Chapter 4: Why are you taking my place?

Kmart has been trying her best to avoid Claire and Alice for days. She hates to do it but it's the only way to set aside her jealousy towards Alice. She thinks she's losing her big sister now. She hates the thought, but that's what's really happening now. So, to keep herself busy and to avoid the two women, she always goes to Mikey's van and chat with him or to Betty's. But Claire noticed Kmart's behavior. She's now wondering the why the teen is avoiding her and Alice.

It's a little bit cold that night. Claire and Alice are playing cards in the Hummer.

"I'm two points ahead of you." the redhead grinned.

"Oh no, you will not win this time." Alice shot back.

"Oh really?" Claire grinned at Alice. Then Kmart came and started to get her things.

"Kmart, what are you doing?" Claire asked Kmart then raised her brow. Alice turned to look at Kmart, too.

"Just getting my things." Kmart replied without looking at Claire.

"Why?"

"I'll stay with Betty tonight." Kmart faced Claire now.

"Again?" the redhead dropped the cards.

"She promised me we will watch movie tonight." Kmart said. Claire stared at Kmart for a moment then nodded. Kmart turned to leave the Hummer then….

"Kmart, is something the matter?" Claire asked. Kmart stopped and turned to look at Claire again.

"Nothing. Why did you ask?" Kmart asked Claire. She wanted to tell everything to Claire now but didn't dare. Kmart stared at Claire.

"I know there's something going on. You're just not telling me." Claire commented.

"There's nothing, really. I should be going now, Betty is waiting. See you two tomorrow." Kmart started to walk and headed to where Betty's van is.

"Goodnight, K." But Claire knew that Kmart didn't hear her because she's too far away now.

"You okay Claire?" Alice sounded concerned. Claire just nodded.

"She's really like you." Alice smiled at Claire. Claire looked at Alice.

"What do you mean?" Claire asked.

"She's tough. I know she's been going through something these past few days, but she's being strong. Just like you, you're suffering through a bad dream during the nights, but you never break down." The blonde stated. Claire smiled a bit, a weak one.

"I wonder what she's going through right now." Claire wondered.

"I don't know either. But there's one thing that I know for sure. She needs her big sister right now."

The last sentence of Alice echoed in Claire's head. Alice is right; she is Kmart's big sister, before. From what was happening nowadays, she's not sure anymore if she still is. She noticed Kmart is avoiding her. But, for what reason? She doesn't know why. All she knew right now is she misses her little sister, badly.

Kmart and Betty are watching a comedy movie. Betty is having all the fun, but Kmart couldn't seem to focus on what she's watching. She sat quietly at Betty's side.

"Hey kid, what's wrong?" Betty asked Kmart.

"Huh? Nothing." Kmart replied then looked at the screen.

"Oh come on. You can't fool me that easily." Betty said, then, stopped the movie. Kmart sighed and couldn't find words to Betty's question.

"It's nothing, I'm fine."

"So tell me why are you avoiding Claire Redfield these past few days?" Betty asked, and with that, Kmart turned to look at the older woman. "I'm right, am I not?"

"She's happy now. She doesn't need me anymore. She found a new best friend." Kmart replied sadly. Betty held Kmart's hands.

"That's not true. You are her only best friend." Betty comforted Kmart.

"No. Alice is her best friend now." Kmart started to cry.

"You're jealous of Alice?" Kmart's cry got louder. Betty held Kmart in her arms.

"Please don't tell Claire about this." Kmart sobbed.

"I promise."

Everybody had fallen asleep but Claire couldn't be able to sleep, so she decided to go to the campfire and have some smoke. Claire has been in the campfire for five minutes when she made her last puff of her stick. Then the figure sat beside her. She thought it was Alice but was surprised when she saw Betty, who is smiling at her.

"Hey, couldn't go to sleep?" Betty asked the leader.

"Yeah. How about you?" asked the redhead.

"I couldn't go to sleep either." Betty replied. The red head threw the last of her cigarette in the fire. The two women sat in silence until…..

"Hey I know we're not that close, so if you're not comfortable with me being here, I can go." Betty said.

"No it's okay. I don't mind."Claire replied. "How's Kmart doing by the way?"
"She's fine. She's asleep now. Want me to wake her up so she can sleep in the Hummer?" Betty asked the redhead.

"No. let her sleep." Claire turned to look at the fire. "She's been hanging out with you, lately, how's that?" Betty wanted to tell Claire what Kmart told her earlier but she didn't dare. She promised to the kid. And she couldn't afford to break that promise.

"You know what? She really is like you. I wouldn't be surprised if she grows up to be just like you." Betty commented.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Claire frowned at Betty's comment.

"She's tough. She has the characteristic of being a good leader. You're training Kmart to be a good leader without you knowing it." Betty replied. Claire is starting to get confused.

"What made you say that?" Claire is now totally lost.

"She never complained. She always keeps the pain inside." Betty hoped those words would struck Claire. The black haired woman stood up and started to walk.

"Hey, is there something wrong with Kmart?" the redhead asked. Betty stopped walking and turned to look at Claire once again.

"You know her better than me." Betty smiled and started to head to her van.

Claire was left in the campfire, totally confused. Why Betty did told her all of that? Why did she sound concerned towards her and Kmart? she thought to herself. She sighed and decided to despise the thought.

The next morning, everyone is busy with their "work" especially Claire. Kmart saw a boy crying. She approached the kid to ask why.

"Hey, why are you crying?" Kmart asked the boy. "Something's wrong?"

"He lost his ball." The young girl beside the boy replied.

"Where did you lose it?" the teen asked.

"Over there." The young girl pointed east. "It bounced over there and we can't see it anymore."

"Okay I'll find it for you." Kmart promised. Then, the boy stopped crying.

"But it's dangerous. It bounced to the cave." The young girl replied.

"I'll be fine." Then Kmart started to walk to the cave.

It's been thirty minutes since Kmart left to find the boy's ball, and still she didn't show up. Claire is looking for Kmart and wondering where she is now. She's now starting to worry because she couldn't find her.

"Alice, have you seen Kmart?" Claire asked

"No, I haven't seen her for awhile." Carlos replied.

"Maybe she's just hanging around." Betty said. Claire walked away and approached the two kids whom Kmart talked to earlier. Claire is now freaking out.

"Hey kids have you seen Kmart?" the redhead asked the kids.

"She went to the cave to find my brother's ball." The young girl replied.

"What?" Claire shouted. The kids backed away when the redhead shouted.

"Hey kids I found your ball. It's a little dark out there." Kmart said from Claire's behind. Claire turned to look at Kmart who is holding a ball. She shot the teen a dark look and with that, Kmart's smile faded.

"Where the hell did you go?" Claire hissed. Kmart was taken aback and dropped the ball. Claire is now angry.

"I-I just have to find their ball." Kmart murmured.

"How many times do I have to tell you, no to go out of the perimeter? And if you have to go somewhere, you have to bring someone with you?" Claire shouted at Kmart. Everybody stopped from what they're doing and turned to look at the two girls shouting at each other.

"I'm not a kid anymore! I can handle myself!" Kmart is starting to get angry now, too.

"Oh yeah? What if you get injured there?" Claire hissed, she couldn't control her temper anymore. Kmart really did freak her out.

"And why the hell do you care now?" Kmart shouted at Claire. She couldn't believe, she's having a fight with Claire now.

"Why the hell do I care? Well, I'm the one who has been taking care of you!"

"But that was before!" Kmart's eyes welled with tears.

"You know my rules Kmart!" Claire said. Trying to control her temper.

"Yeah. You're rules! You know what? Your rules suck!" Kmart ran as fast as she can back to the cave. Claire slapped her forehead. She really hates arguing with Kmart. Alice walked to Claire's side.

"It's too dangerous out there, I think you should go and see her." Alice patted Claire's shoulder and handed her a flashlight.

"Right."

Kmart sat in the rock inside the cave. She's crying so hard because of mixed emotions. She hates arguing with Claire. She heard footsteps. Someone has come to look for her. Then she saw a light and Claire.

"Let's get out of here Kmart." Claire ordered softly.

"Just leave me alone." Kmart replied.

"You know I can't do that." Claire said, kneeling in front of Kmart. Then they heard a creaking sound. Small rocks are starting to fall. Claire got nervous, and so is Kmart. There's only one thing in their mind; the cave is going to collapse. And they're right; the cave is going to collapse. Some rocks started to fall.

"Oh, shit!" Claire shouted and covered Kmart up. Then a big rock hit Claire's back.

"Claire!" Claire moaned from the pain. She felt her blood dripping fast. Then a moment after, the collision stopped.

Outside the cave, everybody heard the loud sound coming from the cave. Without hesitation, Carlos and Alice hurriedly ran to the cave.

Claire is now lying on the ground. She heard Kmart crying and calling out her name over and over. Claire's eyes are half open and she could barely see Kmart. Then she heard footsteps and two familiar voices calling out her name. She saw Carlos and Alice, and then everything went black. Carlos lifted Claire up. He's now covered with blood. While Alice assisted Kmart to stand up.

Claire is lying in the med van, still unconscious. Betty is assisting the redhead. And Alice and Carlos are with her.

"How's she?" Carlos asked.

"Well she lost some of her blood. But she's fine. Her heartbeat's fine." Betty replied.

"I'll just go and see Kmart." Alice said then walked away from them. Alice found Kmart in the Hummer, crying.

"You'll run out of tears if you won't stop crying." Alice smiled at Kmart.

"How's Claire?" the young blonde asked.

"She's fine now but still unconscious." Alice replied.

"It's my entire fault." Kmart sobbed.

"Don't blame yourself. It's no one's fault. It's just an accident." Alice said.

"If it weren't because of me, she wouldn't get hurt. I'm so stupid." Kmart said.

"Hey don't say that." Alice held Kmart's hands. "Now, tell me what's happening to you?"
"What do you mean?" Kmart wiped her tears.

"You've been avoiding Claire these past few days. Why are you doing that?" Alice asked. Kmart fell silent. "Tell me, I'll listen."

"She's happy now. She's happy with you. She found a new best friend." Alice frowned at Kmart's statement. "Why are you taking my place, Alice?"

"Hey, I didn't take your place. I'm just her new friend. I'm sorry if it meant that way."
"She doesn't need me anymore." Kmart murmured.

"Hey, that's not true. Let me tell you something." Alice said. "Do you know that she's been taking care of you even during the nights?"

Kmart frowned. "What do you mean?" Alice took a deep breath.

"You're making me confuse Alice."
"Okay. She's been having a nightmare of you being taken away by someone from the chopper. It kept on repeating so she started to worry about your safety."

"But that was just a dream."

"That's what I told her but she doesn't want to listen. She always stayed awake during the nights to watch out for you." Kmart was shocked by Alice's revelation.

"Was that the reason why she's trembling days ago?" Kmart asked her eyes wide with shock.

"Yes, she's always lacked of sleep." Alice replied. Kmart's eyes welled with tears again.

"I'm so stupid. I thought she doesn't need me anymore because she's always having fun with you, every time I see you together." Kmart sobbed.

"You're jealous of me?" Alice frowned.

"Yes. That's why I'm trying to avoid you and Claire."

"I'm just her way of releasing, if you know what I mean. She didn't tell you all that because she doesn't want to scare you, so she chose to tell it to me." Alice stated.

"So all this time, you've been comforting her?" Kmart asked. Alice nodded.

"And all this time I've been avoiding her because of the wrong thought." Kmart said sadly.

"That's okay. Maybe if I were in your situation, I'll think the same way. I just want you to remember something." Kmart looked up at her. "You'll always be Claire's little sister, no matter what. And you know what? Your big sister badly needs and misses you right now." Alice smiled. So Kmart smiled back, too.