Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Twenty-one.

Sounds like we need reinforcement.

Third person pov:

Iris's body jumps awake, causing the dog and the boy to turn to check on her, "what are you doing in here?" The woman asks looking at the boy, "I was making sure you were okay" Carl answers.

"I'm fine you don't need to worry" Iris says standing from the bed and grabbing her cigarettes and her lighter, she slowly walks out of the room and down the stairs, Bear and Carl staying close and looking around for danger.

The woman walks past the group as they watch, the new people keep their eyes down when Carl gives them a glare and Bear watches them.

The trio make it outside and the women sits down on some steps, "go stand over there" she says lifting a cigarette to her lips "why?" Carl asks "because I don't want you breathin this in" she says, her words muffled by the stick.

Carl listens to what she says and moves away while she lights the stick and inhales the smoke, she ignores the sound of the gate, and focuses on relaxing herself.

A car pulls up in front of them and Rick gets out, "I found you some boots" the man says placing a pair of brown cowboy boots and socks next to her, "thanks" she says, holding the cigarette with her lips she grabs the socks and slowly pulls them on and then she pulls on the boots.

"They fit?" Rick asks "yeah" "I also got you some of these" he adds pulling out a new pack of cigarettes, she reaches out and takes the small box from him. "Thank you" she says again "did you rest?" He asks "yeah" she replies before putting the stick out on the step next to her.

Iris slowly stands from the steps and starts walking back into the building, Rick, Carl and Bear walking closely behind the woman eyeing the new group on their way through.

Iris eats some food and sleeps some more, with the boy and the dog keeping watch.

......

Iris stands from her bed and leaves the cell, she stands at the top of the stairs and listens to the group talking below, "so what now? You think the governor will retaliate?" Beth asks.

"Yes" Maggie says "let him try" Glenn adds "If I see him I'm gonna kill all his little foot soldiers and make him watch before I kill him" Iris says making the group look up at her, shocked and nervous. "Sounds like we need reinforcement" Hershal says.

Iris walks down the stairs with Bear and Carl and they follow everyone else into the area they are holding the new people.

"I'm Tyreese" a tall man says holding his hand out for Rick to shake, but he doesn't, "this is Sasha, Allen, Ben" Hershal says pointing his crutch to the people.

"How'd you get in?" Rick asks "Fire damage to the administrative part of the prison. Walls down" Tyrese explains, "that part is completely over run. How'd you get this far?" Rick asks "we didn't. We lost our friend Donna." Tyreese says.

"They were lost in the tombs" Carl speaks up from next to Iris, "you brought them here?" Rick asks turning to his son, "he had no choice" Hershel says, trying to calm the boys father.

"I'm sorry about your friend... we know what that's like" Rick says "Hershel said you could use some extra hands. We're no stranger to hard work." Tyreese says.

"We'll go out and get our own food, stay out of your hair. You got a problem with another group, we'll help you with that, too. Anything to contribute" he adds.

"No" Rick says looking down at his feet, "please" Sasha pleads "it's like '10 little indians' out there. It's just us now." She adds "no" Rick repeats shaking his head and looking down at his feet again.

"Let's talk about this, we can't just keep-" Hershel says getting cut off by rick "we've been through this. With Tomas, Andrew. Look what happened." Rick says "axel and Oscar weren't like them" Carol says.

"And where's Oscar now?" Rick questions, the group go quiet unsure what they can say to get the man to change his mind. Iris decides she isn't in the mood to deal with this right now and decides to go back into the other area.

Carl starts to follow her but she stops him, placing a hand on his shoulder "stay here" she says walking away with the dog. After eating some food Iris goes back to bed with Carl on the top bunk refusing to leave the woman.

.......

"The stitches are looking good" Hershel says looking over the cut on Iris's arm, he then moves his attention to the women's eye "the swelling is almost completely gone... just a small cut and a pretty nasty looking bruise" he explains.

"Do you feel any dizziness? Headache?" He asks "no I'm fine" the woman answers "okay. I want you to keep resting and take it easy on your arm" Hershel says, Iris nods and stands up Carl whom was just sat next to her follows.

They move over to Carol and both grab a bowl of food "thank you" Iris says to the woman and sits back down at the table eating most of the food before putting the bowl on the floor and giving Bear the rest of her food.

......

"You said you found Tyreese's group here?" Glenn asks Carl pointing to a chalk drawing he had done on the floor, "yeah" "we secured this" Glenn says.

"He thought he came through here" Carl says pointing to another part of the drawing "means theres another breach... okay. The whole front of the prison is unsecure. If walkers just strolled in then it's gonna be cake for a group of armed men." Glenn says.

"Why are we even so sure he's going to attack? Maybe you scared him off." Beth says "he had fish tanks full of heads... walkers and humans. Trophies. He's coming" michone says.

"We should hit him now" Glenn suggests "what?" "He won't be expecting it. We'll sneak back in and put a bullet in his head." Glenn adds "we're not assassin's" Carol says.

"I can get in and out without anyone knowing" Iris says, everyone looks over to her "you know where his apartment is... you and I could end this tonight" Iris says looking over at michonne.

The woman looks away from Iris and lets out a sigh "I'll do it myself" she adds and the woman nods yes "I'll help" Glenn says.

"He didn't know you were coming last time and look what happened. You were almost killed. Daryl was captured. You and Maggie were almost executed... and you look what they did to you" Hershel says looking at Iris with the last sentence.

"Thats exactly why I need to do this" Iris says, "Rick would never allow this" the older man adds "you really think he's in any position to make that choice?" Glenn asks, getting closer to Hershel.

"Think this through clearly. T-dog lost his life here. Lori too. The men that were here. It isn't worth anymore killing. What are we waiting for? If he's really on his way we should be out of here by now" Hershel says.

"And go where?" Glenn asks "we lived on the road all winter." "Back when you had two legs and we didn't have a baby crying for walkers every four hours." Glenn says.