Chapter 2 New Friend

The battle lasted for nearly an hour and they are catching their breaths because of exhaustion especially Alice, because she used all her strength to kill those undead.

"I can't believe I survived those bitches!" LJ said while looking at the undead lying on the ground. They are all looking at these zombies on the ground. Alice patted Claire's shoulder. But Claire just looked at her barely.

"Okay boys, tell the convoy to prepare and make the camp now. I'll just go and get Kmart." Claire said to the others. Speaking of Kmart, Claire saw her came out of the Hummer. She's ready to run to Claire.

"Claire!" the blonde girl shouted, not noticing an undead behind her. Alice and Claire are shocked upon seeing the undead. Without hesitation, Claire fired her shotgun, hitting its head, while Alice threw her blade at the same time, hitting its head. Kmart's feet are now trembling in fear. Fear of the undead behind her and fear on Claire's angry face. And she's right, Claire is now angry.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to get out of the Hummer unless I told you to?" Claire hissed to Kmart who quickly ran back to the Hummer.

"You scared the brat, Claire." LJ teased.

"Hey." Carlos warned LJ. Claire shot LJ a dark look.

"I told you to prepare the convoy for a camp, right?" Claire shouted.

"We'll go ahead, Claire" Carlos said turning their back to where the convoy is.

"I'll go with them." Alice offered. Claire just nodded.

Claire was left there slapping her forehead. Her madness is now deflating. She knew she scared Kmart and now she has to make it up for her. She hates arguing with Kmart. But what can she do? She has to keep on repeating everything in Kmart's stubborn head. But despite all of that, she still loves that brat. She started to walk to the Hummer but stopped at the middle. She saw Kmart hugging her arms. She knew the girl is crying. Claire sighed as she walked to the Hummer. She pretended as if nothing happened. She puts the things at the back.

"Hey it's time to make a camp." Claire said smiling. Kmart raised her head and faced Claire. Tears are rolling down her face so she wiped it off.

"Am I allowed to go out now?" Kmart asked Claire. The words struck Claire. Is she being harsh to Kmart? She thought to herself and with that, her smile faded.

"K, don't get me wrong" Claire said looking at Kmart. Kmart looked away from her.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I yelled at you" Claire said caressing her face. Kmart just nodded. "It's just that you scared me a lot" Kmart knew that Claire is sincere with her apology, so she turned to look at her.

"I'm just worried about you. That's why I got out of the Hummer and looked for you." Kmart said with tears in her eyes again. Claire wiped it off.

"You know I'll be alright." Claire said softly.

"I can't just wait here and watch you risk your life out there" Kmart sobbed again.

"I know and thank you" Claire still looking at Kmart's blue eyes. "You know I just don't wanna get you in trouble."

"But we're living with it now Claire." Kmart murmured.

"I know. I just don't know what I will do if I lost you. I'll be damn crazy." Claire said, sighing. Kmart looked at her intently.

"I'm sorry Claire and I love you." Kmart said, finally smiling.

"Come here" Claire said hugging Kmart. "I love you more my little sister."

"Uhmmm Claire?" said Kmart in Claire's arms. "Honestly, you stink."

"Do I?" Claire smelled herself. "Oh yeah, I'm stinky" they both chuckled.

"Come on. Let's go and put up our tent. And I will take a bath." Claire said.

"Huh? Where?" Kmart frowned.

"I found a river not far from here." Claire replied.

"Can I go with you?" asked Kmart.

"Okay. Just don't do something stupid, okay?" Claire said smiling.

"Sure. Maybe Alice would like to join us. Maybe she stinks now, too." Kmart giggled.

"Yeah. Maybe." Then they both chuckled again. They headed for the camp to where the group is busy putting up their tents. Alice waved to the two approaching figure.

After taking a bath, Claire went to her usual routines, checking everybody while Kmart and Alice went to the campfire and ate their dinner.

"You scared me to death earlier." Alice said to Kmart.

"I'm sorry. But thank you for saving me." Kmart said looking away from Alice.

The two of them sat in silence watching Claire as she talked to Mikey regarding their safety.

"Is she always like that?" Alice asked Kmart, still looking at the redhead.

"What do you mean?" asked the younger blonde.

"Claire…taking care of all of you." Alice said. With that, Kmart turned to look at her.

"Yes she always does. It is as if, she's our mother." Kmart replied.

"Isn't she getting tired of doing all of these?" Alice raised her eyebrows as she watched Claire. Kmart sighed.

"I know she's tired of taking care of us and me, but she never complained. I can see it in her face. And without her, I don't know what we will be now." Kmart said sadly. "How I wish this will end."

Alice turned to look at Kmart, eyes welled with tears. "Yes, I wish this to end, too."

Time has passed and everybody had fallen asleep. Claire stayed in the Hummer so Alice and Kmart could stay in the tent. Claire is having a bad dream…..

*Kmart and Claire are walking side by side, they're laughing as if there is no undead hovering around. They feel happy, contented, peaceful and safe. Then at the end of the road, everything has changed. The clouds became darker like it's going to rain. The two stopped walking and looked at each other.

"Where are we now, Claire?" Kmart asked, a little bit nervous.

"I don't know either." Claire replied looking around the place.

Then they heard a growling sound coming from their back. They turned to look and saw a mass of zombies running towards them.

"Claire!" Kmart shouted. "There's too many of them!"

"Shit! I don't have a weapon!" Claire hissed. "Kmart run, find a place to hide!"

"But…" Kmart hesitated.

"Go! Now!" Claire ordered. Then she heard a voice, calling her name. It's Alice.

"Claire!" Alice shouted, firing at the undead. Then they heard the sound of a chopper. The three turned to look, and then a zombie dragged Claire to the ground, while Alice was cornered by some of "them." Claire is struggling, but it keeps on resisting. She heard Kmart screaming.

"Claire!" Kmart was captured by someone from the chopper, but she couldn't see his face.

"No! Kmart!" Claire shouted then kicked the head of the zombie. The chopper flew away and Kmart is inside it.

"Kmart! Kmart!" Claire screamed, crying. *

Claire woke from that dream with tears in her eyes, her heart beating fast, and her body is sweating. But she's glad that it was only a dream. She got off the Hummer and headed for the campfire. She needed fresh air to breathe. She brushed her hair with her hand.

"Hey." Someone from behind said. She jumped from the voice and turned to look at her back. It's Alice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

Claire felt relieved now. "It's okay."

They sat in the campfire facing each other. A moment of silence filled the night, then….

"Are you okay?" Alice asked. Claire just stared at the fire and sighed.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just had a bad dream." Claire said without looking at Alice.

"I've been there, too, every night. It's haunting me, since this "thing" happened." Alice comforted Claire.

"Well, I'm used to it before. This one it feels….." Claire looked at Alice who's staring blankly at her. "I just don't like the feeling of losing Kmart. She's the only family I have now."

"That's what your dream's all about?" Alice asked. Claire nodded, sighing again. Alice stood up and sat beside Claire.

"Hey, Kmart is safe." Alice smiled. As long as she's with you she will always be safe." Claire smiled at her. They fell silent again. Claire is playing with the sand, writing things on it, while Alice just stared at the fire. Then….

"Do you think this will end?" Claire asked, focusing at the sand.

"I don't know." Was Alice's only reply.

"Hey, by the way, thank you for saving me again, and Kmart, too." Claire is now smiling at Alice.

"Well you saved me earlier too right?" Alice smiled back. "And thank you for letting me in your lives. Because of you, I have a new family now and friends, too."

"You are always welcome, big sister." Then they chuckled.