Chapter 7: The Caterpillar

"One?" Alice's soft voice echoed in the large room, trying desperately to knock away the paralyzed stare that lay across his face. A moment passed, and only the sound of the heavy breathing of Alfonso, Twelve, and Olga could be heard, as they loped quietly to the rest of the group. As they got closer to Alice, Kaplan, and One, they silently looked from the pale face of the large man, to the confused bio-weapons. None of them looked at Kaplan, however. No one cared about him.

"What's going on?" Twelve said, noticing the astonished, but terrified, look on One's face. Slowly, the large black man shook his head from side to side. Nothing, it meant.

And no words came from him. It was as if his throat had collapsed into itself by pure shock. He struggled for a few seconds, not sure how to speak.

"One?" The woman said once again, and this time she met the command's large, brown eyes. She could see deep inside of them. They were questioning her. They were scrutinizing her. They hated her.

"How did you-"

"The others told me," She cut him off, afraid to hear the rest of the question. "Rain told me all about it. She told me about the lasers, and," Alice thought back to the first time she was in the Hive. She thought of watching through the small window, as Olga lost her head and Twelve dying of shock. She thought of Alfonso jumping into his death. But most of all, she thought of watching in horror as One was cut up, grated into a hundred of pieces by the blue-green laser. Just before Kaplan got the Red Queen's defenses down.

"and how you made it…out of the hallway."

"Oh." One said plainly. "Oh." he repeated, after no one spoke. Everyone looked from the faces of each other, getting ready for something bad to happen. However, no one was prepared for what was about to ensue.

"You bitch," he said aggressively, shoving her into a nearby pillar. "You lying bitch! How the fuck did you know?" Alice stood there, taking his verbal abuse with a stunned look on her face. Quickly, he pulled back his hand, prepared to strike her.

"Who," he yelled at her, while bringing his large hand across her face. It hurt. "are," another slap, this time with more sting. "you?" the final smack.

Without warning, One was hurled over to the small group of people, and they all backed up as he came near them.

"I don't know!" Alice yelled back, her blue eyes dilated and brimming with hatred. It was Umbrella. She had her powers again.

"I don't know who I am! I've changed too much to know!" Her voice cracked, and she breathed in. Slowly, her pupils returned to regular size. Her eyes flashed the recognizable Umbrella logo. "Umbrella," she heard an unfamiliar female voice say within her mind. "our business is life itself."

A deep, twisting feeling formed within Alice at that moment, and she closed her eyes tightly. "Alice," she said, squatting down next to the large column. "I am…Alice." From beyond her closed eyes, she could sense that One was painfully trying to arise.

"Alice," he reiterated, as the bio-weapon opened her eyes again. "I'm sorry." She could hear just a hint of anger in his voice, but she knew he was genuinely remorseful.

"It's okay," She replied, now setting her hand on her warm, stinging cheek. "It's fine."

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"You cut the power?" she asked.

"Yes. Is that bad?" he replied.

"Very bad. I'm not sure if I can go through this again." she told him.

"Why? What happened last time?"

And she told them. She told each and everyone of how they died. And she saved Matt for last.

"Matt, you…" He looked at her, understanding that he had the worst death. "you turned into…something." A pause. And then more words. "You turned into Nemesis."

They all watched Alice as she closed her eyes again, remembering Matt Addison's fate. Nemesis. Cain. Fighting him. And his death.

I am not losing you.

"Nemesis?" Matt asked, confused at what she was talking about.

Alice looked grimly at Matt, her eyes flowing with sorrow. Her pale lips moved slightly, but she said nothing.

"An experimental project that Umbrella was working on," Kaplan answered before Alice had the chance. "When I was in the Hive a few weeks ago, I heard some employees talking about Nemesis. They said that he'd be B.O.W.: Bio-Organic Weapon. They needed a test subject, though. Said they couldn't find one. If what you're telling us is true," he paused, and looked at Alice, "then Matt is one lucky bastard to be back alive."

Alice chuckled, although it was a nervous laugh. "We're all very lucky. Everyone in this room has died."

"Everyone, but you." Rain corrected her. A smile was printed on her face, although she was overflowing with fear.

"Everyone, but me." Alice repeated, and the harsh words died on her lips. She looked from the faces of her comrades to see if they believed her. From what she saw, they all did.

"So," Matt began, "who's Carlos?" Alice smiled at his question.

"Carlos Olivera. Maybe you know him?" Matt shook his head no, but Twelve nodded.

"I used to work with him. He works with the U.B.C.S. now. I don't blame him; the pay's better."

"Yeah, well…" she hesitated. "I need to find him."

"Then we should move out." J.D. told her, checking his watch. "We're behind schedule."


Well, my writers block is gone! WOOOOOOO!! :)

Hopefully you guys understand why its called the Caterpillar. Maybe? Please?

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll keep em' comin'.