This chapter isn't dedicated to anyone.

That's a lie.

It's for Short Stack.

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"I've done the math enough to know,

The dangers of a second guessing,

Doomed to crumble unless we grow,

And strengthen our communication."

Schism – Tool

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The building was about 45 floors, but the group had only reached 21. Barry said that the higher they got, the worse the surprises were.

"Better hidden booby-traps, sickly zombies, you name it, we probably ran into it." Barry exclaimed, as himself and Alice walked around. Barry stopped at a door and turned toward the brunette.

"Your room. Not much, but it's better than nothing." Alice smiled and dipped her head.

"Thanks. Are there any scheduled scouts heading out soon?" Barry arched an eyebrow in confusion.

"Scouts?" Alice shifted and scoffed.

"Yeah. Surveys of nearby areas, buildings. Reporting any odd activity and looking for survivors. Scouts." Barry's eyes go wide and his mouth opens like a fish out of water. He lets out a hollow laugh out of embarrassment.

"Well, we weren't planning on it. Want me to go gather up a team?"

"That'd be nice. No more than three people." Barry gave a flimsy salute and smile and headed back the other way, leaving Alice alone.

Alice walked into the room and silently closed the door. She finally released the breath she was holding in as she sat on the cot located in the farther left corner of the room. As she sat, she began to think. Thinking of everything that has happened over the past ten years, and what is bound to happen in the near future. Alice's body began to shake. She lazily placed her head in her hands, and shook it back and forth. Arcadia. Fucking Arcadia. What a letdown. She promised all those survivors that they'd be safe with her, but now…all that hope, is no longer alive.

Claire got shot in the knee, tore apart bone and ligaments. The scream. God, the scream. Alice clasped her ears. That'll ring forever in her memories. Claire's a fighter. If she fell, she went down with a fight, but Alice didn't want to believe that. Something told her she's still alive, and it was beating erratically in her chest.

A knocking on her door threw her out of her reverie. Alice regained her composure and got up off the cot. Slowly, she opened the door.

Barry shoved his head in, forcing Alice to back away in surprise.

"Got 'em." He smiled. The brunette simply stared. She opened the door wider and walked out, noticing the others behind the large male. A tall man jittered behind Barry; he wore a yellowish-orange jacket similar to the older one's own. Dark blond hair was short, almost in a military crew cut. Beside him resided a woman, a long flowing red dress hugged her curves, a long slit along the left side proudly showcased lean legs. The dress was decorated with butterflies along her ribcage, also stitched in was the trail the butterflies seemed to be flying in. Jet black hair covered her eyes, but swayed away when she walked forward towards Alice. She raised her hand hip level, holding it out for Alice to grasp.

"Ada. Ada Wong." Alice took it with wariness but respect.

"Alice." Ada smirked as she dropped her hand back to her side.

"Pleasure." The man behind Barry moved forward and nodded his head.

"I'm Brad...Uhh…Brad Vickers." He shuffled to Ada's side. Barry leaned into Alice's ear and whispered.

"Called him 'Bickers' back in the day." As he leaned away, he smirked devilishly at Brad. The man began to shuffle in place.

"Time to head out?" Alice asked in Barry's direction.

"Yep, don't want to waste any time lookin' for your friends." Barry led the pact down the hallway, and down about 4 flights of stairs. As they made their way to the entrance, a voice shouted behind them.

"ADA!" It was Leon. Ada stopped and dropped her head.

"For fucks sake," she muttered, "what!" He appeared from behind a door and made his way towards the group.

"Do you know where my gun is?" Ada sighed. Her face showed frustration.

"Rebecca still has it, you never got it back." Leon flustered and left without a word of thanks. Ada reached behind her back and removed a black .22 caliber glock. She waved it at Barry, who broke out in laughter.

"Payback for leaving his post 2 weeks ago." She said as she noticed Alice's look of confusion. Alice opened her mouth but quickly closed it and instead just nodded.

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They had only been gone for 45 minutes and already Barry was complaining of an empty and craving stomach. It was silent out, so every moan, grunt and plea echoed into each member's ears.

"Christ, I could really go for a nice sandwich."

"Barry, shut the fuck up." Ada demanded venomously. Brad laughed nervously and Alice just kept to herself, not wanting to grab any attention. They were walking in a neighboring town, just a few blocks away from their stronghold. Desolate and dark, everything was so quiet that every step the group made seemed to follow them.

There was a bout about 12 yards away from them, paint peeling on the sides and windows broken out. The front door slammed every time a gust of wind blew through. Barry looked back at the three behind him and nodded his head forward, pulling out his gun. The three followed his movements, pulling out their own weaponry. Barry led, Brad and Alice close behind him, with Ada pulling the rear. As Barry reached the door, he grabbed for it before it could slam once more against the outside paneling. He stayed quiet. Listening in for any odd noises coming from the main hall that lay before him.

There was nothing. The old man held up two fingers in the air and flicked them forward, motioning for returned movement. The pushed inward into what looked like the living room. Dust covered every surface; the couch was in disarray, the cushions thrown about the floor. Blood speckled several areas, random streaks and pools, dried a thousand times over. Brad pointed his gun towards an adjoining room.

"Kitchen. Check it?" Barry nodded and joined his side.

"Got 'ya." Silently they moved into the room, leaving the two women behind.

Alice looked around, checking for any sudden or slow movement. All she saw was the dust flying in the air, until her eyes rested on a flight of stairs, almost hidden behind a wall. Alice stared at it until Ada blocked her view.

"Curious?"

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One checked Claire's knee about every three hours, redressing it and redoing any stitches that popped out. Claire would lean up, taking a quick peek at what her knee looked like and the image she was presented was not pleasant. Screws and wires protruded from her leg, shining brightly in the light that hung above her head. A clear, curved plate rested atop what 'was' left of her knee cap, reconstructing the lost bend. One removed stitches, pulled skin back and checked if everything was alright. With a small and quick nod of his head, noting that everything was alright, he closed everything back up and redressed it with a clean bandage. The pant leg had been removed since Claire had originally woken up, so One had to clothe in left over jean he had found lying in where Claire had slept. Stitching it on, he placed the brace Umbrella has created on the redhead's leg, which was so tightly bolted, it restricted Claire from bending her knee. One patted her foot and stood up, admiring his handiwork.

"Good as new. Well, almost I guess. Just keep still until I come back for our next round, alright?" Claire saluted him and he left. As soon as the door closed, Claire threw herself back onto the bed.

And wept.