Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Seventy-one.

Marshall and Redding.

Iris walks through the streets, watching everything, she stops when Rick walks up to her, "Iris. I want you to stay here. I need to know that someone i trust is protecting this place, protecting Carl and Judith" Rick says "okay" Iris answers, "keep everyone calm, keep them in place" Rick adds "i will, don't worry" Iris says before walking with him to meet with a few of the others to go through the plan.

"Marshall and Redding. We force them west here." Rick says, looking over the map laying on the table, "How?" Deanna asks "we block it off so they can only go one way, west, away from the community." Iris says, "Block it off with what?" Carter asks "Cars. We'll use the RVs, some of the bigger trucks, park them end to end." Rick explains "We'll be drawing them away. They're gonna keep moving." Michonne says.

"Yeah, but that many? Just bouncing off some sedans? And then when they start slipping through and the ones that walk away start distracting the rest and you stop drawing them away?" Carter questions, "Man's got a point." Heath says. "We got plates." Eugene says, stepping forward, "The big-ass metal ones from the construction site. We can use them to fortify the whip wall. It'd help disperse the force of impact and direct the walkers clean. Like a pool table. Eight ball, corner pocket." he adds.

"That's an army out there. And what happens when this doesn't hold? And they push on through. The curve in this hillside is gonna send them right back east. Right back here. You seriously want to risk that?" Carter questions, pointing at the map, "No. So you need to help us to make it hold." Rick says "These walls, you built them. So you've already done the impossible." Morgan says, "Carter. Please." Deanna pleads and the man gives in.

.......

Iris stays back at Alexandria as the others work on building up the walls, Iris went through all the weapons, writing a list and making sure they are all in good condition, when she finishes she grabs one of the rifles and heads up to the watch stand on the gate, "hey i've got this" Iris says, looking up at the person already up there, "okay" the woman says and Iris climbs up the ladder before the woman climbs down.

Iris looks out on the other side of the wall, looking through every little gap in the trees. "I got you some water" Carl shouts from the street, Iris glances back and finds the boy standing with a bottle of fresh water, he climbs up the ladder and stands next to her and they keep look together. "Thanks kid" Iris says, letting her gun hang from her shoulder she takes the bottle from the boy and starts drinking some.

.........

"I've done a list of all the weapons" Iris says walking with Rick, Daryl and Morgan, together they make their way to Olivias, Rick opens the door and they all stop when they see Eugene on the floor with Carter pointing a gun at him "What the hell is going on? What are you doing?" Rick asks, and Iris scans the room, preparing herself to take the gun from the man "I'm taking this place back from you." Carter says.

"That's what you were talking about in here?" Rick asks, walking in and looking at the other people in the house, "That's what he was talking about." Spencer says "See, I would have-- I would have set up some lookouts. That would have been the smart thing. You know, if I happened to–" Rick quickly grabs Carter's hand that's holding the gun and pushes him against the wall, taking the gun and pointing it at Carter as he kneels on the floor.

"You really think you're gonna take this community from us? From Glenn? From Michonne? From Iris? From Daryl? From me? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Rick questions "It was just me." Carter whispers, shaking in fear, "What?" Rick asks "It was-- it was just me. Just-- just kill me." Carter begs, Iris looks down at Carter's face "Rick" Daryl says "I'm good. I'm good." Rick says handing the gun to Iris, "You can try to work with us. You can try to survive. Would you do that?" Rick asks, as Iris tucks the gun into her thigh holster.

.........

As it turns night Iris makes her way to Jessie's house, she walks up the porch steps and gently knocks on the door, Jessie opens the door "can we talk?" Iris asks, "uhh sure" Jessie says, stepping to the side and letting Iris into her house. Iris and Jessie sit down at the dining table, "what can i do for you Iris?" the blonde asks, "I wanted to talk to you" iris says "what about?" Jessie asks, "your husband" Iris says, Jessie sighs and looks down at her hand resting on the table.

"He reminded me a lot of my father... to some people he looked like a great husband and a great father, but when they weren't looking he was a different man. He liked to drink and he also liked to hit after he drank... he would beat my mom and when he got bored of her he would beat me but my mom stayed with him until she had my little sister... When Juniper turned four my mom packed her things, grabbed my sister and left... she left me behind with him... but it was too late for her... she died in an accident while she was trying to leave" Iris explains.

"Why are you telling me this?" Jessie asks "because you shouldn't feel guilty for the relief your feeling now he's dead" Iris says, "i-" "you don't have to lie to me. When I got the call that my father was dead I felt relieved, I hoped he felt the same amount of pain he put me through as he died... Pete was a monster. You may not see that now but you will." Iris says, she stands up and looks down at the blonde woman still sitting at the table, "you can talk to me anytime... same with your boys" Iris says before walking out of the house. "You good?" Daryl asks, noticing the woman walking out of the house "yeah im good" she says, walking over to the man and they walk to the house together.