Chapter Text
It had been a long day for Alice and the sun was taking some toll on her, do to the t-virus in her system it help somewhat. Her only companion was a black fured four legged creature-a dog named balto. Although Alice had thought of other names for the male dog but none of them seemed to fit. So she sticked with it.
The sun was sinking in the beautiful orange and yellow shaded shattered clouds. It was only minutes away from being surround by dark. Alice and balto where currently cruising the motorcycle. As usual Alice at the front and balto at the back. If it wasn't for what Alice thought was a basket for dogs it would had been hard for the dog to ride with.
Months ago she had no problem fitting stuff on the motorcycle because the Doberman pitcher was just a small and what Alice assumed the puppy to be a mouth and a few weeks old. He could fit just right in the metal white colored basket and still place supplies in it.
If it wasn't a hassle ago it was a hassle now do to her companion growing and growing fast. Of course Alice thought about the consequences that would come with traveling with puppy but she didn't have the heart to leave a puppy all alone. She found that funny because she was sure she didn't have a heart not after what she had done, Four years.
After escaping the facility along with the help of Carlos, Jill, and LJ and Angie along with the ride. Though she had made it through out of it on her own she still needed assistance from her friends to fully escape.
All five tried to live as civil as can be but all knew deep down that it would never be the same or safe and certainly any less worse when umbrella tracked down Alice. It had been two months since Alice escaped out of the facility only to be captured again.
Alice had been caught and controlled by umbrella for only a few minutes but in those short minutes before her was - destruction. When alice was under control by Isaacs he had ordered Alice to stand down once she coldly killed Angie one single bullet to the head sent Angie to the floor and soon to be with her father.
Alice watched as she saw her fall and hit the ground one single tear fell down her cheek at the scene before her. Her mind was fighting to stop before she could put another bullet in Carlos's head. Her mind was roaming free but her body was locked and loaded ready for order.
When she was at the verge of shooting Carlos only then did she break free. She then turned the gun to the closest agent and bullets went flying out in any direction agents where standing. Carlos and the rest some how escaped out of their zip ties and started fighting along with her until only two helicopters fired up and left along with Dr Issacs.
When the helicopters weren't in sight Alice turned to a gun being place on her forehead she could feel the pressure that was being pressed on as the one behind it was furious. Jill stood before Alice telling her what she had just done. Ready to pull the trigger.
Though Alice was pretty sure Jill would do it and would understand if she did. Alice deserved it. Carlos stepped in and separated Jill from Alice. Reasoning with Jill was difficult but the closeness she had with Angie was to be mentioned in order for Jill to stand down.
Alice felt similar to a monster if she wasn't one yet she would be if she stayed. She cared to much about what happens to the rest even though the now trio had a doubt after processing what they had just watched. Alice's only solution was to leave. She couldn't go back or bring angie back to life.
Carlos was the one to ask her to stay but would understand if she did the opposite knowing he would do the same in her situation. Carlos and LJ said there goodbyes to Alice while Jill said nothing still holding Angie's dead body on her.
Alice knew Jill had been right to act on reality. Controlled or not, Alice was to blame and no one else. She did the harm with her own bear hands. Alice was the one who put them in danger and would keep on doing it if she stayed.
Alice didn't take anything but her weapons. Alice gave the last glace she could have the courage to do so and silently whispered her apologies to Angie as she left.
She was never one not letting it go in another life but this--this was something not even if one day she decides to forget about it she was pretty sure this guilt was the main thing that was going to stay forever.
Alice slowed down as a small gas station came to view. She wasn't sure if it was raided with undead but would walk though in it otherwise. But that would leave balto to be bitten if not by her side most of the time. She stopped a few feet away just across the road.
Alice parked the bike behind a big boulder, sliding off it along with balto on the right side of her looking at the lower part, only because he was short compared to his human. Alice positioned her crossbow on top of the big rock. She peaked through the scope and saw nothing but wasn't convinced. That's when balto came in.
Alice gave a firm order to balto. "Speak" Alice said loud enough for the dog to her and obey. At the third bark he let out. Only two undead managed to push the store door open and scatter left and right to find where the sound came from.
Alice slid the arrow in place aiming straight on to the undeads skull. Making it tilt a bit before landing in its back. The second undead turned slightly before Alice shot it. Both where down blood splattered on the hot sand.
There was still one more stuck inside the store. Good thing Alice had managed to keep most of her arrows. She stayed there until the third walking corpse stepped out. When it did Alice immediately shot it pinning it on a close by container behind him.
"Alright it should be empty" Alice told the dog putting her fingerless glove above her eyes to shield them from the sun heading down, since the sunset was faceing her.
Alice grabbed the handles of the motorcycle and pushed it across the road and into the gas station just out front of the dusty store. Balto who had been behind her smelled the air before putting his guard down on the enemies.
Alice put the stand down of the motorcycle next fuel tanks. She grabbed the pump and pumped it as if she would find gas just streaming out of it. She huffed as she put it back amd then realized why she had done that, it's not like the store owner would come and make a fuss about it before she had the chance to leave.
Things where different, the why she lived know was just it. There was no one to tell her anything and even if there was she wouldn't allow it. She could do want she wanted but right that case didn't work any more. She wasn't human so what would a non human do. Try to make amends with the world she helped destroy.
Alice believes that no one besides she and balto where the only ones left to run in this rotting world. Though she hoped the others would still be fighting and keeping each other's back. It was a long shot to think that they are still making it. It had been four years ago that Alice last saw them.
Upon finding survivors she had some luck she would help if in trouble and then later leave without anyone knowing. She had no reason to stay and never found one or didn't want to find one. She belonged to an all powerful corporation and soon be tracked and would put another group in danger.
She stood isolated for so long she lost most of her emotions not that before the apocalypse she had many. She had coped with being alone, she wasent sure why she enjoyed it but it made her mind go at ease. Until thinking became to much she stoped thinking and focused on another tasked.
Even though Alice had no doubt there were no more she knew better than to trust so easily. Some where smart but not smart enough well depending on what kind person they were attacking.
Alice walked with her pistol in her hand positioned at the store door. She kicked it in without much force. She took her time checking around while balto wanted outside. There was a broken window it gave Alice access to balto in time to avoid the dog being bitten.
Nowhere was safe true but it didn't mean it wouldn't be save for a few hours. Alice stalked around the register counter, after hearing a jar half filled with coins she had to inspect. She only got half of the way around before crows came out flapping the wings at Alice's face.
Alice toopled over a bit but didn't fall she had covered her face from their visous claws. Alice looked after the crows getting out. At turned her head a bit to look at the window and saw balto already on his feet noticing the flock of crows flying away above him.
Alice turned back to what she was doing and found that there wasent really much to search for. There was just one other door that was closed, and finding things closed was intriguing to Alice. She thought about it before Her curiosity got the best of her. Though this wasent about curiosity anymore it was safety combined.
She stayed a moment to listen, nothing and then went to open it, there was nothing in particular she wanted to find but, to her luck which didn't happen much, alice was surprised when she saw five can foods and two of them appeared to be dog food.
Balto was outside taking care of things ears perked up senses highted just in case of a far intruder. He had already peed on one of the station as to let anyone trasspass them know that that was his territory. Balto was getting a bit worried, Alice didn't usually take this long in a in and out mission. He took his guard of and went to the shop.
As he entered he watched as Alice turned with one specific can for a very special dog. "Guess we are lucky today day boy" she expected to hear her voice a bit more excitedly but wasn't it was like she were threatening the dog. She could care less what she sounded like right now she needed to get food into balto.
Balto hadn't eaten for about three days though Alice knowing him since he was a little pup, knew how the dog became stubborn when his needs became first and then his owner. Much like Alice had always been with him. They were perfect for each other both stubborn, like there loneliness, and protect each other even though Alice was more capable.
The dog would have reacted in an okay we got food but he hadn't eaten in a few days and he was in no position to be stubborn. He simply waggled his tale and stuck out his tongue sitting some what patiently.
Alice quickly made a small campfire with a few cardboard boxes she found inside before it turned dark. She pulled her sleeping supplies out of her old green backpack and set them in the warm sand.
She sat kriscross on her sleeping bag to let balto joint her at her feet. The cans already had the handle to open it easily. She pulled it up to reveal fruit peach to be exact.
Next she opened balto's dinner for the day after plopping her can on the ground. On like the other one this didn't have a handle so she pulled out her knife and jabbed it in. Alice smelled it to make sure it was edible for the dog to it. It was and cut a medium size hole in to the aluminum can.
Alice grabbed a close by unburned cardboard box and ripped a piece so it would be used as a plate for the dog. Alice and balto ate in silence looking up at the stars. It was a good choice to rest here for the night for the dogs sake. Even though that balto didn't show his weakness another thing Tharp have in common Alice knew he had it.
It amused Alice to think she and balto were like one another. Yet alice was afraid they were to similar and just like her would actually die for one another. Losing him wouldn't be an option. To most people dogs mean just a pet but to Alice dogs will always be a best friend, family and a parter, one very special dog.
Now that Alice thinks of it the name does suit the dog it gives him off as bold, brave, protective. had an image of what would it be like if she hadn't found balto in the same house she found the motorcycle. With balto along with the ride it was less lonely, not that Alice's didn't enjoy it ,but it felt nice to have someone with you.
Even though they didn't talk.
Sleep came to here around 1am, mostly because she couldn't rest. She layed down after the meal so both could get comfortable. Though she knew she wouldn't get sleep at all. Sleep had always been a problem before the apocalypse but she would eventually sleep. Now she was scared to fall asleep. The nightmares had started years ago and were slowly getting worse. Waking up sweating to screaming in her sleep. For other people it was just to much to carry on for so long They searched for help but for Alice there was none.
Alice couldn't take all the credit as for much the t-virus had part of it, though she had no doubt in mind she would survive till the end. Alice knew everyone died at there moment but the thing is that she isn't like everyone. She was a monster a killing machine, a murderer or even at fault to what happened to the world. She was there she should have stopped.
Only if she had been stronger.
Alice thoughts ran threw her mind like wild fire and soon became to much and decided that she should get some sleep. If it didn't come than she would try. But not before doing something comfortable and familiar.
The glow of the stars up in the dark sky iluminated baltos sleeping form he was layed out next to Alice using her stomach as his pillow. She petted the very much sleepy dog as he was snoring. His fur grazing inside her palm, his fur was getting long and soon to be cut down. Nothing her kurkis swords couldn't fix. But for know she had to try and get some rest not that she would need it.