Chapter Four

Finding Alice

Jill ran down the street, trying to find where she heard the yell. She was positive that it was Alice, and she sounded like she did before in the SUV. Jill knew how incredibly stupid and dangerous approaching Alice with no weapons was, but her instincts told her to find her. After what she had seen earlier, what good would weapons do anyway?

It was almost complete darkness, and the only light provided was the dim street light on every block. Some house's porch lights were on, but they were doing little good. Jill increased her pace, only to find her boots colliding with a dead body causing her to fall chest first on the street pavement, but regardless she was on her feet running again. She found herself lost until the cry was heard again. It couldn't have been more than fifty yards away.

She began walking, looking carefully at her surroundings, trying to find Alice. She walked a few more feet when she heard the sound of someone gasping for air. It was in the yard next to where she was standing. She went into the yard following the sound. It was coming from the backyard. Jill cautiously turned the corner to see Alice leaning against the side of the house, breathing heavily. Valentine wanted to help her but still approached cautiously. Alice hadn't seen her yet since her eyes were closed.

"Alice, is that you," Jill spoke finally.

"Jill!" Alice gasped out, still keeping her eyes closed.

Thank god, she spoke, Jill thought to herself. I think she's herself. Jill then did a brave thing and went to kneel beside Alice. One wrong move and she would snap her neck before Jill would even know it happened.

"Jill, are you there?" Alice asked breathing a little calmer.

"I'm still here, Alice," Jill said tranquilly. "Do you remember anything since we were in the car?"

Alice's eyes finally opened. She looked exhausted, and she had that look on her face. The look she had when she found out that Nemesis was Matt. Jill could tell that she was getting those flashbacks again. Alice had no problem with killing, as long as it was people who deserved it. These people, all these people around her, were innocent, and she struck them down with pleasure.

"I didn't mean to do it, Jill," Alice pleaded. "I swear. There's something in me, something that's controlling me. Oh god and I shot you, I'm so sorry."

Alice tried to continue but found herself coughing uncontrollably. Jill slipped her arm around her back and put Alice's arm around her shoulders, providing support for her to stand.

"Don't worry," Jill said. "You can tell us when we get to that house."

"Is Carlos okay?" Alice asked as Jill pulled her up.

"He'll be okay," Jill replied laughing a little. "You whacked him pretty damn good though."

She smiled, glad that Alice was herself again. They had their victory back again. Any another law officer would kill her on sight for committing multiple murders, but Jill wasn't a law officer anymore and Alice wasn't guilty, Umbrella was. Hopefully whatever happened to Alice wouldn't happen again. After a few steps, Alice was able to walk on her own again.

"Well I take it your shoulder's fine?" Alice joked. "So I guess there's no apology necessary." Yep, Alice was coming back to sarcastic herself alright.

"Bullshit, it hurts," Jill replied showing her the large bloody bandage on her shoulder. "I want you on your knees pleading to me."

"Hey, I didn't shoot you enough to do that," Alice replied.

Alice suddenly stopped smiling and came to a stop and stared down at one of the sidewalks. Jill stopped to and gazed down at what she was looking at. It the first victim that she saw, and worse it was the little seven year old girl she had seen earlier with her head twisted around. She looked at Alice to see that her face was pale. Alice tried to take in what Jill had said. Alice looked down at her hands and stared at the blood.

"Umbrella, Alice," Jill said mournfully. "Not you, Umbrella."

Alice required Jill to push her on before she could move. She tried to take in what her friend had said. It was Umbrella's fault, yes, but it had been done with her hands, the hands that right now wore the strawberry colored proof.

They both continued walking, and this time Alice seemed to be the one lost in thought. Valentine knew what she was thinking about, and she knew that she was thinking the same thing herself, how they were going to make Umbrella suffer, and how they were going to make that Dr. Isaacs suffer. Jill suddenly was knocked out of her thought as she saw a figure moving down the street towards them with a machine gun. She halted as Alice drew one of her Uzis. After a few seconds, it became clear who it was.

"You idiot," Alice shouted out to LJ. "I could've shot you."

"Sorry," he said lowering the gun. "You back with us?"

"Yeah," Alice nodded.

Jill looked to Alice, hoping that what she just said would be true. She hoped Umbrella couldn't control her again like that. They joined ranks with LJ and headed back to the house. It was a huge relief to Alice once they got off the corpse covered streets. She hoped that the corporation didn't have the ability to do whatever they had done to her again. They considered her as their weapon, but she considered herself as their nightmare. She wanted them to come after her.

Once they arrived at the house, they went inside to find Carlos awake on the couch. He looked to see Alice enter with them and assumed she was herself again, but he didn't know about what she just did. Jill and LJ were sure that he would forgive her and turn the blame on Umbrella.

"Sorry, Carlos," Alice said honestly.

"It's fine," he replied. "At least we know you still got it."

Jill gave Alice a look, and though she didn't have a psychic ability, Alice could read her mind. It was that we have to tell him look. So she sat down on one of the couches as Jill leaned against a wall. LJ was just coming out of the kitchen with a Sprite can. She took a deep breath and began explaining. She went through all she remembered including shooting Jill, and cracking the little girl's neck. It was painful and graphically detailed, and she mentioned stuff that made Jill repeatedly tell herself that it was Umbrella's doing.

After she was done she looked hopefully at Carlos, praying that he could forgive her. He didn't look too moved by the story, so Jill took the stage.

"Alice isn't the one responsible for ..."

"I know," Carlos cut her off. "Umbrella."

"Right," Jill replied.

Their conversation was cut off by the sound of choppers. Curiously, they all walked out of the house and looked up at the sky. There were about ten helicopters flying over the town. Though it was dark, Carlos could make out the symbol on the side of them.

"It's Umbrella!" he yelled.

"What are they doing?" Jill asked.

Alice heard the word and it made her furious. She wanted those copters to crash and the people inside to burn in a horrible death. So she focused on one of them. She wanted to destroy it so bad, so so bad, and just like that the tail the chopper exploded, causing the chopper to take a long fall to its death.

"Nice work," Jill said watching the explosion. "Nine more."

Before Alice could focus on another one, her ultra sensitive ears heard something in the distance. The sound was all too familiar to not know what it was, that low, horrifying moaning.

"What's wrong," Jill asked.

"I know why they made me do this," Alice replied. "So this town would be full of undead."

Author's Note: Thanks for reviewing. I know I didn't get fifteen, but I'm a push over. I will explain about why the undead were there in the next chapter, but it may be a few days before it is submitted. I am right in Hurricane Ivan's path, and I'm sure he will knock out my power, so please do me a favor and be patient. He is suppose to hit Bogalusa Thursday morning. Oh and if the next chapter isn't published by next Friday, Ivan has killed me. LOL! You all pray that I live.

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