Resident Evil: Phoenix by Red Hope

Chapter 18

"Wait," Alice softly ordered the team. She had her left hand stretched back towards them.

"What is it?" Claire softly inquired. She was taking in waves of tension from Alice through their bond.

"Turn off your headlamps... except for Jill." Alice waited for the darkness to creep in closer around them until only Jill's headlamp thinly cut through the black. She continued staring up towards the left ceiling of the concrete tubing. "There's a light sensing camera ahead of us."

"Can we just shut it off?" Leon suggested to the group.

"No," Alice instantly replied. She peered over her shoulder at the humans. "That'll trigger an alert to their security team." She knew that for a fact.

"But aren't we close to the junction for the Umbrella facility?" Claire checked.

"Yes," Alice distantly replied, "Very close." She took a step away. "Wait here." She faded from the dim light and silently moved forward.

Claire fisted her hands and tried not letting the darkness and shrinking walls get to her. So far, their trip to the junction had taken slightly longer than expected due to a few surprise cave ins. But now they were making better progress and getting close to entering Umbrella's facility.

"What is she doing?" Leon asked after a long minute.

"She's checking what's ahead," Claire explained. She slightly relaxed when she felt Alice returning to them. "Find anything?"

Leon was confused by Claire's odd question until he heard Alice's voice.

"The junction is just head." Alice reformed in Jill's light. "But the problem is that the camera is mounted right at the junction." She summarized it was a strategic location in Umbrella's eyes.

"You think it's definitely active?" Claire hoped for a different answer despite she already knew the truth.

"Yes," Alice answered. She could feel the electrical current pulsing from the sensor.

Claire let out an annoyed breath, but she deferred to Alice's lead. "What now?"

Alice looked over her shoulder towards the junction. "I'll have to guide each person individually down into the junction until we're far enough past the camera to use the headlamps again."

"Down?" Leon whispered in surprise.

Alice lifted her eyes to the human and held his worried stare. "Yes... it's straight down to the bottom."

"How deep?" Jill cut in.

"Forty... maybe fifty feet," Alice replied.

Claire shook her head and looked at the other humans. "It doesn't matter. We need to keep moving right now." She didn't like it either, but they had to press on and complete the mission. She focused on her partner and asked, "Who first?"

Alice considered it and stated, "Leon." She wasn't keen on him, but she was willing to risk his life first if there was trouble at the bottom. She took a step back and explained, "Let me set the line then we'll get started." She disappeared again like a ghost.

"Jill, how deep does this facility go?" Leon looked at the former Umbrella agent.

"I'm not sure exactly," Jill replied, "but over a thousand feet below the surface."

"We've hardly gone a hundred feet below the ground," Leon guessed.

Claire turned to the pair and commented, "Well we're about to go another fifty down." She heard metal grind against stone and assumed it was Alice. She faced the darkness and was relieved her partner was coming back.

"Leon, you first," Alice commanded. She held out her hand to him. "And not a single light," she reminded him.

Leon's heart rate increased, but he cautiously slipped past Claire Redfield. He faltered at taking Alice's hand out of pure fear. Wild images of his throat being silently slit in the darkness by Alice flourished in his mind. His palms dampened against his gloves, but he knew that Jill and Claire were watching him. He took Alice's hand, which was slightly larger than his.

Alice felt a dangerous urge to jerk Leon into the darkness, but she choked it down. She instead slowly guided him forward towards the junction where she set up a climbing rope. "Kneel down." She went down with him but brought his arm forward with hers. "Do you feel the edge?"

Leon licked his dry lips. "Yes." Then a soft rope brushed his exposed fingertips.

"It's a solid wall," Alice explained. "I'll help you get started on the rope. Once you get halfway, throws some flares down to the bottom."

Leon shook his head and argued, "I won't know if I'm halfway or not."

"I'll tell you when." Alice now guided the human carefully over the edge and kept him from falling or slipping over. She felt all his panic and fear. She wondered how in the world he made it through the police academy. Her only conclusion was that it was more her presence than the task at hand.

Leon managed his boots against the metal wall. He cautiously started the decent even though he saw nothing. He fully relied on his senses and whatever Alice told him.

Alice stayed knelt beside the ledge and continued smelling the human's scent until it started getting distant. She straightened up and listened to the camera's low hum that only she could hear unlike the others. She gauged Leon's location compared to the camera's angle then called, "You can use your headlamp and toss some flares now."

Leon went another few feet just in case. He held onto the rope with one hand and flicked on his headlamp. He let out a breath now that he saw something. Carefully, he reached behind his back and slipped out a flare from the bungee. He slammed it against his leg then let it drop down. He repeated the process and finally had a view of the bottom, which was still a good twenty-five or so feet down. "It has to be at least seventy feet down," he called to Alice.

"I'm bad at measuring," Alice smartly replied.

Leon looked up at Alice, but he couldn't see her. He'd clearly heard her remark and wasn't sure if it was a joke or a snide comment. He brushed his damp bangs away then carefully continued the descent to the lower level.

Alice eyed the rope that held Leon's life. She studied the heavy ring that she'd forced into the concrete floor then melted the concrete around so it would be strong. She touched the bowline knot with her boot tip and a dark smile caressed her lips. It would be easy to cut the rope and let Leon fall to his death. She could explain it away, except to Claire.

Alice shook her head after thinking about Claire. She let out a strained breath and strangled her idea for what it was, evil and ruthless. She took a step away from the rope and made herself return to Claire.

"He make it down okay?" Jill asked when Alice came back.

"He's almost there," Alice promised. She felt Claire's curious eyes on her, but she didn't meet Claire's gaze. She instead stayed focused on Jill. "I'm going to go all the way down with Claire just to make sure things are safe on the bottom." She didn't want any surprises and knew only she could detect a threat. "Will you be alright up here 'til I come back up?"

Jill nearly let out a sharp reply, but she held it down once she realized Alice was being sincere. She sighed and nodded. "I'll be fine."

Alice accepted the answer then took Claire's nearest hand. "Stay close," she softly ordered her partner.

Claire laced her fingers through the longer ones and followed her partner into the blackness. She unknowingly squeezed a bit tighter because she was scared of not seeing anything.

Alice assured her partner with their bond and ran her thumb soothingly across Claire's knuckles. She approached the ledge and felt the ring under her boot. Her earlier idea to kill Leon resurfaced and sunk her mood further. She was losing focus by worrying too much about him.

Claire stilled her fears after being overwhelmed by Alice's inner turmoil. She quickly turned Alice around then pulled her forward, but she wasn't sure just how close Alice was to her body.

However, Alice understood Claire's wishes, and she drew Claire into her body. She felt familiar arms hook around her neck then her head was drawn down. She shared a tender kiss with her partner that quieted her wandering thoughts.

Claire gently pressed her left palm against her lover's soft cheek. She touched their foreheads together and assured Alice through their bond that nothing was wrong between them. Claire had felt the evil surface in Alice's head, but Claire knew that Alice would contain it. It seemed simpler to Alice's instincts to cut Leon out now rather than face a possible betrayal later that could cost them all.

However, Claire understood Alice's sliver of humanity needed to find a hard fact that could prove Alice's instincts that Leon was a bad apple. In a way, Claire found it to be a dangerous game Alice played with, and Claire had already communicated her thoughts to Alice before they left the Arcadia. Leon's life was in Alice's hands, in Claire's eyes.

Alice shifted and brought her head lower until her cheek met Claire's cheek. She released a low breath when Claire affectionately nuzzled her back. She found her clouded mind clearing up, and she wordlessly thanked her partner. Alice slowly began pulling away but first kissed Claire's warm cheek and then stole a last kiss before straightening up.

Claire held onto her partner as they came to the ledge. She peered over and saw the red flares far down. She swallowed and grasped her partner's utility belt harder. "I hate heights," she muttered.

Alice raised an eyebrow and minor astonishment entered her tone. "But you enjoy flying?"

"That's a controlled fall," Claire stated. She grinned and argued, "Something like this is just splat then you're a stain."

Alice smirked and recognized Claire's need to have control over things. But Alice related with her partner's desire to take control. She put away her thoughts and explained, "We'll do this the fun way then."

"And what's that?" Claire was skeptic.

"I'll go first then help you get started on the rope," Alice explained. She shifted Claire a few inches over. "Don't move from there." She easily moved forward and went over the ledge with the rope in hand. "Alright come over."

Claire returned to her original spot and felt around for the rope until it was in her hands.

"Just take your time." Alice inched down the rope then looked down at the red glow at the bottom. "I'll help you."

Claire wasn't sure how her partner could help her, but she very slowly felt her way off the ledge. Her palms went damp in worry because there was not a single gleam of light other than at the bottom. She started breathing harder, but her body felt eerily weightless. "Alice." She panicked.

"You're safe," Alice promised. However, she couldn't see anything since she'd closed her eyes so she could use her powers to help Claire. "I'm supporting your weight." She didn't want the camera to pick up the blue glow from her eyes. "Put your feet against the wall." Alice heard the boots meet the metal wall. "There you go," she coached.

Claire released a shaky breath and felt better now that she was over the ledge without falling down. Some part of her was glad she couldn't better gauge the depth of the junction.

Alice started descending so that Claire could do the same. However, she used her powers to guard Claire from any trouble.

Claire steadily climbed down and waited until Alice informed her she could turn on her headlamp. She paused and switched it on, only to regret seeing the slime and dirt in the junction. She blew out a breath then continued to the bottom. She hopped off the last four feet after Alice got out of the way.

"Fun isn't it?" Leon joked. He was off to the side so he wasn't in their way.

Claire put her hands on her hips and smirked at Alice. "What's next?"

Alice flashed a grin, but she turned and approached two dark mouths; it was a fork in the road.

"Which way do we go?" Leon asked first.

Alice was studying them, but not for their direction. She was feeling for any danger and was grateful nothing tickled her blood or excited her other senses. "Wait here. I'm going to help Jill." She returned to the rope and climbed back up at a fast pace.

Leon briefly watched Alice until she was gone. He then looked at Claire and stated, "She doesn't know which way."

Claire folded her arms and kept a passive look on her face. She didn't like Leon in the least, but he was decent muscle and skill for the mission. "All roads lead to Rome." Her blue eyes flickered to the two entrances. She considered which one her partner would pick.

Shortly Alice returned with Jill Valentine right behind her. Alice decided to leave the rope in case they needed an exit route this way. She approached the left mouth while Jill went to the right one. Alice inhaled deeply several times and human smells lingered in the air from the entrance. There was something else that Alice couldn't discern, but it was new and yet familiar to her.

Jill Valentine shifted to Alice's side, and her headlamp revealed the low ceiling and tight walls. She pressed her lips firmly together until they were thin. She peered up at Alice and murmured, "This way?"

Alice nodded and half turned back to the waiting humans. "We're taking this entrance."

Claire neared her lover and refrained from touching her despite the draw to do so. "I'm right behind you." She adjusted her backwards ball cap then followed her partner into the next route.

Alice was forced to slouch due to her size, but she didn't slow down. Behind her the team carefully followed her on the downward grade towards Umbrella. She then noticed the volume of water was increasing, which didn't settle well with her. Alice estimated they were traveling the drainage pipe for a solid fifteen minutes until a very faint sound caught her ear.

"Stop," Alice sharply commanded. She canted her head and listened for the sound to repeat. Her blood softly burned against her skin and made her tense.

Claire placed her hand on her holstered Glock. She too felt a light burn under her skin that wasn't familiar to her. She bit her bottom lip and used her headlamp to scan for anything, but the light only caught the murky water flowing downward. Then a smooth movement in the water about two yards away caught her eye.

"Alice," Claire warned. She aimed her gun, and the burn grew stronger, which alarmed her without explanation. "What is that?"

"What's going on?" Jill called from behind.

"Nobody move!" Alice's eyes were bright blue. She hastily pinpointed a small yet dangerous threat. She heard several hisses ahead that were moving fast down the pipe towards them.

Claire and Leon's headlamps caught the fast moving creature. Claire fought not to fire on her favorite childhood nightmare. She harshly grabbed Alice's utility belt in pure reaction. However, Leon grabbed his handgun and pulled back on the safety. Claire acted on Leon after she realized what he might do. She grabbed his wrist and jerked his arm up until the gun's barrel was away from Alice's back. Water splashed around their boots from all the movement.

Leon had the air knocked from him after he was tossed against the wall. His right arm was locked over his head. He stared wide eye at Claire.

Jill had retrieved her gun too, but she kept it lowered. "Claire?" she asked in worry.

Claire ignored her friend's concern and looked at Alice. "Please tell me those aren't what I think they are?"

Alice was using her telekinesis to ward off the snakes that were speeding down the pipe for them. "I'm afraid so." She caught the tussle between her partner and Leon, which didn't set well with her. She was thankful that Claire had been watching her back. Focusing on the snakes, Alice knelt down and allowed the telekinesis shield to come closer. The snakes slithered within inches of her, but they were still blocked. Alice counted at least twenty if not more. "They're all infected too."

Claire fought off a shiver then looked back at Leon. "Put the damn gun away." She released his wrist and carefully watched him put the gun in his holster. She didn't need to state the obvious if he'd fired the gun earlier.

Jill still had a frown about what transcended between Claire and Leon. But she didn't question it further. She instead looked at the slithering, hissing creatures that Alice kept at bay. "Can you kill them, Alice?"

Alice tilted her head and replied, "If I had a shovel, yes."

Claire nearly wanted to smack her partner on the side. "Funny." She wasn't about to get any closer to the infected snakes. "They don't look mutated from the virus."

Alice smirked and replied, "Neither do I." She curiously watched how the snakes continued jumping at her with their fangs out. They were far more aggressive than normal snakes.

Claire sighed at her partner's good point.

Alice decided she'd studied them enough so she lowered her right index finger into the water. Slowly an electrical charge started then shot down her finger, entered the water, and went past her invisible shield.

The infected snakes painfully hissed in anger and several were electrocuted while a few at the rear escaped from being fried to death. The dead snakes stopped fighting against the shield and one by one they were pulled away by the water down the pipe.

Alice straightened up and released her shield after the snakes were gone. She didn't say anything and continued down the pipe.

Claire let out a low breath and was grateful she didn't have to deal with them. This time a shiver traveled down her spine and made the hairs on her arms stand up. She hated snakes and infected snakes were far worse. "They must have been Umbrella experiments."

"In the Hive," Alice mentioned, "they only used rabbits." She noted the water was coming over the top of her boots.

"Apparently they've since expanded," Jill remarked.

"That's comforting," Claire quipped. She gave a low sigh but pressed on.

Alice's fast pace started slowing down. "The pipe is coming to an end."

Claire narrowed her eyes after she heard the sounds of water softly spilling over an edge like a waterfall. She touched her forehead and worriedly stated, "I hope this isn't what I think it is."

Alice came to a slow stop when she reached the edge. She watched the water flow out the pipe and into a huge reservoir that smelled anything but pleasant, especially to humans.

Claire peered past her lover and softly groaned at what her headlamp revealed beyond the pipe. "Oh this is good." She straightened up and asked, "Can you see where to go next?" She wasn't sure where they had to go to proceed forward.

Alice had a good idea on the next stage of their journey. "I need a flare, please." She received it from Claire after reaching behind. She slammed one end on the concrete wall then gauged how far she had to throw it. She curled up her right arm then threw the flare and watched it spin through the air until it landed several hundred feet away on a concrete floor.

"Nice," Claire murmured. She had a glimpse of all the water that rested between them and the other side. "I wonder how deep it is?"

"It's hard to say," Alice answered. She bent her knees more then turned to the team. "We have to cross this reservoir to get to the other side. If it's as similar to the Hive as they say, then we should be getting close to a ventilation shaft."

Claire narrowed her eyes slightly and commented, "Those snakes went this way." She wasn't so much afraid of the snakes themselves, but of the T-virus under their slippery skin.

Alice had already considered that aspect and turned her head sidelong. "Give me a minute in the water." She didn't want to alarm her partner or the others of the infected snakes in the water. She could smell the lingering infection in the air.

"Be careful," Claire softly told her blood partner. She gingerly tugged on Alice's utility belt under the small pack.

Alice didn't respond other than what her bond could tell Claire. She gazed down at the water, which reflected the red flare. "Be sure to toss another flare across after I jump in."

"I will." Claire released her partner and nervously watched her take the plunge into the water. She freed another flare, slammed it on the concrete wall, and shifted closer to the edge. She held the flare out of the pipe and above her head. She sighed in relief when Alice surfaced.

Alice brushed away her damp hair and called, "It's at least ten feet down." There was no way she could feel the bottom.

"Is that a pretty accurate measurement?" Leon Kennedy called out from the pipe.

Claire glanced back at the former cop. But she didn't comment and looked down at Alice.

Alice rolled her eyes, but she focused on her task. There wasn't anything in the water that alerted her that any danger was around them. It was a fairly large reservoir that probably supported at least half of the Houston facility. "Claire, you're next!" she called up. She was planning to stay in the water until everybody made it safely across to the concrete pad.

The leader nodded, but she first threw the flare across until it landed a yard away from the earlier one. She noted it did help her see better. She checked that her guns were holstered right so they wouldn't be lost.

"Be careful down there, RC," Jill advised.

Claire nodded at her friend then hopped out of the pipe. She neatly dove into the water that was twelve or so feet below the pipe. She surged to the surface near Alice and shook the water from her face. She turned to her partner and commented, "I want a long shower when I get back to the Arcadia."

Alice smirked but went stoic and nodded at the concrete pad. "Go on." She didn't want anybody in the water long.

Claire obeyed and hastily swam to the other side. She found the concrete somewhat slimy, but she hauled her weighted body up. She adjusted her pack and was glad it was waterproof. They had been expecting to get a bit wet.

Alice continued treading water while Leon and Jill jumped in next. She followed after Jill, but stayed behind them while they climbed out of the pool. Alice slightly turned her head though when something tickled her senses.

Claire had finished fixing her wet hair and adjusting her ball cap when Alice's senses were excited. She quickly looked at her partner and asked, "What is it?"

Leon was confused by what was happening. He looked from Claire to Alice and put his hand on his gun.

Alice didn't reply and instead gradually turned in the water. She inhaled deeply but nothing warned her nose about anything. However, her blood was heating up.

"Alice, come on," Claire tried. She started for the edge and knelt down. She held out her hand towards her partner. "Let's go."

Alice was breathing slightly ragged, yet she faced Claire and headed to the offered hand. She lifted her hand from the water, and only their fingertips brushed before Alice was sharply swallowed by the red water.

"Alice!" Claire hollered. She watched in horror as the water rippled where Alice had been swimming. Her heart jumped into her throat, and her bond shot mild pain into her legs. "Alice!" She straightened up and prepared to dive in until an arm snared her by the waist. Her boots slipped across the slimy concrete, but she didn't fall and was instead pulled back.

"No!" Jill continued dragging her friend away from the water. She quickly realized how desperate Claire was to help Alice, and she had to use both arms to secure Claire's thrashing body.

Leon had drawn his gun and aimed it at the calm water, but he didn't find an enemy. He looked over at Claire, who was struggling against Jill.

"You know don't what the Hell is in there!" Jill yelled. She forced Claire further back, step by step.

"Jill, get off me!" But Claire couldn't break free from the stronger woman. She cried out once she realized she wasn't able to force Jill's arms open. She would have to fight Jill to get free.

Jill tossed Claire down to the concrete and added her weight to her strength to hold Claire away from the water.

"No!" Claire threw a punch into Jill's shoulder. She heard Jill grunt in discomfort so she went for another attempt until a loud eruption made her go still.

Like Claire, Jill's head snapped towards the reflective water. She released a low gasp, and her eyes widened until she could take in the gigantic snake that'd launched up from the water.

Claire gripped her friend tightly, from fear and for support. She desperately pinpointed Alice, who had broken through the water and now faced off against the open-mouth snake.

"What the fuck is that?" Leon murmured. He didn't wait for an answer and started firing on the gigantic serpent.

The snake snarled and set his sights on Leon. Instantly he shot across the water for the human.

"Leon!" Jill yelled.

But the snake missed sinking his dripping fangs into the human. Instead he met the concrete and wailed after a sharp blade drove through his body. He was dragged under water, but he quickly fought the infected human that challenged him. He easily found her thanks to her blue eyes.

Jill helped Claire get to her feet. She tilted her head back when the snake exploded from the water then dove back in after Alice. "It's the Yawn," Jill murmured in realization. She looked at Claire and explained, "The scientists were experimenting on different animals. This was the snake that escaped, and they couldn't capture it."

Claire glanced at her friend, briefly. But the chaotic water drew her attention, and she yelled, "Alice!" She started for the water again, and Jill was at her side.

Alice gave a silent cry at the Yawn underwater once her ribs began bowing inwards. She was trapped tightly in the snake's coil. She repeatedly stabbed the Yawn with her kukri, but the snake wouldn't free her.

The Yawn opened his mouth, and his fangs retracted so the infected venom was ready. He coiled back slightly and prepared to strike the human.

Alice raised her kukri yet felt weak with only her blade to defend her against the gigantic snake. Then Claire's distant question from days ago about why she used weapons when she had so many powers rang in her mind. Alice lowered her kukri. Then she released her dark animal that she fought to keep tamed in the face of humans. Her eyes lit up in a wild blue.

Claire was hit by her partner's dramatic shift, and she easily predicted the approaching danger. She gave a warning scream just before everything went to Hell. She only had a heartbeat and was able to grab Jill. She shoved them for several steps before they went sailing towards the next tunnel. Behind her a tidal wave crashed into them and slammed them into the walls before it receded. The two flares were extinguished, and their headlamps erratically swept across the concrete.

"Claire," Jill called. She lifted her fallen friend then looked over at Leon, who was sunk against the opposite wall. She could tell he was still breathing.

Claire held onto Jill until her strength came back. She looked off to her right and stared in awe at her partner standing on the edge of the concrete pad.

Alice had both kukris out and blades pointed to the ground. Her lips were dangerously curled up and a menacing growl was emanating from deep in her chest. Lightning sparks danced on her hands and traveled along her kukris' blades.

The Yawn was bleeding from the head, but he shot down only to hit an invisible force that made him shrink away. He shook his head then hissed at his enemy.

Alice gave a battle cry then suddenly launched off the edge. She raised her electrified blades as she arced across the reservoir. In fluent motion, she swept her blades down either side of the snake, behind his head. Alice's boots touched the snake's flat head but her blades continued driving through and met in the middle of the spine. She bent her knees as the snake's head fell away from the body. Using her telekinesis, Alice back flipped off the falling head and perfectly landed in the exact spot she'd jumped off on the ledge at the start.

Claire let out a low breath of surprise. She stared at her partner's kneeling figure and the kukris' blades swept out like Alice's own set of fangs.

Alice stayed still and watched in satisfaction as the Yawn's head and body crashed into the water. She lowered her arms as she stood up. Then she swept the blades over her shoulders and smoothly sheathed them. She half turned but looked at the now nearly calm water. She huffed at the infected snake's insignificance. Alice then turned her head, and her blue eyes immediately sought out Claire.

Claire held her blood partner's fierce stare. She wasn't scared or driven away by what was inside Alice. Her intense gaze was broke by Jill.

"Are you alright?"

Claire could only nod.

Jill squeezed her friend's shoulder. "I'm going to check on Leon." She slipped past her friend and went to Leon.

Claire faded into slight darkness. Her headlamp was nestled in a corner after the water had torn it off her ball cap. But she faced her partner, who approached her with purpose. Claire took two steps and met Alice on the boundary of the headlamp's lighting. Immediately she cupped her partner's moist cheeks and admired Alice's blue eyes as she drew Alice down.

Alice's burning lips crashed against Claire's in a hungry kiss. She had to be sure that Claire was still with her even though their bond never faded away. She struggled for control and not to go further than a kiss. It was enough to ebb her fears about what Claire witnessed and felt after Alice had given into the viruses.

Claire gasped for air after the heated kiss. She pressed their foreheads together and smiled at Alice's low rumble. There were strong hands on her hips that drew her slightly closer, but they fought not to touch any more in understanding that self-control was still important. Claire didn't give a damn if Leon and Jill saw them kissing, but she wasn't about to give any shows, especially to Leon.

Alice had her eyes closed and was nuzzling Claire in an affectionate manner, which helped curve her hunger for Claire. She sighed after she felt in control again.

Claire brushed her cheek across her partner's then murmured, "Thank you." She and the others wouldn't be alive now if it wasn't for Alice.

Alice didn't need the appreciation when it came to protecting her blood partner. She found greatness in safeguarding Claire from danger and infection. She placed a chaste kiss to her partner's jaw then straightened up. Claire's hands lowered to her shoulders. After a deep breath, she smelled a disconcerting emotion in the air, which drew her eyes across the concrete pad.

Claire detected her partner's curiosity so she followed Alice's gaze towards Leon Kennedy. She slightly lifted her chin once she realized he was staring at them with contempt. In the past, Claire had faced such dislike from others because of her sexuality. But Leon's expression unsettled Claire far more than the small minded idiots that she, and even Jill, had dealt with in school.

Alice resented the human's disdain, and low growl climbed up her chest. She started for him and felt Claire freely release her.

Jill tasted Alice's venom for Leon, and her skin crawled in reaction. She had caught Leon's look only after she'd stopped staring at the two kissing. She hastily acted by jumping up from Leon, who remained seated on the concrete. She held out her left hand at Alice and sharply snapped, "Don't, Alice." She read the kill in Alice's eyes.

Alice halted in front of Jill, who blocked her from getting to Leon. She looked from Leon to Jill, but she didn't need to say anything that wasn't already apparent on her face.

Jill was breathing hard after realizing what she was up against. "He may not be a member of the Lesbian Fanclub... but we need his help." She glanced at Leon after she heard him getting up. She noted his more passive features.

Alice realized that Jill didn't understand why else she and Claire distrusted him. But she also saw the soft plea behind Jill's eyes. She lifted her chin slightly and granted Jill's wish. After all, Alice owed Jill Valentine at least this favor. She loosened her fisted hands yet gave a warning glare to Leon before she turned on her heels. Alice marched off towards the tunnel.

Claire scooped up her headlamp but ordered to the pair, "Let's keep moving." She followed her partner into the tunnel.

Leon relaxed and felt his knees weaken after being saved by Jill. He adjusted his headlamp and looked at Jill. "Thanks."

Jill wasn't blinded by Leon's earlier malice. She shrugged and replied, "Get a goddamn clue, Leon... you're surrounded by gay women." She drew her handgun for safety after what just happened in the reservoir. "And one of them will cut you down sooner than later." She opened her legs into a wide gait so she could catch up with Claire and Alice.

Leon went stiff after Jill's harsh words. He felt a burn in his stomach after realizing what Jill's words meant. He hadn't known that his former partner was a lesbian too. He jammed down his disgust and made himself go forward before he was left too far behind them.

Continued.