Rosalie's P.O.V
The next few days seemed to fly by around the camp.
Sophia's death went unmentioned but it was constantly something that was in everyone's mind. It seemed like everyone found a way to keep themselves preoccupied. Unfortunately they didn't have the healthiest or productive ways to do it.
Beth went into some short of shock after her seeing her mother's zombiefied corpse executed, Hershel took off to the bar, Rick and Glenn went to retrieve him bringing back a wounded Randall, Lori wrecked the car going after Rick AND she's pregnant. Beth is now under 24/7 supervision due to the fact she's suicidal.
My dad was different too except he was always so in and out I hardly ever knew where he was it. He had become more distant, cold even and I couldn't tell you how much it broke my heart watching my daddy torture a boy who wasn't that old.
I stayed pretty close to Carl and Rebecca, the three of us finding ways to preoccupy ourselves. I spent most of my time working with Chief and Max, adding to the training they must've received before me.
They were smart and loyal, never leaving my side and watching my back at all times. So when Carl and Rebecca would get caught up with chores I still had someone with me.
My shoulder and leg were healing beautifully, Hershel said he was impressed I was healing so well. In a way I was almost back to normal, walking and moving my arm like nothing ever happened.
I had my messed up genetics to thank for that.
"Rosalie!"
I turned around, looking for the source of where my name was coming from.
It was Carl.
Standing several feet away from me with a familiar looking folder clasped in his hand. He held in the air, waving it back and forth with a smile on his face.
It's the one I've been looking for, the one Jenner gave me.
I motioned for Carl to come join me underneath the tree I was sitting under. He sat down beside me in the shade, his shoulder brushing against mine as he adjusted himself.
"Here." He handed the folder to me, "This is yours."
I took it from his hands, grasping the thin folder in mine. I examined the plain tan folder as I let it rest in my lap. As anxious as I was to open it I couldn't help but be scared at the same time. This folder could explain things to me, shed some light on what exactly was going on with me. However, it also proved how much of a monster I was.
I just couldn't decide.
"What are you waiting for?" Carl asked.
My mouth opened and closed, my mind struggling to put together the words I want to say...but I couldn't. Inside of me my emotions were just so jumbled up that I couldn't decide what exactly the reason was.
So I cried.
Tears started flowing down my cheeks, my hand covering my mouth as I sobbed. Carl's arm went around my shoulders, pulling me into his body. Then he cradled me, he free arm pressing against my cheek as he rubbed soothing circles.
"What's wrong?" He whispered.
Pushing away from him I sat back up, wiping away the tears. I looked at Carl, his face full of confusion and hurt. I knew he didn't understand what was going on with me and I knew he didn't understand what I was going through.
"I'm a monster." I choked out.
"W-What?" He laughed, "How you could say that?"
I shook my head, holding up the folder, "Do you know what's probably in here?" He shook his head, "My diet, you know the one where I have to eat living things for strength and survival."
"Rosalie that doesn't make you a monster."
"I have to eat living things-"
"How is that any different than it is now?" He interrupted, "We have to eat living things now to survive, cooked of course."
"But-"
"You're not a monster Rosalie." Carl reassured me, his hand cupping my chin as he moved closer to me. His warm breath fanned over my face at our close proximity. "Would a monster run after a little girl and risk their own life to say them?"
I shook my head no,
"Exactly," He placed a soft kiss on my lips before pulling away, placing his hand on the folder, "Open it Rosalie."
He pulled away from me but was still close enough to where our shoulders pressed against each other. My hands shook as I slowly opened the folder, my. Recess taking over my feelings. It now lay opened on my lap, my fingers tracing over the white papers. Carl looked too, moving his face closer so he can get a better look.
At first it was just a bunch of data entries like when the patient came in, what her symptoms were and what she was like. The next page we're pictures of the bite wound before and after she was bit. The side affects included the same as Jenner told me; her eyes changed colors, she was faster, stronger and how fast she could heal.
"That's insane." Carl pointed at the pictures of the bite wound.
"I know right."
"Wait a minute." Carl pointed to the name boldly printed beside the pictures, something I had carelessly had missed.
"Oh my god"
It read,
Elizabeth DeYoung-Dixon
My mom.
Hours Later
I still hadn't bothered to tell my dad what it was that I found in the folder Jenner had given me. If you want the honest truth I don't even think he knew the folder existed. He had never once asked me about my bite wound or anything in the category.
Since Sophia's death he really hasn't said much to anyone. In a way I think this world was really starting to harden him up.
"Did you eat enough?"
My dad's voice brought me out of my thoughts, his eyes looking straight at me as he offered me some more meat from the squirrel he had killed earlier.
"No thank you, I had enough." I politely declined.
He shrugged his shoulders, grabbing another piece of meat before setting the plate down on a log.
"Do you want to work on your aim tomorrow?" My dad asked, "don't think it would hurt ya to practice a little."
"Are you sayin' I'm a bad shot or somethin'?" I joked.
My dad laughed, "Not at all."
I knew it was the worst time to bring up the folder now, when things were good. I couldn't imagine my father's reaction when he found out what I was. To know his child's DNA was mixed with the virus that had wiped out more than half of earth's population.
But he needed to know, he needed to know that this immunity of some sort was in my DNA. That my mother was one of many people that had this.
He needed to know.
"Hey dad-"
The sound of screaming cut me off.
My dad and I both popped up, each of us grabbing our flashlight as we searched to see where the screaming was coming from.
"There!" I pointed across the field.
We didn't hesitate to start running, my heart racing my chest of the fear of losing one of our own. Picking up my pace I pulled in front of my dad. If it wasn't for the walker attacking one of my fellow group members I would've been more focused on how easy it was for me to run faster without getting winded.
As I got closer I grabbed my knife from its sleeve, moving to tackle the walker that was attacking who I just realized was Dale. I landed on top of the walker, its hands desperately reaching at me. Its mouth was clamping opened and closed.
"Who is it?!" I heard Andrea yell.
"Kill it Rosalie." My dad demanded, moving to Dale.
Any other time I wouldn't hesitate to sink my knife into a walker's head but for some odd reason I couldn't help but hesitate. Some sort of trance taking over me, finding the walker sort of fascinating.
This was me.
I was one of them.
"Dammit Rosalie." My dad jerked me off the walker before it's fingers could scratch my skin. He grabbed my knife from my grasp, sinking it in the walker's skull. Pulling it out, he wiped the blood off it the blade before handing it back to me. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
I took the blade from him as he raced back to Dale, everyone surrounding his body. His stomach was ripped wide open, his internal organs visible to us all. He was gargling too, blood spilling from his lips as he struggled to breathe.
"Hershel! Hershel! We need Hershel!" Rick yelled.
Hershel appeared next to Rick, "I'm right here."
"What can we do?" Rick asked frantically, "We need to get him in the house."
"He won't make the trip." Hershel shook his head.
"Then we need to do the surgery right here."
Hershel shook his head again, "Rick."
In that moment I think it finally clicked for Rick that there was nothing we could do to save Dale. It was that movement where the cries filled the air as we braced ourselves for the loss of our group member. Rebecca stood beside me, our hands interlocked as we both cried.
"He's suffering." Andrea cried.
Looking at Dale, his eyes wide and scared as he looked around at all of us.
"Somebody do something he's suffering!"
It was Rick who stepped forward, pointing his gun at Dale's head. He was hesitating, shaking his head as he held the fun. My dad stepped in front of Rick, offering his hand for Rick to place the gun in.
My dad pointed the gun at Dale, taking a deep breath as he cocked the gun.
"Sorry brother."
Bang!
My heart broke as I watched the bullet enter Dale's brain, his body becoming motionless. Tears streaming down my face as I cried.
I was on of them.
This is what ran through my veins.
I was a monster.
My dad came over to hug me as I cried, my fingers fisting his tshirt as the sobs racked through my chest. He stayed motionless, just holding me tight against him.
Poor Dale.
We all stood in silence after that, the only thing to be heard was the sound of our sobs filling the air.
"Come on." My dad whispered, "Let's go back to our tent."
With Rebecca and I tucked under each of his arms he led us back to our tents. He stood strong between us, never shedding a tear or showing any emotion. Rebecca went into our tent first, not saying much of anything.
My dad moved to go towards his, giving me one last squeeze before he let go of me.
"Dad." I spoke, forcing him to look at me before he disappeared, "Dad I'm one of them."
He looke d at me confused, "What are you talking about?"
"A walker." I choked out, "T-That's why I survived, the virus blended with my DNA."
He took in a deep breath,
"And mom's."
"What the hell are you talkin' about?" He spat.
"Before we left the CDC Jenner tested my DNA and he said there was another woman that was immune, just like me." I started to explain, "Dad it was mom."
He took a step back, running his fingers through his hair.
"We'll talk about this later."
"Dad-"
"Later Rosalie!" He boomed.
He disappeared in the tent after that, zipping it up before I could even say another word.
My heart broke watching him disappear, not caring about who I was or what I was going through. It was in that moment that I knew that I couldn't be here anymore. I wasn't like them, they wouldn't understand. They could never understand what it was like to be me.
It was in that moment that I decided...
That I needed to leave.
Author's Note: thank you to everyone who reviewed! Enjoy this next chapter, love you all and stay safe loves!
