Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Nine.

Look Like You've Seen A Ghost.

"Stop crying Iris!" My father yells standing over me, he reaches down and grabs the collar of my shirt and lifts me to my feet, "get out of my sight" he grumbles, pushing me towards my room.

.....

*Bark*

"Bear enough" I mumble, rubbing my eyes, "you were freaking out in your sleep" someone says, it's now dark and everyones in their tents, I look up to see Daryl.

"Here" he says, holding out a plate of meat from the deer I had caught, "thanks" I say taking the plate and quickly eating the food and throwing some to the dog. I look up to see the man still stood there, we look at each other for awhile until I finally break the silence "you smoke?" I ask.

"Yeah" he says, I reach into my jacket pocket and grab out the cigarettes and lighter I found earlier, he sits down a couple inches next to me, I pass him a stick and then take out my own holding it between my lips.

I lift the lighter to his mouth and hold the flame to the tip of the cigarette and then do the same to mine. Bear settles down in between us, "cheers" Daryl says blowing out the smoke, "heard you got shot in the head" I say, keeping my eyes forward.

"Yeah... Andrea thought I was a walker" he answers, his voice is slightly rough with a southern accent, "don't think she likes me much" I say "they think your trouble" he mumbles. I take another drag of the stick and look up to the stars as I let the smoke fly out of my lungs.

I stand up and take one last drag of the cigarette and drop it to the floor stepping on it, "I need a walk" I say, bear stands up and follows behind.

While walking around my thoughts take over and I zone out, mindlessly walking. The images, caused by my dream, taking over my mind.

My dad sat drinking like always, the suffocating smell of stale beer in the air. 'where do you think your going?' he grumbles, his eyes filled with hatred as he looks at me, 'ive got school' 'not today. I need you to stay home, I have company coming and need you here' he says.

'get out of my sight... I'll tell you when their here' he says, I slowly turn around and go back to my room.

"Hey Iris" someone says loud enough for me to hear but not wake anyone up, I look up to Dale who's on watch, "everything okay?" He questions, I notice him grip his gun a little tighter.

"I'm fine" I say, trying to convince myself I am, I can still smell the beer, as if I'm still stuck in that house, like I never escaped.

"You sure? Look like you've seen a ghost" he says, I nod yes. "Why don't you go and sleep. I'll take a turn on watch" I suggest, "I don't know" he says unsure, he looks at me for a minute or two and then let's out a sigh.

"If your sure" he says standing, "I'm sure" I say climbing up the ladder, I take the gun from him and watch as he goes to his tent. Bear walks around for a while before falling asleep on the floor in front of the ladder.

...

"Me and Shane are going to deal with Randall, i need you to stay here and keep an eye on everything." Rick says, i nod yes and watch as he starts to walk away he stops and turns around "when i get back, i want to talk" he says and then carries on walking away.

"Need any help?" i ask Hershal, coming up behind him, "just trying to earn my keep" I add when he looks at me with suspicion, the same as everyone else on the land, but his face quickly changes "sure" he says and lets me help him.

....

"Why is he back?" i question, watching Shane bring Randal out of the car, "he went to school with maggie... he knows where the farm is" Rick says.