Chapter 10
The people in the convoy are all gloomy while they do their designated tasks. Jill, Carlos, Mikey and Chase are unpacking all the goods they had scavenged from the nearby supermarket. Kmart is handing out foods to the other members of the convoy like what Claire asked her to do. Alice watched everyone for a moment then walked towards Kmart.
"Hey, you okay there?" Alice asked.
"Yeah." Kmart replied gloomily.
"Hey cheer up. Everything will be fine. Smile. For everyone. And for Claire." The blonde smiled half heartedly.
"I don't think I can get over it that fast." Kmart is already teary eyed.
"I know. I know how hard it is for you. But Claire needs you. We have to be strong for her because of all people here, she's the one who suffers a lot, emotionally." Alice said. She sighed softly.
"How is she by the way?"
"Not good. She's blaming herself from what happened."
"It's not her fault." Kmart saddened.
"Exactly what I told her. But she won't listen."
"Alice, do you mind if you take over my duty for a while? I mean I want to see and talk to Claire." Kmart asked.
"Not a problem to me, little kid." Alice smiled.
"Thanks." Kmart jumped off the truck and went to see Claire.
Jill approached Alice when she noticed that the latter is giving food supplies to other members.
"Hey, you okay there?" Jill asked.
"Yeah. I'm doing fine here." Alice smiled.
"Do you want me to help you?"
"Sure. But does your arm feeling better now?"
"Yeah. I can remove the bandage maybe by tomorrow."
"Well, that's great news."
The two started giving foods to the others who are in line while both of them fell silent as thoughts are running through their minds.
"I saw Kmart left. Is she heading to Claire?" Jill broke the silence.
"Yes. She wants to make sure she's alright."
"Is she?"
"No. I never thought she's so vulnerable at times."
"Well, they say, tough people on the outside has so much pain in the inside. They just don't let it out." Jill said.
"Yeah. And so they say."
"Just like you." Jill commented.
Alice looked at Jill. "And by that, you mean what?"
"You always keep your pain and problems inside. You act tough though I know sometimes you're hurting and can't take it anymore. And she's exactly just like you. I wonder why you always do that."
"Well, we need to. This is what keeps me going. No time for sobering. No time for overthinking. We need to keep moving forward." Alice replied.
"Just remember, you're still human. Sometimes, it's okay to feel down an unhappy." Jill grinned.
"I know." Alice half smiled.
"So how is she coping up?"
"Not good. I don't know how to comfort people."
Jill laughed. Alice looked at her confusingly. "What? Why are you laughing?" the blonde asked.
"Nothing. You're just so…"
"I'm just so what?"
"Alice." Jill smiled. "You're just so Alice."
"Huh?" Alice frowned.
"Nothing. Let's get this thing done, shall we?"
"Whatever Jill."
Kmart found Claire sitting on a log, looking far away and mind wandering. She sat beside her but the redhead didn't budge.
"Claire?" Kmart called her name softly.
"What? Do you need something?" Claire asked.
"I want to know what you're thinking and feeling? Will you tell me?" Kmart asked.
"I'm okay Kmart. No need to worry. Just go back to them, will ya?"
"I want to stay here with you."
"I want to be alone." Claire said softly but with firmness on her voice.
"But Claire, I'm worried about you. I wanna know how you are coping up. Alice told me, you're blaming yourself…"
Claire got a little pissed. "Do you want to know how I really feel? I feel worthless. I feel I'm so stupid for thinking I could save everyone! I feel stupid for hoping I can take care of everyone! Do you know that?" Claire almost shouted at Kmart.
The teen was taken aback. She didn't see it coming, all she wants to do is comfort Claire and be with her but she just got angry. At least for now.
"I'm sorry." Claire sighed. "Just let me be alone for a while."
Kmart stood up as she looked down. "Please don't blame yourself for everything. It's not your fault. It's not your fault they died. It's not your fault they got infected. You can't control the situation we're into. There may be some times that we need to sacrifice, just like this. But please, always remember that we believe in you. That I believe in you. You're not stupid. You're human. And you know what? Maybe if it's not for your leadership, we won't come this far. It's just that, there are circumstances that we cannot avoid. Please, do believe in yourself. And I will always be here by your side. No matter how things get tough. I know that the Claire Redfield I know will soon come back."
And by that, Kmart left Claire for her time being. "Why do you always know what to say in situations like this? Do you know how annoying you are sometimes?" the redhead said though she knows that Kmart won't hear her. "I hope I can be as carefree as you can be."
Carlos, Jill, Alice and Angie are gathered in a small group, talking as they spotted Kmart with a sad face. "Hey little kid, what's with that look?" Jill asked.
"She's not okay." Kmart said.
"Well, I'll be surprise if she is." Alice replied.
"She's blaming herself for everything and for what happened. She thinks she's stupid." Kmart said.
"Why is she thinking that?" Jill asked.
"Because she said she wasn't able to protect everyone."
"But she can't control it. She's just human." Carlos said.
"Exactly what I told her."
"She's just tired Kmart. Don't take it too personally. She'll get over it. I'm sure." Alice said.
"Alice is right. When Jill was in that state, I just gave her time to think and days after, she was back in her normal self." Angie reassured Kmart.
"I hope she'll get over it soon." Kmart is still sad.
"She'll be fine. Don't worry." Angie smiled. "Come on. I'll show you something."
As soon as the two kids left, the three adults were filled with silence.
"I know what you're thinking. But don't do it, yet." Alice said, pertaining to Carlos.
Carlos frowned. "What do you mean?"
Alice rolled her eyes. Jill just chuckled. She knows exactly what Alice is talking about. "You want to see her. Come on, It's just Claire who doesn't know that you have a big crush on her."
Carlos face reddened. "What the hell, Alice?" he exclaimed. And with that, Jill laughed hard because of Alice being straightforward with her thoughts.
"Come on Olivera. Don't try to hide it. Not to me and Jill at least. We know you."
"We were separated for a long time girls."
"We still know you." Jill and Alice said in unison with a smile on their faces.
"Whatever guys." Carlos started to walk when Alice stopped him.
"Seriously Carlos. Don't do this. She might blew you off, too. You won't like it. Just let her be for quite some time." Alice said.
"Well, I just want to know if she's okay."
"Don't worry, she will." Alice patted her on his shoulder.
AN: Sorry, for taking almost a year to update another chapter. Stuffs happened. Anyway, thank you those who are still reading this story.