Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Thirty-nine.

Maybe I'm lying.

The group follows Gabriel through the woods to the church, "hey, earlier, were you watching us?" Rick asks the man "I keep to myself. Nowadays, people are just as dangerous as the dead, don't you think?" "No, people are worse." "Well, I wasn't watching you. I haven't been beyond the stream near my church more than a few times since it all started. That was the furthest I've gone before today. Or maybe I'm lying. Maybe I'm lying about everything and there's no church ahead at all. Maybe I'm leading you into a trap so I can steal all your squirrels."

Iris watches Bear as he runs off ahead checking if it's clear, the dog runs towards the white church, Iris whistles and he quickly runs back over to her side. Gabriel walks up the step and reaches for the door "Hold up. Can we take a look around first? We just want to hold on to our squirrels." Rick says.

Iris grabs onto her gun before walking into the woods with Bear, together they scout out the woods making sure it's clear before joining the group at the church again, "clear" she says to Rick, walking up to the man.

She walks into the church, looking around at the place they are going to be staying, Iris sits on one of the pew's at the back of the church with Bear at her feet, she leans back and watches over everyone. A moment later Iris sees someone sit next to her, she looks over to see Tara, Iris has done her best to steer clear from the woman since terminus.

"Hey" Tara says, scared of how the woman might react, from the other side of the church Rick, Carol and Daryl all watch to see what happens, ready to step in if or when it goes bad. "I want to say I'm sorry... for what happened back at the prison... I didn't know he was a bad person... i thought we were doing the right thing" Iris just stares at the woman, she doesn't move, she doesn't speak, and she feels like she can barely breathe.

"I'm sorry about the people he killed... and I'm sorry for what he did to you" Tara adds, Iris quickly stands making everyone look at her, Tara stares up at her with fear, but Iris does not hit her, she just walks out of the church with her dog running after her.

"I've got this" Maggie says walking to find Iris, Rick walks over to Tara and sits next to her, "just give her some more time" he tells the girl before walking back over to the others.

"Iris, wait!" Maggie shouts as the jogs down the dirt path trying to catch up to Iris, "please stop" she says stopping, Iris freezes and after a couple minutes she turns to look at Maggie, "please talk to me" Maggie begs, tears threatening her eyes, "you've barely spoken to me since the prison" she says, Iris looks down at her feet, staying silent.

"Why won't you speak to me?" Maggie asks, "I can't" Iris confessed, picking at the skin around her nails, "It's my fault... You lost your dad because I didn't keep looking... because I didn't fight hard enough..." Iris says just above a whisper, "It's all my fault" she cries, the tears finally breaking free.

Maggie quickly rushes over to Iris, closing the gap between them and enveloping her in a hug. "I'm really sorry Maggie" Iris says, muffled by the woman's shoulder, "i know... but it wasn't your fault" Maggie says, pulling away from Iris but keeping hold of her shoulders. The two women hold onto each other as they cry, letting out the pain they have been carrying around.

After holding each other for a little while longer they pull away, wiping their tears and walking back to the church, Iris sits on the church steps reaching into her pocket and pulling out her cigarettes and lighter, Maggie squeezes her shoulder as she walks past her into the church, Iris relaxes as she lets the smoke fill her lungs, as she lets the smoke out from her mouth she looks up at the sky. She puts the stick between her lips before taking her backpack off and sitting it in front of her, opens it up and takes out Bear's toy, throwing it for the dog and letting him play.