See an Object Lesson

You and Gwen head to the Sporting goods store as you come to the entry the odor of rotting meat comes to your nostrils. Moving into the confined space the smell strengthens and swing your flashlight around looking for the giving off the odor.

“Oh God.” Gwen says with a small cry seeing it first.

Bringing your flashlight onto what she sees, the urge to vomit the chili you ate earlier smacks you hard at the vision that greets you. Lying on the floor you see the remains of two people it looks like they’ve been butchered for meat one you can tell was a woman the other is so badly mangles that its unrecognizable.
Making a judgment call you decide to try to use this perversion to your advantage.

“Gwen. This is the sort of thing ill protect you from,” You say pointing at the bodies.

Gwen starts crying again, and collapses to the ground hugging her knees,.

“Why did this have to happen.” You her mutter from time to time.

Deciding that she not likely to bolt at the moment you decide to search around for some more supplies. Taking a quick inventory you see that store has been looted several times since your were last there. You find that the rope your were after and some camping gear that will be sure to come in handy. You start putting the stuff in a couple of backpacks namely two sleeping bags , a camping stove with a small bottle of propane, some more batteries.

You finish getting the stuff and look over at Gwen who's apparently finished her pity party, to see her gazing at you with a sad expression.

“I have ****. Do I.” She says to you

“It’s a new world, more savage that the last at least for awhile. Eventually someone will start to bring order to the chaos that exists now, but until then were on our own.”

“You promise you’ll protect me.” She asks.

At her statement, you feel a sense of triumph well up in you, at the prospect of her willingly staying with you.

“Yes Gwen as long as you’re my woman, ill protect you and defend you from the crazies in our world.”

She stands up looking like she wants to say something, when you hear a loud thump come from the stock room.