[14 years ago]

The crimson shade of red stained her lower body, as a young woman stumbled down the stairs to her basement. Her shaking hands clutched onto her lower stomach, the agonising contractions felt endless. Like she had planned, the basement was organised as a nursery for her newborn- if you can call an abandoned room with no electric or heating a nursery.

The young woman rested up against the wall, pressing her head against the bricks behind her. She let out deafening screams, using her own hands to deliver her baby. She did it alone, despite the aching pain in her shoulder. Unfortunately, the lady had been ambushed by Clickers on her way home- it was a miracle she even got away to deliver her child. However, she knew she didn't have much longer.

The cries from the newborn got louder and louder, as the mother hugged them tightly. It was a girl. The woman let out a cry herself, her lips trembling- unsure whether it was because of the bite infecting her blood by the minute.

"My baby." The exhausted women let out a cry, as she rocked the baby girl gently, despite her shaking arms, "My beautiful Jane."

The baby, she had named after herself. She knew she physically couldn't be apart of her life, so she wished that her name stayed connected to her. The mother found the strength to stand up, wiping her greasy hair that was sticking to her sweaty face. She placed her child into a cardboard box, which she had tried her best to make comfy with blankets and old materials.

She grabbed a pen quickly, before planting it on a piece of paper, relying on her shaking hands to not let her down. She wrote the things that first came to her mind, which was difficult when slowly transforming into a blood-thirsty killer. Most importantly, she wrote from her heart.

She struggled to carry her baby upstairs, who was continuously crying in the open cardboard box. She opened a few of the windows and left the door unlocked, praying that somebody would save her baby girl. She cried, giving Jane one last kiss goodbye- which was also her first kiss. She shakily placed the letter on top of the baby's stomach, before heading back into the basement- bringing her gun with her. She'd do anything to protect her baby.

A gunshot echoed through the woods, sending the birds flying away from their nests. Joel's hand went straight to his pistol, as she pointed it to the direction of the sound. He squinted at the women in front of her, who retrieved her gun from her back pocket.

"Should we check it out?" The women questioned, knowing that if Joel replied no she would still investigate. The man hesitated before replying, listening to any sudden movements around him. Tess took this opportunity to cautiously walk towards the sound.

"Tess." Joel warned through gritted teeth, keeping his gun aimed forward.
The women ignored Joel, as they arrived at an old cottage house. Tess walked along the grey stepping stones towards the wooden door. She held the door handle, but waited a moment for opening it, hearing a distant cry from an infant.

"Do you hear that?" Tess questioned curiously, turning around to Joel, who had finally lowered his pistol.

Joel heard it too, nodding slightly. He huffed, "If anyone's in there, leave."
Tess flashed a smile, before slowly walking inside the unlocked house.

The outside was nicer than the inside, however Tess didn't judge the mess since they had bigger problems to worry about rather than cleaning. The wails of an infant got louder, as Tess walked towards the cardboardbox. Her face softened, as she noticed the baby wrapped in pink blankets crying. Tess put her gun back into her pocket, before gently picking up the newborn. Tears filled her eyes, as she felt an unfamiliar sense of comfort.

"Shh, Shh, Shh." She whispered gently, as she rocked the baby to sleep. As the baby slept silently, Tess picked up a letter from the box and read it.

To whoever finds my Jane,

Please take my baby and look after her. She deserves to be happy after what has happened. Unfortunately, I had got bitten by a Clicker on my way home, not being able to defend myself whilst in labour.

I did what I had to do, in order to protect my child. I shall warn you not to go into the basement, as that's where my body is. The baby supplies are in the brown bag next to the box, which contains diapers, bottles, and clothes.

I'm grateful to anyone who takes her in. Please give her the life she deserves.

Tess sniffed, whilst folding the letter up and slipping it into the brown bag, which was filled with baby supplies. Whilst holding the sleeping newborn in one hand, she lifted the brown bag onto her shoulder with the other hand, before making her way outside.

Joel's facial features filled with worry, as he saw the woman, "Tess, who's baby is that?"

"Joel, meet your new daughter, Jane." Tess introduced, her voice suddenly softer in front of the child.

"Daughter?" Joel scoffed, as he shared looks between Tess and Jane, "Put it back, I'm serious Tess, we can't add kidnapping to our list of felonies."

"Adopting isn't a felony." Tess corrected smartly, "She has no family, Joel. We can't just leave her here."

"Shit." Joel huffed, as he picked up his backpack he had placed on the floor. He started walking, knowing Tess would follow, "We'll bring it back to the QZ, then we can find it a family."

"Her." Tess corrected, as she followed Joel through the woods. She looked down at the baby and spoke softly, "What are we gonna do with you, Jane?"