Chapter 2

Claire had only three hours of sleep since the sun shined bright up above. Thanks to Alice who insisted on taking her place as a patroller for the night. But of course, they had a small fight at first. Claire wouldn't let Alice patrol because she still doesn't trust her. But when the redhead felt her body numbing and her mind became drowsy, she gave in. She let the blonde take her place and have a rest.

The members were lined up to Otto's truck to get their breakfast for the day. Otto is serving canned good and bottled water. Claire was finished checking the perimeter and the gas tank when she decided to check on Otto.

"Hey." The redhead smiled.

"Hey Claire." Otto shook the can he was holding then gave it to Claire. "Cream of mushroom for you my lady."

Claire opened the can and Otto was right. It was indeed a can of cream of mushroom. "Oh shit. How do you do that?"

"Just one of my skills. A dying art, unfortunately." Otto replied and continued to serve the convoy their breakfast.

Claire gave a hidden sigh. "So how do we look in here? Do we still have supplies?"

"Unfortunately, these two boxes will be the last ones." Otto pointed at the two boxes behind him. "If these sand can be eaten, then we're lucky. I say, we need to search for supplies again." Otto explained.

Claire only nodded and turned her back on her friend. Before leaving, she gave her canned food to one of the kids in the line.

Claire headed back to the Hummer then.

Unknown to Claire, Kmart and Alice were watching her from not very afar. The two were sitting to a log preparing to eat breakfast when they noticed Claire's paces. And they witnessed everything. She won't eat again.

"What's this? She will not eat again?" Kmart muttered when she saw the redhead settled in the Hummer.

"Here." Alice handed Kmart her not yet opened canned food. "Give this to her."

"But what about you?" Kmart asked.

"I'm fine with this." Alice said pertaining to the water she's holding.

"But you're supposed to eat too so I'll just give mine to her." Kmart explained.

"No. You two needs these more than I, so please just give it to Claire. I'm super human remember? I won't faint that easily." Alice gave Kmart a reassuring smile.

"Okay. I understand." Kmart said and started to leave for the Hummer.

Kmart found Claire in the Hummer studying her map again. "Busy, are we?" Kmart smiled at Claire.

"Hey." Claire turned to Kmart then to her map again.

"Hey yourself. You didn't eat again." Kmart rolled her eyes though Claire didn't see it. "Here." Kmart handed Claire the canned good Alice gave her.

"What's this?" Claire asked.

"Ah? Food?"

"You don't say? But you're supposed to eat this right?" Claire asked.

"I have mine. Don't worry." Kmart showed Claire her own canned good.

"So you got this from Otto?"

"No. Alice told me to give this to you." Kmart replied.

"The give it back to her." Claire said and turned herself into the map again.

"You need to eat Claire. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday. If I need to force you to eat, then I will do it." Kmart said.

"Oh let's see then."

"Claire please. Will you listen to me at once? I don't want to see you sick. You need to eat."

"I'm not hungry Kmart." Claire said. But her stomach betrayed her. Just as she said that, her stomach grumbled.

"Not hungry, are we, huh?" Kmart grinned. The teen placed the canned good on the dashboard of the Hummer. "Please eat this first."

"Fine. By the way, tell Otto, Carlos, Betty, Mikey, LJ, Chase and Alice that we will have a meeting after breakfast. We have to move tomorrow before all of us gets hungry." Claire said.

"Copy ma'am." Kmart smiled and headed off.

When Kmart left, Claire had the chance to glance at Alice. And she saw the latter cleaning her precious blades. She sighed then shook her head. She really maybe a reliable person after all.

It's nearly twelve in the morning when the 'generals' of the convoy were gathered around to discuss their move for tomorrow.

"Before all, I need you to report the status of the assigned task to you." Claire said.

"Well, in a few days we will run out of gas. The tanker is almost half empty." Chase informed.

"Like I said a while ago. There were only two boxes left for the food supplies." Otto said. Claire just nodded.

"We're almost out of bandages and alcohol and some medicines too." Betty said.

"What about you Mikey? How are all the things you're using?" Claire asked.

"Everything is working properly but if we can find new monitors I'll be glad to have it."

"Okay? Is that all? Any other information?" the redhead looked at her 'generals,' but nobody talked. "Okay, since we're almost out of supplies I planned to move first thing in the morning tomorrow, but I need your opinion where we can find these things we need, especially Alice because I know she had been to a lot of places."

Alice glanced at Claire and their eyes met. Claire placed the map in the center of their formed circle so everybody could see it.

Alice led the conversation. They pointed places on the map from here to there, but it seems that places were empty according to Alice because she had checked all those places for months. They shared ideas and they shared opinions but nobody seemed to agree where to go.

"Vegas." Claire finally spoke. She was just listening to her members' conversation.

"Vegas? But that's too damn dangerous Claire." Carlos said.

"Yeah. There may be a lot of those things around that place." LJ agreed.

"Alice said that those local cities were empty, right?" Claire looked at Alice and the blonde nodded. "If we really want to find the things we need, Vegas is the best place." Claire explained.

"But what if it's not safe there?" Carlos asked.

"Carlos, you were with me all this time and you knew that nowhere is safe already. We need to face our fears to survive." Claire replied.

"Claire has a point. I agree with her. There might be a big chance that we can find all the things we need." Alice said.

"And one more thing we trained all these people. And now there were only few of us, there might be less chance that they will be killed. If that's what you all were thinking." Claire added.

There was a moment of silence at first. Everybody exchanged glances and at the end everybody seemed to agree.

"Well, I guess it has been decided." Betty smiled.

"So leader, what will be our task?" Carlos asked.

"Nothing will change, everybody will attend to their own duty but I will assign Alice to be the body guard of the convoy." Claire explained. Everybody was surprised. They looked at Claire then to Alice. "I know it will be a tough task for you, I was just wondering if you can do it."

"It's fine with me." Alice half smiled at the redhead.

"Thank you for that. I know you have this super power thing that's why I chose you for this task. And by the way you will be working with Carlos."

Alice nodded and Claire continued discussing. "And for tomorrow's line up of the trucks, I will still lead the move but Alice will ride us. And Carlos, I want you to be on the last of the trucks."

The soldier nodded. "So, that's all this meeting. Do you have questions or clarifications?" the redhead asked but everybody shook their heads.

"If none, you may go now." Everybody got up and attend to their duties while Claire fixed her map first. Alice was about to walk when Claire talked.

"Alice." Claire called.

Alice turned to look at the redhead. "Yes?" Alice inquired.

"Thank you." Claire muttered and it's almost like a whisper.

Alice just smiled. "Not a big problem. Let's do this."

Claire nodded. Alice took last glance of Claire before heading off.