Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Fifty-one.

We're not dead.

Iris sits and watches the group as they bury Tyrese, leaning against a tree away from them, stroking Bear as he sits next to her. She stands up and walks away from the group, walking into the trees with Bear following her, as she walks she searches for food, and after walking for a while she comes across nothing.

She looks up at the sun as the heat beats down on her skin, she couldn't bare to go back to the group empty handed, the feeling of guilt making a home inside her, so strong it makes her sick to her stomach. She turns back and starts walking to the road, she steps out of the trees and sees Daryl, Maggie and Sasha a few feet in front of her, walking to the group, sitting on the floor in the middle of the road, surrounding the van.

Maggie looks over her shoulder at Iris, turning and walking towards the woman, Iris stops in her tracks and watches Maggie, looking at the other two as they continue to walk towards the group. Maggie reaches Iris, the broken women stand and stare at each other, Maggie grabs onto Iris's hand and leads her into the trees and away from prying eyes, "why won't you look at me? You won't speak to me" Maggie says, tears flooding her eyes "because... i'm the reason you're hurting" Iris whispers looking down at the floor.

"What?" Maggie asks, "I was right there... it should have been me" Iris admits "do you really think that?" Maggie asks, tears falling from her eyes, Iris looks up at Maggie, nervous like a beaten dog. Magie reaches forwards and pulls her friend into a hug "It wasn't your fault... and if you were the one that died I would still be hurting the same. Because you're my sister Iris, and I love you" Maggie says, holding onto the woman tight. They pull away, whipping their tears before walking back to the group.

.......

"We're out. Just like the other one" Abraham says, as the van comes to a stop, "so we walk" Rick says and the group climb out of the van, Iris stuffs her jacket into her backpack, zipping it up and walking to catch up with the others. When she catches up she decides to move off the road and starts walking towards the trees "where are you going?" Rick asks, "im gonna look for water" Iris says looking back at the man "be safe" he says and Iris continues into the woods.

She looks behind her to see Carol and Daryl also walking into the woods, Bear runs over to the two, greeting them, as Iris carries on walking away from them. Iris stops and looks around, Daryl standing next to her, "anything?" Carol asks from behind them, "no, it's too dry. Ain't nothing here" Daryl says "maybe we should start back" Carol suggests, "you go" Daryl says, staring at the ground.

"I think she saved my life... She saved your life, too, right?" Carol says walking towards Daryl and Iris "It was hers." she says holding out a knife, Daryl takes it, looking at it. "We're not dead... That's what you said. You're not dead. I know you. We're different. I can't let myself- But you... I know you. You have to let yourself feel it..." she explains, reaching up and kissing Daryl on the head. Iris turns and walks off, the other two watching her concerned, as her dog chases after her.

Iris stops behind some trees, kneeling down and throwing up, only bile coming up after not eating for days. She sits back on her feet, sighing in defeat, she watches a pair of boots stand in front of her, she looks up to see Daryl looking back at her with concern "'m fine" she mumbles, Daryl holds out his hand in front of the woman and she takes in into hers, letting him pull her to her feet.

The two stand for a moment, looking into eachothers eyes, still holding hands. As she looks into his eyes she sees nothing but pain and sorrow, she feels the guilt eating away at her insides, causing the bile in her stomach to rise again. She drops the man's hand and quickly steps away, bending over and throwing up again. Daryl watches her, worrying if she's sick. She stands up straight, keeping her eyes from looking at the man next to her, and the two walk back to the others in silence.

........

When they make it back on the road with the others Iris stays behind the group while Daryl goes to the front and walks with Rick. Iris zones out walking along the hot road, she slows to a stop when everyone stops ahead, she moves through everyone and stands next to Rick to find out what's happening. Over the brow of the hill Iris looks to see cars parked up, blocking the road, "I'm gonna head into the woods, circle back." Daryl says, "May I come with?" Carol asks "No. No, just me." he says walking off into the trees "i'll check the other side" Iris says, walking off before anyone could say anything, Bear chasing after her.

Back on the road, Abraham takes this as his chance to speak to Rick, "she's sick" he says, knowing Rick understands who he is talking about, "how?" Rick asks "she's vomiting" Abraham says, rick looks down at his feet understanding what is going on, he remembers before the world ended, if something happened her guilt would become more than a feeling in her mind, it made her sick. "She feels guilty" he says, looking at Daryl, "she's punishing herself" he adds, looking into the trees in the direction his friend had just walked. "Thank you for telling me" Rick says looking back at Abraham, the red head nods to him and goes back to where he was.