Page 82 of Claiming Charlotte

Looking straight ahead I saw the bodies on the ground and wondered what all of it was for, then I looked down and remembered, letting the last thing I saw be her sleeping form.

Thank you for being mine.

Thank you for giving me a reason to breathe.

You're safe and I can rest now.

“I love you.” I whispered, playing with a strand of her hair until my finger stilled with the rest of my body.

Charlotte

I don’t know how long I was out, but when my eyes opened and adjusted to the setting sun, I turned my head. Bodies were littered around and some of Joshua’s men were on their knees, guns pointed at them, but what confused me was Thomas; he was on his knees...crying.

“Rowan, something isn’t right,” I whispered. But there was no response.

“Rowan?” I said again weakly sitting up, still, he didn’t move.

I sat up on my knees and leaned forward, placing my head on his chest, there was no pulse.

He was still warm, and I looked into his open eyes. I felt it in the air, but I couldn't accept it.

“Rowan, please wake up,” I sobbed into his shirt. “I need you, please come back. Who’s going to protect me if you go?”

After some time my sobs quieted, and I moved my fingers to his eyes, closing them gently, and stood up wiping the tears and blood from my face. Joshua will never escape me now. I have no one left, so I have all the time in the world.

My gaze darkened and I turned around, walking over to Thomas.

“Stand up, you’re embarrassing me,” I ordered and held out my hand to help him up.

“Is this who is left?” I asked Arthur.

“Joshua and a few others got away, but the majority of them are dead, and we lost about seven, Rowan being eight.”

“Rowan’s gone.” I said in shock. “Roe is gone.” I repeated sadly before rage overtook me and I reached for Arthur's gun, pulling it from his waistband, unloading it between the eyes of every one of them but the last.

“Beg for mercy!” I yelled putting the gun at the back of his head. I didn't want to see his face.

“Please...Please I have a family,” he cried.

“Well, you robbed me of a chance to create mine. Try again!” I barked.

“I’ll leave the life for good, leave everything behind and disappear. I’ll---”

“Say his name,” I demanded, pushing the gun further into his thick head.

“Rowan Anderson,” he spit out.

I drew back striking him in the back of the head, and as soon as he went down, I emptied four bullets into his head, and turned to my men.

“We do not rest until every single Walker has been eliminated, am I understood!” I called out confidently. I would no longer be taking opposition. And they all nodded in agreement.

“Lottie,” Thomas tried.

“No!” I interrupted falling to the ground as fresh tears clouded my vision. “No.”

35

CHARLOTTE

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