The Black Rose

Chapter Twenty-Four

The whole landscape was bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun and the high sunlit clouds drifted across a clear blue sky. It was a quiet, content day as Rose lounged outside with Judith fast asleep in her arms. Beth was busy playing with Rose's thick tresses, coiling it into a thick braid. Out of the corner of Rose's eye, she saw Rick who had a black eye entering the upper outdoor corridor with a rifle and couple box crates.

Rose eyed him uneasily, ensuring he wasn't planning on doing anything that was too crazy. Rick pulled up his binoculars, scanning the prison courtyards.

Suddenly he grabbed his gun and ran toward the mini graveyard that they had made for all their dead ones like Lori... T-Dog... and Oscar. Rose handed sleeping Judith over to Beth, telling her to stay put as she headed towards Michonne who was out in the outer courtyard by an abandoned truck that was upturned.

Rick headed over the graveyard and slowly circled around with a confused look on his face like he was looking for somebody. Rose inhaled softly and was trying to decide if she should intervene or not. Rick was clearly losing it. Michonne gave Rose a look, unsure what was happening with Rick. When Rose knocked him out, the group had laid him in the bed because it was clear that the poor man hasn't slept in days.

For the next two days, Rick was fitful in his sleep. Sometimes he called out for Lori. Sometimes he called out for Shane. From what Rose heard, Shane died the night she first met the group and was Rick's best friend.

She tried to keep Carl away from having to see his father like that by keeping him busy. Little chores. Little things like going to the infirmary and looking for important essentials.

The group whispered amongst each other, wondering if Lori's death drove Rick mad. If the grief was too much. Rose wouldn't have any of it. When they attempted to questioned her about Rick, she'd just simply respond that he was sleep deprived and needed to sleep.

Suddenly, Rick hurried past Michonne and Rose towards the perimeters of the prison without a second glance to them. It was like he wasn't seeing them. Rose and Michonne followed him quietly, wondering what Rick was up to. He had that crazed look in his eyes. The gate creaked open as Rick unlocked it and apprehensively approached a nearby pool of water that had a bridge over it. Rose made a mental note that she should confiscate Rick's keys so he won't go somewhere that was out of her sight and harm himself.

Rick put his hands up to his cheek and acted like somebody was there. But to Michonne and Rose's eyes, nobody was there. Rose sighed heavily. It was difficult to see Rick like this. He was her right hand. Her equal. Yet he was... losing it. If Rick completely lost his mind, that means she was responsible for the group's well-being. She wasn't ready. Rick was good with people. She wasn't. She was more like a war general. She made strategic decisions based on observations and experience while Rick talked to people and made sure their emotional needs were met.

Rose glanced up to the blue sky and wondered what Daryl was doing at this very moment. But that was just a fleeting moment. Rose had to stop thinking about him. He chose his brother and she understood why. She never had any brothers or sisters but she could imagine how close that bond was. She needed to stop thinking about it because it yanked her heart every time she did. Rose shook her head, making the path back to the prison. Rick will come back when he needs to.

The group needed to make a plan about the Governor. Rose knew that he was bound to come after them and seek revenge. So when she entered the prison, she called the group together. Rose was inside the main cell block on her knees with a chalk in her hand. She drew an intricate map of the prison. Glenn was next to her, gathering information as Rose drew. "Now you said you found Tyreese's group here? Carl confirmed and nodded his head. Glenn sighed, "We secured this. Rose secured this."