A/N: Wee another chapter! I like this one because we get a glimpse of Alice's former life with Claire and the story begins to thicken. Btw im extremely* perfectionist and i know i must have tons of mistakes in the writing so if anyone is willing to give me a hand with correcting i would really appreciate it xD Just let me know =) Enjoy!

Claire closed the trunk and moved over to stand beside the driver's seat. She placed her elbows over the edge of the window and peered at Alice who was already inside the Hummer.

'Well, everything is ready now' The girl gave her a warm smile and pulled back slightly, still within the brunette's reach.

Alice ignored the small redheaded's gesture and instead focused her gaze on her green eyes. She found the truth that Claire was trying to hide so carefully in there. She saw pain in those green orbes.

Alice growled in displeasure. Claire was hurting and she was the cause for that pain. 'The fact that she speaks like an older person doesnt really make her one' Alice broke away from her gaze and lowered her head. She sighed regretfully. She had been treating the kid as her peer when she obviously wasnt anything more than a frightened child.

The brunette snapped her tongue soundly. She didnt like what she was about to do but she felt that she was trapped between the sword and the wall.

'Where did you say your brother was?'

Alice feigned indiference but Claire was still able to recognise the oddness in her question. However, she chose not to mention it.

'He's staying at a military camp in Vegas' The redhead answered with a shrug.

The brunette gave her a warning look as she turned on the engine and Claire responded by moving away from the vehicle. The Hummer roared and the floor beneath them shook slightly. Claire smiled widely at the sight of her brother's truck come to life again and Alice didnt miss her reaction 'The girl seems to have a thing for rides. Interesting'.

Alice didnt take her eyes off Claire as she got ready to leave and when she gripped the gear lever she saw her smile begin to fade. Her eyes filled with sorrow and her lips quivered.

'Bye Alice' She whispered softly from the back of the room.

The brunette watched Claire wave her hand at her, trying to hide her forming tears. Alice let her head drop and sighed.

'Fuck me' She hissed in defeat. I cant do it. I cant leave her. 'What are you waiting for, kid?' Claire looked up to meet her eyes, she was frowning in confusion 'Get in' Claire flinched at the sharp command but didnt hesitate. She ran to the passanger's seat next to Alice.

When she closed the door and found herself sitting inside the safety of the Hummer she released a sigh of relief and let her head fall back. Alice gave her a sidelong glance in disapprovement but the girl did not mind her, she was too happy to care.

The brunette waited until the girl's eyes met hers and pierced right through them. She noticed they were glassed with unshead tears but they also had a sparkle of life shinning with splendor.

Alice sighed in relief at the sight that met her but was caught off guard when Claire burst into tears and lunged to her arms.

'I-I thought you'd leave me' She whispered against Alice's chest.

The brunette felt Claire's hot breath agaisnt her cool skin and shuddered involuntarily. For a moment she didnt know what to do, how to react. The girl had her arms wrapped firmly around her mid section and had her head buried in the crook of her neck. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came forth. She didnt know why but she was being assaulted by a tingling sensation and it was very unnerving. She felt as if somehow she had already lived that moment.

Alice closed her eyes and let herself be submerged into the awful feeling.

Alice opened the door of her house and peeked in. She stepped over the white carpet to shake the snow off her boots and called 'You home?' But no answer came back 'Figures' She said to herself as she got inside the house and closed the door behind her.

The lights were out and the fire hadnt been started.

As Alice removed her coat she eyed the room suspiciously. Something seemed out of place but she couldnt tell what it was.

She put her hand on her holster and left it there just in case. The brunette checked the living area and the kitchen but everything seemed just fine. Finally she headed for the stairs to check the upper floor.

The door of her room was partially opened and a dim light filtered through the opening. She definitely knew better than to ask if someone was inside because if it was a fiend it would alert him of her presence, so Alice remaint silent as she walked down the hall that connected the stairs to her bedroom.

She carefully pushed the door opened with her shoulder and stepped in. She quickly unholstered her gun as she made her entrance but no one was there. Except..

Alice moved over to the farthest side of the room to where the bed was and saw a small head perking up.

'Claire?'

The redhead was sitting with her back against the matress. She had her elbows on her knees and she was holding a frame in her shaky hands. Alice couldnt see her face from where she was standing because the redhead's hair was covering it but she instantly knew something was terribly wrong.

'Claire' She called at the woman and Claire turned her head over her shoulder to look at the intruder.

Alice paled at the sight that met her eye and for a moment she felt her feet get glued to the floor below. Claire was devastated, her eyes were red and puffy from so much crying and her lips were swollen. She had a dying expression that Alice had never seen before but what shocked her the most were her eyes. Her usual lush green eyes were now blank and staring straight past her.

Suddenly, the solid silence that ruled over the place was broken when Claire let out a whimper and that was when the invisble force that had been trapping her to the ground lifted and she was able to move again.

The brunette practically threw herself over to where Claire was sitting and quickly pulled her into an embrace.

'Claire, sweetheart... What happened?' Alice asked, concern overthrowing her features.

The redheaded woman buried her head deep into Alice's chest and cried. Strong tremors shook her body violently but Alice was there to soothe her.

After what appeared an eternity, Claire's sobs subsided and she disentangled herself from the other woman's embrace to look at her.

'He-He's dead'

Alice's brows furrowed as she tried to make some sence out of the younger woman's words.

'Who's dead, Claire?' Alice looked at Claire more intensely, as if trying to draw the answer from her eyes.

'Chris' The readhead's voice cracked with emotion and new tears streamed down her face.

'Alice!'

An irritated voice snapped her out of her reverie. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and free herself from the odd feeling of deja vu. When she seemed to have recovered some clarity she looked at the redheaded girl with puffy green eyes.

'Claire' She acknowledged in surprise. Could this small girl be the same one as in her vision? 'No, it cant be. That Claire was nearly twice this girl's age.'

It was impossible, yet it felt so real.

'Yes, duh. Who else would i be?' The girl mocked her and then grinned at her ghastly expression 'Can we get out of here now or you still wanna call my name in that creepy way?'

Alice shot daggers at her and swallowed her sharp reply 'At least she's stopped crying' She thought as she pressed the accelerator.

Leaving the city was so easy that Alice couldnt help but to growl in frustration. She had been hoping to run into some zombies so that she could have a decent reason to inflict some violence but no creature appeared, much to her displeasure.

Her earlier vision had left her on edge. She couldnt understand what it meant or why it felt so familiar to her, as if she had already lived that.

Alice was suddenly struck by an idea: The girl. She looked over her shoulder to give a quick glance at what the girl was doing. She was staring out of the window to the passing trees. She seemed so at peace with herself that the brunette felt her heart ache for a second 'She looks as peaceful as the stars above'

'Claire?' She asked tentatively.

The redheaded girl turned her head around to look at her.

'Yes?'

'I was wondering...' Alice frowned. Suddenly she wasnt so sure about asking anymore 'What's your brother's name?'

Some seconds passed until the girl answered but to Alice it seemed an eternity.

'His name is Chris'

Alice stepped on the breaks and she instantly lost control of the speeding vehicle. She heard Claire cry out in fright as the Hummer began to spin and then crash agaisnt a tree.

To be continued...

Dont forget to review! I'd like to know whether you guys like it or not =)