Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it. The virus accounted here is an actually sickness among fruit and vampire bats but some of the symptoms are a creative liberty. The name will be disclosed soon. The description of what the virus does is a little graphic.

SOMETIMES, WHEN I'M ALONE

CHAPTER TWO

Erik began to feel sick again as he alighted on his perch. Kelsi was still sleeping peacefully. When he turned himself upside down to sink his claws into the worn rock, he felt the blood slosh around in his stomach and began to feel nausea. It tasted good going down but he didn't feel well after drinking it. He felt worse and worse each day. Maybe he was coming down with something. Maybe it would stop him from drinking blood? He was delighted and horrified by the thought. But he couldn't worry about that now. He closed his eyes and as the frost began to form over his body, he fell asleep.

He woke up as his head it the ground and his neck cracked loudly. His head was hurting horribly and he felt wetness on the top of his head. He opened his eyes and stared. He felt horrible. His stomach had a strange sensation swirling around in it and his arms and legs felt weak. Probably why he had fallen. He tried to set up but all his claws did was raking the concrete loudly.

"Is that you Erik?" he heard Marlene call.

He opened his mouth but suddenly it felt blocked and he strangled. He coughed and spurted and coughed a large glob of mucus. Drainage most likely. Suddenly his vision began to blur as well. He rubbed his eyes but large amounts of moisture cover his claws and went down his face.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" he managed to murmur before gagging again on vast amounts of drainage.

His chest tightened involuntarily. A strange sensation passed through him and suddenly he felt better. He still felt sick at his stomach but his nose stopped draining so much and he felt strength returning.

"Wow." he said, shaking his head to clear it.

"Hey Erik!" Marlene said happily as she stepped out of her cave.

"Uh… hi." he said still shaky after what had just happened to him.

"You alright?" she asked

"Yea, I'm fine, I just fell in my sleep." he said

Marlene smiled and helped him up.

"Well let's go see the penguins." she said

"Why?"

"To make sure you're alright." she answered but he knew her real intention.

To see Skipper.

He didn't protest and took flight. His arms had a tingling sensation but he figured he could work it out. Maybe he had gotten a bug from Kyle. Yea that was probably it. He brushed off his earlier feelings and flapped toward the penguin habitat. When they got there, Skipper's eyes brightened from their morning gloom. The iceberg orbs shined brightly as Marlene approached him and Marlene's jade crystals turned an all new shade. Erik was waiting for Marlene to say something but all she did was stare into Skipper's eyes as he did her. Finally after a few minutes, Erik became bored and cleared his throat loudly. They snapped out of their daze.

"So, what brings you two here?" Skipper asked not even interested in his own question.

"Oh you know," Marlene said in the same way. "Visit."

"Where are the other penguins?" asked Erik, suddenly noticing their absence.

"Rico and Private went to get Kowalski back from Recon duty. They should be back in five… four… three… two… one…"

The penguins trotted in. Kowalski went and collapsed in his bunk after staying up all night and yesterday. He was soon mumbling his equations in his sleep.

"Oh yes," Skipper said remembering something. "We have to go take care of Kyle."

"Why?" Erik said quickly.

"He's sick. Got some virus or something."

"Uh… how long has he had it?" Erik didn't mean to sound so nervous but he was unable to control it.

"He woke up like that. He was in prefect health before then."

"Oh shit." Erik muttered

"What?"

"Nothing! Nothing!"

"Well let's go." Marlene said