Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Trigon
by Red Hope
Chapter 26
"K-Mart, did you seriously leave the soap on the shore, again?"
K-Mart cringed and shyly smiled at her lover, who was bobbing next to her in the creek. "I... might have done that... again."
Claire sighed, dramatically. "Good thing you have me," she chided and swam to shore.
K-Mart smirked and murmured, "Good thing." She headed that way too but stayed deep enough so her breasts were hidden under the water. Despite both Claire and Alice had seen her nude, it barely made her comfortable.
But Claire Redfield, she seemed immune to the concept of vulnerability when she was without clothes. She easily walked onto shore, in front of Alice, and went to their bathing supplies neatly set on top of the folded towels.
Alice was seated on a large rock, right boot propped against its side. She canted her head and amusingly watched Claire. She turned the partially eaten apple between her fingers despite her full attention was on Claire's beautiful body.
Claire snatched the soap and also the two razor blades. She arched an eyebrow at Alice, who refused to join them in the creek. "How is that apple?"
Alice ran her tongue along her rear, sharp teeth until she couldn't control her smirk anymore. "Just as juicy as the last one," she huskily replied. Her eyes cut to K-Mart, who had a devilish look. Some part of Alice wondered if K-Mart hadn't left the soap behind on purpose. She inwardly chuckled, turned the apple, and took a bite of the green skin.
Claire nodded and strolled off but called, "That's good to hear." She could feel Alice's eyes following her. It made her feel good that she caused such havoc in Alice. But it wasn't just Alice staring at her, Claire noted. K-Mart had eyes for Claire too. After a deep breath, Claire realized just how deep she was with both K-Mart and Alice. Soon they would have to discuss their relationships that were quickly evolving on many levels.
Claire and K-Mart enjoyed the bath together. By the time they were done, about half an hour had passed and most likely the convoy wished to leave. Quickly the pair dried off then put on their clean clothes. K-Mart organized their things, except for Claire's towel.
The convoy leader was still drying her long strands of auburn hair. As she did so, she approached Alice and knelt down. "I want to look at your stomach." She set the damp towel over her leg.
Alice slightly parted her lips, but the protest fell silent. The concern in Claire's eyes was very real and softened Alice's natural refusal to be cared for. She gave a low nod then lifted her long sleeve shirt off.
Claire leaned forward and gently touched the older woman's firm stomach. The wound was barely visible and required some searching until the faint scar stood out. It was amazing that Alice could heal so quickly. Claire grazed her fingers over the spot and peered up at Alice.
"How's it feel?"
Alice studied her stomach and softly replied, "Nothing hurts." She looked up when K-Mart knelt beside Claire.
"Wow," K-Mart whispered. Like Claire, she had a difficult time finding the wound. "That's amazing."
Alice didn't agree and put the shirt on again. What caught her off guard was Claire's gentle kiss then the understanding glance. Claire was starting to pick up on Alice's distraught, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it.
"Come on," the convoy leader ordered the two. "They're waiting on us." She rose up and helped K-Mart with their things. After hooking one of the bags over her shoulder, she led the pair to the convoy only a few minutes from the secluded spot.
"K, can you get the truck ready?" Claire fished out the keys and handed them over.
K-Mart also took Claire's bag then left her lovers. She knew the routine to get ready for departure.
Alice waited until K-Mart was gone from earshot then asked, "What about the prisoners?"
Claire shrugged, removed her hat, and combed her damp hair out of the way. She fixed her hat on again then simply replied, "They're certainly not helping mankind." She decided Alice's question was the best place to start before they left.
Alice tilted her head and saw fragments of herself in Claire. Once upon a time, Alice gave a damn about all humans, until they turned her into a monster. Now she was incredibly selective about humans. But in Claire's case, everything was black or white. Unfortunately for the prisoner's fate, they fell into the black and would suffer under Claire's hand. There were no compromises or proposals once Claire made her choice.
Carlos stood up from his post when the convoy leader and Alice approached the prisoners. He purposely didn't meet Alice's eye contact and hoped nothing was said here and now about last night. But that did nothing to settle his increased heart rate.
Before Claire could speak, a few of the prisoners became vocal and called names or swore at Claire. She folded her arms and amusingly watched them make fools of themselves. However, she felt Alice moving towards them so she grabbed Alice's wrist.
"It's alright," she soothed to Alice. She grinned at the prisoners after they quieted because of Alice's threatening presence. Most likely they hadn't forgotten what Alice was capable of since last night.
"I've been called a lot worse things." Claire took a deep breath then slowly let it out as she considered the plans for the prisoners. She turned to Alice and asked, "How many undead you think are following us?"
Alice shifted her attention to the convoy leader. At first she wasn't sure what Claire was asking her until she caught the glint in those green eyes. "At least fifty."
"Mmmm," Claire murmured. She looked at Carlos and ordered, "Tie them to a tree." She folded her arms and shifted her weight to the right. "The robbers that are already dead... pile them up around them." She looked at the prisoners. "Their carcasses should bring the undead right to them... like flies to shit." Without another word, she left the prisoners and was grateful that Alice stayed with her. Behind her, the prisoners were hollering in protest and fear.
Alice ran her fingers through her hair and warily glanced at the convoy leader.
Claire suspected what was on Alice's mind. "Mercy isn't in my vocabulary." She tugged on the hat's brim. "Mercy in this world gets you killed."
"It does," Alice murmured. She then offered, "I'll help Carlos move the bodies and the prisoners." It'd also give her a chance to confront Carlos.
Claire appreciated it and suggested using the cargo truck to move the bodies. She then went on her way to handle the regular checks before the convoy could leave.
Alice took the convoy leader's suggestion and used the duce and half to load then move the bodies. She saw Carlos, L.J., and Chase moving the prisoners into the woods so she followed them with the loaded truck.
"Damn... these motherfuckers are gonna be eaten alive," L.J. concluded aloud. He helped Carlos chain the prisoners around a rather large tree.
"Claire has a dark streak a mile long," Carlos murmured. He couldn't imagine the stench that the dead bodies would produce within the coming hours. It made him nauseous even now.
Alice was on the cargo truck, tossing bodies. But she paused after hearing Carlos. She huffed and continued tossing the bodies down with Chase's help. She could tell Chase had broken a sweat, unlike Alice.
After they were done, L.J. and Chase loaded into the truck while Alice and Carlos rode in the bed. Carlos sat opposite of Alice and kept his head turned to the right. But Alice's eyes were burning a hole in his head, or so it felt. Once near the camp, Carlos finally met her cold stare. He tightened his grip on the truck's side.
Alice had every intent to corner Carlos after Chase and L.J. left them alone. She could smell Carlos's fear, and it filled Alice.
"You're not going to tell Claire," Carlos spoke over the noise. However, Alice's toothy smile made him rather doubt it. He waited for Alice to say something, anything. But instead she kept staring at him.
L.J. parked the truck beside the four-wheeler since it needed to be loaded before they could depart. He'd leave that to Carlos since the four-wheeler was his baby.
"See ya in the truck," Chase offered to Carlos. He gave a half wave and left with L.J. to finish a few things.
Carlos hoped he did see Chase later. He remained seated on the truck's side and nervously eyed Alice. "It was an accident, Alice." But the coldness on Alice's features strengthened and made Carlos sink. He tempted fate by getting up, which caused Alice to pop up too.
Alice then held out her hand at the rear of the truck. "You first."
"No... ladies first," Carlos politely offered. He nearly dropped his rifle when Alice jumped at him.
"I insist," Alice snarled. She snared Carlos by the rear of his bullet proof vest. She shoved him forward and nearly tossed him off the truck yet reserved herself so a scene wasn't created in front of the convoy.
"Fuck, Alice." Carlos nearly did fall and stumbled a step. He spun around after Alice jumped and landed behind him.
Again Alice grabbed Carlos by his vest and dragged him into the woods nearby. She approached a tree and threw him into it.
The air was knocked out of Carlos chest after his back slammed into the tree. He dropped the rifle and sucked in the next breath. "Alice, please I-"
"Yes you did," Alice coldly cut off. "You purposely came out there to dig into our business." She gritted her teeth and moved into his space. "Don't fucking try to make it sound like anything else."
Carlos held up his hands and this time didn't argue Alice. He then pleaded, "Please don't tell Claire."
Alice actually laughed. "Are you serious?" She leaned in closer to him and whispered, "What makes you think I'll pick you over Claire?" Reaching up, she closed her fingers around Carlos's throat. "This is how it's going to work. I'm going to give you a chance."
Carlos eyes widened as it became harder to breathe.
"If you don't tell a soul about what you saw last night then I won't do what Claire hasn't done," Alice swore.
Carlos swallowed hard but managed, "Whatsss that?"
"Kill you," Alice coolly replied.
Carlos was shaken by Alice's promise. He could tell it was serious and not just a bluff. Once his neck was released, he gasped for air and bent forward.
Alice moved aside then stated, "I'm glad we worked that out." She left him to deal with his future if he screwed up.
"What happened to you?" Carlos rasped. He rubbed his throat and lifted his head despite his hunched posture. "You use to give a damn about people."
Alice paused and half turned in Carlos's direction. She slotted her eyes and replied, "That was before people damned me." She returned to the convoy after Carlos's statement had slightly dug under her skin. She ran her fingers through her dirty blond hair. It was true that she use to care about humans. Sometimes she still helped them, like the convoy. She was no hero to them especially because they scorned her thanks to the powers that the T-virus gave her. But the first person that looked beyond the T-virus and treated her just the same was K-Mart.
The thought of K-Mart seemed to will the teen's presence within a few minutes once Alice approached the Ford truck. She neared K-Mart at the rear.
K-Mart slammed the tailgate shut then turned after sensing her lover. "Hey," she greeted.
"Hey yourself," Alice softly replied.
K-Mart tilted her head and curiously studied the tense lines around Alice's face. Lately she noticed different tells about Alice's mood. "You alright?"
Alice hadn't expected K-Mart to pick up on her distraught emotions. She tried brushing it off. "Yeah, I'm alright."
K-Mart poked Alice's stomach once and whispered, "Liar." She didn't push it further and instead slipped past Alice to go to the passenger side. "At least your pants aren't on fire," she joked on the way to the front passenger door.
Alice huffed and muttered, "They felt like it last night." She went along the other side and loaded from the driver's side. She slammed the door after tossing the kukris onto the rear bench. She sadly smiled at how K-Mart was attempting to fix her mood.
"Soon we'll be in Reston," K-Mart started in a wistful tone, "Eating good food beside the pool and tanning ourselves."
Alice snorted and shook her head. "The last time I was there, the pool still wasn't cleaned."
K-Mart chuckled and scooted to the steering wheel. She started the truck so that it'd be warmed up by the time Claire joined them. "Maybe they'll have it ready for us."
"It's worth wishing for," Alice teased.
K-Mart grinned then became more serious once she leaned against the bench's backside. She folded her arms over the top and studied Alice for a beat. "Thank you for everything last night." She gingerly touched her lover's warm cheek. "Last night meant a lot to me, and I know it did to Claire too."
"It was a long time coming," Alice agreed. But she narrowed her eyes after K-Mart blushed brightly. She didn't quite understand why that embarrassed K-Mart until she realized her accidental connotation.
"Yes," K-Mart murmured, "It... certainly was." She closed her eyes when Alice started chuckling at her.
Alice felt bad after a moment and leaned forward, capturing soft lips with her own.
K-Mart whimpered after the sensual kissed ended. If only Alice could have joined them last night. She cupped Alice's cheek and sadly whispered, "We have to talk to Claire again about the tri." Thoughts of being without Claire or Alice worried K-Mart a great deal.
"When we get to Reston," Alice softly promised. She straightened up and fixed K-Mart's hat. "I think she's thinking it through."
"Once she's free of the convoy..." K-Mart considered all the variables in front of Claire after the convoy was gone from Claire's shoulders.
Alice nodded and silently agreed with K-Mart's hopes. She looked to the left just as Claire approached the driver's door.
The convoy leader climbed into the truck and noted K-Mart was scooting to her spot. She curiously studied K-Mart's odd expression and felt like she nearly walked into a conspiracy. She only needed one guess to figure it out and inwardly grumbled at the pair's persistence. If Claire thought she wasn't wanted as a kid, she now was in high demand by Alice and K-Mart.
"Well it'll probably be three or four hour ride to Reston," Claire mentioned. She wasn't the one for small-talk usually. But right now, the truck's tense air needed it.
"Just drive faster so we can get there sooner," K-Mart smartly recommended.
"What?" Claire buckled up and smirked at her lover on the other side of the truck. "You got a girlfriend waiting in Reston for you?"
K-Mart huffed and answered, "I'm not gay."
Claire went slack jaw and fired off, "Three hours last night says otherwise!"
Alice chuckled and muttered, "Likewise." She shrugged when Claire glanced at her.
"Well I'm certainly not stupid," K-Mart argued. "You think I'm going to pass up the two most beautiful women in this fuuuuu..." She faltered once Claire pointed at her in warning for cussing. "F'ed up world?" she finished.
Claire shook her head and put the truck into gear. "I'm straight too," she muttered under her breath then turned on the radio.
Alice rolled her eyes at the pair but the humor was a nice change. She wondered if this was normal between K-Mart and Claire. Most likely it was and now Alice was becoming a part of it. Then she considered why Claire restricted K-Mart from cussing. Claire's earlier warning replayed in her mind. She made a mental note to ask Claire later.
Claire switched to popular music for K-Mart's sake. She spotted K-Mart dragging out the history book that was frustrating to K-Mart. That's one thing she loved about K-Mart, the determination to learn despite the disliked topic.
K-Mart put the textbook in her lap along with the notebook. She flipped to the marked page and picked up where she left off yesterday.
Peering up in the mirror, Alice's features were distant and that made Claire curious. However, driving required her attention right now.
Alice canted her head and focused on K-Mart taking notes from the history book. She pursed her lips when K-Mart spun the pencil over her left thumb a few times. Then once K-Mart took the pencil with her right hand and continued the notes, Alice was rather impressed. Just a moment ago she'd seen K-Mart jotting notes down with her left hand.
"You're ambidextrous," Alice spoke aloud.
K-Mart broke from her studies and looked over her shoulder at Alice. "Yeah." She shrugged and looked down at the history book. Yet Alice's voice made her stop reading again.
"Have you always been ambidextrous?"
K-Mart set the pencil in the wedge of the notebook. "I learned to write with my left hand first." She picked up the pencil with her left hand and tapped it a few times against the paper. "But I got made fun of a lot in middle school... so I taught myself to use my right hand." Both Claire and Alice were looking at her. Claire already knew K-Mart was ambidextrous but hadn't heard the story.
"You know how rare that is?" Alice softly questioned.
K-Mart shrugged and met Alice's gaze. "It's nothing special." She then shifted the topic onto Alice and countered, "You're left handed."
Alice revealed a grin. "You've noticed huh?"
K-Mart didn't answer and instead nodded at Claire. "Right handed." She returned to her studies and wanted to get done the chapter before they neared Reston. There was no telling how much studying she could get done once in the safe haven.
Claire slowed the truck as it approached the ramp for 81 North. She turned onto the ramp then hit the gas. She saw the rest of the convoy faithfully following her lead. After a few minutes, Claire turned the music down and calmly asked, "So what did you do to Carlos?" She barely caught the guilt that flashed across Alice's face from the rearview mirror.
K-Mart lifted her head and was confused by the question. She twisted in the seat and furrowed her eyebrows at Alice.
"He is suddenly jumpy around me, Alice and won't be near me any longer than he has to be." Claire slotted her eyes at Alice through the mirror. "What'd you do?"
"Good," K-Mart muttered. She liked Carlos backing off Claire, finally.
Alice sighed and gave into Claire's wishes. "He saw us last night."
"You're joking!" K-Mart nearly dropped her books. But Alice's serious face confirmed it was true. "Did he see..."
Alice dipped her head in acknowledgement.
Claire was biting her lower lip for a moment. She then tempted, "So what happened between you two?" Despite her calm tone, there was tension rolling off her in every direction.
"We... had a nice conversation about him keeping his mouth shut," Alice replied.
"I take it that it went well," Claire hoped aloud.
Alice bobbed her head and promised, "We came to a mutual understanding about the situation."
"Great." The convoy leader patted the steering wheel. "One less goddamn thing I have to deal with."
K-Mart looked between the pair and was dazzled by what just happened between them. Had they really come this far that Claire applauded and supported what Alice had done? She gripped her hat's brim and a half smile pulled at the corner of her lips. It was exactly what she'd been working towards. It was a beautiful thing.
The American history wasn't holding attention anymore because K-Mart kept thinking about the fact that Carlos saw them. She grumbled and stated, "He's so goddamn obsessed with you." She looked over at Claire.
The convoy leader sighed and slouched to her left. "Don't start, K." Plenty of times in the past she and K-Mart had the same discussion. There were also numerous times that Claire nearly chased Carlos out of the convoy. But it was for her own benefit when in fact the convoy needed Carlos's help.
K-Mart shook her head and stared down at the textbook. When it came to Carlos, she was briefly jealous about his fascination with Claire, until she realized it wasn't mutual on Claire's part. Now it was just rather annoying, and she wished Carlos would accept the fact that there was a woman out there that didn't fall for his charm.
"It'll wear off, eventually," Alice promised.
K-Mart puckered her lips a little then lifted her head. "That's right." She twisted in the seat. "He was obsessed with you too."
"I think he's obsessed with the idea of turning a lesbian straight," Claire explained to K-Mart.
Alice gave a low huff of agreement.
K-Mart instantly pointed her pencil's eraser end at the convoy leader. "See?" She smirked and teased, "That proves I'm not gay." She heard Alice chuckling behind her. "He doesn't obsess about turning me into a hasbian because I'm not gay."
"Hasbian?" Alice echoed. She kept laughing at K-Mart.
Claire though didn't respond beyond a headshake.
"But he's still a total creeper," K-Mart muttered.
Alice curiously studied the teen's profile. She was instantly reminded of the age gap between her and K-Mart after the two slang words. Most likely Claire knew what K-Mart meant without thinking about it.
"It'll be fine," Claire argued in a civil tone. "Once we're in Reston, he'll go his own way."
K-Mart wasn't so convinced and murmured, "We'll seeee." She let it go and started reading again.
Somehow, Claire had the sinking feeling that her lover was right. Perhaps Carlos would actually think he stood a better chance of getting into Claire's pants now that the convoy was gone. Yet, Alice's intervention this morning did seem to help, for now.
As the miles passed under the convoy's wheels, everybody became more excited to see the safe haven that they hoped existed and was indeed a haven. Only the convoy leader, Claire Redfield, was anxious and still hesitant about arriving in Reston, especially if the safe haven was there. Despite the convoy deserved peace and security, it would leave a gap in Claire. Since the T-virus's release on the world, all that she'd known was the convoy and being on the road. Now that lifestyle would vanish within minutes. The only comfort that allowed her to keep her foot on the gas was sitting in the front and back seats.
Glancing in the mirror, Claire saw that Alice had fallen asleep after a restless night. Several times she'd heard Alice's movements in the front seat last night. The front seat of the vehicle always seemed to be cursed with insomnia. But when K-Mart made a jerky movement, she quickly looked at the teen and figured out what was wrong.
K-Mart rubbed her worn features and messed up her hat in the process. She was worn out from studying and was starting to fall asleep.
"Hey," Claire softly called, "Put the book away and lay down."
K-Mart considered the idea. The words in the textbook were blending together and not making sense anymore. She closed the books then shoved them into the pack.
"Lay across the seat," Claire suggested.
K-Mart wearily nodded and unhooked the seatbelt, which Claire normally didn't like. But this time it was okay, and she stretched out on the bench, her head near Claire's thigh. Much to her surprise, Claire pulled her slightly closer so that a thigh became a makeshift pillow. Within minutes, K-Mart drifted off and slept the rest of the way.
Claire kept both hands on the wheel for awhile. But eventually her right hand drifted to K-Mart's stomach. The soft skin was hard to ignore any longer, and Claire caressed it slowly. Time seemed to move too quickly during the drive north. Already the clock had gone from eleven in the morning to one o'clock. The convoy was making good time and mostly traveling at fifty miles per hour. Typically the vehicles could only move at forty-five, especially the duce and half that topped out at sixty. Today though was a good day as if Fate was blessing the convoy's journey to Reston.
Alice stirred after two solid hours of sleep. She sat up from her slumped posture against the seat. She blinked a few times and rubbed the lines off her cheeks. "How far are we?" she softly asked.
Claire reached up to the GPS and tapped the screen to wake it. "About thirty minutes."
Alice scooted forward and peered over the front at the sleeping teen. "How long has she been sleeping?"
Claire did the quick math and answered, "Almost an hour now."
Alice shifted in her seat and ran her fingers through her hair. "She had that damn nightmare."
Claire briefly studied K-Mart and spotted the Saint Christopher's necklace that'd slid out from under K-Mart's shirt.
"It's going to take her awhile," Alice sadly murmured. She wished there was a way to make it easier on K-Mart.
Claire sighed and whispered, "I know." And maybe the pending stay in the safe haven would give K-Mart a chance to let go of Mikey properly. Hopefully it would give them all a chance to move on.
Alice considered the safe haven and the convoy's arrival at it. She wasn't sure what Reston was like anymore after so long. There was little doubt in her mind that it still existed after the state she left it in nearly a year ago. Good people were left in charge of the facility, and Alice felt comfortable to leave at the time. She just hoped her judgment at the time was right because the convoy needed the safe haven.
"Did K-Mart say anything more about that journal?" Alice prompted.
Claire shook her head and spotted the journal poking out of K-Mart's pack. "I'm not sure she read more of it." If so then it was last night while Claire was doing the checks.
"You plan to get on Route 7?"
Claire looked at Alice through the rearview mirror. "Yes then make our way down to Route 606."
Alice dipped her head in agreement. But her focus was on the surrounding area outside of the truck. She murmured, "We're not far then."
"No," Claire quietly agreed. "Stephens City is just ahead." She realized just how close they were so she roused K-Mart.
Grumbling slightly, K-Mart slowly sat up and fixed her hat into place. "Are we there yet?"
A grin pulled across Alice's lips, but she seriously answered, "Almost. We need to be ready for trouble."
Claire seconded it and grabbed the radio. "We're about twenty minutes from the safe haven, folks. Let's get our eyes open and guns ready."
"Roger that, Claire," Carlos replied. His answer was echoed by other managers.
K-Mart retrieved the Glock from the glovebox and checked it was loaded with a full magazine. She rammed the magazine into the handle, racked the first bullet, and turned off the safety.
"Put the window down, K." Alice slid down closer to the teen's side. The kukris were in her lap and a handgun tucked in the rear of her waistband. Underneath the front seat was Claire's M4 carbine too and touched Alice's boot tip.
K-Mart was use to getting yelled at for putting the window down. Out of habit, she peered over her shoulder at Claire but received no protest so she hit the button.
Claire was concerned about the drive into Reston. She prayed they didn't drive into a sea of undead. Turning on the right blinker, Claire slowed for the exit ramp for Fairfax Pike. Tension spiked in the truck as she led the convoy towards Reston.
The initial ride off the highway was rather pleasant, a beautiful drive through the rural surroundings. Former farmlands were now being reclaimed by the trees and animals. It was rather beautiful. Many trees still clung to their orange and yellow leaves, but soon they would let them go. The chilly air that poured into the truck's cabin was a telling sign of the future winter season.
"Anything?" Claire directed at Alice.
"No." Alice stretched her neck further forward, no different than a wolf sniffing for trouble. "Clear so far."
K-Mart turned the Glock through her hands, yet her eyes were trained on the passing landscape. The sweat in her palms made the gun somewhat slick.
Claire slowed slightly as the truck turned to the left, connecting with old Route 340 that would take them north. She slotted her eyes and scanned past the truck's hood for trouble in the small town ahead. It was rather quiet as they drove past the ghost town.
"Where are the undead?" K-Mart muttered. Most likely they'd run into them when they came closer to Reston instead of on the outskirts.
Claire hit the gas pedal and sped the truck up to fifty. She tapped the GPS and estimated it was ten minutes up to Route 7, which would take them into Reston.
"K-Mart, did you read anymore in that journal?"
Thankful for the distraction, K-Mart studied Alice's features in the side mirror. "Yes." She hesitated and swallowed hard. "This facility..." She looked over at Claire and felt Alice's eyes on her too. "It is Arcadia." She licked her lips and stared out the open window again. "Kathy and the convoy she was in had learned about it from some travelers." After a long pause, she mentioned, "Kathy wrote that Arcadia is a safe haven for over a thousand survivors. There's fresh food, good beds, and no disease."
Claire considered the information then asked, "Arcadia... that's Greek, isn't it?"
K-Mart had her mouth open to reply, but Alice beat her to it.
"It's the Greek's version of Utopia." Alice briefly closed her eyes as information poured into her mind. "Et in Arcadia ego," she softly stated. Slowly her eyelids drew up and revealed the crystal blue orbs. "It's means 'And I am in Arcadia' in Latin. It's a place where the lands are lush, nature is in harmony, and nymphs are... frolicking about." She had an amused grin.
K-Mart chuckled at the last bit. But she twisted around towards Alice. "I thought Arcadia was also a real place in Greece." She hadn't forgotten her geography or ancient history.
"Yes." Alice smiled at the teen's knowledge. "It's a region in southern Greece. During antiquity, it was very beautiful with rolling hills and mountains... green valleys. Life there was very simple and mostly made up of shepherds with their flocks."
K-Mart quickly realized that Alice had a strong grasp of ancient history. All of it rang true in her mind after the reading she'd done about ancient history only a few months ago.
"But what's rather interesting..." Alice gazed out the window and studied the beautiful forests around them. "Is that in the sixteenth century, an Italian explorer came to the New World and explored Maryland and Virginia. He called this place Arcadia on his maps because of the beauty of the trees."
"Wow," K-Mart murmured. She debated whether or not that was why the Reston facility was renamed to Arcadia.
"Let's just hope this place is as beautiful as the one in mythology," the convoy leader spoke up.
Alice smirked at Claire and countered, "It's not mythology."
K-Mart lifted her eyes to the tall trees that they passed under. Soon the trees would take over the roads. "No... it's not anymore."
Claire slowed the truck as they approached another intersection.
"This is Berryville." Alice recognized the former town. "Take a right onto Route 7."
"Was Berryville," K-Mart corrected under her breath. She tightened her grip on the gun despite no undead revealed themselves.
Turning the wheel, Claire scanned for trouble, but it was so quiet. She frowned yet kept her worries to herself. In the rearview mirror, the convoy faithfully followed behind onto Route 7. Claire grabbed the handheld radio and clicked the mic. "From here it's thirty minutes to Leesburg, folks. Once we get near Leesburg, we need to keep our guard up."
"Roger that," a few managers replied.
K-Mart inched the window up, for now. She was chilly and had to zip up her coat. "You know Latin, Alice?"
Alice leaned into seat and relaxed a little. "I took a few years of it in high school and college. It was the language to learn... before Spanish."
K-Mart's mental light bulb lit up after she recalled that Alice was currently fifty-two. "I wish they still had Latin in school. I heard it teaches you better grammar."
"It's very strict," Alice agreed.
"What did you learn, Claire?" K-Mart looked at the convoy leader.
"French."
K-Mart chuckled and teased, "Why's that not surprise me." She tugged on the brim. "I took two years of Spanish... don't remember a damn thing." She crinkled up her nose. "I wasn't very good at foreign language."
"I don't believe it," Claire bantered, "K-Mart not good at something."
The teen pointed at her lover and joked, "I said I wasn't very good. I didn't say I wasn't good."
Claire softly laughed and flashed a smile at the teen. "Maybe if you spoke to Carlos in Spanish then he'd better understand that I don't like him."
K-Mart huffed and grumbled, "He's just dense in any language."
Alice gave a low grunt of agreement.
Claire was shaking her head despite she knew it was true. Carlos was Carlos though and not much would change his character. At least he was consistent, if anything.
"How long have you known Carlos?" K-Mart questioned Alice.
For a long moment, the numbers ran through Alice's head until she estimated, "It was a little over a year." She stretched her legs under the seat. "Before the apocalypse, he'd worked about a year and half for Umbrella. He came to my facility a year prior to the outbreak."
"He was a soldier?" Claire tempted.
"Sort of." Alice studied Claire's features while she explained Carlos's background. "He was considered an outside contractor. If Umbrella liked him then they would have hired him as an employee. They did that so they wouldn't have to waste paying money on benefits in the first year if he was the wrong person to hire."
"Who made the call whether or not to hire him?" K-Mart asked. She had an idea.
"Either me or Jill," Alice answered.
"Ah." K-Mart waved her pointed index finger in the air a few times. "That explains why he was all over you like white on rice." She then devilishly grinned at Alice and tormented, "He would have traded sex for a job."
Alice rolled her eyes because it was true.
"So this Jill... Jill Valentine," Claire started, "She was a cop?" For whatever reason, Jill's name stuck with Claire.
"A detective," Alice clarified. "She was with the precinct for a number of years. After she retired, I got her the job at Umbrella to be the second Head of Security."
"I'm surprised they would hire her," K-Mart argued. "I mean wouldn't they want an employee from within to move up to Head of Security?" She turned some and pointedly looked at Alice. "Like you."
Alice ticked off a rear tooth and somehow felt guilty, even after all this time. "That was... the original intent, yes."
K-Mart realized she'd hit some nail and curiously watched a few emotions flicker through Alice's eyes. "What you mean?"
Alice gave a low sigh and hated discussing old history. But she went with it anyway. "You remember I told you that a snitch betrayed Jill and I in the Hive?"
"Yeah, reactivated the Hive's AI that knocked you all out with nerve gas." K-Mart shook her head and curiously waited for more.
"That snitch was one of my closest friends," Alice revealed.
Claire gave an amused grin to Alice. "So much for a good friend."
Alice's features darkened a few levels. "She and I were friends from the day she became a new hire." She controlled her bubbling anger about the past. "It really was her that introduced me to the gay concept and women."
Claire cringed and briefly met Alice's gaze. "Did you seriously sleep with her then not recommend her for the position?"
"I didn't sleep with her... and I didn't recommend her." Alice folded her arms and inwardly shivered at the thought of having sex with Rain Ocampo. "She wanted to date me, but I rejected her."
"And the icing on that cake was the fact you recommended Jill Valentine over her," Claire summarized.
"She was far too hot tempered for the job. Nor could she think fast enough in stressful situations." Alice clearly remembered her checklist on why Rain wasn't the one for the job.
"Until she rebooted the AI," K-Mart quipped.
Alice shot an icy glare at K-Mart. Yet it was rather true because Rain had one upped her and Jill that time, and it cost them a lot. It cost the world a lot.
"So what happened to this hot head?"
Alice focused on the convoy leader and supplied, "Rain... Rain Ocampo." She tilted her head and finally answered, "I don't know what happened to Rain. I haven't seen her since the Hive incident."
"She could be dead," K-Mart guessed.
Alice huffed and muttered, "Yes but scum seems to have a way of surfacing at some point."
K-Mart shook her head a few times yet silently conceding to Alice's words.
Claire shifted in her seat and straightened up. "Leesburg is just ahead." She pointed at it. Then she picked up the handheld and pushed the mic. "We're almost there. Lock and load the guns," she ordered the convoy.
K-Mart put the window back down for Alice. She tried quelling her increased heartbeat, but it was impossible.
Claire had both hands on the wheel, but quickly reached between her red vest and fingered the Beretta Cougar. It's presence offered her some minor comfort before she took the wheel again.
"It's really quiet," K-Mart commented. She was looking all around as they entered the historic town. She watched the houses go by and thought about how beautiful they were once upon a time.
"Strange," Claire muttered. She was prepared for a horde to swarm them. But instead it was a peaceful drive into the town.
"There's a lot of colonial history here," K-Mart noted aloud.
"Was," Alice softly corrected. She could tell the historic homes were starting to shudder under the lack of maintenance. Soon the former gardens and landscaping would swallow the historic homes.
K-Mart leaned closer to the open window once they drove into a rather tight street along Route 7. All the brick and stone buildings seemed rather tall when butted so close to the road.
"K-Mart," Claire warned.
The teen was looking skyward at the beautiful features of the colonial buildings. It was a shame that they would be lost in the coming years.
Claire darted around an abandoned car in the middle of the road. There were still a few cars here or there that were parked on the right shoulder in parking spaces. It seemed eerie, as if the owners would soon come out to start the car.
Surprisingly the drive through Leesburg was an easy one. Once on the other side, the convoy returned to their normal cruising speed and hurried down Route 7 towards Reston. Despite the developments and large towns alongside Route 7, there were hardly any undead. A few times Alice did detect an undead's scent, but they weren't within sight and rather distant so Alice didn't mention them.
"What road should we go south on, Alice?" Claire brought up her mental map of the Reston area. She'd studied the map long and hard this morning with Johnny.
"Either Reston Parkway or Baron Cameron Avenue," Alice suggested.
Claire nodded. Baron Cameron Avenue was slightly further east of Reston than the Reston Parkway. Either one was a good option in Claire's mind.
K-Mart spotted the road sign for Reston after they passed Sterling, Virginia. She tried not getting excited in case it was a huge let down. Some part of her expected to find the safe haven decimated thanks to the undead or even Umbrella. Yet instead her eyes started to toy with her as the Ford F-350 drew closer to Reston. "What... is that?" she whispered in awe.
Alice had already seen it and could make it out better than the two humans. "It's a... wall." She was actually taken aback by what was southeast of their location on Route 7.
"I really huge wall," K-Mart stated.
"Damn," Claire murmured. "It has to be at least fifteen feet tall."
"Taller," Alice argued. "Probably closer to twenty or twenty-five."
"Are you seeing this, Claire?" Carlos radioed.
The convoy leader grabbed the handheld and replied, "I'm seeing it." She wasn't sure what else to say. She also wasn't sure where to go from here.
Alice seemed to sense it and suggested, "Just stay on Seven for a bit further then get on Reston Parkway."
"It shouldn't be much further." Claire was searching for the exit.
"Right up there... at that intersection." Alice pointed at the intersection that'd once had a traffic light.
Claire turned on the right blinker and pulled into the turning lane, surprised there wasn't a dead car in the way. She turned onto Reston Parkway and hit the gas pedal. There wasn't a single abandoned car on the parkway, which was increasingly odd.
"Oh my god," K-Mart blurted out. She pointed off to her right. "Look!"
"Jesus," Claire immediately started braking the truck but tried not slamming on them. She didn't need the diesel tanker behind her running up into the truck's bed. Yet still the truck came to a jerky stop in the middle of the parkway.
Off to the right the trees along the parkway were cleared and offered an unbelievable view that came only from a storybook. Nothing about what the three women saw outside the truck could be real. Yet the distinct smells coming into the truck from the open window told the truth. There really were fields in front of them that had freshly tilled soil. Beyond the farm fields was the gigantic grey wall that snaked across the landscape towards the parkway.
"I think we just fell down the rabbit's hole, Alice," Carlos radio over the channel.
Claire was jarred by Carlos's joke and briefly glared at the radio.
"That's not real," K-Mart fought. She struggled with what her eyes were showing her. "We're dead... we're definitely dead."
"No... we're very alive," Alice argued, a bright smile on her face.
K-Mart leaned forward further after she saw movement in the field. "That's definitely not real," she declared in an excited voice.
Claire tugged on the brim and couldn't believe it either. She had to disprove it so she released the brake and pushed on the gas but didn't go very fast. As they grew closer, she was able to see that it wasn't just her imagination anymore.
K-Mart quickly looked at Claire and hastily encouraged, "Pull up closer to him."
Claire was slightly cautious but did so anyway until the stick like figure formed into a man. She retrieved her Beretta Cougar just in case but allowed K-Mart to handle it.
"Hello!" K-Mart called out to the man in the field. She felt silly for some reason.
The man had his back to the parkway, but the woman's voice made him turn quickly. He grew wide eye once he realized there were several vehicles on the parkway. He adjusted his straw hat then carefully trudged through the field, minding the freshly plowed soil.
"Hello," K-Mart greeted again when the man was within earshot. To her amazement, he really was a farmer considering his attire. But she did spot a rifle on his back so he was an armed farmer.
"Hello there," the man warmly greeted. He had a genuine smile. "Sorry I didn't see y'all there." His southern accent became rather apparent. "I reckon I get too focused on my field at times." He brushed his hands off on his canvas pants. "Well welcome to Arcadia." He stood on the edge of the grass and the parkway's aged pavement.
"We've heard a bit about it," K-Mart commented. She was leaning against the door. "My name is K-Mart." She noticed he didn't shoot her an odd look for the nickname. She shifted back slightly and indicated over her right shoulder. "That's Alice." She waited to see recognition in his face but there wasn't any. So she pointed at Claire next. "And that's Claire Redfield."
"Nice to meet y'all," he kindly returned. "I'm Henry Calhoun."
K-Mart smiled at him and wasn't quite sure what to say next. She opted for Arcadia and indicated the huge wall. "Is Arcadia beyond the walls?"
"Yes ma'am." Henry pivoted on his boots and looked at the wall. "Ya just keep following this 'ere parkway. It'll take ya over yonder to the gate... about half uh mile."
K-Mart was dazzled but yet tempted, "Will they let us in?"
The farmer placed his hands on his hips and replied, "Ya human right?" He grinned and stated, "They only let humans in dere."
"Well thank you," K-Mart replied in a warm voice.
Henry dipped his head. "Yer welcome, ma'am." He took a step back then offered a wave. It'd been some time since he'd seen such a nice truck, especially a yellow one. He remained beside the parkway as the convoy vehicles rolled past him. The amount of people rather surprised him too. The full school bus was quite the sight. Once the vehicles were gone, Henry adjusted the rifle on his back then returned to the farm field while there was still daylight left.
The convoyed followed the parkway until the grey wall grew much taller than any the vehicles in the line. Claire stopped the truck several yards in front of the gates that Henry had told them about earlier. She leaned forward and peered up at the top of the walls. She instantly counted at least a dozen people guarding the gates and wall.
"This is amazing," K-Mart remarked. She couldn't take it in fast enough.
"Was this all here when you were here last?" Claire noted a tiny door opening up within the gigantic steel doors of the gate.
"No... not at all." Alice was just as awestruck by the wall. But like Claire, she saw the six men pouring out of the open door in the gate. "I think that's the welcome wagon." She decided it was best to get out and greet them.
Claire heard the back door open and grabbed the handle on the driver's door. "Stay in the truck, K." She got out and fingered the Beretta Cougar hidden in her vest. "And keep your Glock handy," she softly added on her way out of the truck.
K-Mart was uneasy about Claire's mistrust, but she never dismissed Claire's fair warnings. She briefly toyed with the Glock in her hands then tucked it in her waistband. Her eyes though remained fixed on Alice and Claire approaching the six well armed men in front of the gate. Briefly peering up, K-Mart counted at least twelve guards hovering on the top of the wall and weapons at the ready. But they were very strange weapons that caused a furrow in K-Mart's brow. It was the first time she'd ever seen crossbows and strung bows. Shaking away the disbelief, K-Mart lowered her gaze to her lovers in front of the soldiers.
"Welcome," middle-aged man greeted. "I am Michael Ford."
Claire regarded Michael's lightly freckled features, sandy blond hair, and oval shaped face. She noted his well toned arms under the bullet proof vest. "My name is Claire Redfield." She held out her hand to Alice. "And this-"
"Alice," Michael finished. His stern features broke with a smile. He took a step closer and held out his arm like two old war comrades meeting again.
Alice clasped Michael's arm and tightened her grip to match his. "It's good to see you again."
"You as well," Michael brightly echoed. "You've been missed... especially by Luther."
Alice was clearly uneasy but kept a smile in place despite the flush to her cheeks. "Likewise." She released arms.
Michael didn't comment and instead turned his shiny smile onto Claire. He politely offered his hand for a proper shake. "Welcome to Arcadia, Miss Redfield."
"We're not quite there," Claire argued and hinted at her concerns.
Michael released the convoy leader's hand and his smile became more amused. He indicated the fields before them. "You are in Arcadia." He watched how Claire Redfield studied the tilled and sewn lands. "If you were not welcomed then you wouldn't have been able to come this far."
A few ounces of comfort built up in Claire, but it wasn't enough, not yet. Claire glanced at her waiting convoy then back at Michael. "We wish to join Arcadia if there is room for a few more."
Michael had his hands on his hips. "Of course, Miss Redfield." His eyes wandered over the vehicles of the convoy, the anxious people quite visible. "We have rules and procedures when it comes to intake of new members."
"I understand," Claire replied. She was glad to hear it too. "My convoy knows quarantine."
Michael lost his cheery features, jarred by Claire's last word. "It is not quarantine," he refused, calmly. His hands slipped down his side. "It's safety." A thin frown gave way though.
Claire nearly argued the difference between how people could pronounce tomato, and it was all the same damn thing to her. But she bit her tongue and instead politely offered, "Whatever is required of us will be done."
"Thank you," Michael replied. His attitude shifted to earlier as he took a step away. "I'll have the gates open then we can go from there."
Finally a pleasant smile eased across Claire's features, and she nodded. "Thank you."
Michael flashed a smile then turned on his boots but not before glancing at Alice. He ordered the five other men back through the open door then started hollering orders out to the guards on the wall. Voices and frantic movements ensued as soldiers hastened to carry out orders.
Claire and Alice started towards the truck. But Claire was quick to ask, "What was that all about?"
Alice shrugged and easily answered, "Old friend." She separated and went to the passenger side of the truck, glad to escape further inquiry.
Claire huffed and made a mental note to get more information later. She loaded into the truck and didn't bother with the seatbelt. But the radio was in her hand, and she gave the word to the convoy to roll forward once the gates were open.
K-Mart sensed an invisible strain between Alice and Claire, but it wasn't a major concern. She was curious, but instead her attention was drawn to the dark metal gates that groaned heavily as they were drawn inward. Excitement made her shiver and tug on the hat brim. She tried distracting her anxious mind by looking at Claire.
"Who was that guy?"
"Michael Ford," Claire supplied. But her eyes flickered to Alice's reflection in the mirror before she looked at K-Mart.
"Oh," K-Mart softly answered, not wanting to accidently fuel a possible fire. She pointed at the man, Michael Ford, waving at them. "I think we can go."
Claire shifted the truck into gear then gently pushed on the gas pedal. She was amazed by how small the truck felt once it approached the open mouth of the gatehouse. She noted how K-Mart leaned forward and peered upwards through the front window.
K-Mart was fixed on the countless holes in the ceiling of the gatehouse as they drove through it. Rather baffled by the two to four foot wide holes, she murmured, "What are those holes for?"
No longer silent, Alice easily replied, "They're called murder-holes." She grinned at hearing K-Mart's low expel of breath.
Claire parted her lips slightly as they started clearing the gatehouse and were so close to entering the world beyond the walls and gate. Her next inhale remained still in her lungs as the safe haven began forming in the low afternoon sunlight. What the dangerous walls protected was a beautiful marvel hidden within a Hell consumed world.
It was Arcadia.