Incendiary: Carl Grimes Love Story

Chapter Four: Cherokee Rose

Maya's pov

Everyone was outside gathering rocks for Otis's funeral. Yesterday, Shane came back and told the story of how Otis died while trying to save both his and Carl's life. Patricia was depressed so far since I seen her. Beth or Jimmy, who I learn to be their names, always was with her and never left her alone. Speaking of Shane, he shaved his hair for some reason.

His personality also changed. When he left he was neighborly, but when he came back he was tough and glared at me a lot which made me glare back. He's also been staring and Lori and Carl more often and expression different from Mr. Grimes. As we were still picking more rocks, the sound of a motorcycle caught my attention. In the far distance was Daryl on his bike with the others following behind.

" Just kill me now." I whispered as the group parked in front of the house...literally.

While the others talked about how Carl was doing, Daryl walked over to me which made me look the other way.

" You okay kid ?" Daryl asked and I looked over to see if he was talking to me.

" I'm fine. Should ask Carl if he is."

" Well, I'm not. I'm asking you because I care." He said and I looked up at him.

" You shouldn't." I said and walked away.

Soon we were standing in a circle as each of the Greene Family put a rock on Otis grave. I was standing between Glenn and Daryl watching as Beth put a rock on the grave.

" Bless it be god. Father of our lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis. For his span of years, for his abundance of character. Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, no more then ever our most precious asset. We thank you, god, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace. He died as he lived, in grace." Hershel said then turned to Shane who looked dazed." Shane, will you speak for Otis ?"

Shane shook his head." I'm not good at it. I'm sorry."

" You were the last person with him. You shared his final moments. Please. I need to hear. I need to know his death had meaning." Patricia sobbed and Shane looked down to his hands yet again.

" Okay. We were about done. Almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping bad, ankle all swollen up. We got to save the boy. See, that's what he said. He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead. Run he said. He said I'll take the rear. I'll cover you and when I looked back..." He said, but I knew his story was a bit off. Daryl seemed to think the same by his expression as I looked over at him. Shane limped over to Otis's grave as we only stared towards him." If not for Otis, I'd never made it out alive and that goes for Carl too. It was Otis. He saved us both. If any death ever had meaning, it was his." Shane said and put a rock on the grave.

After the funeral, I reclined by Carl's bedside still reading Robin hood and twisted my hair with my finger. The boy was deep in sleep and I didn't want to wake him. The book was good also making me not want to start a conversation or be interrupted, but all great things come to an end.

" You like to read ?" I heard and looked from the book to Carl who was awake.

" Yeah, never really could back then, but I can now. How do you feel ?" I asked and he smiled looking to the window.