Apocalyptic Love

Chapter 12 Lies

Rick and Lori were up all night watching over Carl. He had woken up briefly after his surgery but only stayed awake long enough for his dad to explain to him what happened. Then fell back to sleep.  He didn't wake up again until the morning. Kagome opened the door to Carl's room as quietly as she could so she wouldn't wake up Rick and Lori, who were asleep on the chairs. She needed to check Carl's vital signs and make sure he was still doing well.

Kagome had decided that if Carl had a fever, as soon as she was alone with him, she would push some of her healing powers into him to get rid of it. The minute Kagome opened the bedroom door. Rick woke up. He smiled at Kagome and waved her in, “I didn't mean to wake you up, Rick, but I need to check on Carl.”

“That's alright, Kagome, please come in.”

Kagome smiled at Rick and came into the room; she walked towards the bed and took out her blood pressure cuff from her bag. After checking his vitals and taking his temperature, Kagome looked at Rick and smiled, “Carl's doing better; he has a slight fever, but nothing too bad. I'll add some antibiotics to his IV to take care of that. I also need to change the dressing.”

Rick nodded and watched as Kagome carefully and skillfully changed Carl's dressing. Once she was finished, Carl started to stir. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. Looking around the room, Carl spotted Kagome and smiled at her; Kagome smiled back.

“Good morning, Carl, how are you feeling?”

“Hey, Kagome, I hurt a little bit, and I'm hungry.”

“Well, you had surgery, it's expected to have a little bit a pain; I'll give you something for it after you eat.”

“Dad said I was shot and that you saved my life.”

Kagome looked at Rick, “Yeah, I guess I did.”

“Thank you, Kagome.”

Kagome stroked Carl's hair, “You don't have to thank me, Carl. I would never let anything happen to you if I can help it,” Kagome said, smiling at the little boy.

“Kagome, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Did you find Sophia.”

“Yeah, Carl, I did. She is safe and sound with her mother. They're outside right now.”

Carl smiled at Kagome, “I'm glad.”

“Now, why don't you rest a bit while I get you something to eat, okay?”

Carl nodded, “Okay.”

As Kagome was walking out of the room, Rick grabbed her hand, “Thank you.”

Kagome squeezed his hand in return.

Lori, who had been feigning sleep the whole time, bristled at watching her son interact with Kagome and Rick.

Kagome shut the door and rolled her eyes. She knew that Lori was awake and couldn't believe how childish the woman was acting. Kagome sighed and made her way towards the kitchen to ask permission from Hershel if she could make some soup and toast for Carl. Hershel was sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee. He turned when he heard Kagome come into the kitchen.

“How's he doing?”

“Good, Carl has a slight fever, but I gave him some antibiotics. He's awake right now and is talking to his parents. I was wondering, Hershel, if I could make Carl some soup and toast?”

“I already have it ready for him,” Hershel said with a smile.

“Thank you very much for your hospitality.”

“You're welcome, Dr. Higurashi.”

“Please, call me Kagome.”

“Alright, Kagome, that's a beautiful name.”

“Thank you.”

Kagome walked towards the stove where there was a bowl sitting next to it. She ladled out some soup in the bowl then toasted some bread. Kagome poured a glass of tea for Carl then put it on a tray. She then made her way back to Carl's bedroom. Kagome knocked on the door, and Rick answered. Rick smiled at Kagome, “He fell asleep again. Should we wake him?”

“No, let him rest. Why don't you eat it instead? I'll bring Carl more when he wakes up,” Kagome said.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Kagome turned and left. She went outside when she heard that the others were collecting stones for Otis' grave. When the rocks were piled, everyone gathered around, and the service for Otis began. Hershel began to read from his bible.

“Blessed to be god, father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis, for his years, for his abundance of character; Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset. We thank you, god, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace. He died as he lived, in grace. Shane, will you speak for Otis?”

Shane looked around uncomfortably, “No, I'm good, I'm sorry.”

“You were the last one with him. You shared his final moments. Please. I need to hear. I need to know his death had meaning,” Otis's wife Patricia said.

Shane looked at the grave and cleared his throat, “Okay. We were about done, almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping. It was bad. Ankle all swollen up. "We've got to save the boy." See, that's what he said, He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead.” Shane paused, trying to compose himself, “Run," he said. He said, "I'll take the rear. I'll cover you."

“And when I looked back...If not for Otis, I'd have 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.”

As Shane was telling his story, Kagome could tell by the sound of his voice that there was something more to this story. She and Daryl looked at each other. Daryl could tell as well. Kagome flared her aura, and she could feel that Shane was lying. Darkness was creeping into his soul. He did something terrible last night, and it was eating him alive. Kagome decided that she was going to have to keep an eye on him.