Chapter 11: Damage Control

What the hell just happened? Alice thought as she walked away. She made it all the way back to her pack and began to search through it for her handheld radio by the time she heard Claire get up to follow. The taller woman pushed a button and turned the knob slowly through the AM stations, listening for anything other than static. Coward.

"Alice, I know you're scared, and I'm scared too." The redhead didn't need Alice to look at her; she knew that she was being heard. "But this feels right…doesn't it?"

Claire's pleading voice pulled at Alice's heartstrings, so she turned her fear away and then turned to face to the one she loved.

"It does-" was all Alice could get out before the radio came to life.

"Hello, I am transmitting from the Tillamook Airport. If there is anyone out there, you are more than welcome to join us, we've-" the man's deep voice cut out and was not repeated as static returned to the foreground.

"Why did it stop?" Claire asked while Alice twisted the knob slowly back and forth to try and get back the station.

"I don't know, but we should go." Alice responded as she turned the radio off and stowed it back in her bag, slinging it over her shoulder.

Claire bit her lip, but Alice smiled and took hold of the redhead's hand, holding it all the way back to the plane.

The feeling in the pit of Alice's stomach was apprehension; it was always that way when she came upon potential survivors. She couldn't think of the last time she'd actually arrived in time to be of any help. Then there was the occasional trap; and it was those kinds of people, the ones that would prey on the weak, that made her disgusted with humanity.

The airport had two paved runways and one was completely cleared of debris, unlike the other that was littered with refueling vehicles, orange cones and barrels, and three small jets. It seemed that the airport's occupants were prepared for landing planes, and that they welcomed it; the uneasiness in Alice's gut grew two fold as she set down the plane and maneuvered it so they could make a quick takeoff if need be.

As Alice threw back the windshield Claire said stubbornly, "I'm not staying behind."

Alice's mouth curled up in a light smile, "I wasn't going to tell you too." The taller woman offered Claire a hand down from the red plane's wing and she took it. After that, the ex-project was all business as she un-holstered both of her Smith and Wessons.

"Alice, when do I get a gun?"

Apparently Alice wasn't the only one worried, "When I know you can use one. And besides you don't even have your knife back, so let's just take this one step at a time."

Claire released a heavy, disappointment-filled breath as the two walked into the airport from a security entrance. Again the cleanliness of the place, the smell of bleach, the organization chairs, broken pedestals, and tables into makeshift barriers tripped the ex-project's alarm. Someone had been here and recently.

They walked around the barricade and down by the luggage pickup was another manmade defense, this time splattered with tiny amounts of dark liquid. Had Alice not been looking for it she wouldn't have seen it, she also wouldn't have caught the practically nonexistent trail of the same liquid leading northwest away from the obstruction and towards a closed door.

Claire followed Alice's gaze to the path they were on. "Is that?"

Blood; if it is – it's been dry for hours, maybe a day, Alice thought.

"Most likely."

Finally Alice and Claire came upon the shut door. The ex-project paused to listen at it…there she heard it, a muffled whimper. Not willing to put away one of her pistols, she backed up and kicked open the door.

In the room was a burly man holding a gleaming silver handgun to a child's head, while a woman was sobbing next to the young boy. Claire gasped in horror.

"STOP!" Alice demanded; training both of her pistols on the man, ready to put two bullets in the man's head with the slightest pressure. When he looked up at the strangers and away from the brunette haired boy, Alice could see an emptiness to his eyes.

"You shouldn't be here," he said gravely.