Chapter 2: Claire Redfield
The moon had risen by the time Alice collected enough wood for the night and completed her exercises. She ate a little of her food supply to keep up her energy, but she was determined to make sure that the redhead would have more than enough. On the other side of the fire Claire began to stir. Alice held her breath; only letting it back out when the other woman began to fight the rope binding her wrists.
Alice walked over to Claire's side of the flames and said in calming tones, "Hey-hey, it's ok," but Claire just grunted at her in retaliation and pulled on the ropes again. "Sorry about that, but I had to get this thing off you," Alice said as she held up the red metallic bug reflecting the firelight. "What is this? Who did this to you?"
Claire did nothing but glare at Alice.
"Do you even know who I am?" She looked into Claire's eyes and saw no recognition of the history they both shared, just a steady look of distrust. "My name is Alice. We met in the Nevada desert 18 months ago – any of this sound familiar? Mikey, Carlos, LJ? K-mart? You left in a helicopter with a group of survivors headed for Alaska. Arcadia, remember?"
Alice's questions were desperate and pleading, but Claire only shook her head. It confirmed the one thing Alice feared above all else. Sure she had felt alone before, had certainly been alone before, but this was the first time she felt truly alone in another's presence. She thought she was a freak and that her infection made her separate from everyone else, but it never hurt like this.
Alice tried again to get a reaction from the redhead – to spark Claire's recollection of who she was and what happened. "You're name is Claire Redfield, do you remember that?"
Claire glanced at the planes around her; didn't even look at Alice when she replied, "No." Her voice was raspy and unsure. Claire looked down embarrassed at her lack of knowledge, and her eyes took in the red vest she was wearing until she noticed a puncture mark in her skin just above the top of her cami where a small trickle of blood lie between her breasts.
"You've been drugged by this thing," Alice said as she made a motion with the spider in her hand. "It would explain the memory loss." Claire starred at the spider, her uncertainty obvious.
"My name is Claire?" she said in distaste; it didn't sound familiar enough to be really hers.
"You'll get used to it," Alice replied. It was almost funny the expression on the redhead's face as she said her own name. Really it wasn't funny at all, but the seriousness of the situation was too much for Alice to handle right now. Claire didn't remember anything, more importantly Claire didn't remember her, and there was the possibility that she never would.
"Your arms must be hurting," Alice said as she crossed the distance to where Claire sat. "I'm going to re-tie you so you're more comfortable, don't try anything." The angry look in the redhead's eyes was easily translated for Alice, it said: Oh wow, what gave that away? Thanks for considering my comfort. You're such a nice captor. Alice untied Claire's hands from the tire well and instead tied them in front of her. With one hand firmly set on Claire's shoulder to keep her in place, she used the other to grab more rope from her coat pocket. The end result was that Claire could move her arms at the elbow, but both of her upper arms and chest were fit snuggly against the landing gear of the plane.
Although Claire didn't want to admit it, it was more comfortable.
"You're probably hungry too…" Alice waited to see if she would get a reply; the silence was starting to get to her.
When none came, Alice picked up her pack and found the can of Spaghettio's she'd been saving for Claire. She used a can opener on the lid, and once it was pried open set a spoon inside it then placed it on the ground next to the redhead. The way her arms were tied it would be difficult for her to eat but not impossible. Claire looked at it, and then looked away in stubborn disinterest.
Alice sighed and set out her sleeping gear, placed her warmest blanket near Claire's other side, then laid down facing away from her to rest. Minutes passed in silence except for the crackling of the fire until Alice heard the redhead pick up the can and begin eating.
When Claire was done with the food Alice listened to her breathing until she was sure the woman was asleep and turned to face her.
"Good night, Claire," Alice whispered softly and only then did she finally close her eyes intent on rest. But the ex-project didn't get any sleep that night; too often was she roused by the noise of shifting logs in the fire, and rusted wind-turned propellers. Her senses were heightened because once again – she had something to lose.