The Black Rose

Chapter Sixteen

"Hershel!" Rick called as they headed back out into the courtyard. They had successfully turned off the alarms but the damage it had done was obvious. Dozens of walkers were now banging against the wall. It was one of the scariest days in his life. They suspected that Carol was now dead as well as T-Dog. The group had found T-Dog's remains as they headed out of the prison. The only remnant of Carol was her scarf discarded in the hallway. Hershel hobbled over with his youngest daughter, Beth.

"You didn't find 'em?" Hershel asked. They had stayed outside in the courtyard in hopes that the others would return in vain. Nothing. Just a desolate landscape that had shown a world that was overrun by cannibals. It was heartbreaking. They had spent the last week attempting to make it livable and now they might've lost six members. Each one of them had a special place in everybody's hearts. Glenn had high hopes that Maggie as well as the rest of the group would be standing outside when he arrived. It was Rose. Rose wouldn't let anything happen to the rest of them. However there was just Hershel and Beth lingering outside. "What about T, Carol?"

Daryl shook his head. He was afraid that Rose wouldn't come back. Parts of him told himself that there was no way that Rose could be dead however other parts of them dreaded for the worst. He didn't know if his heart can take it anymore. The possibility of Rose still being alive is the only thing that is keeping him together right now. Losing one of his dearest friends, Carol broke his heart. One of the first people to show him that human nature isn't always evil or bad. She taught him how to be patient and tolerant within the group. "They didn't make it."

"That doesn't mean the others didn't," Rick jumped up. "Beth, you saw Rose taking the rest. It's ROSE! She would never let anything bad happen to Lori, or Maggie. Especially Carl. We're going back! Daryl and Glenn, you come with me. I'm sure she's somewhere within this prison waiting for us to find them."

A distinct newborn baby's cry filled the silence in the air as the group slowly turned around to locate the sound. Maggie slowly opened the gate with Carl and Rose close behind her. She was sobbing, unable to say a word as Rick moved towards them. Rose turned slightly to reveal the newborn baby in her arms with a protective aura. Her actions alone had resonated with the rest of the group. Rick dropped his weapons, not willing to believe it was possible. "Where is... where is she?"

Daryl watched how Rick attempted to go into the doors that they just came through. However Rose stopped him with such gentleness that Daryl had to double check that it was Rose. "No Rick. Don't."

"Oh no.... no! No," The poor man began to cry. Lori... was dead. His wife. The woman that he had been horrible to for months now. The woman that he loved but forgot how to love. Glenn moved to embrace Maggie who was also sobbing uncontrollably. Daryl noticed how Carl stood close to Rose with a stony face, as if Rose was somehow comforting the boy by being close. Rick glanced at his son and fell onto the ground, "Ahh no!"

They all huddled together, mourning the loss of three lives. But suddenly Rick sat up. Rose didn't like the vacant look in his eyes. He looked... crazy. Rose narrowed her eyes at Rick, seeing hints of confusion on his face. She wasn't the only one to notice Rick's state of mind. Daryl saw it too as he approached Rick slowly.

"Rick," Daryl whispered as he waved his hands in front of Rick's face, hoping to get some sort of response. But there was none. Rick just vacantly stared at Daryl. Daryl tried again, "Rick!"

Hershel tore his attention off the grieving leader and onto the newborn baby. Rose did the right thing by holding the baby close to her skin. He saw that Rose had pulled her t-shirt over the baby keeping it intact in the center of her chest, giving it skin to skin contact. "Let me see the baby."

Rose narrowed her eyes onto Hershel, unsure if she wanted to let the baby go. She felt like it was her only source of sanity. The only thing that kept her there instead of escaping. She hated emotional situations with such passion. Rose bit her lips as she slowly handed the newborn over to Hershel. The logic in her mind told her that the baby needed to be checked. Daryl slowly approached Rose and Hershel. Rose's face remained unmoving as ever but there were splatters of blood on her face. He wasn't sure if it was walker's blood or worse, Lori's. Maggie and Carl looked like they had been to hell and back while Rose just simply stood silently. The only thing that was different about her was the loving glance in her eyes.