Warning: Just in case you have not read the new warning in the revised Chapter 1, I would just like to reiterate that this story is rated M for a reason. Some chapters may seem relatively tame, but do not expect all chapters to be the same. This is a horror story and I will most assuredly be heading into darker territory as the plot progresses. Anything could happen, so please do not complain if your sensibilities are offended in anyway. Thank you.

A/N: So here it is, the long awaited Chapter 7! It was actually supposed to be much longer, but I couldn't for the life of me get the transition to work the way I wanted it to, so I kind of had to rethink what will be happening next. In case you missed it, chapters 1-6 were recently revised. If you read the original chapters it is not absolutely necessary to read the revised versions, the changes were mostly small and do not change the plot in any way. As with all my previous chapters, this work is unbetaed. I always proof read but inevitably something small always slips through the cracks. So, just so you know all mistakes are my own.

I am very excited to have some time to continue this story again. I will try my best to post updates either weekly or bi-weekly, but I can't make that a promise. The time I have to work on it really hinges on my work schedule which changes slightly from week to week. As always, I deeply appreciate any feedback you are willing to give me, especially constructive criticism. Please review and let me know how you like the new turns the story is starting to take!

Chapter 7

Helen slumped back into the soft leather of her chair, finding it increasingly difficult to resist the pull of sleep as the gentle hum of the computer fan continued to whir a tempting lullaby. Long was hardly a sufficient adjective to describe the past twenty-four hours of her life. Yet here she was, still awake in her office at three o' clock in the morning, dressed only in black pajamas and her favorite, royal blue kimono, trying desperately to focus on the data displayed before her. Willing heavy eyes away from the bright monitors, she stared longingly at the cup of tea on the desk growing cold and tepid. It was hardly worth drinking now, even if she could muster enough energy to reach for it. Perhaps she'd brew some more when she next checked in on her mildly concussed protégé.

Magnus felt awful forcing Will to pull an all-nighter, especially since the poor man had looked like he needed sleep more than anything in the world. It certainly wasn't much of a consolation that she'd promised him a full day off from work to rest. He insisted his skull had taken harder knocks before but quickly abandoned his platform, knowing full well that to argue with Magnus over a medical matter would be nothing less than an exercise in futility. She might have considered letting it slide, if it hadn't been for the fact that he'd lost consciousness. Will certainly didn't need to be reminded yet again that compounding head injuries can cause permanent damage over time. It was a sore point with Will, his bad habit of coming home from missions in need of a CT scan. If he could just stay awake for a good ten hours, the swelling would surely dissipate enough to properly assess his condition and then he could spend the entire day basking in sweet nothingness for all she cared. Helen just needed to know that he'd be waking up before she let him drift off into dreamland. She was tired of losing the people she cared about and she'd be damned if he was going to be next.

Lost in her thoughts, Helen started slightly when the sudden sound of creaking wood captured her attention. She swiveled around in her computer chair to find the door on the south side of her office gently inching back and forth as if caught in a breeze. From her seat, she attempted to peer into the hall, but saw nothing. She was gripping the armrests tightly as she craned her body forward, trying to get a better look. It was then that the slight movement of the door stopped abruptly mid swing and the room went quiet. A faint chill began to creep into the air causing Magnus to hug her silky robe tighter around her body. She dismissed the notion that anyone else was outside her office and decided that someone simply must have left a window partially open somewhere down the hall. Determined to ignore the chill as well as her growing fatigue, she turned her attention back to the test results she'd been trying in vain to study for the past hour. As fascinating as Helen found their new guest, at the moment it was all but impossible to concentrate on anything except the need for a stiff drink and a warm bed. Frustrated, she leant forward across the desktop and rested her chin in the palm of her hand, using the sturdy piece of furniture to keep her head up.

Magnus knew she was fighting a losing battle. She was too sluggish to accomplish anything in her current state and that damned feeling of paranoia was starting to creep up on her again so she made a command decision that, early or not, it was time to go check on her injured friend. She closed all the open files on her monitor and proceeded to put the computer to sleep. As the screen went black she suddenly saw the reflection of a dark figure standing behind her. Before she could even think to move a muscle, a strong hand clamped down over her mouth silencing her scream and slamming the back of her head against the chair. The force of the grip against her body was cold and iron clad. There was no escape as an unseen face leaned in close to nuzzle her hair. She could feel the figure's icy breath prickling her flesh as it softly whispered her name in a deep, distorted voice, drawing out each syllable in a sickeningly slow caress.

Helen gasped and shot up in her seat, nearly falling off in the process. She jumped to her feet and whipped around, heart hammering loudly in her chest. She immediately scanned each corner of the room but found nothing out of place. Her tea cup sat lonely and cold exactly where she'd left it atop the small computer desk and the fireplace was still dimly burning its last embers, casting a warm glow about the darkened room. Everything appeared perfectly normal, yet on some deeper level, Helen knew it wasn't. She stood frozen in place staring at the door to her office which was closed and locked securely. Her mind's eye conjured the image of it open once more, hinges scraping as it creaked back and forth. She shook her head and willed the thought away. It had to have been a dream.

Even though she knew it was absurd, she just couldn't bring herself to approach the closed door on the south side of her office. Instead, she made towards the main entrance adjacent to her desk trying her best not to look behind her as she felt the familiar sensation of eyes studying her every move. As she crossed behind the beautiful, hand-crafted writing table she carefully reached into the second drawer and withdrew her spare sig pro, discreetly slipping it into the pocket of her robe. She had almost made it all the way to the door when a piece of paper fluttered to the floor at her feet. She bent down to pick it up, instantly recognizing it as the message sent with her flowers. Helen's face was a mask of neutrality, but inside her heart pounded faster.

'You are exhausted and imagining things. Pull it together!' She inwardly chastised herself. 'It doesn't mean anything.'

Silently, on her way out, she walked over to the small pedestal table and propped the card up against the vase before resolutely striding past the threshold, never once daring to look back.