[color=f9ad81][u][center]  HELENA [/center][/u] [/color]



The heavy beat of the drums made even the floor under her feet throb as the parade got closer and closer to where Helena stood on one of the balconies overlooking the street.  She had made it here a few hours ago and checked into the hotel.  The traffic had been insane from the moment she stepped off the plane and got in a taxi until she closed the door of her room.  People were simply everywhere.  Singing, dancing, shouting, the city was alive with a cacophony of sound that even closed doors would not shut out.  Giving in to the manic tension in the air, she had walked outside onto the balcony to watch the crowd.  She leaned against the railing and sighed to herself.  While the craziness was distracting, she couldn't quite forget the reason she was here in the first place.  This was supposed to be a romantic getaway but instead her ex had cheated and now she was left all alone.  She had flung his ticket in his face and told him to shove it before leaving the next day for New Orleans.  Hopefully by the time this trip was over then she could move on and feel better.  

A string of beads hit her in the face, disturbing her reverie, and she looked down to see two teenage boys under the balcony.  "Lets see the boobs babe."  they yelled as they drunkenly swayed back and forth.  She flipped them off and they laughed and went on down the street.  She watched them get about a block away when the world was ripped by a series of explosions.  She saw the two boys getting hit with something and then falling down on the ground convulsing.  The same thing seemed to be happening up and down the street.  Screams were now replacing the music and the mood had changed from manic to terrified.  She saw one of the kids stand up and sway back and forth before launching himself at a girl and biting her on the neck.  He seemed to have some kind of yellow substance dripping from his ears and mouth and not too long after the bite, the girl showed the same kind of abnormality.  Helena backed into the room with her hand to her mouth in terror.  Something was terribly wrong down there.  What was that green mist that showed up after the explosions and what the hell was happening to the people?  She closed and locked the balcony door as another scream ripped the air seemingly right underneath her room.  She ran to the phone and dialed 911 but the circuits were busy.  

[i]What do I do?  I can't stay here but if I go out there....  Oh God what should I do?[/i]

Taking a calming breath, she grabbed her purse which held her 22 pistol and slung it over her shoulder.  She grabbed her key card and put it in her pocket before walking over and slowly opening the door to the hotel hallway.  She did not see anyone which was unusual.  Before the explosions there had been people hanging out in the hallway, with doors opening and closing every few seconds.  She hesitated a moment then heard a sound behind her.  She saw someone standing on her balcony, beating on the glass.  She took a few steps towards them and then saw that they had the same abnormality as the two boys that had thrown her the beads.  [i]Oh fuck that.  No way in hell am I going to open that door.[/i]  She heard a cracking sound and saw the balcony door glass start to spiderweb and the person pounding even harder.  She yelped and ran out the other door into the hallway.  She did not know where she was going to go but staying here was no longer safe.  [i]Left or right, Helena?  Which way should I go?[/i]  Hearing a sound that sounded like a muffled scream come from her left she muttered, "Right it is."  before taking off at a run.  She had to get the hell out of here and get back to the airport and home.  Coming here had been a mistake.  Now if she wasn't careful it might be a mistake she paid for with her life.  

She reached the stairwell and opened the door, she started down towards the ground level and almost ran into the girl before she could stop herself.  The girl was crying and sitting on the bottom step.  Thankfully she did not seem to look like she had been effected by whatever was outside.   The girl looked up as she got closer and with tear filled eyes said, "They are dead.  Please help me?"