CHAPTER 14
"I would sell my mother for a coke."
"That doesn't hold much credit considering our mother is dead." Chris said, glancing over at his sister, the bright sun reflecting sparkles off of his brow. Sometimes Claire forgot how much alike they looked.
"Well then I would sell my brother for coke." She re-phrased, sticking her tongue out.
"I didn't peg you for a druggy." Alice said.
"Hey, I was in college once! I experimented with things."
"Obviously!" Chris and Alice muttered simultaneously.
The three of them were laying in the cool shade of the SUV in the sand, Alice and Claire sprawled out so that their heads were touching, Chris resting on the other side of his sister, who reached a booted foot out to playfully kick his shin.
"I think I'm well past the experimentation phase, thank you." She said justifiably.
Alice raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what phase are you in now?" The ever-sneaking smirk appeared at the corner of the blonde's mouth. It made Claire want to smile in return instead of the scowling reaction it used to bring.
"One I'd rather not mention in front of my brother." Claire lifted her head to wink at Alice and Chris let out a groan.
"Oh get over it." Claire said, rolling her eyes. "It's not like you don't know what happens when everyone else isn't watching."
"And how I wish I didn't."
"Well then you might want to look away." Hidden from sight by the large block of SUV, Claire rolled to her right until she was on top of Alice, long red hair shadowing their faces like a private curtain.
"Hey." Alice said. Her voice was a rough whisper.
"Hey back." The two stared at each other for a long moment. Chris cleared his throat several times; obnoxiously.
"Are you going to do something or are you just proving a point?" Alice asked, gesturing to the woman above her.
"Well I was… but you just ruined the moment and now it's gone forever."
Alice sniggered and shook her head. She reached up quickly and fluidly, entrapping her fingers beneath bright red strands of hair to guide Claire's mouth down to her own. Claire sank into the unexpected kiss, her lips seeming to melt against Alice's fiery breath. Her heart hammered out Metallica drum beats as Alice's hands glided down her neck and bare arms, pausing to trace the outline of muscle holding her above the blonde.
Her hands wound up on Claire's waist, gently tugging to pull her down on top of Alice. Claire laughed internally. Even from the bottom, Alice was still dominating.
Claire let out a small sigh as the blonde deepened the kiss, the pressure of her lips making the red head's mouth open slightly against the softness of the others'.
"I'm still currently here, you know." Chris said.
Neither of them heard him.
Carlos watched Kmart's jaw clench and her hands ball into fists several times as she forced herself to look at the two women behind the car. He shook his head sadly and rested a firm hand on the younger girl's shoulder.
"Stop this." His voice seemed to shock her back to reality, and she turned to look at him, her expression fierce. "We'll take care of it, okay?"
"We'd better," She replied, crossing her arms in defiance of what she'd just seen. "Because no one else will."
"How about I put this plan into action right now?" He said, more to himself than a question to her. He jumped down from his seat atop the white van, landing on his feet as the hot sand splashed up his legs. He brushed off his pants and tilted his head both to the left and right with a satisfying crack.
He sauntered across the bare patch of ground to the black SUV, purposefully bumping into it with an audible strike to announce his arrival. Sure enough, as he rounded the corner he saw both Alice and Claire sitting in the sand, separated. If it weren't for their bright red faces and odd breathing patterns, he would have questioned that they had been doing anything at all.
"Morning, all." He said with perfectly executed fake pleasantness learned over the years.
"Uh, hey." Claire managed to cough out. Chris shook his head with disappointment at her lack of ability to conceal and Alice covered her mouth with the back of her hand to hide a grin.
"Claire, I have a sort of… proposition for you." He said, ignoring the strange behavior in favor of getting things done quickly.
"Oh. Sure, go ahead." She said, standing up and brushing the sand off of her pants. The other two followed her lead and stood as well. Useless minions, he thought, and cleared his throat.
"I know you're aware that the infected are drawn to fresh food; living humans roaming around the desert in large groups, for instance, and I know that's why you keep the convoy moving around so much. It's the best way to avoid constant confrontations with them and maybe eventually even them overpowering us if enough came at once.
You will continue to move these people as it is in their best interest for their safety, until another option comes along. What I'm suggesting is that we present ourselves with another, better option."
Claire's brow creased in confusion and she crossed her arms, but Carlos could tell her interest was piqued. She was intrigued. "What option?"
"I'm thinking we find these people semi-permanent housing; somewhere they can lie low for a few weeks without having to worry about being out in the open or being attacked at any given minute. Four walls and a roof may not sound like much, but when you're in them they sure provide you with a sense of safety. I know that's what you've been trying to give them here all along."
Claire stood silent for a moment, nodding, thinking it over.
"Seems like there would be a lot of holes in that plan." Chris said, speaking up before his sister had finished mulling over the idea. "There would need to be constant surveillance on whatever building they were kept in, and it would need to be somewhat isolated, otherwise you can bet there will already be infected roaming around. And where one or two of those wander, more are sure to follow.
Plus there's the food situation; people will need to leave to go get supplies every once in a while, and we'll need to make sure the inside environment is safe to build and contain a fire…"
"I know it seems like a lot," Carlos cut him off with a sharp hand in the air. Chris scowled in response. "But it can all be worked out. We already send out scavenging teams for food and supplies, so that shouldn't be an issue, nor should the surveillance. Most buildings do have rooftops and access to them, no?"
"It is a lot to think about." Claire said, glancing between Carlos's eager face and Chris's still doubtful expression. "Maybe if we just go out and look, see if there are any isolated buildings that could work for this…"
"Right, exactly!" Carlos said, the threads of his plan already weaving together in his mind. "We can see if such a place already exists, and then play it by ear."
"It would have to be in close proximity." Alice chimed in. "We can't afford to waste a lot of gas driving far distances just for a scouting mission that might not even come to anything."
"But it might lead to something great." Claire said, turning to look at the blonde, her young eyes full of enthusiasm and determination. "I say we head out now."
Chris and Alice exchanged hesitant glances, both wary of the not fully formed plan of action Claire was already so willing to jump into. They would still need some convincing. That was fine; Carlos was willing to play the secret politician for a little while, answer whatever questions their over-working minds could throw at him.
"Just a scouting first," He said to them, making his eyes as sincere as could muster. "Then if we find anything, then we can work out all of the kinks and decide if it's really the best decision for the group."
That had done it. Chris nodded somberly, taking a step towards his sister.
"I'll go get some supplies ready." He said, taking point as was his nature.
Claire turned to Alice again. "We should head out as soon as possible if we want to cover a lot of ground before it starts to get dark, and there's really no use going if there's no light to-"
"Actually," Carlos cut her off mid-sentence, an apologetic look plastered on his darkened features. "I think it may be a good idea for you to take someone else with you this time, Claire." He watched her expression turn doubtful and wary. He sensed he was losing her. "You know, some of the younger people who can actually fight and hold their own in this group, they might need some training for the future. I think it might be a good way for them to get some experience outside the camp if you took one of them this time."
Claire raised an eyebrow. "Who did you have in mind?"
Carlos crossed his fingers mentally. "Kmart. She's a pretty good shot and a quick thinker already, but I think you could help her direct some of her nervous energy to something useful and productive. She could learn a lot from you, Claire."
He could see that the compliment had sold her, and she nodded.
"Alright. Let her know I'm leaving in half an hour. And tell her to load her gun."
Carlos walked away quickly to find the teenager, no doubt lurking somewhere close within earshot of the entire conversation. He smiled when his back was turned, proud of his superfluous acting job and ability to convince the others of what he needed from them.
It was a shame he hadn't honed into these skills earlier, he thought. He could be running the whole show by now.