Chapter 3 – in the fold

Pov Harlow

I'm back in the watch tower deep in thought, I can't help but think my chances of being let into the group are little to none now not only because I went to the infirmary with carl, which was a trip the group don't seem in support of. But also, because if what Lorrie said about me is a reflection of how the group views me then I doesn't seem I had much of a chance of being accepted to begin with.

I wonder if they will make me leave the prison all together, the very thought of that makes me feel like I'll be sick again, I only just now realize how terrifying the prospect of facing the outside alone really is. Would the group be so cruel as to make a defenceless teenager go out on their own?

I never used to have to do things on my own because for so long I had Enola, but I have her no more now all I have for companionship is the birds.

I'm snapped out of my musings by a knock coming from the underside of the trap door. I quickly dry my eyes and compose myself before shouting "come up"

To my surprise its carl that emerges, I guess he did listen to me about knocking earlier and that thought warms my chest a bit. Maybe the grime's kid isn't so annoying after all.

If carl can tell I've been crying he doesn't say anything he just plops himself down next to me, we sit in companiable silence for a while before he blurts out "do you have autism? I knew someone who did and you remined me of them"

I'm shocked for a minute that the not only knew the word but could connect it with the symptoms I showed earlier. It makes me unconfutable that he guessed my diagnosis as I usually keep that part of me a secret. I consider lying and denying that I'm on the spectrum but in the end, I decide just to tell the truth, it doesn't really matter if he knows or not, and Enola always told me too never be ashamed.

I nod and reply "yeah I'm autistic" he looks like he wants to ask me more about it but instead he only says "that's cool." After that we go back to sitting in silence but not the unconfutable kind, eventually I'm the one to break the quit with a question of my own "do you reckon there's a chance that your people will let me join your group or is that a long shot"

He contemplates my question for a while before responding "I'm not sure, they don't trust you because you're a stranger and the prison thing doesn't help your case, although I don't think they want to chuck you out either because of how young you are so it could go both ways."

I nod in response and carl gets up to leave however just before he goes down the ladder he pauses and adds "thanks by the way, for not letting that walker bite me." I smile and respond "anytime, grimes" and with that he leaves.

Pov Harlow

The sun is beginning to set and the birds are quitting when I hear someone shout for me, I get up and lean over the rail looking down to see the Asian man from before, he waves me down and I comply and begin descending the ladder to meet him.

"Everyone is around the fire ready to discuss what to do with you" he smiles and I nod feeling slightly sick. As we walk to the group I begin to nervously stim with my hand and the man clearly sensing my distress puts a comforting hand on my shoulder, which I don't like but I don't pull away he smiles and tells me "Try not to worry were not unreasonable and we try to be good people. Try to not be scared"

I want to tell him that anyone would be frightened if they were in my situation because if things don't go well, I will be all on my own again but this time surrounded by monsters. However, I feel too sick to speak so I just nod my head in response and we walk the rest of the way to the group in silence.

When we get there, everyone is clustered around a fire and look very serious, they all look like a strange cult, rick stands up and clears his throat looking at me when he says "wave decided you should be allowed to plead your case before we come to a decision on anything."

Everyone is looking at me and I feel like I should try and break the tension so I say "well this is intense reminds me of my court trial" it was meant to be a joke but I realise now that maybe reminding everyone of my relationship with the law isn't the best move, I could have made. They all look unconfutable at my comment except for carl who chuckles appreciatively. I smile as him and he sort of smiles back.

Rick sighs and tells me to "explain who you are and why you want to join the group." so I take a steadying breath and say "I'm Harlow rose, I'm thirteen and I want to join your group because I hardly fancy going off on my own do I."

The man that has the crossbow addresses me next asking me "how can we trust you." to which I respond "why wouldn't you" there quit for a minute before a bald man chime in "because we found you locked in a high security prison." I pause not really knowing how were going to get past the prison thing. I'm quite until rick says "you need to tell us what you did to get locked up if were to consider letting you stay." so I truthly answer him with "I did a public service"

To say the least rick doesn't look impressed with my answer. He rolls his eyes and snaps, "we need an actual answer if were to consider trusting you." I sigh knowing I'm inevitably going to have to tell them what I did, so I decide to get it over with quickly like ripping of a bandied, I take a breath and say "fine but you won't like the answer, truth is I killed a guy." The pregnant lady gasps and the rest look slightly horrified, I decide I better elaborate on my statement so I continue on "but it's a good thing I did he was a monster."

Crossbow man considers this then asks "how so" everyone looks at me expectantly so I decide its time I tell the full story so I start talking.

"I had just come home from after school detention one day only to find my twin sister Enola curled up in our room sobbing. Her cloths had blood on them and when I asked her what had happened, she told me." I pause and take a breath "she told me that Mr Anderson from down the street had caught her walking home from school, and he... He took something from her that she wasn't willing to give, he violated her, he assaulted her and when that monster took what he wanted he left her in an alleyway scared and hurt and alone.

It took me days to convince Enola to leave the house and go to the police after our foster parent Mrs berry took her to a hospital. When we told the police everything the officer just sneered at her, and insinuated my sister was telling stories for attention. we tried to press charges but, in the end, there wasn't enough evidence to convict the bastard.

It killed Enola what he had done to her. The person my sister was before was murdered in that alleyway, just 3 months after it happened, I found Enola dead in the bathroom, she had taken her own life because the cost of living was no longer something she could bare to pay.

After everything that happened what was I supposed to do when walking home from school 5 months later I saw that vile creature sitting at a playpark watching innocent children. How could I let the man that took everything from me live, the man who drove my sister into deaths arms was just sitting there living his life. I knew he would attack someone again if someone didn't do what needed to be done.

So, I ran home took Mrs berry's gun from her closet and went back to the park. I followed him on his way home until we were alone in the same alleyway, he took my sister in. I raised the gun and I shot him in the head. My only regret is that he died before he hit the ground, I wish I had aimed lower, I wish I made his death hurt.

After I killed him, I left his body where it was and walked to the police station to hand myself in. I wasn't going to hide what I'd done because I wasn't ashamed of it and I never will be.

I ended up with a life sentence with possibility for parole after 30 years. That was 2 years ago now, me and Enola were only 11 when everything fell apart.

All I did is what the cops failed to do; I took another rapist off the street and I am proud of it."

By the time I've finished talking my throat is sore and I'm not the only one in tears, the young blond girl and the woman with the short hair both have tear-stained faces as well. the rest to the group just looks disturbed. Carl l ghostly pail and is staring into nothing deep in thought.

Rick is the first to break the silence when he says with a shaken voice "thanks that's all we need to know" he then addresses the group saying "I think we can all agree that Harlow isn't a threat is anybody against the idea of letting her join the group." nobody objects so rick turns his attention back to me, "you can stay then, you can share a cell with Beth if you like" he says pointing to the young blonde girl who smiles at me weakly. I however shake my head replying "thanks for the offer but I think I'll stay in the watch tower; I don't want to be locked up anymore and it will be nice to hear the birds when dawn comes"

Rick obliges and so with a quick goodnight I go back to my tower after what feels like one of the longest days of my life. I even think maybe I'm just tired enough to actually fall asleep tonight,"

Pov carl

I'm exhausted when I get back to my cell but no matter how hard I try I can't fall asleep, the events of tonight's conversation keep getting replayed in my head and I don't know how I'm supposed to feel. A part of me is horrified and miserable at the thought of what Harlow and her twin went through but the bigger part of me is angry that it ever happened in the first place, that someone could actually violate someone like that and get away with it.

For the first time in my life my concept of good and bad is cracking. Murder was always wrong before the world ended, but Harlow was a killer and completely in the right. I've always thought that cops like my dad and Shane were always the good guys but if that's true how did some let the monster that hurt Enola get away and then arrest someone like Harlow for taking things into her own hands.

One thing I know for sure is that I was a fool for ever thinking the girl weak because after what I heard tonight, I think she might be the farthest thing from it.

It's not fair she was ever put in prison in the first place but I've known for a while now that life's not fair and the universe seems to pick favourites.

I'm suddenly struck with an idea. I quietly as possible make my way to glen and Maggie's cell to thankfully find them still awake and quietly chatting.

Glen looks up when he sees me, he smiles and asks "what's up man" I respond with my request "I wanted to ask you before I forget, on your next run can you try pick up a spare pair of cloths for the girl, I doubt she would want to bother you by asking herself but it doesn't feel right that a part of our group has to wear a prison uniform."

Glen smirks and says "well that's considerate of you carl, and yes I will try get cloths for Harlow on the next run."

I can tell both glen and Maggie find something quite funny by their twin smirks but I can't figure out what it is so I just nod and go back to my cell with a quick "thanks" to glen