Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Forty-five.

Let him be.

"come on, man. Plea-- please! Please, please." "Nah, I already helped you once. It ain't happenin' again." Daryl says, blowing the smoke out into the air. "Have fun with Hoss over there." Daryl says, walking off, Iris looks down at the boy as he cries out "No. No, no, no. No. No, no, no! Please! Please! Please! I'm sorry, please! Please! Please, please!" The boy begs and Iris walks off after Daryl "Daryl. Daryl. Stop." Carol says.

Iris and Daryl turn back to the woman "You almost died 'cause of him!" Daryl says "But I didn't." she says, Daryl stares at the woman and then back at the boy "Nah, let him be." he says walking off again with Iris. The man stops and turns back to them, raising his crossbow and shooting the walker as it reaches for the stranger.

Iris looks at Daryl, the man looking back at her, they move over to the shelves and iris grabs the walker shoving it to the side before grabbing onto the shelf with Daryl and helping him lift "Come on, just a little more." Carol says and Iris and Daryl lift it higher, the stranger crawls out of the way with the help of Carol "Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you." he says struggling to catch his breath, Iris and Daryl lower the shelf back to the floor before walking over it to get to Carol "You okay?" Daryl asks, holding onto Carol's arm, "i'm still here" she says and he turns to Iris "You good?" he asks, placing his hand on her arm "i'm fine. You?" she asks "yeah" he says, the cigarette still hanging from his lips.

"I gotta go. I gotta go." the stranger says, Iris lets out the smoke from her cigarette as she turns to look at him, "They're gonna come. They probably heard the shot. If they find me..." "Who?" Daryl asks, as the boy walks in their direction,  "Them, people at the hospital." "Wait, wait, wait, just tell us-- is there a blonde girl there? You see a blonde girl?" Daryl asks, grabbing onto the boy, "Beth? You know her?".

Iris looks at Carol and Daryl before looking back at the stranger "She helped me get out, but she's still there." he explains "They're coming." Carol warns looking out the window, Iris pulls out her gun and one of her knives  "We gotta go now. We gotta go. We gotta go.". Quickly and quietly they run down to the ground floor, looking out for anyone

"The building next door has a basement. It's clear. We'll be safe." the stranger says limping, "Ah! Ah!" he screams falling to the floor  "Go, I got him." Daryl tells Carol and Iris, Carol runs ahead of Iris and out of the door, before Iris can make it to the door Carol gets hit by a car, Iris drops down to the ground hiding behind the piece of wall next to the door.

Daryl fights the boy as he tries to stop him from getting his friend "wait! They can help her!" he explains "they have medicines, machines and a doctor" he explains, "You go out there, you'll have to kill them, okay? And then she can't get their help. Is that what you want?" he asks "We can get her back. We can get Beth back."

Iris looks at Daryl, both of them locking eyes, Iris stands when she hears the car drive away, walking over to Daryl and the boy, "what's it gonna take?" she asks "A lot. They got guns, people." "So do we." Daryl says, his hand opens next to Iris's and just like he hoped she grabs onto his, both of them holding tight and seeking comfort.

In silence they make their way out of the building, keeping low and quiet, distracting the walkers by setting dumpsters on fire, Iris and Daryl staying close to each other while Noah follows behind them, they make their way through a fence, and walk towards an old lorry, Iris climbs into the middle seat, Daryl getting into the driver's seat and Noah sitting next to Iris. Iris helps Daryl hotwire the car and he starts driving back to the church.

Iris looks over to Daryl, watching the pain on his face, they had both just left someone close to them behind. Iris leans her head on her friend's shoulder, letting a tear slip down her face, the man rests his head on top of hers as he watches the road.

.......

Daryl stops the lorry in front of the church, he opens his door and jumps out, turning back to Iris, she hands him his crossbow before climbing out behind him. "Iris!" Carl shouts running out to her and hugging her "hey kid" she says hugging him back and looking behind him to see Bear, she lets go of the boy and fusses her dog, standing up and hugging Rick. When they pull away Rick glares at the stranger behind Daryl and Iris, "we need to talk" Iris says, glancing over at Daryl.