Chapter 8 (Harpfield)

Chapter 8: Harpfield

Valentine Evans

October 2022

About five months after outbreak

Ohio

Season 1

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The trip to Harpfield was probably not worth the effort. We had about 84 close calls, and our food supply was basically nonexistent. It didn't really bother me; I was fending for myself anyway, and the others have made that quite clear. I didn't know why I was still here. I was obviously unwanted, but maybe I just wanted something to hold onto. Something like I had with Robert.

I don't want to get into what happened in May. I don't regret what I did, but I'd rather not think about it either. I could tell a few of the others were trying to forget about it. Nic and Aspen didn't want to make matters worse. Arwen told me Cole's run off a few times too; he's always found his way back though, but he knew he wasn't really in a place to get too involved in the drama with me.

When we fought some of the dead, Maverick's blade got caught on my forearm. It cut deep, and the way he looked at me made me know it wasn't an accident. I didn't like the feeling of being isolated. It was worse than being alone. I felt like bait—something replaceable. Not human.

"You'll need stitches, but I don't have anything for that right now. We'll raid the old pharmacy when we get to Harpfield."

"I don't need help, Arwen; I'll be fine."

"Are you really starting to listen to what these people say about you?" Arwen's voice was filled with concern as they watched me try to brush off the severity of my injury. They knew that the way Maverick had looked at me had bothered me quite a lot, and they weren't about to let me ignore it.

"Kinda hard not too."

"You're not a bad person. It doesn't matter what you've done; we've all done worse. Maverick killed two innocent people over four cans of Mandarin oranges. Skylar slit a horse's throat, and that was dinner for a week. All you did was leave."

"What have you done?" I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"Nothing yet, surprisingly. But I guess that's the perk of being the one in charge. People feel the need to protect you. To do the dirty work for you. They'll warm up to you eventually; they'll have to. You're family; you always have been. Hopefully, when we get to Harpfield, things will be better."

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I don't know what I was expecting, but I don't think I've ever felt more relieved than when I finally got to the fallen community. From the outside, it looked like a place I could call home. The gates were tall, and from a distance, the place was quiet. That kind of thing doesn't come around often. Looking back now, it would have been better if I never stepped into that town. Inside, it was worse than I could have ever imagined.