Chapter 10 - Home Is Where The Heart Is
A/N: I am so sorry for the delay, I've been trying to recover from the severe abuse my hands have been taking. After a ton of ice, and nearly a week of sorta-resting, I can say they are almost as good as new, so I'm back to writing, and I will be getting out an update of my swanqueen fic within the next day or two. Thank you guys so much for your support, and your reviews. You're all the best, now I'll leave you to enjoy.
The journey north was difficult to say the least. We listened to the long-wave every night, and I listened to the whispered prayers of all the others that nothing in the broadcast would change. They were clinging to this desperate hope for something better with the dedication of a toddler believing in the safety of mom and dad. Denial is what they're all in. Call me a heartless bitch, but this isn't going to work. This place can't possibly be the haven we are all saying it is, and I don't believe for one minute that everything is going to be all hunky-dory like they all believe it will, but I keep that to myself. Claire has enough on her plate without having the whole convoy lynch me.
I just sit on top of the bus and keep the stragglers from touching the vehicles. It's been nearly a month of travel, and at this point, I'm the glorified guard dog and car jack. The snow is getting deeper, and almost every morning I'm called to help get the bus or the tanker out of the snow drifts that fall in the night. It's only early fall, but cutting through Canada was hell on these people, complaints about the bitter cold and the need to stay in the vehicles. Gas wasted on heating things up for everyone, and endless scavenging trips to search for warmer clothing and survival gear.
For now we're all set, so I get to sit back and keep watch as we drive. In the front of the convoy K-mart popped out of the Hummer's sunroof, "Alice! Come here a minute!" She shouted, her voice carried along the wind right to my ears. I'd given my radio back to Claire within the first week. Nothing about that damn piece of shit is helpful, it's a bunch of jokes and hopeful thoughts for all the passengers, and hell if I'm going to be bothered to pick up their code.
I gave K a thumbs up, and did a quick sweep of the road ahead before hooking my rifle's strap over my head. We'd practiced this daily, but K still ducked into the Hummer, refusing to watch me. Rising up to a crouch, I gave myself a moment to get used to the wind before I ran straight for the front of the bus and leapt on top of the Ambulance. The first time we did it, the Ambulance nearly rolled as Betty jerked in surprise. Now she simply clenched down and her steering became stiff as I did the same thing, leaping off and onto the News van.
Mikey never seemed to really mind, but then his music was so loud, I doubt he could really hear anything besides the radio and the walkies. One more jump and I was on top of the Hummer, from there it was easy to slide into the vehicle and shut the sunroof against the cold wind, things had warmed up as we got closer to the ocean, but it was still chilly. "You rang?" I asked, resting my elbows on the two seats in front of me.
K-mart passed me her binoculars. Ahead of us was a wall, a twenty foot high wall of corrugated metal topped with wire. There was a gate that looked to slide into the wall, and on top of the wall I could just barely see patrols in pairs every forty feet or so, moving slowly and wrapped up tight in quality gear. "Arcadia." Claire said, I could feel the grim determination in her voice, and her white knuckles. "I wanted you up here in case things get dicey."
I passed back the binoculars with a smirk, "Worried that paradise isn't so utopian?" I teased.
Claire shot me a glare that would have had anyone lesser devolving into begging and pleading for mercy. "No, I know it isn't going to be utopian. You think you can keep your mouth shut long enough to get us in there? I know you have your reservations, but these people are on their last leg Alice. This is all they've got."
I sighed and patted Claire's shoulder, "Sorry babe," Claire blushed and glanced at K-mart who was pointedly ignoring us. "You have my word I'll be on my best behavior." I promised.
Claire nodded, getting wound up tighter and tighter as we neared the gates. We had a plan, K ducked into the trunk under a tarp, and Claire called into the others, assuring them that all would be well, while informing the drivers that if the Hummer peeled off, they were to follow K-mart as far away as the gas tanks could take them. Claire and I were the negotiators, and we assumed that if this was a load of shit, we'd be fucked and that's it. I can't say I'm exactly comfortable putting Claire at risk like that, but I'm afraid of what she'd do to me if I tried to convince her that it's safer to let me go alone.
Of anyone in the convoy, Claire is the one I trust the most to take care of herself, so I shut down my fears and geared up for the potential fight. We pulled up in front of the gates and honked once to let the alert guards know we wanted to talk. I reached back and patted K one last time before levering myself out of the roof of the hummer. I walked off the hood and landed with barely a sound, Claire meeting me in front of the vehicle. "You know you really shouldn't walk on the windshield." She grouched, walking forward with me.
I laughed, I couldn't help it. Of all the things she could be worried about, it's a couple of dents and scratches on the damn car? My laugh seemed to put the guards at ease, they relaxed a little bit and I could hear their vitals slowing down, like a chorus of distant drums. We stopped about ten feet from the gates, and I leaned back, calling up, "Little pig little pig, let me in."
"Well I'll be damned." I heard the husky voice, and my heart plummeted. It was rich and just a little raspy.
"I think I'm going to take this back." She replied weakly, taking the pistol from my shaky fingers.
"I could kiss you, you bitch."
Rain Ocampo stood in front of me, the picture of health as two guards opened the gates. "And here I thought you were long dead." She grinned at me, fingering her assault weapon.
I drew my pistols and aimed them at her head, "You're dead." I snapped. I could vaguely hear the exclamations of outrage, and the clicks of guns made lethal.
She spread her arms, looking a little confused, "I'm not dead yet."
"She bit me man, took a chunk clean out of me." She exclaimed, staring at the bite.
My hands shook, and I could feel all the attention on me. "That's what you said the last time Ocampo. I remember, Matt put a bullet in your god damn brain!"
"Open the doors! OPEN THEM NOW!" I shouted, my arms shaking as I tried to keep the massive beast trapped. I had his tongue speared like some kind of sick video game, but I only had seconds before I lost my grip.
I looked up to see Matt struggling with Rain, he shoved her back and I saw the white film over her eyes. She was gone, just like all the others. I heard the shot, but I didn't register it, as Rain took a step back, her back drifting into the button to open the doors before she sank down, a perfect circle of red between her eyebrows.
"How the fuck are you still alive?!" I shouted, my arms trembling.
Rain shook her head slowly, "They were keeping me in one of them Umbrella bases, just like the Hive. I got out, took a few boys with me. Alice it's safe, no one here is infected." She tilted her head, and started approaching. I stared in horror.
Her dead eyes staring into mine as air rattled through her throat, she stumbled towards me, reaching for me.
Rain was getting closer, hands still raised, like I was some kind of animal. "It's okay Alice, it's just me."
"I don't want to be like one of those things. Walking around without a soul."
My hands shook, and I couldn't hear anything but the roaring in my ears.
"How many survivors?"
"Only two sir."
"Excellent, I want them in Project Nemesis."
I blinked away the images. I went to move, and something held me back. I looked at my arms, and I saw leather straps, straps on my wrists and ankles holding me down. Trapped. White walls everywhere. How did I get here? I yanked harder, listening to the straps crackle in protest. "LET ME OUT!" I screamed, heart pounding in my ears. I need to get out. I need out right now.
Pressure built up at the base of my skull, and I felt the power gathering. My pupils dilated, I'm gonna blow this place to hell. A soft hand touched my arm and I whipped around, the leather slipping off like water. I rolled and landed in a crouch, the wrist clenched in my fist. Claire whimpered. Oh my god.
I released her and back up, looking around. I just hurt Claire. God, did she get captured too? What even happened? Why isn't she restrained? I narrowed my eyes, Claire looked distraught, but otherwise fine. Same clothes, no bruises, no hurt other than her wrist. I looked down at myself, I had on the same tank top, and jeans I put on this morning. My holsters are empty, and my duster gone. "What did you do?" I hissed, she also was without weapons.
Claire frowned, "Me? Alice you flipped out. You pulled your guns on Rain, you tried to shoot her, I think. You were raving like a crazy person and telling her not to come any closer and then your eyes rolled up. You passed out Alice." She insisted.
I rushed her, and shoved her against the wall, my hand at her throat, "Rain Ocampo is dead. I watched her die." I hissed, "Whoever that bitch is, she's an imposter. An agent of Umbrella."
"Alice listen to yourself." Claire gasped, clinging to my wrist and trying to breath, her feet kicking at the wall, trying to get some friction. "Alice you're paranoid, listen to me, you're safe." She isn't defending herself, she should be kicking and scratching. I don't understand. I squeezed harder and she winced, her eyes filled with something I couldn't understand. "Alice, please listen. Please Alice." She wheezed.
Her heart was pounding frantically, but I could sense that she was dying. I could feel everything slowing under my grip, but Claire refused to attack me, just staring at me, pleading silently as she struggled to breathe. I let her go. She fell to her knees, coughing and gasping. She looked up at me, that same damn emotion there, "Alice?"
I backed into the corner, panic beginning to make itself known. Rain is alive. I almost killed Claire. I don't understand. I don't understand. Rain is alive. I almost killed Claire. I don't understand. "Alice, Alice, shhh, it's okay." Arms wrapped around me, but I didn't freak out this time.
I can't do this. I don't know how to do this. "Alice we'll figure it out. Alice, look at me."
Was I talking? I looked up at her, not knowing what I expected to see, but it wasn't concern and worry overwhelming Claire's beautiful face. "Alice you need to calm down, everything's okay, we're safe. No one's going to attack you. You blew up Umbrella, remember? You beat them, there's no one left to get you." I felt something soft brush my face, again and again. Her lips. "We're safe." She chanted, her soft words and even softer kisses soothing my fears.
I felt my body respond to her touch without any instruction on my part. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close, hiding my face in her shoulder as she continued her chant. Her scent surrounded me, reminding me of late nights chatting over a fire, cuddling in the night, stolen kisses and glances. I shuddered, letting go of the fear with a sob. Claire pulled me tighter, her own body trembling, from fear, or nerves, or anger I don't know.
I don't know how long I stayed like that, hiding in the little circle of safety that is Claire's embrace. The silence cracked with the ginger's voice, "I'm sorry."
What? I pulled back to look at her, "I don't understand." The purpling bruise on her neck caught my eye and I winced, gently brushing my thumb over it, "I'm the one that should apologize."
She swallowed, and it must have been painful, "I should have known better than to let them restrain you. I was, I was just so scared you would hurt yourself. You were thrashing, and flailing, screaming out. K-mart couldn't even be in the room, she tried but, Jill had to drag her away in tears. I should have known what that would do to you." She shook her head, "So I'm the one that needs to be sorry."
"It's okay." And I meant it. As terrifying, and horrible as that had been, Claire needed to know that was okay. "I'm dangerous Claire." She looked away stubbornly, and I lifted her chin to look her in the eyes. "Don't you ever apologize for protecting yourself from me. Even without Umbrella in my head, I'm dangerous."
"I don't care." She replied, her eyes brimming with tears while her hoarse whisper spoke of anger.
"You should. I could snap and kill all of you. We don't even know if I can die. You have to-" She kissed me.
Her lips are so soft. I pressed back, moving my lips against hers as she knotted her fingers in my hair. I supported her, hands on her ribs, feeling every rushed breath beneath my fingers. She pulled away only long enough to gasp for breath before stealing my lips again. Her tongue against my lips demanded entrance, and I followed her lead, reveling in the feeling of having Claire here in my arms.
A small whimper ripped itself from my lips as she broke the kiss, breathing heavily, "I don't care." She smiled, eyes closed, and shook her head, "You're such an idiot."
I watched her helplessly, "I don't understand." I admitted, lost trying to follow her thought process. I strangle her, she kisses me. She locks me in my worst nightmare, and I'm not angry? I almost sabotaged her only chance at living in a safe settlement, and she takes care of me.
Claire rested her head on my shoulder, and melted into my embrace. I couldn't question her and risk ruining this, I've wanted this for weeks, wanted to hold her close without fear of what would happen. Listening to her breathe and feeling the occasional clench of her fingers in my shirt was enough. I don't know how long we sat there, but I honestly don't know how long I was out, or where I am, or any real context for anything, so at this point, I don't think it matters if we were there for days or years.
Claire looked up at me, worry in her eyes, "Are you going to be okay now? I won't leave until you're comfortable, but we need to figure this out with Rain."
I gritted my teeth against the shivers running down my spine. Everything in my mind and gut was screaming that Rain was a rat, this is a trap and we're all going to die. I wanted to scramble out of here, dragging Claire and K-mart with me, kicking and screaming if need be, but I swallowed it. They needed this, I'll… I'll watch Rain and her men. I'll protect them if it's the last thing I do. I nodded slowly for Claire, swallowing my fear. "Of course, I'm fine." We stood up slowly, trying to avoid getting too tangled and falling, again the dark purple bruising caught my eye, "I'm so sorry about that Claire." I cupped her neck, wishing I could fix it.
"It's fine Alice, I've gotten far worse." What does that mean? I frowned at the thought that anyone could hurt Claire. "We live in a dog eat dog world." She reminded me, taking my hand from her neck and laced our fingers. "Come on, K will be happy to know you're awake."
A/N: Well we have finally caught up to where I am writing. I can't promise I will continue updating as often as I have, but between my plans, and my enthusiasm for the story, I think I'll be able to keep up something pretty regular.
