Chapter 7 – rise and shine

Pov carl

Harlow takes a breath, after being dead for about two minutes she comes back and not as a walker thank God. She's still in an unstable condition and needs immediate medical attention, we need Hershel but he's the only one still up at the prison because he couldn't run here with one leg.

Michonne takes Harlow in her arms as gently as possible trying not to cause more damage. We all start running back to the prison to Hershel as fast as possible.

Deep down I know the chances of Harlow pulling through are slim, when I was shot, I nearly died even with immediate medical attention and Harlow's been bleeding untreated for nearly an hour and a half. However, that doesn't stop me from hoping that she will make it, I don't want to lose another friend the way I did with Sophia.

When we get her to cell block c Hershel gets to work after a while he says "she won't make it without a blood donation." Luckily me and Harlow found the stuff required for the procedure in the infirmary the day I met her but we still don't know her blood type.

Daryl steps forward "I'll do it I'm a universal doner." Hershel turns to him relived but apprehensive "are you sure she could die if you're wrong." Daryl nods saying "I'm sure, my brother merle used to make me sell blood for drug money."

Daryl gives his blood and after about an hour of Hershel working, he says "she's stabilised, I've got the bullet shards out of her stomach but the wound will need to repair itself, all we can do is keep it clean to avoid infection She still might die if the wound becomes septic or if her body rejects the blood but I would say she has a good chance of pulling through now."

I sigh in relief and Hershel begins to put his supplies away when I remember "wait Hershel she was shot in the shoulder as well but the bullet only grazed her, but I think it will still need stitches." Hershel nods saying "okay ill stitch it up and then we can leave her to rest if she pulls through, she should wake up in a couple of days."

"We need to handcuff her to the bed; you know just in case she turns in her sleep it will stop her from biting anyone." Dad says as he handcuffs Harlow to the bed.

It only then occurs to me that Daryl left with his brother the other day and now has just suddenly appeared again I'm about to ask where he came from and what happened to merle but I don't need to because I suddenly notice that merle is also here locked in a prison cell. Daryl must have come back with his brother just before the battle. I grimace I'm glad Daryl is back especially since he just saved Harlow's life by giving his blood but I'm not thrilled by merle's presence. Its common knowledge to anyone that was with the group at the start of the outbreak that merl is a racist bigoted piece of shit.

Eventually when Hershel is finished stitching Harlow, he turns to dad telling him "Once Harlow can be moved, we need to leave, the governor will be back and we can't be here when he returns."

dad stares at him incredulously "were not leaving." "We can't stay here rick" Hershel argues and I kind of agree, Harlow nearly died and still could die and I'm not keen on waiting around for someone else to get hurt. Beth points out "we can't even go outside" and Maggie and carol agree. Glenn comes to my dad's aid saying "if rick says were not running, were not running."

Merle finally makes himself known to the others saying "no, better to live like rats." "You got a better idea" dad asks and merl says "yeah you should have slid out of here last night, live to fight another day but you lost that window, didn't you? I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now."

Daryl grunts "we aint scared of that prick" and merl sneers "y'all should be. That truck through the fence thing, that was just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind but he's got the guns and the numbers, and if he takes the high ground around this place shoot. He could just starve us out if he wanted to."

Everyone argues for a bit longer but I stay quit not wanting to go against my dad but also agreeing with the others, in the end Hershel gets the last word saying, "I said we should leave, now a child is on the verge of death. We can't just sit here." Dad starts to walk away but Hershel isn't having it "GET BACK HERE! You're slipping rick we've all seen it, we understand why but now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands so get your head clear and do something."

The argument is clearly over after that and everyone goes off to do their own thing. Dad walks out and I decide to follow him he's not right mentally and I need to say something to him.

I find him on the balcony of the prison and go to stand beside him, He turns to me saying "you shouldn't be out here" but I ignore him. "Dad if I say something, will you promise not to be mad?" I ask and he sighs "I won't get mad."

I look at him and as gently as possible I say "you should stop." He looks confused and asks "stop what?" so I elaborate "being the leader. Let Hershel and Daryl handle things, you deserve a rest."

Dad looks hurt so I turn away and leave him to think. I decide to go sit bye Harlow for a little bit because a part of me needs reassured she's still alive.

When I get down to the cell Harlow is in, I see Michonne already sitting by Harlow's side. I sit next to her and she makes to leave but I stop her "wait you can stay you don't have to leave just because I'm here." She hesitates for a minute before sitting back down.

"Why did you do it" I ask and Michonne turns to me confused "do what?" "CPR it was really dangerous she could have turned into a walker and bite you, but you still did it for a girl you hardly know."

Michonne doesn't respond instead she keeps her eyes locked on Harlow, so I continue "she really likes you, you know." Michonne sighs and says "she doesn't know me." And I respond "that doesn't stop her liking you."

Michonne doesn't say anything but I think catch a small smile on her face.

Pov Harlow

Me and Enola are playing in the park together, were young probably not much older than 6 or 7. Enola sees a bird in the woods and runs to follow it I try keep up with her but she's to fast.

When I finally reach Enola there's a man where the bird was only a thew moments ago. Enola seems older now than she was before, the man tries grab her, I scream for Enola to run but she can't hear me.

Suddenly the man disappears and the forest becomes an alleyway I feel taller now than I was in the woods, Enola's on the ground shaking I grab her wrist only to find it soaked in blood.

Her head hits the ground and her eyes are empty, she's dead. Everything goes black and when things come back into view Enola's body is gone and in its place there's the body of the man with a bullet wound in his head.

I wonder who shot him until I look down and notice the gun in my hand, I realise I did this but I can't remember why. I want my sister but she's gone and I'm alone.

The alleyway becomes a cell and I feel older again, my cloths become a jumpsuit and the door to the cell is locked, I'm trapped I can't hear the birds and I wonder if I just imagined they were ever there to begin with.

Then I'm in a cafeteria the door is locked, I hear screaming outside but it soon morphs to groans. I'm still alone. hot blood soaks my jumpsuit my stomach hurts and I can't stop the flow of blood. I hear Enola's voice she's trying to tell me something her words get louder and louder until I can finally hear what she's saying "not yet, wake up, WAKE UP!"

My eyes fly open and I bolt up into a sitting position I immediately regret moving as I feel like my stomach is being ripped open. I try move my arm to grab my wound but I can't my wrist is handcuffed to a bed. I panic where did Enola go? I try break free of the handcuffs but to no avail.

Suddenly there's hands on my shoulders gently pushing me to lie back on the bed. "Harlow calm down you're okay, you were dreaming." I look over and see carls face and everything comes flooding back to me.

I remember being shot and carl telling me to listen to the birds, I remember my life slipping through my fingers and then the world going silent. Carl presses a mug of water to my hands urging me to drink I take a sip of water and ask "how long have I been out for?" "This is the second day you have been out; god Har are you feeling okay we weren't sure you would wake up."

He looks pale and he has deep bags under his eyes like he hasn't slept in days. I smirk and teasingly ask "so what have you just been waiting at my death bed for me to wake up, how sweet of you grimes I'm flattered."

His face goes red and he splutters "I have done no such thing" I laugh and were interrupted by someone saying "he's lying he's been sitting bye your side every free minute he has."

I look over to see its Michonne standing at the doorway to the cell looking highly entertained. "I hate you both" carl grumbled his face now the colour of a tomato. I snort "really because it seems you care quit a lot for someone who hates me." He sighs conceding "I only care a little if you must know but I'm not sure why I bother."

We burst into laughter and I suddenly wince, my stomach pain increases with laughter so I'm forced to stop. I turn back to Michonne smiling "are you going to stay here permanently now please say you are?" Michonne is smiling when in her usual drone she says "yeah I think I am you were right, this lot isn't so bad."

I'm thrilled to hear Michonne's staying, exclaiming "thank fuck for that!"

Carl explained everything I've missed in the last two days which turns out to be a lot. I'm supposed to be trying to get more sleep on Glenn's orders but I can't stop thinking of everything that's happened since I was shot.

Apparently, we might be going to war with the governor and carl went on a run with rick and Michonne where they found ricks long lost friend Morgan who has lost his mind so they had to leave him behind.

Then a woman named Andrea who was a part of ricks group before the prison who got separated and everyone thought she was dead reappeared and is apparently fucking the governor. She came to unsuccessfully negotiate peace between Woodbury and the prison but after failing went back to her boyfriend.

Daryl and his brother merl came back to the prison just in time for the battle. I apparently died and Michonne preformed CPR to save me which I really need to thank her for. I also need to thank Daryl because he donated blood to me that if I didn't get, I would have died a second time.

Finally rick Hershel and Daryl are currently negotiating peace with the governor and the group are just waiting for their return.

To say the least it's a lot of information over load and my brains going in circles trying to absorb it all. I'm honestly quite scared that I died for a couple minutes and came back it makes me feel ill how close I came to joining the dead.

I slam my head against my pillow frustrated, this was going to be a long day.

It's been a couple hours since I gave up trying to sleep, rick and the others just got back from there meeting with the governor so everyone is standing outside my cell block so I can also here ricks announcement to everyone about what happened. Carl is holding my hand beside me; he keeps looking at me as if to check I'm still alive but I don't mind its sort of sweet actually.

Rick looks around at everyone and starts to speak, "so I met this governor, Sat with him for quite a while. He wants the prison; he wants us gone. Dead. He wants us dead for what we did to Woodbury when we rescued glen and Maggie." Rick pauses before continuing "were going to war." And with that he walks away, everyone is quit and all I can think is great I'm out for two days and were going to war, fucking brilliant.