he told Millie, smiling.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Weir looked immensely relieved upon hearing Millie's pronouncement.

"Thank you, Millie," he said, the gratitude in his tone and expression unmistakable as he eagerly took one of the syringes.

"Here we are," he said with a smile to Helen as he disinfected the injection site. "You'll feel good as new in no time."

With that, he administered the cure to her, and bandaged the site immediately afterward.

"How do you feel?"

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie went over to Ezekiel and administered the cure into his arm, sat next to him and waited for the results. Immediately after the cure went into his vains a warm buzzing feeling started to quickly spread from the point of injection throughout the body, as soon as it reached the heart the beat doubled like it was hit with a shot of adrenaline, a droning sound started to ring in his ears, it literally felt like he had become a humen beehive. The pain from the red death started to subside into a dull soreness that was more tolerable. "How do you feel?" Millie asked Ezekiel after waiting a few minutes.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Helen surpressed a wince as similar sensations made their way throughout her body, briefly touching a hand to her temple and shutting her eyes while Lewis worked.

“Ah, as if... I’ve managed to take some version of the formula, without experiencing any of the pain... But it’s nothing worse than uncomfortable, so I can’t complain,” She answered with a gentle smile.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He winced at the injection, but said nothing. "Fine."

That got too close for my liking, he thought quietly.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis let out a breath of relief.

"I'm so glad to hear that," he told Helen. "I can't tell you how worried I was--how worried we all were."

Realizing her counterpart might not have informed her of the situation, he clarified:

"You've just survived the Red Death. Mr. Hollis here was experimenting with the disease and let an infected mouse escape.

"Unfortunately, Hela happened upon it, unaware of the deadly pathogen it carried.

"Fortunately, Millie was able to fashion a cure."

He looked to Millie again.

"I cannot thank you enough."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

A flattered smile flashed across Millie's face, feeling honored by Lewis's praise but in that same moment the smile disappeared as a grim thought sparked in her brain. "The works not done yet." She said looking back at Lewis, "the whole society is going to have to get vaccinated for the virus now. In fact because Mr. Hollis had the window open during his experiment; the whole surrounding area outside this building will need to be vaccinated as well." She explained in a serious tone.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Quietly, Helen took Lewis’s hand in her own, squeezing lightly.

At hearing Millie’s observation, she frowned and shut her eyes briefly, opening them again a moment later.

“That is... very unfortunate,” She noted with a sigh, “If word gets around, it may be extremely detrimental to the Society’s reputation, but... we still need to prevent any collateral damage regardless.”

“Millie, do you think there's any way you could ensure those in range are vaccinated in such a way that they're unaware of it? I know that doing so would not be entirely legal... but I'd rather not risk the bad publicity this accident would cause, nor would I enjoy seeing innocents perish."

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Crap.

He hadn’t thought about that.

“How... how are we going to do that?” he asked tentatively.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Weir thought a moment.

"Might there be any way to administer it via vapor?" he suggested. "London is known for its fog--no one would think anything of it."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie purked up at Weir's suggestion. "Oh, I was going to say we blame the French but I like your idea much better, Lewis! And if we have to we could use the Thames."

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

“What’s your idea regarding the Thames?” asked Helen of Millie, tipping her head to one side.

With only a brief glance to Ez, she made a mental note to bring him aside sometime and have a talk, once the problem of vaccinating the public was dealt with.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

"The Thames? You're suggesting we put some of the vaccine into the Thames?" he asked incredulously. "It wouldn't be potent enough, would it...?"

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis simply waited for Millie to clarify what she meant.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"I mean making the vapor look like it's just regular mist from the Thames, so it looks more natural than just pumping it out of the windows and all our niabors accusing the instatute full of mad scientist of poisoning the air for some God defying exsperament for world domination, or some tripe thier silly little brains would make up to try to demonize us for thier anti-science witch hunts." Millie explained further.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Helen nodded once.

“Right then, we’ll have to begin preparations at once—there’s no telling when people may begin getting sick, if they haven’t already.”

“I’m afraid we may have to break quarantine in order to get the necessary materials and help to finish this on time, but so long as everyone receives their vaccine, it shouldn’t come up as an issue.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

"Oh. Right. Can I do anything to help?" he asked.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis nodded in agreement with Millie and Helen.

This might just work...

"There's a theater across the way--the one putting on that dreadful Frankenstein play--that possesses some machines for fog effects. They'd make a good distribution system for the cure, I think. I can acquire them," he offered.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

With that Millie gave out the orders, "Right, So Lewis will knick the fog machine from the theater. Helen if you're feeling up to it, you gather the rest of the lodgers or pass out doses to those who can't come to us for the cure. And Mr. Hollis" she paused as she on the spot came up with a safe way for him to help, ". . . uh... Your going to stay with me and help me with the Inoculations. So if everyone knows what thier task is, let's go!"

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Helen flashed a small, almost strained smile and slowly rose to her feet, surpressing a wince as she did so.

“After I grab a few things from my quarters, I will be informing those within the Society of Arcane Sciences of the current matter on our hands, and ensuring that the necessary preparations for treatment are in place for whenever you’ve finished with the vaccines.”

She rubbed the back of her neck, exhaling heavily.

“It goes without saying that those already displaying symptoms will be given priority, regarding the cure.”

As she glanced to Weir, her expression softened, and she dropped her hand.

“Lewis, do you think you can manage to convince the theater to part with their machine for a small time? Perhaps you could give a rental payment or leave some form of collateral— Feel free to take what you need from the locked box of mine,” She suggested, fiddling with the bracelet she wore on her wrist as she did so.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“The people closest to this room will probably show symptoms first. Do you have enough of the vaccine, Millie?” he asked.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis nodded, understanding.

"I'd better go, then--and the best of luck to us all," he said, looking from Helen to Millie and back before he broke quarantine and went to the theater across the way.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"there's only a very small amount of the cure left but I use what's left to grow more, and there is still plenty of the surim for slowing the dessies to go around. Ezekiel what I need from you right now is any samples of the red death you have left, the counter virus actually prays upon the as food and any extra samples will help thrive and speed up it's growth."

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

“The same to you both,” returned Helen, meeting Millie’s gaze briefly before leaving the the room after Lewis.

She went to her own quarters and quickly switched into a new pair of clothes, before grabbing a small kit of medical supplies as she headed downstairs.

Soon, she’d spread the word of what had happened and the Lodgers all gathered in waiting for their treatment in the main hall.

Once everyone was together, Helen spoke with those who were or had been doctors on how they’d efficiently distribute the vaccine.

Almost every last syringe, bandage, and bottle of disinfectant were brought for each to use as Helen moved about the crowd, checking for symptoms and trying to keep up morale.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“Alright.”

He moved to his workbench and picked up a small glass vial full of a slightly translucent crimson substance.

“Here’s my sample. I’m afraid I don’t have any more of it, though,” he said, handing it to Millie carefully.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis, meanwhile, returned to the Society with two of the production's four fog machines. He left one in Helen's care and the other in Millie's, then set out for the theater again to collect the other two.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie took the vial examining it closely. "This will do..." She said before going back to her portable lab. "If you want to watch you should seal the doorways behind you." She took out a large jar of white translucent fluid and dumped the contents of the vial into the jar, giving a few swarls and putting it under the light. She watched as the pinkish colors turned darker and darker into a deep red until the was as crimson as the vial was. "They really like that stuff..." She commented before uncapping the jar again and taking the remains of the cure, which was only a few sloon's full, and dropped it into the soup and sealing it again, she watched the reaction. The drops rapidly expanded in the mixture, smokey tendrils of blue springs out reaching down to the bottom of the jar and curled back up the sides. the blue visousely devoured the red that no corner of the jar was safe, the surface of the newly changed fluid was starting to accumulate a light purple film at the top. "Alright, that worked faster than I hoped." She said with a very slight smile.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Helen set the machine aside where it would be out of the way and remain safe, wishing Lewis a quick word of luck before tending to the Lodgers once more as best she could manage.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez entered the portable lab, closing the door behind him.

He glanced over the workspace and the jar of now blue liquid in awe.

"So... how do you make the antivirus, by the way?" he asked curiously.

Jekyll1886

Lewis entered the theater and located the other two fog-machines.

"The Antiv-... Oh! You mean the red death cure!" Millie said her mind thinking of another main antivirus, "I thought... It's just... Nevermind... Aheheh-heh..." She quickly recovered from the slite mentle hiccup to try to explain, "This is actually an example of my changeing the DNA of a virus or bacteria to suit a certain purpose. It's a very delicate and complacated process that frankly we don't have time to run through the whole thing in great detail at the moment, but I basically ran a DNA test on the red death's defining traits and programmed a batch of blank cells into a virus that activity targets and attacks the red death and feeds on it like a swarm of paranas while leaving the hoast's body and cells alone. After it's food runs out it will start cannabalising itself or just starve and what's left will be picked up by the hoast's immune sysum. Now I think we should get on with our work Mr. Hollis."

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Helen cast a glance to her pocketwatch, carefully keeping her expression neutral as she did so.

It wouldn’t do for the Lodgers to notice her growing unease as they all awaited the cure.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

"Okay...!"

Woah, no way! Gosh, I should step up my game.

"Er, what can I help with?" he asked, fidgeting nervously.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis hefted the two remaining machines from their place backstage and took a circuitous route to the theater's exit in order to avoid notice.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

"You are to help me and Helen distribute the cure to the other lodgers," Millie said grabbing all the empty unused syringes she had, "by putting the proper dosege in these and any of the needles Helen's gathered. Put about this much in each syringe," she pointed to a notch on one of the needles, "and you are not to waist a single drop, any extra goes back in this jar. Now Helen's waiting on us, let's go." She exited the tent with the needles and blue jar in her arms and waited for Ez to leave before closing the tent back up and heading to where Helen and the other lodgers are.

"We've got it!" She anounced to Helen holding up the blue jar carfully, "who's first?"

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

Helen breathed a sigh of relief as she turned to see the two of them approach with the cure, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.

“This way, I’ve been arranging everyone by priority,” She informed Millie, leading both her and Ez to where she’d gathered up the supplies.

Soon, the three of them, along with any other Lodgers who had medical experience, were administering the doses with those Helen knew to already be experiencing symptoms receiving treatment before the remainder of the group.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez followed quickly after Millie to administer the cure to the lodgers. He started work immediately, filling the syringes and handing them to Helen and Millie.

After a while, he spoke up. "I... I'm sorry about all of this," he said to them both quietly. "If there's anything I can do to make up for this I'll gladly do it."

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Lewis returned to the Society with the last two devices and deposited them with the first two.

This done, he retrieved his doctor's bag and sought out Helen and Millie. He soon spotted them and Hollis in the process of inoculating the lodgers.

"We've the use of all four machines now," Weir informed them. Without any further ado, he joined the trio, helping wherever needed--be it filling syringes, swabbing injection sites, administering the cure, bandaging patients, or collecting and containing the used medical supplies.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie didn't visibly respond to Ez's apologie but she thought about it... Thankfully because of the extra help from other lodgers the work time was cut in half. * * *

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

“We will have to discuss this later, in my office,” Helen replied at an equally low volume, her expression unreadable.

It wasn’t long before each and every Lodger had matching bandages on their arms and the blue, buzzing cure coursing through their veins.

Seeing that the last member of the Society has been treated, Helen began aiding in the clean up of any medical supplies while the others would configure the fog machines to treat the remainder of London.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

At Helen’s reply, Ez bit his lip nervously. Crap, crap, crap...

“Alright. Now... how do we distribute the cure through the fog machines?” he asked after all the Lodgers had been treated.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

If Weir had heard Hollis and Helen's conversation, he gave no indication, instead merely helping with the lodgers until everyone was taken care of.

At Ezekiel's subsequent question, Lewis replied, "Leave that to me. Just fill all the machines two-thirds of the way with water. I'll be done by the time you've finished."

So saying, he vanished into the chemistry laboratory.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

They did so and Millie put the remainder of the cure in an ice chest to keep it fresh until Weir came back.

Helen Jekyll  MillieGriffin

By the time everyone had finished their tasks, Helen had completed her own and went to rejoin the group just as Lewis came walking back from the laboratory to do the same.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He shuffled backwards a little, trying to stay as much out of the action as he could.

“So do we just take these down to the Thames and turn them on?”

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

"Just a moment," said Lewis.

He took out a stoppered glass vial full of clear, slightly yellow-brown liquid, uncorked it, and distributed its contents equally into the four fog machines.

"Millie, if you'd top off these vapor-making devices with your cure, we'll be ready to set them up along the Thames.

"Though, as for 'turning them on'," he said, addressing Ezekiel once more, "I'm afraid we'll have to pump them manually with our feet--they work much like a bellows in that respect."

Weir demonstrated how to operate the pedal-pump--though he stopped short of putting his weight on it--so that everyone would understand what to do.

He then pulled out a map of London; four spots along the Thames were each marked with a red "X".

"I believe these would be the most efficacious places in which to set up the fog-machines," he explained, "based on prevailing weather patterns."

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Millie was already poring the cure in equal parts into the machines as Weir was explaining the plan. "Sounds perfect to me." She said poring the last of the cure in the last machine and capping it, "and we are now ready!"

slightest tilt to her head.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“I asked around, visited some less-than-reputable places... Er... I bought a vial full of it from someone. I’d rather not think about where it may have come from...?”

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

"Could you describe the person who sold you the vial, and where you were during the purchase?"

As Helen asked this, she withdrew a small notebook from a desk drawer and readied her pen.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He nodded. "I couldn't see his face very well -- there wasn't much light in the tavern..."

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“Perhaps you could describe his voice, or his stature?” She suggested, making a brief note. “Any and all information will be most helpful, please share every detail you can recall.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“He was average height, I suppose. Maybe a bit on the tall side. And he had a deep voice. As I said, I don’t know him — it was just on business,” he explained.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

Helen had begun to write when Ez first spoke, but soon rested her pen back on the desk once more.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to be... a bit more specific than that, Mr. Hollis. Could you give me a range of measurements you believe he’d fit into, or perhaps show me his height in relation to yours with a hand?”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“Why is this important?” he asked. “I’m not avoiding the question, I’m just curious as to why you need his description?”

He raised his hand to about the height of his forehead. “He was about this tall compared to me, if we were both standing up. Thin, too.”

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

Helen made a slight hum and jotted down the information before pausing to study Ezekiel, her expression thoughtful.

“Well, considering that this man sold you something that nearly caused the apocalypse, I believe it is important that we ensure such a thing doesn’t occur again...”

She opened her desk drawer, pulling out several loose sheets of paper as she asked Ez another question:

“Going back to the tavern you mentioned meeting this man in, did it have a name and address?”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“I don’t recall the name. But I remember the address...”

He took a sheet of paper and wrote down the address.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“Thank you,” Helen said, taking the paper and setting it to the side.

“I think we can drop the subject of how you acquired the vial of the Red Death for now... I’m currently interested in how a breeze managed to knock over the cage containing your specimen and therefore released it... I had thought that the seal for something so dangerous would’ve been more secure and sturdy.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

"It wasn't the breeze, I accidentally knocked it off the bench when the door slammed. Look, I wasn't expecting like that to happen. Sure, I might not have prepared properly, I might not have taken the right safety measures, but..."

He paused, taking a second to lower his voice, which had risen to an almost-shout.

"I'm really sorry about all of this... I won't let it happen again, I swear."

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

Helen subtely raised an eyebrow at Ezekiel’s growing volume, her stare almost parental in nature with its quiet disapproval.

“I am going to ask you three questions, Mr. Hollis. Your responses will have a rather significant weight on what your punishment will be for this incident. Please keep that in mind as you answer.”

“First, why did you have both the window and door to your room open while doing an experiment far more suited to an actual lab, which was built to contain such dangers should an accident like yours occur, seeing as the Red Death is a disease that is potentially transmitted through the air.”

“Second, I have reason to suspect that you have had incidents similar to this one in the past, which does little to help your case... And not only that, but you were only allowed to do your research here on the condition that you would take the required safety precautions to prevent any potential damage, and I made certain you were given the proper equipment to do so... yet you’ve just admitted to me that you didn’t take the time to prepare properly. What could possibly persuade me to do anything but have you packed and vacating the premises before morning?”

“Third, do you believe that you deserve another chance, after all that’s happened?”

She shook her head.

“You could’ve killed everyone within the Society, and then perhaps even the rest of the world. This is a Society of rogue scientists, not mad, and you seem to fall into the latter category with your blatant negligence.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

His heart sank as he tried to gather his thoughts.

"I..."

He trailed off and paused for a moment before continuing. "I have no excuse for what I did. I don't know if I deserve another chance, honestly...

"How... how did you know about... about what happened?"

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“I’m afraid that’s confidential,” replied Helen as she returned her attention to the blank sheets of paper sitting before her, beginning to write.

“Mr. Hollis, you do realize that I am quite prepared to simply revoke your status as a Lodger and send you away from the Society, do you not?”

Her gaze rose briefly to meet his.

“As the day manager of the Society, it is well within my power to do so, once confirming with either of the co-founders.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He shifted in his chair again. “I understand.”

HelenJekyll  Pyrogue

Helen paused to look him over once more.

“Do you not have anything to say in your own defense, then?”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

"I... no," he said quietly.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“Very well, then. Please remain where you are.”

For a short while, Helen was silent as she continued to write, pausing her or there to think.

Then, after gathering up the pages she’d written on, she set them in the nearby shadow of a plant and said:

“Charricthran, if you’re not busy, could you do me a favor and make copies of these?”

There was a beat, followed by the pages being swallowed up into the shadow, only for them to resurface in double about half a minute later.

“Thank you,” She addressed the shadow as she picked up the original papers and their new copies, setting the latter aside.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez stayed silent and waited, observing quietly.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“Here you are, Mr. Hollis,” Helen said, holding out several sheets of paper and a pen, “I would like you to fill this out to the best of your ability, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.”

The papers were a series of questions with ample space between them for a response, along with an extra blank sheet in case he needed more room.

They read:

‘This is a questionnaire meant to aid in the description of the individual who sold you the vial of the disease know as the Red Death. Please answer thoroughly, and be specific as you can. If there’s any reason you cannot answer one or more of the questions, please put why.’

And was followed by a number of questions.

Please list any further comments on the individual or your interactions with them below.

“I do hope you won’t find it to be too much trouble,” She said with the slightest hint of a sheepish smile.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He nodded, took the papers and a pen and began to write.

As Ezekiel worked on answering the questions, Helen busied herself with other tasks, organizing some of her paperwork and making a few notes in the journal of hers.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

As he read through the questions, he frowned. Did she really need to know this much?

Oh well.

He began to fill it out.

1. Was the individual male, female, or other? If other, please specify. They had a deeper voice, and a more masculine build. I assume it was a male.

2. Did the individual have any discernible ethnicity? If so, what was it? Caucasian.

3. What was the individual’s height in feet and inches? (Give your best estimate) Probably about 5’9”.

4. What was the individual’s general build/weight? (Thin, heavyset, muscular, etc.) Average build.

5. What was the color of the individual’s eyes? Was there anything unusual about them? (Mismatched, discoloration of the pupil, one missing, etc.) He had dark eyes, with no unusual features except for a scar underneath one eye.

6. What was the color, style, and length of the individual’s hair? Did they have facial hair? His hair was brown, just touching the shoulders and straight. They had a short beard of the same colour.

7. What was the skin tone of the individual? Slightly tan. But the sort of tan achieved by being somewhere other than in London’s clouds and smog, not from natural skin tone.

8. Did the individual have any notable markings, such as scars, tattoos, birthmarks? If so, please describe them. As mentioned before, he had a small scar beneath his right eye. I couldn’t see much else.

9. What is the age of individual? Please be as narrow as possible in estimating with ranges. 35–40, most likely.

10. How did the individual appear to be doing financially? (Wealthy, poor, working class, etc.) He wore nondescript clothing, but the cloth was in good enough condition to be working class.

11. How would you describe the accent of the individual’s voice? Was it foreign? They certainly weren’t from London or Ireland. I couldn’t identify their voice, but they weren’t English.

12. How would you describe the pitch (how high or low it is in sound) of the individual’s voice? Low.

13. How would you describe the timbre (vocal range) of the individual’s voice? (Alto, tenor, bass, etc.) Bass, maybe? I’m not too familiar with musical terms.

14. How would you describe the general volume (loudness) of the individual’s voice? He was whispering to avoid being heard by other people.

15. What was the tone of the individual’s voice? (Clear, gravelly, etc.) Rough, perhaps.

16. What was the individual wearing at the time of the meeting, or at anytime you saw them? (Please list all items noted, and if seen on multiple occasions, indicate which articles belong to which instance.) The first time I saw him (to enquire about the sample), he was wearing a dark brown jacket and pants, with a black waistcoat. The second time, he wore a dark green cloak.

17. How would you describe the individual’s overall personality? (Did they seem nervous at all, or like a criminal sort? Did they seem to have done this sort of thing before?) He kept looking over his shoulder, as if to check if anyone was watching or listening. Other than that, they didn’t let much on.

18. How would you describe the individual’s overall manner, attitude, or demeanor? (Confident, nervous, relaxed, eager, etc.) At the time, he seemed wary and careful but not nervous.

19. How would you describe the individual’s body language, such as posture? They had a slightly slouched posture, I believe.

20. Is the individual most likely to be a no smoker or a smoker? I don’t think they smoked, because I couldn’t smell tobacco.

21. How would you describe the vocabulary of the individual, regarding their possible class? Did they use any notable slang or more scientific multisyllabic words? They used a few technical terms, but they didn’t seem to know a lot about the contents of the vial, only that it was dangerous. In regards to slang: they spoke correct English, but it was almost too correct. They didn’t seem to use the slang terms, or the little details that native speakers use. It was a little unsettling, to be honest.

22. Did the individual wear gloves? If no, were their fingernails clean? He wore thick black cloth gloves.

24. What was the shape of the individual’s hands? (Gnarly, smooth, slim, wide, etc.) It was hard to tell, due to the gloves.

25. How would you describe the gait of the individual? (Confident, furtive, regular strides, short ones, etc.) From what I observed, he walked with regular strides.

26. Did the individual have a limp, or legs of different length? Not that I could tell.

27. Did the individual have the smell of smoke, salt water, or any kind of cologne? Fire smoke, and some sort of disinfectant. It was unpleasant.

28. Did the individual have any other noticeable characteristics, such as scents, sights, or sounds they had or made? Not that I could tell.

29. How did you find the individual, or how did they find you? I had been inquiring about virus samples with people who may have been able to supply me with some. He contacted me and we met in a tavern in the East End.

30. How did you know that the individual had a vial of the Red Death? I was asking around with people who may have been able to supply me with a sample of a virus, and when we met he mentioned it discreetly before handing me the Red Death sample and telling me the name of the virus.

31. Where did you first hear about the individual? The first I heard of him was when he contacted me. I had no prior knowledge of him.

32. Was the individual alone, or did they work in a group? Not that I could tell. However, he didn’t appear to know much about the Red Death virus, or about virology in general. I can only assume he possessed it without knowing its potential, or that he may have been representing someone else.

Helen Jekyll

“All done, Mr. Hollis?” asked Helen after a time, lifting her gaze from her work to look up at Ezekiel inquisitively.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“I am.”

He handed the sheets of paper back to Helen.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“Thank you.”

She accepted the pages and proceeded to read over his responses, her brow furrowed in quiet thought.

“Most of your answers are sufficient, though I would like you to go into more detail with question number four, regarding the build of the individual, and... your response to the final question, number thirty-two on the subject of whether the individual approached you with in group or not, is unclear.”

Helen took a copy of both the first and last page of the questionnaire she’d given Ezekiel, placing them before him.

“If you could adjust both of those responses, that would be marvelous.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He picked up the pen again and adjusted his answers accordingly.

4. What was the individual’s general build/weight? (Thin, heavyset, muscular, etc.) Average build. A little muscle maybe, but it was hard to tell beneath their cloak.

32. Was the individual alone, or did they work in a group? Not that I could tell. However, he didn’t appear to know much about the Red Death virus, or about virology in general. I can only assume he possessed it without knowing its potential, or that he may have been representing someone else. He wasn’t working with anyone at that moment, however. At least, not that I could see.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

Helen accepted the papers from him once again and glanced over the new responses, nodding briefly.

“These are better, thank you.”

She gathered all of the pages with his answers and tucked them neatly into a folder, putting it all away.

“Well then, it seem we’re drawing near to the end of our conversation, Mr. Hollis... If you’ve nothing left to say, I’ve decided on the course of disciplinary action to take, regarding this incident with the Red Death.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He could almost feel his heart stop beating. "A-and?" he stuttered.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

Helen paused for a moment, her gaze meeting with his.

“Due to your negligence, despite being spoken with on the matters of safety prior to this event, and the potentially fatal risk it placed on those around you, your status as a member of the Society of Arcane Sciences will be revoked, and you will need to vacate the premises by... nine o’clock tomorrow morning.”

“You will be permitted to take all of your equipment and belongings with you, but I ask that you leave any potentially lethal materials behind, where they can be contained properly. I’ll see if I can send a specialist down to assist you in deciding on what to leave and what to take.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

For a moment, he didn’t register the meaning of what Helen had said. Surely he wouldn’t have to leave—everything at the Society was just so...amazing! There was no way he’d be able to leave it all behind, to forget all of this? He’d hardly been here more than a few weeks!

“I... I...”

He felt tears begin to well up in his eyes.

“Okay.”

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“You have to understand, Mr. Hollis, that in this organization, we take safety very seriously,” Helen told him, her tone sympathetic but unwavering, “At the end of the day, it’s what separates the rogue scientists from the mad ones.”

She gestured briefly to the door.

“You may be excused, if you wish.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He stood up from the chair and started to walk toward the door.

“Would I still be allowed to help with the cure distribution by the Thames?” he asked quietly.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“That is a good question, Mr. Hollis, though I’m afriad I’m not certain of its answer,” She admitted, rising from her chair with several folders and papers tucked in her arm, “I shall have to ask Dr. Weir, or Millie, as they likely have a better understanding of the care needed for such a task than I.”

Helen stepped past Ezekiel to open the door, stepping out into the hallway with the question on her lips, only to pause when she found nobody waiting outside her office.

“Oh, it appears that Dr. Weir and Millie have already left,” She relayed with a note of surprise, turning back to Ezekiel.

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

Ez looked at the empty space where Lewis and Millie had been. “Well, it would make sense for them to leave — so they can distribute the cure quickly. I suppose I wait here,” he said.

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

“That would be sensible, yes,” She agreed with a nod, then, appearing slightly puzzled, glanced to Ezekiel.

“What would you be waiting here for?”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He looked up.

“I... I need to pack, and work out what I’m taking with me. And where I’ll be staying once I leave.”

Helen Jekyll

Helen blinked once, and comprehension flashed across her expression a moment later.

“Oh, forgive me, I misunderstood—You meant waiting within the Society, rather than outside of my office door, correct?”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

“Y-yes.”

He glanced out the window and saw fog drifting from the surface of the Thames. “Looks like they’re finished, anyway.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I’ll, er, go and pack.”

There was a moment’s pause. “I’m sorry. About all this.”

Helen Jekyll  Pyrogue

Her gaze was rather cool as it shifted away from him, lacking significant emotion.

“I’m afraid that an apology does little to aid the situation now,” She said with a shake of her head, “I’ve always been one who believed in actions holding more weight than words.”

“But,” if it’s sincere “I suppose it’s better appreciated than any malice.”

Pyrogue  Helen Jekyll

He nodded, turned and left the room, walking back to his own quarters.

Jekyll1886  Pyrogue

Not long after Ezekiel left, Lewis returned to Helen's office. The cure had been deployed via vapor and there had been no new cases of the Red Death, much to everyone's relief.

"Helen?" he called quietly, giving her office door three soft raps.

MillieGriffin  Jekyll1886

Seeing that lewiL wanted to talk to Helen first she went to Ez to see how things went for him. "Mr. Hollis, it's me." She announced with a knock on the door. Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

“One moment,” returned Helen, and there was the briefest shuffling of papers within the office before she appeared on the other side of the now-opened door with a tired smile.

“Welcome back, Lewis—How would you like to step inside?”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

"I'd like that very much," he returned, and entered when she let him in.

He took a seat on the chair Ezekiel had recently vacated.

"How did it go?"

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

After shutting the door, Helen returned to her place behind her desk, sinking back into the chair with some mixture of a laugh and sigh.

“It could’ve gone a lot worse, all things considered,” She said, taking a breath in, exhaling slowly once more.

“I... decided to have Ezekiel leave the Society. I believe he’s currently packing.”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

Lewis nodded.

He let out a breath.

"I must say, I'm relieved. He agreed to go willingly, then?"

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

“Yes,” Helen confirmed with a nod, “He was a tad emotional about it—which is understandable I think—but cooperated nonetheless. If the trend continues, Mr. Hollis will have left the building by nine tomorrow morning.”

“However, unfortunately, that won’t be the end of this whole situation,” She continued, grabbing the folder containing the questionnaire papers Ezekiel had filled out and offering it to Lewis, “There’s an individual who supposedly sold the sample of the Red Death to Mr. Hollis, and I fear that a seller of such dangerous products within the city could have fatal consequences, if not dealt with in some fashion or another.”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

"Oh bloody Hell," the words tumbled from his mouth at her mention of a seller. He took the proffered papers and read every detail.

With mental image of the suspect complete, he shuffled the papers into a neat little pile and handed them back to Helen.

"Firstly," he said, "I'm impressed how thorough you were in the questions you asked and answers you required. I can certainly see why Jekyll made you day manager." A brief smile.

"Secondly...I'd be willing to go to this address and make inquiries in hopes of finding this seller. If he offered the Red Death to Ezekiel, I don't see why he wouldn't do the same for me. I only hope he's not already let it pass into the hands of someone with ill intent."

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Helen smiled and blushed faintly at the compliment, glancing down as she set the papers back where they belonged.

“Well, thank you for that—I wanted to be thorough, is all,” She said, a touch of anxiousness creeping into her tone, “I do hope it’s enough to help you find the man, and that the encounter goes well.”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

"As do I," agreed Lewis. "I do have a contact who should be familiar with the goings-on in the area, thankfully. I could ask what he's heard, if you like."

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

“That would be wonderful,” She nodded, “Any extra help would be greatly appreciated.”

“Oh,” Helen blinked, a sudden thought coming to mind, “I had planned to run this information by Dr. Jekyll, once I’d finished talking with Mr. Hollis—would you like to record any of it before I do so, in case the co-founders would like to hold onto this?”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

"Ah. I'd like to, if you don't mind," replied Lewis as he took out his journal and pen and turned to a blank page.

When he'd finished, he returned the papers to Helen once more.

"There. That should do it. Thank you."

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

A warm smile.

“You’re more than welcome.”

She began to gather up a wide array of documents, each of them containing some measure of information about Ezekiel or the lastest outbreak crisis.

“Well, I best go get this taken care of so that Hela can have her turn back—I’ll have to give her extra time tomorrow, to make up for today, though I’ll still need to be around for a time to ensure Mr. Hollis didn’t have any trouble leaving.”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

"Fair enough," said Lewis as he put away his journal and pen.

"I understand Dr. Jekyll's recently returned, so I fancy you'll find him in his office."

He rose from his chair.

"One last thing, if you don't mind, while your door's still closed."

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

“Oh, of course,” Helen agreed, ceasing her sorting of the papers to focus her attention solely on Lewis, “What is it?”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

He extended his arms in front of him in an open manner, silently inviting her to give him a hug if she liked.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Helen immediately broke into a radiant grin, standing and embracing him at once with a quiet hum of joy, gratitude welling within her.

And here I thought he wanted to discuss something serious, She thought fondly.

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

He hugged her tightly, immeasurably thankful she'd not perished this day.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," he confessed as they loosened their grips to stand straight once more.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Her cheeks colored and she dipped her chin with a smile, clasping her hands behind her back.

“Well, I cannot... express in words how much you’ve done for me, helping me as you have.”

She looked up at him.

“I don’t know how I could ever thank you enough... or live without you, for that matter.”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

"Darling, it's my genuine pleasure."

A relieved sigh.

"I'm just happy everything worked out as well as it did, given...well, given all that horrid Red Death business."

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

Helen nodded soberly.

“We’re quite fortunate to have survived without casualties, it could’ve been... so, so much worse,” She agreed with a shiver, reaching to take his hand, “At least the worst of it is over now.” Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

He gave her hand an affirming squeeze.

"Thankfully. There are still a few loose ends to wrap up, but you're right."

He let go as he thought aloud, "Speaking of which, I had better go attend them sooner than later.

"And you've your own work cut out for you, explaining this mess to our illustrious co-founder," he sympathized.

Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886

“It’s nothing I won’t be able to handle,” She said with a shrug and hopefully reassuring smile.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, alright? Try not to get into too much trouble while taking care of things.”

Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll

"Thank you. The best of luck to you, too," he returned.

They parted company then, each to their task.

Pyrogue  Jekyll1886

He looked up from folding his clothes into a suitcase. “Come in,” he replied, then continued carrying out his task. MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

She entered promptly, and paused momentarily when she saw him packing. "Uh... So how did it go...?" She asked conservatively.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

Sighing, Ez gestured to the suitcase. "I have to leave by tomorrow morning." MillieGriffin  Pyrogue 5 months ago Millie blinked, "Oh..." She put her hands in her pockets "and that's it? Helen didn't mention another option? Like having someone supervise your exsperaments or anything like that?"

1  − Avatar Pyrogue  MillieGriffin 5 months ago “That’s it.”

He moved to take some books off a shelf and fit them into his suitcase.

“I’m afraid I’m not too familiar with London yet. Do you know anywhere I can stay after I leave?” he asked.

2  − Avatar Jekyll1886  Pyrogue 5 months ago ((MillieGriffin ))

− Avatar MillieGriffin  Pyrogue 5 months ago Inside Millie's pockets her hands clenched into fists, she looked away, her brows knitted Into a pensive glare that had a bit of resentment to it. In a moment she looked back to him with a more neutral face. "The Bedford hotel on 130 Southampton Row is my best recommendation from here, it's the closest and in middle class area, I'll walk you over there tomorrow..." She paused a moment then started again," can I ask you somethings Mr. Hollis?"

(Sorry this took so long, had to do some research on hotels the were around in the 1800's)

(Pyrogue)

2  − Avatar Pyrogue  MillieGriffin 5 months ago He hesitated, then nodded. “Of course. Ask away.”

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"What is your motivation to pursue cryptid microbiology? I know you studied it at the University but what are your goals with it?"

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

“I... I’m not sure exactly,” he murmured. “It’s just that, er, a friend of mine... Well, he died because of a virus. And...”

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"And...?" She pressed

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

He chose his words carefully. “I felt like I could have done something to help.”

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

Millie nodded thoughtfully keeping her face neutral, "I can sempathize Mr. Hollis, but what are your goals? If you were to have a tome containing all the information and secrets about viruses that could answer any questions you ever have about them how would you us that knowledge?"

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

“To help people,” he replied. “You alter viruses to perform different tasks, right? I had heard that you can do that, but I didn’t have the right equipment to be able to try it until recently. And, well... I don’t know how I’m going to continue my work once I leave the Society,” he confessed.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"There's more to it than just changing viruses, much more, and despite the benefits what I do is the most dangerous kind of science even more than radiology! In the hands of a mad man a pluage ten times worse then the red death could be let loose on the world that only they could cure, a totalitarian government could make an army of immortal monsters to destroy and insulate everyone, even in the hands of an idiot who don't know what they're doing can be devastating! There is NO room for error, NO room for incompetence, you need to know exactly what you're doing one hundred percent and take every precautions for any possibility of something going wrong or no matter how many times you try or how good your intentions are or what equipment you have people will die!"

Millie stopped ranting a moment when she felt her beast features start to come out, she took a moment to calm down and regain composer.

"But... You've figured that by now... Haven't you?"

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

Ez looked taken aback, and was speechless for a moment. He stopped packing.

“I... Yeah, I figured that out on my own, thanks.”

He closed the lid of the suitcase.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"What are you do to willing to do to earn a second chance with the sociaty?... And don't just say 'anything', anybody can say they 'would do anything', what specific actions do you think would be enough to earn back our good graices?" Millie asked expectedly.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

“I don’t really know... What do you suggest I do?” he asked.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

Millie let out a deep sigh and laid a hand on the side of her forehead. "I can't be the one to tell you that, that's something you'd have to figure out..." She said then looked off murmuring under her breath "I'm still working on my own redemption..." She took another deep sigh then spoke up calmly again, "do you plan on continuing your resurch?"

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

He shrugged. “If it’s possible. Though I doubt many places will be able to facilitate my experiments.”

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

Millie remaind silent as she thought carefully. "Well you can't," she said flatly, "not unsupervised at least, there are no other places that have any of the of the safety regulations here, even normal people are always at risk of dieing from all the hassards that are in any house in London, let alone anyone who plays with viruses for Science, your lack of experience still makes you a danger if you try to continue your resurch, and most of the public are still completely naive of the dangers of germs so if something like this happens again somewhere else nobody would be able to stop it in time. Something Helen was obviously too short sighted to take into account when she decided to kick you out into the ignorant puplic, nice to know she doesn't give a crap about the rest of the world..." She gave another look of resentment off away from him before she continued, " to be able to even partway safely conduct the experiments you want, you'd have to build a lab spasificly designed to keep any micro-organisms contains, with special materials and such that the average unsponsored scientist couldn't afford, and even that might not be enough lone, like I said, in the wrong hands..."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

“Right.”

He thought about that for a moment before sighing.

“I’ve only been here for a few weeks. I don’t want to leave. I mean, everything is just so... amazing. I came here expecting some dry academic scholars, and well... that certainly wasn’t the case!” he laughed.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

Millie took a deep breath and let out a sullen, dead pan, "Yup..."

A long moment pause of silence stretched out between them until Millie broke it again.

"So..." She looked up at him with a sly glint in her eyes, "it might be a good thing I'm willing to help you out... If you'll have it that is... and under a few certain conditions..."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

Ez frowned. “What?”

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"If you're really determined to continue your research, it would be much more preferable, not to mention safer, if you were to do it in a controlled environment like it described earlier, with someone who knows what they're doing around to prevent any further accidents from happening. Therefore, I purpose that under the condition you leave your specimens and only conduct your research in a special lab of mine while I'm around and follow the safety regulations, I will be your benefactor, and I will give share some tips and leaned aid that would help further your studies safely. and purhaps I could help you earn your second chance living here again..."

She paused again, thoughtfully.

"Though what I said might sound rich coming from someone my age, but do have the resources to back up my words, and I believe my actions today should be enough to prove that I know what I'm doing. With nine years experience I know more about this field then anyone. For instance..." She hesitated, as she started to nervously fidget with her gloves, "F-for instance..."

She took a deep breath and let out a sigh, then took a few steps closer to him as she fumbled taking off a glove, with an out stretched trimbling arm she raised her ungloved hand up at him and with her eyes closed said in a low, nervous tone.

"F-for instance... This..."

For the first time in months she let her beast form out to show. The finger nails of the out stretched hand grew into sharp claws, she grew taller as The arches of her feet elongated out of her boots, her clinched teeth turned into fangs, slightly visible even when she closes her mouth, her ears grow bigger and longer, her hair bristled out and as she snapped open her eyes at him to reveal they've become inhumanly large, with a golden glow cat-like slits for pupils. She held it for only a few seconds before retracting every back in an instant and frantically putting the glove back on. "Y... yeah so... that..."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

He took a step back, shocked.

“That’s... that’s quite impressive,” he said, recovering his composure quickly but still visibly shaken. “But... you’ll really help me? I can’t thank you enough...!”

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

Millie remaind silent clasping her regloved hand tightly as she breathed deeply, she was still trimbling from the nerve wracking stunt.

"Y-you... You can thank me by lending me your cooperation..." She finally said still looking down at her hands, "So this never happens again..." After another moment Millie slowly turning to him again and once more slowly out stretched her hand towards him this time inviting him to shake it, with an expecting look that read, 'do we have a deal?'.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

He took her hand.

“Alright,” he agreed.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

A cautiously optimistic half-smile formed on Millie's face as they breefly shook hands, then said as she released his hand. "Well I'll take the equipment and specimens down to my lab now, where they'll be secure and come back to help you pack anything else that's yours."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

He moved to the bench on the other side of the room and picked up some of the equipment and instruments.

“Where is your room, exactly?” he asked.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"The lab's not in my room, it's under the sociaty." Came up to him and held out her arms, wanting him to place the supplies in them, "If you would be so kind..."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

He passed the supplies into Millie’s arms and began to walk toward the door.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

Before Millie put a hand on the doorknob, "Now no one but my uncle and I really knows about this lab and I'd quite like to keep it that way," She put a finger to her lips "so this is just between us..." And with that she opened the door and they headed down to Millie's secret lab.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

Nodding, he followed Millie into the lab.

MillieGriffin Pyrogue

* * *

Deep, deep down beneath the sociaty there was a some what newly walled off area right next to a celler door leading outside, the new walls had two copper plated doors right next to each other, only the door on the right had a copper doorknob and heavy-duty lock. "This is it, no food or drink allowed inside unless you intend on experimenting with it." Millie said as they approtched, she produced a key from the inner breast pocket of her coat. After unlocking and entering the right door, they found themselves in a room the size of a large closet with a frosted glass door on other side. Millie opened a trunk next to them full of surgical masks, goggles, rubber gloves, and child sizes smocks all neatly packed. "This is where we put on safety gear to prevent contamination and contracting anything, I be sure to get some in your size." She explained plainly, "Thankfully I consistently sanitize the after every use, so this time is fine but you are to wear protection whenever you come in here." She pushed open the glass door to reveal the lab itself. A large brightly lit, white room, with a sterile smell to it. There were shelves cabinets and cupboards full of vials, tools, equipment, and specimens. On the very right side of the lab were vivariums, terrariums and aquariums all securely padlocked with different types of small animals in them, lined the entire wall. A large cluttered working desk was in the center of the lab. "I guess I'll also have to bring everything up a few inches..." She muttered noticing that all the tables and stools were scaled down to her size. She took one of the stools, dragged it to the nearest cupboard and set the box of Ezekiel's equipment on it. "Please be very careful what you touch here, Mr. Hollis, there's a lot of dangerous stuff in here."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

"Whoa..." he said softly as they entered the lab, looking around in awe and trying to refrain from touching anything. His eyes darted around the room, taking everything in.

"Er, can I ask something?"

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"Sure, go ahead." Millie said putting Ezekiel's equipment in an organized manner in the cupboard.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

“How did you do that... thing, before, with the claws and the...”

He made a dramatic gesture with his arms.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

Millie's hand twitched just before she grabbed a microscope from the box and put it on the shelf. "I... made a virus that changed my DNA. Now it's part of me." She explained without looking at him, then muttered to under her breath, "told you in the wrong hands people make monsters..."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

"Ohh. Okay..."

There was a pause.

"What other stuff do you do down here? I'm sorry for asking so many questions, it's just... wow."

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"My area of expertise is mostly changing DNA, it's actually a very versatile field. But I also have a hand in biology, both micro and macro, zoology," she pointed to the vivariums, "a little bit of botany," she pointed to the left wall that had strange potted plants under solar lamps, "and biochemistry. Though this place is mostly resurged for my more dangerous projects, hence all the safety features and the hidden area and why I'm keeping your exsperaments here. My more, eh... puplic-safe, gimmicky projects are upstairs where everyone else can see them." She put a padlock on the cabinet she stored Ezekiel's viruses.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

He glanced at the now locked cabinet with apprehension.

Was any of this even allowed to happen in the Society? What if he had to leave? What if Lewis, or Dr Helen caught him? He pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind. He'd worry about that later.

"I had better go... I still need to finish packing."

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"Right!" Millie said picking the now empty box up and twirling it between the open palms of her hands. "Are you going to need this?" She asked holding the box up for Ezekiel to see.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

Ez shook his head. "I just need to pack my clothes."

He turned toward the door.

"Thank you."

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

"Okay!" She crushed the box between her palms like it was paper and went to the glass door on the left. "Can't get out the way we came, gotta go this way." She pushed the glass door open for him that lead to another closet sized room.

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

Going slightly red with embarrassment, he followed Millie through the other door.

MillieGriffin  Pyrogue

The inside of this smaller room was pungent with the smell of pure alcohol. Millie took a copper lid off of a large metal Ben lined with a fine mesh net, it was full of 180 proof alcohol with used smocks, gloves, masks and goggles floating it. The sharp sting of the feums made her cough a little, and her nose crincal up. "You put used protection gear in here. And once a week either you or I take these out to dry, be sure not to have any open clams or lit tobacco in this area or near the clothes." she explained without taking a breath, before slamming the lid back down and moving to what looked to be a shower hooked to the page tank. She curled her fingers around the copper handle of a pull cord, "Ones you've disposed your safety gear pull on this cord and a quick spray of sanitation fluid will get rid of anything else that you could be carrying on your body that could spread." She let go of the pull all opened the copper door leading out to the basement again. "I know it sounds like a lot of rules to follow but it is extremely vital that you take every procausiou not to let an outbreak to spread amongst the populist." Millie paused and took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "Well then, unless you want help packing you're clothes I'll see you in the morning to walk you to your hotel..."

Pyrogue  MillieGriffin

"Alright... I'll meet you tomorrow morning, then."

He exited Millie's lab and returned to his own room to pack.

Tairais  Pyrogue

Charricthran waited until Ezekiel had returned to his room and Millie was out of earshot before he slipped out of a nearby shadow.

Red eyes glittered above a sharp-toothed smile as he tilted his head and regarded a man about to make what he saw to be a very foolish decision.

"I gotta say, kid, I'd be impressed with what you were doin' if it weren't so bloody stupid."

Pyrogue  Tairais

Ez started and spun around to face whoever had spoken.

“I'm sorry?”

Tairais  Pyrogue

"Goin' behind the authority o' the woman who speaks for Doctor Jekyll himself ta stay connected ta the Society, enterin' inta a shady sorta deal with another kid o' unknown motives? Sure, she's kind, but what's your plan for when all this comes crashin' down? Ya ain't givin' me a lotta motive ta keep the goods ta myself, see."

Charricthran shrugged rather lazily, arms spreading to his sides like wings. Something like steel filled his eyes when he crossed them over his chest again.

"You were given that ultimatum for a reason, kid."

Pyrogue  Tairais

He froze. "Who told you?"

Tairais  Pyrogue

"No one, seein' as I was listenin' myself. My business, to know Secrets, see- in my own time they were my domain. A Secret shared 'tween only two souls tends ta be louder as anythin' but a Secret kept to the self, hm? 'Twere bad enough only the four o' ya knew jus' how close the world came ta death, there in that room."

He chuckled, the sound rough and low with the sound of smoke, his smile curling at the edges, all but ripping itself from his face to snarl and split the air.

"Secrets upon Secrets, my friend, an' you've still not answered the question: What's your plan? How are ya gonna fix this? 'Cos, ah... you've bloody well buggered up on a few accounts."

Pyrogue  Tairais

"I'm going to prove myself," he said, trying to appear confident. "And what... what I'm doing..."

There was a pause as he faltered.

Tairais  Pyrogue

"What you're doing, as I said, ain't the brightest way ta go about provin' yourself. Breakin' rules ta make up for breakin rules? Two wrongs ain't gonna make a right anytime soon- hasn't ever worked in the past either, mind."

Charricthran tapped his fingers against his arms, appearing lost in thought for several moments.

Throughout it all, his smile never wavered.

"Y'know, if ya put your mind ta it, I betcha you could think o' a thing or two ta better make up for nearly killin' a good handful o' the people I care about. I could tell you, 'course, but I'd rather see you come ta the conclusion if ya can. Tha' way no one goes barkin' about me puttin' ideas inta people's heads, see?"

Pyrogue  Tairais

Ez had nothing to say to that.

There was something unsettling about Charricthran.

Tairais  Pyrogue

Charricthran sighed- the first actual breath he'd taken- and his smile dimmed to something that approached a normal expression.

"Jesus Christ on a bloody stick-- right, it's like this, see? I'm all for scientific progress an' the like, but tryin' ta mess around with somethin' tha' deadly without precautions is askin' for a world o' hurt. Now, let's say someone else wanders ta that bar o' yours an' finds the shady fella ya got your sample from, an' let's say they decide ta bugger things up for everyone on purpose, hm?

"Consider how much it would do for your reputation here ta be able to show you're plenty sorry for what ya did on accident, an' so ya went ta do somethin' ta fix it on purpose, see. Rather'n breakin' the rules twice over, ya break 'em once, and might mend them proper-like after."

Pyrogue  Tairais

He thought about that for a moment.

“Right.” There was a pause.

“I’m... I'm sorry about what happened.”

Tairais  Pyrogue

"Noted, an' nothin' more for now. Fix things proper-like, respect the authority o' the fine place I call home, an' then we can talk 'bout acceptin'-like."

His smile wasn't quite soft, but it definitely looked like Charricthran wasn't contemplating using his teeth on Ez now.

"Do me a favor an' make a smart choice, kid. You're new, an' I don' wanna see tha' bright noggin o' yours end up with a pair o' concrete shoes in the Thames, kapeesh?"

Pyrogue  Tairais

“O...okay,” he confirmed.

Tairais  Pyrogue

Charricthran chuckled the burble of ravens and oil.

"There's a good lad." He uncrossed his arms and gave a small wave as he turned to half face the wall.

"I'll be seeyin' ya 'roundabouts for one reason or another. With any luck, it'll be more pleasant for both o' us 'en," He added with a nod.

Charricthran met his gaze out of the corner of his eyes, narrowed with good intentions.

"Take care o' yourself, Ezekiel: you're the only one who can, in the grand scheme o' things."

With nothing left to say, Charricthran's form turned as dark and shapeless as smoke, disappating against the wall.

Pyrogue  Tairais

Ez’s shoulders slumped, and he turned and sat on his bed.

Well.

It was a few minutes before he had packed everything he owned into two suitcases. Satisfied, he lay down and went to sleep.