Chapter Text
The first time Sam sees her, he doesn’t remember much about her afterward. How could he, moments after watching them shoot Alice?
Rather, the zombie that had been Alice.
He remembers only that he’s a little surprised to see it was a young woman – somehow, he had assumed it would be a man. No particular reason why, he supposed. Maybe something to do with all those parachute action figures he played with as a kid.
But when they open the gates, well, it’s not just a woman, but a quiet woman. Very quiet. No “hey, I’m so-and-so, thanks for saving my life out there while they shot the zombie who used to be your girlfriend.” She just stands there in camo fatigues, arms crossed around the large CDC file, not saying a word.
This woman turns out to be nothing like Alice, except that she looks to be around his age. Alice seemed to float when she walked, her limbs graceful, her movements delicate. There is nothing graceful about this new Runner Five. Her steps are short, heavy, precise. She doesn’t seem to realize that she should be a little nervous in a place full of strangers; she stands, hand on one hip, sweeping her surroundings with piercing eyes. She fully inhabits the space she is in, and at first people give her a lot of room. It’s not until she starts proving herself on missions – which doesn’t take long – that everyone wants to be her friend.
Or more than friends.