Chapter 1

Claire Redfield walked amongst the rubble scattered all around the abandoned shopping mall. She gripped at her pistol cradled on her waist - readying for any sign of danger at a moments notice. "Are you about done, K-Mart?" She yelled out irritably as her voice echoed throughout the empty mall.

K-Mart was gazing at her reflection in one of the store's mirrors - checking herself out in a new outfit she had arranged from all the clothes left from the abandoned stores. K-Mart ignored Claire's question and resumed to lace up her new stylish boots she had found.

Claire turned around to look at K-Mart lackadaisically tying up her boots and became increasingly frustrated. "K-Mart, hurry up. I'm serious."

K-Mart lifted her head up from her boots to look at Claire - challenging her authority. "This is one of the only - I repeat, only - perks of civilization being overrun by zombies. That is, free clothes of course!"

Claire rolled her eyes and swiftly walked over to K-Mart. "You're so naïve. This is a serious situation, K-Mart. We can die if we're not careful!" Claire tried to drill into K-Mart's teenage brain that clothes should be the least of her concerns at a time like this.

"You're so cute when you're worried," K-Mart teased Claire, and poked her playfully on her cheek.

Claire flinched and blinked dumbly as K-Mart winked at her. "S-stop that!" Claire said, flustered. "Now, come on. We should really be leaving," Claire urged.

K-Mart refused to listen as she grabbed for a leather jacket on one of the racks to place it before Claire's torso. "You'd look so hot in this," K-Mart said, and giggled.

Claire sighed exasperatedly and walked back towards the store's entrance. It was situations like these when it became evident to Claire just how much younger K-Mart was than her. She sometimes wondered why she was in love with this girl at all - they had almost nothing in common.

"Oh lighten up, Claire," K-Mart huffed. "If you keep stressing like that, you'll get wrinkles and you won't look young anymore for your age."

Claire scoffed and turned back around to face K-Mart. "You're very funny," Claire said sarcastically, and folded her arms across her chest.

K-Mart walked over to where Claire was standing to lightly punch her playfully on her arm. "And that's why you love me," K-Mart said, and kissed Claire lightly on the lips.

Claire's heart skipped a beat as she felt K-Mart's soft lips momentarily on her own. She didn't know what it was about this girl that made her feel incompetent and dumb. Is this what being in love feels like? Claire pondered to herself.

K-Mart grabbed her satchel and adjusted her green army hat. "Okay," K-Mart chimed. "I'm ready now." She reached out for Claire's hand and squeezed it firmly. "Lead the way, boss," K-Mart joked.

Claire laughed softly at K-Mart's comment. "Let's go then - stick close."

"No need to tell me that," K-Mart said seductively and inched even closer towards Claire's body. "Oh yeah," K-Mart said. "Here." K-Mart pulled out the leather jacket she had grabbed off the rack earlier from her bag, and handed it towards Claire.

Claire looked at the jacket with an exasperated look.

"Please, for me," K-Mart pleaded and pouted.

Claire sighed and grabbed the jacket. She quickly wore it and adjusted it on her body.

K-Mart squealed in delight and adoration. "Ohhh! You look so cute in leather!"

Claire felt a hot blush creep up on her cheeks and quickly turned her face away from K-Mart. "W-we're wasting time. Let's go," Claire ordered, and tugged K-Mart along to stop her from gushing over her.

"Ah! Claire!" K-Mart yelled out. "You're walking too fast!"

Claire slowed down a bit and sighed. This was going to be one long journey back to their safe house.