Rowan James had been prepared for the end since the beginning.
Her life was molded around survival. She was taught to fight, be smart, and never give up.
So when the apocalypse hits, not only is she ready to fight.
She's going to survive....
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AFTER DINNER, EVERYONE had taken a seat in the makeshift living room.
Since she found out about the...walkers... Rowans' mind had been filled with different thoughts and questions about everything.
She wondered about her dad. Where he was, what happened to him. He never came for her at the hospital, and that fact alone made her think the worse.
But her dad was something else entirely. His whole life had been one survival story after the next. He taught her how to take care of herself, how to survive. Everything she experienced had been leading up to a point like this. Therefore it was hard for her to believe that him, of all people, could go so quickly.
Then, she thought about what was next for her. As of now, her place in this new world was completely unknown. Where was she to go? Rowan knew that Rick would immediately want to leave and find his family. Should she do the same? Risk her life to find her father who could already be gone? Could she even do that alone?
Any decision she makes could mean life or death. How is she to know the right one?
"Rowan" Ricks voice called.
The girl was broken from her spiraling thoughts at the calling and looked at everyone.
"What?" She asked.
Morgan chucked, "I asked how you got shot. Arrow right?"
Rowan nodded, "Yeah, a hunting accident" she scoffed, "My dad taught pre military training. Specialized in tracking and weaponry. Found myself in the line of fire of a new recruit" she said.
Morgan looked intrigued, meanwhile Rick eyed her curiously. During his time as sheriff, his department encountered one military man who was always coming in to register new guns.
"What did you say your last name was?" Rick asked her.
"I didn't" she said slyly.
Before she could elaborate, a loud car alarm blared, halting all conversation. Rowan instantly became worried, she remembered Morgan warning them about how sound attracts walkers.
"One of em must've bumped into a car, it's okay" she heard Morgan soothe Duane.
"You sure?" Rick asked.
Morgan nodded, "It happened once before. It went on for a few minutes. Get the light, Duane"
Everyone moved to turn off all the lights, then Morgan stood near the window to check outside. He carefully pulled back the curtains, then after a moment, beckoned Rowan and Rick over.
The pair carefully peered through the open curtains and finally got a good look at what society had become.
The street outside was crowded with multiple shuffling corpses. Several of them were walking toward a late model sedan; its lights flashing in time with the alarm sounds.
Rowan asked the question her and Rick were both thinking, "That noise– won't it bring more of them?" She whispered, her eyes never leaving the bodies.
Morgan shook his head, "Nothing we can do about it now. Just have to wait 'em out till morning"
Duane, who had been peaking through the key hole on the door, suddenly gasped in fright.
"She's here" he said scared.
Rowan frowned in confusion. Quickly she looked back outside, only to see a woman walker coming toward the house. Once she moved onto the porch steps, Rowan could no longer see her.
She peered out the window as much as possible, but only Duane's spot at the door could get the right view.
Morgan shoved his son away from the door, "Don't look. Get away from the windows. I said go. Go on" he told the boy.
Rowan couldn't help herself, her curiosity getting the best of her, she took Duane's place at the door. Looking through the peep-hole, she saw the woman walker once more. She was in a white nightgown, her black locks in disarray, and her eyes void of any emotion.
Rowan's heart dropped. From the way Duane and Morgan reacted, they knew this woman. More than knew her, they loved her. And now she was one of them.
The girl could hear Duane's sobs as he cried for his mother. She couldn't look at him, her own eyes intent on following his mothers every move. The woman moved closer to the door, Duane's cries drawing her closer until her and Rowan were eye to eye.
"Sshh Duane, cry into the pillow" Morgan said as quietly as possible.
The door rattled, the knob jingling as the woman tried to open the door. Rowan was suddenly tugged back from the key-hole, the woman's face disappearing from her view.
Rick had gently pulled her away from the door as quietly as possible. The rest of them waited nervously, all of their focus on the doorknob as the woman tried to get inside.
After some time, with no success, Duane's mother gave up on the door and aimlessly walked away. Their group all waited for the moans and car alarm to cease before making another move, eventually Duane fell asleep.
When the coast was clear, Morgan finally broke the silence,
"She, um... She died in that other room on that bed in there. There was nothing I – I could do about it. That fever, man, her skin gave off heat like a furnace" he told the pair.
Rowan's heart broke at his words. Carefully, she sat down in front of the older man, her eyes never leaving his face.
He continued his story, "I should've – I should've put her down. I know that, but I – You know what? I just didn't have it in me. She's the mother of my child" he said to Rowan, his eyes almost pleading with her to understand.
She reached out to grip Morgan's hand, her head nodding when he looked at her.
"Nobody should have to make a decision like that. It's not right and it's not fair" she said matter of factly.
"It's not your fault, Morgan" she whispered to him.
