A Path Of Blood And Brains

Shane had left with Otis to retrieve medical supplies to save the young boy. It had been some time since their departure, and the rest of their group had also arrived at the farm.

Arthur sat on the porch, smoking a cigarette while engaged in conversation with Clementine. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the scene, but the tension in the air was palpable.

"Will he be okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern as she referred to Carl, who had been shot.

"I ain't sure. I sure hope so," Arthur replied, shrugging his shoulders as he exhaled a cloud of smoke into the air.

"Will they stay here?" Clementine inquired, kicking a small rock away with her foot, her hands clasped behind her back.

"I don't reckon so. Don't forget, Hershel was real hesitant to let us stay here at all," he answered, glancing over at the farmhouse.

"Yeah, I guess so," she sighed, her brow furrowing with worry.

Just then, they spotted a car pulling up the gravel driveway. Arthur squinted, noticing that Otis was not in the vehicle. As the car came to a stop, Rick and Lori, Carl's parents, along with Hershel, Glenn, and Maggie, climbed out and gathered outside.

Maggie walked over to join Arthur and Clementine, her face pale and drawn. Shane emerged from the car, struggling with two large medical bags, two more slung over his shoulders. "Carl?" he called out, searching for the boy.

"There's still a chance," Rick responded, his voice steady but filled with anxiety.

Hershel quickly reached for the bags. "Otis?" he asked, his eyes scanning the area for the missing man.

"No," Shane shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. The look on his face spoke volumes about the grim reality they were facing.

"Shit..." Arthur cursed, throwing his cigarette to the ground in frustration. Maggie's eyes welled with unshed tears as she clutched Arthur's jacket sleeve, seeking comfort. Clementine's lips began to tremble as the weight of the situation sank in, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around Arthur's leg.

"We say nothing to Patricia. Not until after. I still need her," Hershel declared before rushing into the house, urgency propelling him forward.

As everyone else departed, Arthur, Clementine, and Maggie remained outside, the gravity of the moment hanging heavily in the air. "I've known Otis since I was a kid," Maggie said softly, her voice breaking. "He taught me how to shoot... how to ride a horse..." She sniffled, struggling to hold back her tears. "I've lost a lot of people. My stepmom... Shawn... and now Otis."

Arthur nodded, his heart aching for her loss. He gently patted her on the back twice before caressing her shoulder, unsure of what else to say. After a brief pause, he spoke, "I've lost my share of folks too." He shrugged, feeling inadequate in his attempt to console her, but knowing that sometimes just being there was enough.

———

Arthur woke up with a groan, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the window. He glanced to his right, but Clementine was already gone, indicating that she had risen before him. Pushing himself up from the sleeping bag, he dressed quickly, pulling on a worn shirt, a pair of jeans, and his sturdy boots.

As he stepped out of the room, he caught sight of Maggie standing in the hallway, her eyes heavy with sorrow. "Ah, shit," he muttered under his breath as he ran a hand through his messy hair. He had almost forgotten that today was Otis's funeral, despite the cruel irony of not having his body for the service.

Maggie met his gaze and offered a small, warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Come on, Artie. It's about to start," she said softly.

"Yeah," Arthur replied, nodding in acknowledgment, and together they made their way out of the house. The atmosphere outside was thick with a sense of mourning as they approached the gathering of their group. Beth was placing a rock atop a growing pile, a simple but poignant tribute. Hershel stood nearby, dressed in a black suit, an open Bible clutched in his hands, reminding Arthur of Swanson—though Hershel's sobriety was a stark contrast to the former's struggles.

"Blessed 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—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," Hershel intoned, his voice steady but weighed down with emotion. His gaze shifted to Shane, who appeared lost in thought, likely replaying the events of the previous night.

"Shane, will you speak for Otis?" Hershel asked, his tone encouraging yet firm.

"I'm not good at it," Shane murmured, his eyes downcast. "I'm sorry."

"You were the last with him. You shared his final moments. Please," Patricia pleaded, her voice breaking as she leaned into Maggie for support. "I need to know his death had meaning."

After a moment of contemplation, Shane nodded slowly. "We were almost out of ammo. It was bad. 'We've gotta save the boy'—that's what he said," he recalled, rubbing his forehead as if trying to massage away the memory. Arthur frowned. "He gave me his backpack, shoved me ahead, telling me he'd cover me. He—Otis saved my life. He saved Carl's life. If any death had meaning, it was his."

———

Hours later, after the somber ceremony had concluded, Arthur found himself outside. He lit a cigarette, letting the smoke curl up toward the sky as he aimlessly wandered around the property. It was then that he spotted Maggie heading toward the horses.

"Where are you goin'?" he called out.

"Into town," she replied, not breaking her stride.

"Why?" he pressed, curious about her mission.

"Antibiotics. Medicine," she sighed, her tone suggesting that the task was more urgent than he realized.

"Wasn't that fella just with Otis for some medical supplies?" he asked, trying to piece things together.

Maggie turned to face him. "Will you come with me?" she asked, her eyes pleading.

Arthur hesitated, glancing back toward the house where he could see Clementine and Beth in the kitchen. "Yeah, I'm comin'. Let's make it quick," he relented.

A smile broke across Maggie's face. "Great!" she exclaimed, turning back toward the horses.

"Bring me one too," Arthur called after her, making his way toward the entrance of the farm. He settled on the hood of an old car, but not before he dashed back inside to grab his shotgun and hatchet.

As he waited for Maggie, Lori approached him, a hesitant smile on her lips. "Hello," she greeted, extending a small piece of paper toward him.

Arthur furrowed his brow, taking the paper. "The hell is this?" he asked, not bothering to hide his skepticism.

"I heard you're going into town, and I was wondering if you could get me this?" she said, her voice trailing off nervously.

"No," Arthur shot back, his tone sharper than intended. He would have been willing to help her if she had approached him differently, but the way she had simply pressed the paper into his hand without an ounce of courtesy had rubbed him the wrong way. He handed the paper back, stood up, and walked toward Maggie, who was leading the horses toward him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lori storming off, clearly upset.

Arthur shook his head, bemused at how a grown woman—and a mother at that—could act so petulantly.

He and Maggie mounted their horses and rode off toward town. The landscape around them changed as they left the property behind, the road stretching ahead of them. After a few minutes, they reached the town, hitching their horses outside a small pharmacy.

As Arthur stepped inside, a sign caught his eye, scrawled on a cardboard box: "Take what you need and God bless." He followed Maggie into the store, where she quickly set off in search of the antibiotics.

Arthur wandered the aisles, picking up random items and inspecting them absentmindedly. Suddenly, he heard Maggie's voice behind him.

"What do you got?" she asked, a playful tone in her voice.

"Hm? Nothing," he replied, turning to face her.

"Condoms?" she said, her grin wide and teasing.

"Huh?" Arthur looked down at the box in his hand, finally registering what it was. "Oh!" He felt his cheeks warm slightly as he coughed awkwardly into his hand and quickly placed the box back on the shelf.

"We could put it to use," she smirked, twirling a strand of her hair as she leaned closer.

"What? No, no," Arthur chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.

Maggie scoffed, playfully challenging him. "You're always rejecting me. Is something wrong with me?"

"No, of course not," Arthur sighed, trying to keep the mood light.

"I'll have sex with you," she said suddenly, her tone serious.

"What in the hell are you on about, Maggie?" he asked, bewildered by her abruptness.

She set her backpack down, removed her cowboy hat, and before he could fully process her intentions, she leaped toward him and pressed her lips against his. For a moment, he froze, caught off guard. It wasn't his first kiss—far from it—but it had been so long that it felt like a rediscovery.

As he pulled away, he noticed the disappointment flicker across her face, but it vanished when he spoke. "Damn woman, you just ain't gonna let this go, are ya?" Leaning back in, he kissed her deeply, placing a hand gently on her cheek, as if to say that this moment was a welcome surprise.