Black Roses

“I do like you… a lot.” These words kept swirling around in Daryl’s head. Something told him that he should be insulted. He practically professed his love for her and all she managed to say was that. This woman who had never laid eyes on him more than few minutes like… LIKES him. She could have any guy she picked. Hell even Rick if she wanted him. Rose had the nerves to tell him that she LIKES him and then left him high and dry. She didn’t even say anything else. But yet… not even Merle’s words could creep in, telling him that no woman would have a redneck like him. It’s been three days and there had been no interaction between them. It was like having a whiplash; Rose would give him an inch and take a mile back. Sometimes Daryl thinks he didn’t love her. Maybe he just hated her so much that he’s confusing it with love.

Rose had been getting up bright and early to continue clearing out the prison. All the small progress she had made with the group was now gone. The group knew that there was something going on but they wouldn’t dare to pry. Her old “heart of steel” personality was back and nobody knew why. Some blamed Daryl, unsure what he had said to her. Some blamed the situation with Hershel. Some said that it was both.

Hershel was now wide awake and recovering from his wound. The elderly man was unaware of the situation between Rose and Daryl, therefore he took Rose’s absence to heart. Maybe Hershel accidently freaked Rose out and now she was not interacting with the group. Every day he keeps getting up earlier and earlier in hopes to catch Rose before she heads out. But it was almost like she knew Hershel wanted to talk to her so she’ll slip out beforehand.

The smell of burning bodies off in the distance flooded into the cell block, symbolizing that another section of the prison was cleared out. Glenn and Maggie shook their heads, thinking that it should be an impossible feat. It was amazing how that woman can just tear through a zombie-invested area and be the sole remaining survivor. Sure. That was Rose. But for her to still have energy after going on a killing spree? That’s mind-boggling. Glenn wondered how Rose had the strength to lift up all these dead bodies, pile them up and burn them. It was almost like she’s inhumane. Rick, on the other hand, knew better.

Ever since they cleared out a cell block for the prisoners, Rick had a clear idea about who she is. He might not know much about her past however she wasn’t simply a woman or human. Rose was never trained to be human. She was practically raised to be a machine. A killing machine. He knew that if a person happened to be Rose’s target… he was practically a dead man. It frightened him. Rick worried that Rose might target one of the group members. But his logic usually overcomes his fear. The group was her responsibility. Rick was her responsibility. He remembers the rage Rose expressed when Thomas decided to go after Rick. No… she would never target one of the group member unless it was for a good reason.

“Look! A teddy bear. This would be perfect for the baby.” Carol exclaimed. Lori and Carol were rummaging through the extra things that Rose had brought in from the night before. She usually return at nights, bringing stuff that she found throughout the prison. Extra food. Fabrics. Beddings. Weapons. Essentials.

Both women, already mothers, recognized that Rose had a soft spot for children and babies. These days, the only person that was able to engage a conversation with Rose was Carl. Carl always refused to go to bed until Rose returned, wanting to see that she was in one piece. Lori couldn’t deny his wishes, wanting to make sure Rose was alright. So they would listen to Rose gently scolding Carl for staying up past his bedtime from their beds each night. The soft spoken conversations between them. Carl’s adoring wonder and curiosity and Rose’s steely but endearing words.

Lori smiled, holding the teddy bear. She had so much hope for this little life inside her. She was almost convinced that it’s a girl. A baby girl. Stealing a glance towards her son, she saw him seated on his bed, excitedly reading the comic books that Rose must’ve given him the night before. Her husband was seated next to Hershel, planning the possibility of agriculture. Yes. Life was pretty good at the moment.

But Daryl realized something. The familiar sounds of walkers moaning sounded closer than usually. Their shuffling of feet sounded quicker. Something was wrong but he couldn’t figure it out. Daryl leaped down the stairs, wanting to check what was happening outside the cell gates. A low pitched whistling filled the air. After looking around to check that he wasn’t the only one hearing the whistle. The group looked around bizarrely, trying to locate where the whistling coming from was. Carl rushed to the cell entrance doors, “It’s Rose! Something’s wrong with Rose.”

The whistling were becoming louder and louder. Daryl panicked, attempting to unlock the doors. He didn’t know what the hell was wrong but he needed to get to her. Shit! Daryl couldn’t unlock the doors. His fingers were too shaky. After a few moments that seemed to be dragging on, it clicked. The door finally unlocked but the whistles stopped. After nearly tearing the door apart, Daryl bounded into the next cell block. He didn’t see the redhead warrior in front of him but somehow his ears, pounding with blood, overheard Carl calling Rose’s name. His body came to a complete halt just in time before colliding into the redhead warrior. The keys were dangling from Rose’s right hand, signifying that she locked the gate in Cell Block B already.

Over Rose’s shoulder, Daryl saw the horde of walkers trying to break through the gate. Relief coursed its way through his body, knowing that Rose was now alive in front of him. Her eyes. Her eyes were filled with a strange emotion that Daryl couldn’t quite decipher. It was official. He didn’t just think he loves her. He knew that he loves her. Rose’s red hair was piled up in a messy bun on the top of her head with a thick sinew wrapped around, keeping curls out of her face. A very small voice beside Daryl whispered, “Rose? Are you okay?”

Daryl stole a glance at Carl beside him with quizzical eyebrows, not understanding what he meant. Fear seized his heart once he finally deciphered the emotions behind Rose’s eyes. Pain. Yes… pain were evident in her eyes yet her face remained unmoving as always. Daryl took a deep breath before glancing down to see what Carl meant. Rose’s left hand covered the bloody wound on the right side of her torso. Her grey t-shirt was ripped, showing the blood steadily oozing out between her fingers. He couldn’t see if it was a bite wound or something else. But of course he feared the worst. The world seem to sway back and forth as Rose attempted to keep pressure on her cut. She messed up. Big time.

Shit. Why did she come here? She should’ve went somewhere else and fixed herself. But instead, she wasted her energy by making the long trek back there. The bleeding had to be bad. Hell it probably attracted all the goddamn zombies within the prison. Her finger accidently slipped into the wound and her head spun. The wound was deep. Rose wouldn’t dare to look down and see how serious it is. But a small whimper escaped from Daryl’s throat when his eyes drew downwards.
Well… her plans to avoid Daryl was now over. She couldn’t believe the words that came out of her mouth. “I like you… A lot.” Rose had been beating herself up. Well perhaps beating zombies up would be a better description. It just seemed like Daryl had a strange hold over her. She doesn’t think around him. She simply says or do. No thoughts or planning involved. Rose didn’t like it. Her actions went against everything she had been trained for. But being in front of Daryl… just makes her forget everything she is. Daryl makes her feel like she was one of them… like she belonged with the group. Like she was… a woman. Not a piece of meat. Not an assassin. Not a demon. But just… a woman.

“Oh Rose… what have you done?” Daryl’s rough but strangely comforting voice filled her head. Warmth suddenly engulfed her when Daryl’s arms snuck around her, lifting her weak body. The thought of avoidance now seemed silly and meaningless when she was in his arms. Rose just wanted to be with him.

The world became darker and her eyelids felt heavier by each passing moment. Rose inhaled slowly, ignoring the sharp pain in her side. She had been a fool all along. There’s no more denying it. Rose wants Daryl. She needs him. Craves him.

And if that’s not love… then she doesn’t know what it is.