The Black Rose

Chapter Fifteen

Somewhere else in the corridors of the prison as the alarm wailed, Rose was on high alert. She kept an eye out for walkers as she led the two women and boy. She just needed to keep them safe. Her stomach was twisted with unsureness. Everywhere Rose took them, walkers were filling the hallway. It was nearly impossible and she wasn't sure if she could get them out alive.

Lori took a sharp intake of breath, telling Rose that she was in pain. Goddammit, the baby was coming now. Of course it would choose this perfect time to be born to the world. Lori stopped, leaning against the wall for support. Rose glanced around to ensure there wasn't any immediate danger. The poor pregnant woman grunted from the pain as Maggie began to rub her back.

"Can you keep up?" Maggie whispered as she rubbed Lori's back gently. Rose closed her eyes, knowing the grave situation they were in. Lori gave birth to Carl by caesarean section so she was most likely to require another one for this baby. Carol... wasn't anywhere near them and Rose wasn't sure if she could find her just in time for Lori. She'll have to do it. Lori whispered that there was something wrong with the baby. The warrior squeezed Carl's shoulders, assuring him that everything would be alright. Her acute hearing told her that a herd of walkers were arriving soon. The baby was coming now alright.

The sight of them confirmed her suspicion and the boy beside her pointed his gun at them. Rose pulled him back gently, "No. We don't want to attract them even more. Come on. There's no time."

Maggie and Rose threw Lori's arms around their shoulders, rushing down the hallway. Carl pointed to a door, waiting for Rose's approval to enter. She gave a curt nod and Carl opened the door while the three women entered. But to their dismay, the door didn't close all the way. Rose heaved a sigh and pull Lori's arm off her shoulders, approaching the door. She was now in survival mode. She knew she had to deliver Lori's baby soon enough. But first she had to camouflage their surroundings. Carl backed away from the door, seeing the strange look in Rose's eyes. He had to make sure his mother was okay but he wanted to make sure that Rose wasn't going to lose it or something.

In a blur, Rose pulled a zombie into the room as Maggie and Carl watched in horror. They didn't know why the hell she was allowing a lone zombie in the room. Rose clutched the zombie's neck and stabbed it in the head with her hunting knife. Maggie rubbed Lori's back even more, trying to comfort her. Rose was now slicing random lines in the now "officially dead" walker and shoved it in front of the door just in time as the horde of walkers arrived. To the group's surprise, the walkers passed them in the hallway. Lori swallowed uneasily, "What are these alarms?"

"Don't worry about that." Maggie responded, watching Rose pace back and forth in the room. Carl asked if it would attract the walkers, worrying about his mother.

Rose suddenly stopped pacing back and forth. She turned her attention onto the expectant mother, analyzing how her stomach was contracting. Yes... the baby was coming alright. Maggie whispered, "Lori, let's lay you down."

"No, the baby's coming now." Lori refused as she leaned against the wall. Carl threw a desperate glance at Rose.

"We have to go back to our cell block to have Hershel help!" Carl half whispered and half yelled at Rose. He didn't understand why Rose was intensely staring at his mother and not doing anything. Little did he know how afraid Rose was. She was scared shitless. Sure she had medical training. They trained her to take care of herself fully. But that was only on herself. She had never tried to attempt "doctoring" somebody else. Especially a caesarian section. But Rose was going to have to do it.

"No. We can't risk getting caught out there," Rose finally answered. She began to wipe her knife clean. "You're gonna need to give birth to this baby here."