An Odd First Impression ¦ Carl Grimes

Chapter Five: Don't Leave

Carl's POV:

Me, Daryl, and Maxi were out hunting a ways out in the woods. We were just walking and talking, trying not to be too loud, but apparently we're not good at that.

We heard a branch snap behind us, and when I turned around, there stood about 6 walkers, coming right for us.

I quickly whipped out my weapons, as did Daryl and Maxi.

With my gun in my left hand and my knife in my right, I plunged the silver blade deep into the nearest skull, and shot another that had cone too close for comfort.

Daryl was fighting off one to my right, trying to stab it. It was a good foot or two taller than him, so it was kinda difficult.

As I stabbed another, I looked over at Daryl again, who was now standing beside a dead (for sure) corpse, when I heard an earsplitting scream.

I pivoted to my left to see something I thought and hoped I'd never see.

"Maxi!" I yelled running over to her and jabbing my knife up from the walker's  neck, dragging it to its mouth, then finally ending it.

I was on my knees and turned immediately to see Maxi laying there, sprawled out and almost helpless, with a huge gaping hole on the side of her torso.

I crawled over to her, tears streaming down my face as I cradled her head, and layed it on my lap. As I stroked her soft, beautiful hair, a tear or two trails down her perfectly colored pink cheeks.

"Carl" her voice was faint as she starred off above me, then meeting my gaze with hers.

"Maxi, please. Don't leave. Don't leave us." I paused, sobbing even more. "Dont leave me."

"Carl. I can't stop it now. Please, Carl", she says as she slowly reaches down to her side and grasps her gun's handle.

My eyes widen. "No, no. Maxi, you're gonna make it. I'll take you back to Hershel, he'll do some surgery, and you'll be fine." A sob escapes my lips as even more tears continueously stream from my eyes.

She puts the cold, metal barrel to her temple, and places her finger on the trigger.

"Please, Maxi. No!"

"I have to, Carl. I wouldn't have made it anyways." I shake my head, protesting.

"No, no! Don't you say that! You will make it! You will!" A smile faintly tugs at her flawless lips.

"I love you, Carl." I pause for a second, taking that in.

"I love you, Maxi." I lean down cautiously, then connecting her soft, plush lips with mine. She, as an immediate response, pulls up and kisses back.

Our lips danced perfectly with each other's.

BANG!

Her body goes limp underneath me, our lips still in touch.

I open my eyes and disconnect our lips. Her blood was speckled across her pale face, and my face as well. I sat there for at least 10 minutes just looking at her perfection, that was now destroyed by some monster that, eventually, will take away the beauty in everything.

I heard a throat being cleared, and I looked up to Daryl, his face tear-stained and his clothes covered in dark, dirty blood.

"We, uh, should probably go." I nodded and looked back down at Maxi's lifeless body.

I then picked her up, and carried her bridal-style, back to the prison, just like the day I found her.

Just holding her like this makes me wonder what it would've been like getting married to the most beautiful girl. She would be absolutely faultless. She would be Maxi.

As we approached the prison, Daryl called out for them to open the gates. Maggie, Glenn, Carol, my dad, and Michonne came out and greeted us with smiles... that is, until they saw what- who I was carrying.

Their happy, cheerful faces soon transformed into saddness, fear, and disbelief.

Later, Glenn had dug, yet again, another grave, and we were all circled around it. We all gave little speeches, and when it came to my turn, well mine was the shortest, but it was the one that was the most heartfelt and true.

As I approached the pile of earth, decorated with a wooden cross with Maxi's golden chain necklace with a moon charm on it, I keeled down beside it.

The only two words that were spoken from my mouth then, and for the next week, meant a lot to me.

"Goodnight Love."