Well readers, I hope this update (and the fact that RE Afterlife comes out tomorrow - FUCK YEAH...sorry, I'm excited, but anyways I hope it) tides you over for a bit because I'm getting my wisdom teeth yanked tomorrow and I'm not really sure if I'll be up to writing for a while. Plus, who wants a drug induced update that would likely go a little something like this: Evil Alice was so badass, seriously. She dropped this guy from a building and it was awesome...then Claire started to make out with her for no reason. haha, yeah, no one wants that. So hopefully I'm back on my feet soon. Until then, leave me reviews - they're bound to make me heal faster. :)

Chapter 10: Midnight

After the kiss, Claire went to the boy's grave and kneeled down. Alice watched her as she picked up a handful of the dirt and rubbed it between her fingers. She wondered if the redhead was thanking him, and maybe – apologizing for her cruel actions.

K-mart came out of the Hummer and joined Claire. The teen placed a hand on her shoulder and Claire put her own over it. They both began to cry silently and it was completely apparent how like family the two were.

It was a somber and loving moment Alice shouldn't have been witness to, considering she was the cause.

She didn't know what the plan was anymore. It was already dark and setting out tonight was probably a foolish task bearing in mind the stress of what happened during the day. They couldn't stay in the house either, at least not until the three bodies were cleared from it.

Had it been up to Alice she would have said 'fuck it' and burnt the building to the ground, but it wasn't. She couldn't just think of herself anymore, but she also didn't know what Claire and K-mart would want.

Claire rose from the upturned earth, gave K-mart a hug that was returned in full, and joined Alice.

The redhead sighed. "We should…"

Alice waited a moment for the rest of her suggestion, but it never came.

"We should what, Claire?"

"I don't know. Should we set out tomorrow?"

"Sure, if that's what you want."

"What I want?" Claire asked rhetorically. "I swear, Alice – you're so bipolar."

Alice said nothing and Claire sighed again, trying to backtrack. "I'm sorry, I-"

"It's fine," the blonde interrupted.

The redhead looked down for a moment and adjusted her hair before resetting her olive-colored ball cap.

"So, you're good with staying another night?"

"Yes," Alice said and tried to make her next intent obvious. "You and K-mart can stay out here while I dispose-"

"I'll help. You don't have to protect-" Claire rethought her words. "I can handle it."

Alice merely nodded and the two set off for the house.

The carnage that greeted them inside was extensive. The blood had pooled beneath all three corpses, not to mention that one of the bodies had a pulverized face.

Alice took a look at her handy work. The bastard's face was sunk in, his nose bent and broken; the space above his right eye was mashed to the point that she could see the grey brain matter tinted burgundy by dry blood through the crevice her fist caused, but his eye was nowhere to be found.

The next thing Alice made sure to see was the back of her hand. There was no remaining blood, no cut, no scar, but she couldn't help the anxiety she felt about the possibility that his DNA was now swimming with hers.

Alice startled when she felt Claire's hand on her shoulder, but the redhead didn't pull it back or apologize for it.

"You ok?"

She gave a curt nod and moved to grab the man around his shoulders as Claire took a hold of his legs. They moved the bodies one by one to a pile in the back yard. The redhead siphoned a little gas from the Mustang and poured it on top of them as Alice pulled out a lighter.

She ignited it with her thumb and a flame erupted from the small spout. The gasoline soaked men burst into flames when she bent and caught one of the men's shirts on fire. Luckily, the house was upwind so the atrocious stench of burning flesh and hair didn't stick around for long. The two only stayed long enough to see that the bodies would be completely consumed.

There was no way they could clean the floor of all the blood, but it was quarantined to the living room so the blonde didn't worry about it. She hadn't planned on lying on the couch trying to sleep anyways; she'd likely be pacing the hall near the bedroom or maybe stay outside until dawn. They did however open a few windows to clear the air of the smell of iron.

Alice and Claire had kept fairly clean, but both felt the need to wash up afterwards. Using their water supply sparingly, they each took a turn with a rag to wipe down their exposed skin.

The blonde changed into the extra set of clothing that was remarkably similar to the outfit she had been wearing minus the hood, but as she folded up her old clothes to wash later she found the bracelet K-mart had given her. She'd left it untouched in her pack but now she felt a strange desire to wear it.

The wire band fit on her right wrist perfectly and was loose enough that it didn't hinder her movement in the slightest. Alice held it up to see it a little better in the dim light and she couldn't stop a smile from reaching her lips.

Alice heard someone approaching and guessed correctly that it was K-mart. She held her hands behind her back as the teen emerged into her sight.

"He-hey, Alice."

The teen was a bundle of nerves and she wondered if it was because the girl was still afraid of her. Alice didn't want to spook the teen anymore than she was, so she let her say what she came to without interruption.

"I need y-your he-help. I want y-you to teach me h-how to u-use a gun."

Not what I was expecting, Alice thought, but she wasn't surprised by the teen's request.

The blonde gave her a nod of agreement and said, "we'll start tomorrow."

K-mart took a steadying breath and steeled herself. Next thing Alice knew – she was being hugged by the girl, again. This time however, she returned it. K-mart seemed to melt into the embrace. I'm getting good at this comforting thing, Alice thought.

She went a little further by rubbing the teen's back lightly and said, "everything's ok."

K-mart sniffled and pulled out of the taller woman's arms only enough to look up at her.

"It is, n-now that you're here."

Alice gave her a warm smile and the two went to join Claire in the house.

The blonde walked K-mart to the bedroom where Claire waited, sitting on the bed. A lamp immersed the room in light from the nightstand.

The redhead stood and crossed over to Alice before she could leave as K-mart pulled off her shoes and settled beneath the covers.

"Alice, I think this bed is big enough for the three of us."

She looked at the mattress behind Claire; in all honesty it could have held the three just fine, but the blonde couldn't justify sleeping there. She knew she wouldn't sleep and being that close to another person for an extended period of time made her apprehensive. Alice had met her limit on physical contact for the day – hell, she'd already reached it for the month.

"No thanks."

Claire looked hurt at her response, but Alice couldn't change her mind. Still, she could probably make some kind of an exception for the redhead. She placed her hand behind Claire's neck and guided her in for chaste, good night kiss. When she pulled back, Alice saw the gorgeous smile gracing the redhead's lips and was severely tempted to kiss her again, but she wasn't sure if now was really the place or time to continue. Especially, considering the teen in bed behind them was only pretending to be asleep.

"Night, Claire," Alice said.

"Good night."

Alice looked around Claire to wave at K-mart. The teen blushed at being caught watching, causing the blonde to chuckle as she turned to depart.

Outside the room, Alice was at once hit by the torrent of what could've happened today had she not arrived when she did. She ran her hand through her shaggy, blonde hair, stopping to rub the back of her neck and relieve the worry.

She wondered if it was too soon to begin pacing and decided that it probably was. She needed air anyways, so Alice left the house and sat in the passenger side of the Mustang. The familiarity of the vehicle was comforting to her; it was almost as if she could go back and pretend that is was still morning.

Alice indulged herself in that fantasy, imaging that she was about to leave for the part. What could I have done differently?

She could've driven faster; she could've let the two survivors join her; she could've never left…

Alice broke out her watch. 23:59:59. One more second and it would be midnight.

The blonde heard the front door of the house open and glanced in the side mirror to see Claire. The woman was standing on the porch looking around, arms folded over chest to keep out the chill.

It was clear who Claire was looking for, so Alice helped her out with a short whistle. The redhead looked in the direction of the sound and although it was too dark to tell, Alice was sure their eyes met through the mirror. Claire walked to the vehicle and sat in the driver's side.

At first the two didn't speak. They were content enough to just be in each other's company, but something was on Alice's mind and she had to know.

"Claire, what happened?"

The redhead sighed as she began her tale.

"I was working on the Hummer and K was sitting next to me. Someone called for help; it was just one of them. I made him keep his distance and left to speak to him. Two guys snuck up from behind and got a hold of K; she couldn't scream to get my attention. I don't understand why she won't talk to me. She talks to you…"

Alice could see that Claire was getting distracted, so she brought her back.

"What happened next?"

"They held K hostage until I surrendered and agreed to do what they said. We were taken into the house and they changed their fucking sick minds." Claire was trembling again, this time with anger. "They were going to rape K first but that boy, Ryan, stopped them. I think you can pretty much guess what happened after that."

Yes, I can, Alice agreed. You thought that with the boy's help you could fight back and win, but he let you down. He couldn't shoot his 'friends' to save you.

"Alice, I thought our lives were over…but then I heard this engine." Claire's face beamed. "When K called out your name it sounded sweeter to me than this beautiful fucking Hemi." She ran her hands lovingly over the wheel as she'd done before, but then she turned to Alice and looked at her the way she'd done when they kissed before Alice left.

The redhead seemed to contemplate something and Alice knew the decision the instant Claire began to climb over and sit on top of her. Alice let her do it; she let Claire place both of her hands on Alice's face and kiss her soundly; she let her bring to surface the passion the blonde had buried.

The blonde needed to do something with her hands so she placed them on Claire's thighs that were spread over her. The tight fabric of the redhead's jeans allowed their body heat to mingle and the car's windows were quickly becoming fogged over with every ragged breath.

Alice was nervous, however; as Claire's hands roamed over whatever part of Alice's body she could reach. Claire was quickly escalating into a frenzy, but Alice didn't know how far she would want to go.

She decided to slow them down; take the time to get a feel for each other's skin. Alice began to lift Claire's shirt, rubbing her fingers up the other woman's ribs to cup a firm breast, but the redhead stopped her.

"Don't," Claire whispered, her voice husky.

If Claire didn't want to be naked, that was ok with Alice. If Claire wanted to stop, that was ok too, but that particular detail wasn't in the cards.

The redhead kept kissing Alice as she sat up on her knees a little to unbutton her own pants. Next, Claire took hold of one of Alice's hands, and the blonde understood. She wants to be in control, and after what happened today… Alice condemned herself; it should've been obvious to her from the beginning. Claire needed to know that her body was still her own, and that only she had the power to decide what to do with it.

She let Claire guide her hand to her center. The redhead shuddered when their skin made contact and kept the leather seat tight in her grip. Claire was so wet and Alice had to still the urge to move her fingers against her. Slowly and teasingly, Claire began to use the blonde's hand for her own pleasure and their lips found each other once again.

Alice desperately wanted to take over, but she needed Claire to agree to it first. Her fingers moved on their own accord once to inform Claire of her intentions. The redhead froze and met her questioning gaze as Alice spoke.

"Trust me."

Claire released Alice's hand. Her green eyes slid closed and her head arched back as the blonde began to move inside the woman on her own. Alice kept the sensation building as Claire moaned and bucked against her. Their mouths were never separate for long.

When Claire came, she cried out Alice's name in blissful release and then practically collapsed on top of her. Her arms wrapped around the taller woman's neck and she let her head fall onto the blonde's shoulder.

Alice felt wetness soak through her shirt after encircling the redhead with her own embrace. Claire was crying and in the next moment her chest began to shake with sobs. The blonde hardly knew what to do; she'd never reassured someone from such a thing, and certainly no one had ever cried after she brought them to their climax.

The redhead whispered into her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Alice."

The blonde was still at a loss so she did the one she knew made Claire happy. She brought one arm between them and lifted Claire's face gently from her shoulder. With the hand holding the redhead's chin, Alice brought them together for a kiss.

Alice woke shortly before dawn, immediately alarmed that she's fallen asleep in the first place. A weight was keeping her in place and she swiftly reclaimed her head to see that Claire was cradled against her in the leather seat of the Mustang, asleep.

Claire began to stir, and woke without any panic whatsoever. An unguarded smile found its way to her lips and Alice joined the merriment with a grin of her own.

The joy didn't last long.

"Where's K?" Claire asked suddenly, fear at the forefront of her voice.

"She's still in the house asleep, I'm sure."

Claire became at ease with the statement, but she excused herself anyways.

"I need to get back to her."

Alice nodded, but if she was honest with herself she could admit that she was sad to see Claire go. The redhead opened the passenger side door and rose, but didn't leave without first kissing Alice firmly.

"See you in the morning," Claire said as she walked back into the house.

The blonde stretched out in the seat, setting her booted feet up on the dashboard and placing her hands around the back of her head. Things were beginning to look up.