Sorry, it's been a while since the last update. Thanks to cabinet of curiosities for correcting instead of Misery Loves Sarah, who didn't have the time! Actually I had this chapter ready for five days but because of some reason I wasn't able to upload it...

Helen burst into her office and immediately reached for the edge of her wooden desk, seeking out halt to catch her breath. As soon as her heart rate had died down a bit she went in search for her phone and her gun. She saw latter laying untouched on the small table next to the couch, but no sign of her phone.

While thinking were she could have possibly put it Helen crossed the space between her desk and the table and grabbed her gun. After attaching the weapon to her belt she began searching thoroughly. She observed the spot where she'd been laying, looked under the table and unfolded the blanket that had kept her warm. But in vain, she found nothing.

She let out a frustrated huff and got down on her knees to look under the couch. On arm stretched out she reached forward and felt with her hand for her phone. Unfortunately, the fact that she couldn't see anything made it hard to coordinate her movements. Obeying to her fate, Helen sank down to lay flat on her stomach and searched the floor for the small communication devise.

Just in this instant, something somewhere above her started vibrating and making loud noises. Helen, startled by the sudden interruption of the silence, tried to set upright and hit her head at the edge of the couch with a loud bang.

Pain flooded through her system and she cursed loudly, crawling out from under the couch. Hectically Helen tried to locate the sound while pressing a hand to the back of her head where the pain had erupted. Finally she grabbed the pillow of the armchair next to the couch and found what she'd been looking for.

The phone had stopped ringing and Helen didn't bother to find out who'd been calling her. Instead she tossed the pillow back and left her office to make her way quickly to the lab where the Biggie and John would already be waiting impatiently.

~oOo~

Again a bit out of breath, Helen joined the others in the main lab, where one of the huge screens was already running. On it was the image of Declan who was obviously talking to someone else who wasn't visible at the screen.

As John saw her approaching he raised on eyebrow questioningly. In response, Helen held up her phone triumphantly and pointed with her free hand to her gun. Declan, who had seemed to notice her as well turned his attention back to the trio.

"Took you long enough," he remarked nervously.

"Sorry," Helen replied apologetically. "But my phone had decided to dislike me and turned out to be good at hiding."

The humorous remark wasn't able do lighten the heavy mood in the room. Realizing that something really bad had happened, Helen expression went serious while she prepared herself for the worst.

"We've bad news, Magnus," Declan informed her guiltily. "I'm aware of the fact that we should have noticed earlier and been better prepared. And it's all my fault, there's no one else to blame but me. What happened..." He paused for a moment, uncertain. "It shouldn't even have been possible, but-"

"Declan!" Helen interrupted him impatiently. "Just tell me what happened."

"A few abnormals are...gone," he admitted, turning his gaze away from her so he didn't have to look at her. It was his first time that one of the higher security abnormals had disappeared under his leading without a clue and any trace.

Helen raised one eyebrow and looked at him perplexed. "What do you mean, gone?"

"I don't know how, but they somehow managed to leave the Sanctuary without anyone noticing. No alarm went off and they even escaped the radar of the security cameras. Don't ask me how they did that, 'cause I've not the slightest idea." He felt like a bloody amateur and there was nothing he could do.

Helen's alarm went off as she processed the news. "What abnormals? Are they dangerous, were they locked away or something?"

"They're five," Declan paused, trying to remember the details. "Two catoris enrexi, one atari sopiae and two fugaris amaris, male and female. They were all five locked in cells with higher security because of their aggressive nature."

That was definitely not good. If they couldn't find and get them back soon, a lot of people would be in danger. Helen closed her eyes briefly and exhaled slowly, trying to figure out what to do next. "Assemble teams to search the surroundings of the Sanctuary systematically, but instruct someone to find out how they managed to escape this easily," she ordered Declan. "We don't want to risk followers."

Realizing they wouldn't make it alone, Helen turned to Biggie who'd been listening carefully. "They'll require help. Call Will and tell him to be ready to return if necessary, I'll go and pack the stuff we need. We'll meet again in 40 minutes to leave for London."

Biggie nodded in agreement and went off to make the call. Declan had already left to coordinate the search and prepare everything for their visit. The only one left now was John, who'd hadn't said a word let alone moved since Declan had spilled the news. Now, he caught Helen's gaze and looked at her seriously. "Let me come with you."

"I'm afraid that's not possible, John. Someone needs to be here if anything goes wrong." Helen said and sighed regretfully. She would like nothing more than take him along with her.

"But I could be of valuable use," John objected. "And I doubt the other heads of the Sanctuarys would agree to leave me in charge of this place. Even you must admit you don't feel comfortable about that."

Sadly, Helen knew he was right. He hadn't gained enough experience yet and he also had a point about the other heads not trusting him. But she could let the Big Guy stay here, either. They'd need every person they could get to get on top of this problem. Nodding, Helen agreed to his proposal. "You're right. I'll get someone else to look over the Sanctuary. You get you're things, we're going to London after all."

She smiled lightly and John couldn't help but return her smile. No matter what the circumstances were, there was still a reason to be excited about their visit. It had been some time since they'd both been in their beloved city.

~oOo~

Helen looked down at the things spread all over her bed and checked if she'd forgotten something important. Deciding everything was there, she put it into her bag and examined her room, again trying to figure out where she had dropped her phone.

This time she found it very fast and uncomplicated, compared to the first time. Grabbing her bag and throwing it over her shoulder, she went to her opened closet. Just as she got a hold on it, the damn thing started ringing again. Before Helen had time to look at the screen or even take the call, a voice stopped her.

"Helen, are you ready?" John appeared in the door and looked at her questioningly.

Helen decided the call could wait and ended it before even looking. She moved her bag to a more comfortable position over her shoulder before she replied "I'm coming" and left her room, walking past John with a smile.

Later, Helen would curse herself for not answering her phone. It would have spared them a lot of work and trouble.

Now we're getting to the story :D
Would like to hear what you guys think !