Disclaimer: I dont own anything, much to my displeasure lol

A/N: I wanted to apologize for taking a bit to update, i've been kinda busy and besides i also have to keep up with my other story "Augury of Death" so im sorry for that, i promise to fasten up the pace... if you review xD

Alice soaked the old rag in a bucket of water and retrieved it a moment later, now heavier and dripping with the liquid content. She drained it and made sure that it didnt drip anymore before placing it over the girl's clammy forehead.

The brunette had been repeating this act for a little more than an hour: soaking the rag and putting it over the feverish girl to cool her temperature down.

What the woman didnt know was why she was looking after the kid when she should have been on her way long ago searching for food and a warm bed to sleep on. 'Im doing this because i owe her' She thought as she wiped the sweat off the girl's face 'After all the girl did save my ass back there' The brunette snapped her tongue in disapproval. She wasnt content with her justification, it was vague... Truth be told: she wasnt so sure she was staying because the girl had saved her life. Actually, something of what the kid had said earlier when they met still rang in her head. She was an orphan, her parents had died, and by the look of it, she dared say her brother had died too. After all, who on his right mind would leave a young girl alone on an isolated building in a city full of living dead?. Yap, the guy was either dead or nuts... Then again, she was about to dump the kid too. Did that mean she was nuts too? 'No' She corrected herself 'Im a monster, no child should be around me'.

Alice knew she should have left the girl on the floor when she had blacked out but something had kept her from doing so. This girl was different from the rest, she could tell that easily. She had a sparkle in her green eyes and that had captivated her completly. She felt weirdly attached to the girl, as if some invisible pull were drawing her to the kid. She knew she couldnt leave until she saw that fire again. She needed to understand what it meant.

A soft gasp snapped Alice out of her reverie. The girl had awakened in fright. Her eyes were wide open and she was frantically looking around, as if trying to recall where she was.

Alice knew she should soothe her and calm her down. Instead, she waited in her seat next to the bed until their eyes met. She then pushed the girl back to the bed in a rough manner and got up. She began pacing back and forth as the girl looked at her in confusion.

The brunette had looked straight into the girl's eyes and she hadnt seen anything there. The fire she had seen ealier wasnt there and that had sent her on edge. She should have left the girl, she should have walked off and never looked back. The girl was not her damn problem. She could be on her way right now, but nooo, she was babysitting a damn kid.

'What happened?'

Alice stopped pacing to look at the young girl again. She was sitting with her back resting agaisnt the wall. The brunette frowned in annoyment, she wasnt one of much patience.

'You killed one of Umbrella's G-Virus creatures and then passed out' She answered with a dull tone of voice. If the girl noticed her annoyment, she didnt show it. Her face was neutral, as if trying to gather all the pieces from the puzzle.

'Then what are you doing here?'

The simplicity in the way the girl had asked the question made Alice's eyes widen in surprise 'She's got some guts' Alice stifled a laugh. She didnt know what she found more amusing, the absurdity of the situation or the fact that the girl referred to her as if she were her same age.

'Thats a very good question indeed' Alice turned around on her hills and showed her back to the girl 'Two can play this game' She thought as she walked down the small apparment and headed for the balcony.

The glassed door of the balcony was partially opened so Alice went outside and hovered over the railings to take a look at the street below. The flat was way too high for an average person to make up many details from up there, but for her it was just a silly game 'From this height i could easily be gone for good' Alice closed her eyes and shook the strong urge to jump off. When she thought her impulses were under control she sighed and walked back inside.

The girl was still leaning against the wall and was looking at her in a peaceful manner. But she also had one of her eyebrows softly raised, as if to disapprove of her actions. Alice evaluated her slight frown as she approched the girl and couldnt help but to smirk 'Could she have possibly guessed what i was thinking?' The brunette was beginning to get really intrigued by this small creature.

'I thought i had seen something in you. But i guess i was mistaken' Alice replied to the girl's previous question with a teasing tone of voice which called the green eyed girl's attention completly. She knew she was being provoked but didnt show it.

Alice shrugged at her admission and the girl pierced her with her eyes 'She's analysing me' Alice chuckled on her inside 'Are you measuring me, kid?'

'What's your name?'

Alice's smirk vanished completly and she had to make an effort not to choke. The girl had a way with catching her off guard that unnerved her 'What is it about this kid? When i think i have her all figured it out she comes up with another unexpected question'.

'Uhm... Alice' The brunette reprimanded herself for stumbling with her words. She hadnt said her name in a long while. It almost felt strange to her.

'Nice to meet you, Alice' The girl stretched out her hand 'My name is Claire'

To be continued...

Thank you guys for reading so far, i hope you're liking the story... let me know what you think!