Chapter 28: Death or Not? A Debate.

I want to say that the debate on the Death Penalty in the time of the Walking Dead would be a whole different kettle of fish than it is in the real world.

I myself am bipolar, so I flip back and forth on the subject. Depends on where my mind is.

My surgery isn't until noon, so I thought I'd type this out.

Hphphp

Harry was happy, not only did Sophia prove that their classes were effective, but he could now say he helped in a fight. Sorta, but still, he had been there. He was pleased as punch. So was Sirius. At least that's what he told him.

Today was the day of the full moon. A few residents had asked if they could watch them from the roofs. They really couldn't say no, since it was adults. The only thing they could do was warn them that werewolves were dangerous.

Harry felt that some secretly wanted to be werewolves. That they thought that it was a glamorous lifestyle. That it came with great perks. The only thing he got from being a werewolf was the predilection for red meat. Sure, he was a tad stronger and faster, but not anything that someone couldn't do on their own.

Tonight, after dinner, they were going to a part of the city that hadn't been cleared yet but sticking close to the cleared areas. They were still looking for the rogue pack. So far, the other pack hadn't done anything since they bit Randall, who was now a part of their pack. Albeit a lower member, because he was a bit of a wuss.

Since the whole dead started walking, each time they turned they were clearer minded. Like it was something to help them survive. They still had the instinct to hurt anything that was in their way, but they had more control over the need to kill.

Harry could still remember when the other teen joined the pack. The next day he had tried to dominate Harry because he thought Harry was a spoiled rich kid. Harry took great pleasure of proving him wrong. And when Remus found out, he put the boy in his place.

Right now, though, he had a class to teach.

Hphphp

"Okay, Glenn, tell me what's going on at the prison," Sirius said as he sat at the head of the table. Gathered there were all the mayors and the main groups adults. Remus, Dale, Rick, Jessi, Glenn, Kingsley, Mac and Sam. With Sirius presiding.

"A lot of them want to stay. They say they feel safe there, even after the fight last night," the Asian man said, a contemplative look on his face. "I was hotheaded last night, and I agree with them. We should stay and keep what's ours."

"All of you?" Sirius wanted to know.

"Most of us. Some are willing to go to the CDC," the compromise was stated. "What they don't want is to go to the apartments. They said that most of them are too big for just one person. And I don't think that anyone is willing to buddy up."

"That was my next question. Okay, suggestions on making the prison more secure," the leader said, looking at all the people there.

"Fidelus," Jessi said like it was obvious.

"That is a thought," the dogman said, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Does anyone know how to cast it?"

"I do," Mac said, his brow puckered in thought.

"Can you do the prison?" Sam asked, knowing it would take a lot of magic.

"Yeah, I haven't needed to use much magic here," the older man said, giving them a sheepish look. It wasn't that he didn't work, he just did menial stuff.

"Okay, let's do that. I think I would prefer to have the prison and maybe capture the Governor and throw him in there," Sam said, with a smirk.

"Why don't we just kill him?" Glenn asked, still mad that they were attacked last night. "And what is a Fidelus?"

"The Fidelus is a charm that hides the building from everyone. They will forget where it is. They'll remember that there is a prison, but forget where said prison is," Remus explained at the same time Rick said, "Killing is against the law."

"There ain't no law no more," Glenn spat at the ex-sheriff. "We are giving resources to those who are not working for them. That's bullshit, man."

"That don't mean we should act like animals," was the rebuttal.

"How is protecting yourself and your family being animalistic?" Jessi wanted to know.

"It's murder," Dale said, his voice was soft like he didn't want to talk but needed to get his point across.

"It is not murder, it is survival?" Kingsley stated, making his view clear. "I was an Auror, and even I know that the men we have in the prison will not be rehabilitated," he added, looking to Rick for confirmation.

"I don't agree with that," Rick said instead.

"How about we just keep an eye on the man and worry about him when we need to. However, just so you know, I'm all for Glenn's suggestion of just killing him on sight," Sirius said, looking at Rick like he really needed to get with the new reality.

"I'm sorry, I know that this has been turned into a kill or be killed world, but my morals are strong on this," Rick said, holding up his hand in supplication.

"I understand that, but we're talking about a psycho. He would be a nightmare in the prison. We already have some hardened criminals. I don't want to add more. Heck, I want to get rid of the ones we have. These aren't petty thieves we're talking about. These are men who will offend again as soon as they get out," Sirius said, tapping his finger for emphasis.

"This is not the time for this debate. Have a town meeting, debate it there, and let the majority decide," Sam said, tired of hearing the same old argument.

"Or we leaders can decide," Remus said, thinking that it would be faster that way. In a town meeting they would all debate, and nothing would be accomplished. "A town meeting might cause too much discord. I mean, look at us, Rick and Sirius are almost at each other's throats. Can you imagine how families could be split apart over this subject?"

Rick groaned. "I agree with that, Lori and I fight over this constantly. However, there will be just as much of a discord if we just drop it on their laps that we have decided," he said, not really wanting to make that call.

"They will have to get over it," Jessi said, knowing the man was right, but she knew Sirius would side with Remus.

"Okay, let's vote, do we keep them prisoners, or do we give them the death penalty? Show of hands for the death penalty" Sirius said, holding up his hand.

Remus, Jessi, Kingsley, Mac, and Glenn raised their hands. That meant they would now do the Death Penalty.

"Dammit," Rick said, while Dale looked pale.

"How will we do it?" Jessi asked, hoping for the quick and painless Killing Curse.

"The Killing Curse, of course. There's no need to extend it out," Sirius said, thinking hard on what just happened.

"So, you can go up to these men, who might be able to be reformed, and kill them? Just like that?" Dale asked with a snap of his fingers, speaking firmer now.

"They are rapist and murderers, Dale. That's why they can't be let go," Sirius said, slamming his hand on the table. "We've voted, end of debate," he added decisively.

"So, who will cast the curse. Don't look at me," Sam asked, having been opposed to the killing.

"I think, it'll be me and Mac," the leader said, looking at all the faces. "Me because I'm the leader, it falls on my shoulders, and Mac because I think he's the only other one of us who can," he added, then fell back in his chair, exhausted from the realization that he would be taking a life. Sure, it was easy to debate but when it came down to it, there was nothing easy about it.

"Next question," Jessi said, looking around the tense room. "Do we go after those that are killing, but haven't come near us?"

"No, I'm not setting us up as the police of the world. We'll find the repressed and take them in, but I'm not hunting down the bad guys. If that's what you want to do, do it on your own time," Sirius said firmly, once more sitting up and taking command.

"Oh, you're willing to kill unarmed men, but not willing to hunt down armed ones," Dale said in a heated voice.

"We are not the police/Aurors, we are just a community that is protecting itself," Remus said, trying to calm the man.

"Does that mean you're going to kill anyone that doesn't pass your wards?" the older man was really getting upset.

"No, we'll question them first, like we always have," Sirius said, he too trying to calm the man down before he had a heart attack.

"I'm not sure if I want to be in a community that agrees with the Death Penalty," Dale said, standing up and heading for the door.

"Sorry to see you go," was all Sirius said, thinking it was better than letting the fight escalate.

Rick got up to follow the man, and hopefully talk him out of it.

"Wait, Dale, if you're going to go, head to one of the farms. I'm sure they all need help and you'll be safe," Jessi said kindly. She was sad to see him go and didn't want him falling into places like the Governor's place. Woodbury might be a problem later.

"What do we tell the community?" Remus asked, worried that more would do what Dale was.

"This is not a prison, if they want to go, I will not stop them," Sirius said, he too worried that many would leave. "We'll have a meeting tomorrow night. It's the full moon tonight. I'm sure rumor will abound, and it'll be an interesting meeting."

"I think the biggest problem is we're not a democracy, and that's what they are used to," Sam said, running a hand through his hair.

"I'll make sure to address that tomorrow," Sirius said, flopping back in his chair again.

"It's getting late, we need to get to the other side of the city. Are we Apparating, or flying?" Remus asked, wanting to drop the death topic.

"Flying, in case we find survivors. We haven't cleared the whole city yet," Sirius said, glad to get on a safe subject.

"I'll go get Randall, you get Harry," the werewolf said, getting up and heading for the door.

Sirius joined him and they split apart outside. Randall was one of the ones that stayed at the campground. He wanted to embrace his new curse. They were keeping a very close eye on him. Last thing they needed was another Greyback running around.

The four met up at the garage. There were twenty others there who wanted to watch. They all got into or on a vehicle and drove off in the sunset. They were going to a residential area off the downtown area. This would be where middle-class businessmen/women would live. Not upscaled like the condos, but nice enough apartments. Cars landed on roofs surrounding the area.

Zombies weren't plentiful here, so they killed the fifty or so they could see. That number could change in a moment's notice.

"This feels weird," Harry said looking up at the watchers.

"I know. I've never been observed before," Remus agreed as they stood in the middle of the street.

"Is it going to be like this from now on?" the teen wanted to know.

"Probably," was the answer he got from his godfather.

"There's the moon," Randall said as he fell on all fours. Harry and Remus soon followed. Sirius turned into a dog and kept an eye on them.

As the three turned they howled, it was returned. Good maybe they'll find that rogue group.