Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter 103.

We're all Negan.

Iris peers out of the trees, staying low, hiding from the saviours as well as Carl and Enid, she looks around at the cars and notices that Negan isn't there. She could do it right now. Give herself up. Let them take her back to him. She could join him and save everyone. She could get Daryl free. She's brought out of her thoughts when she sees Carl climbing into the back of one of the trucks as they drive off. She runs through the woods trying to get ahead of the trucks, branches hitting her face as she runs.

She hides in the trees and waits for the trucks to drive down the road in front of her, she steps out on the road and watches them stop in front of her, she holds her hands up in surrender and Simon jumps out of the truck, walking over to her with some of the saviours, "i want to speak to negan" she says, Carl and Jesus look to each other when they hear the woman's voice from the back of the trucks, "you got your answer?" Simon asks "you're not Negan" Iris says "we're all Negan" the man says smiling, "just take me to him asshole" she snaps.

Simon nods and one of the saviours walk over to her, shoving a bag over her head and tying her hands behind her back before pulling along the road and throwing her into the back of one of the trucks. She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, as the trucks start to move again, throughout the drive Iris hopes Carl jumps out, she hopes that if he is still in the truck she can get to him before they do.

......

Iris feels the truck slow to a stop, she sits and waits for the saviours to get her, suddenly she hears gunshots, "carl" she mumbles, panic eating away at her insides, the ropes around her wrists are tight but not as tight as the last time. Iris grabs onto her thumb, pulling it out of it's socket, she pulls her hand out of the rope and lifts her other hand to take the bag of her head, she looks down at her hands and puts her thumb back before standing.

She lifts the truck door open, she squints her eyes as they register the brightness, a saviour turns to the sound and lunges at her, Iris jumps out of the truck and punches the man, trying to ignore the pain from her thumb, the man regains his balance and punches Iris, as she stumbles he grabs onto her hair, holding her as he punches her again, knocking her unconscious.

.......

Iris slowly opens her eyes, when she tries to move she notices the rope around her wrists and ankles, opening her eyes fully she looks around the room. Saviours watch her, their guns pointed at her, she lets out a small chuckle and drops her head back when the door opens. The saviours drop to their knees as Negan steps into the room, sitting down on the chair across from her, she rolls her eyes as she looks at the man.

"So have you got an answer for me?" Negan asks, laying Lucile across his lap, "no" Iris says after thinking for a moment, "not yet" she adds "then why are you here?" "theres something i need before i say yes" Iris says, "and whats that?" Negan asks "i want to see Juniper, alone, and i want Alexandria to be free of you. I want Daryl to go home" Iris explains, Negan leans back in his chair, staring at her without saying a word.

Suddenly Negan stands up and nods to his men, two of the saviours grab onto Iris, lifting her up, another cuts the rope from her ankles and drag her along, following Negan as he makes his way to Junipers room. Iris watches as Negan gently knocks on the door and Juniper opens it, her smile fades when she sees her sister being held by two of the saviours, "what's going on?" the blonde asks "your sister's come for a visit" Negan says, smiling down at Juniper.

"Untie her" Juniper orders, looking at the two men holding Iris, the men look to Negan watching him nod at them before taking the rope off of Iris's wrists, "i'm gonna leave you two to it. I've got some business to take care of" Negan explains, turning and stopping next to Iris, "these two will be outside. Don't try anything" the man whispers in Iris's ear before walking away.

Juniper gently pulls her sister into her room and closes the door, Iris sits on the arm chair and watches as Juniper puts some water on to boil "i love tea so Negan always makes sure i have plenty" Juniper says, smiling to herself, "i need to speak to you Juniper" Iris says, picking at the skin around her nails.

"What's wrong?" Juniper asks, her back still turned as she drops two tea bags into the mugs, "forget about the tea for a minute and sit down" Iris says, Juniper turns and sits down on the sofa in front of her sister, "whats going on?" the blonde asks, Iris sits and watches her sister for a moment, trying to figure out what to say.

"Iris what is it?" Juniper asks but Iris cant seem to form a sentence, "what's going on?" Juniper asks, growing more concerned, "i have a really hard decision to make" "what about?" Juniper asks "i have to choose between working with Negan, living here with you and saving the people i love" Iris explains, tears building in her eyes, threatening to spill, "or... i go back to my community, i-i leave you" her voice begins to shake as the tears roll down her cheeks.

"If i go back that means i have to save the people i love a different way... a way that could get you hurt. I dont want to lose you again. I dont want to lose them. But either way i go i will end up losing them" Juniper watches her sister break down, "dont do it" she says, "what?" Iris questions looking from her bleeding finger tips.

"You love them" Juniper says "but i love you too" Iris says, "Iris listen to me, I love you, that's why your going to go home. You will figure out a way to fix this, i know you will" Juniper explains "i just got you back, i cant lose you" Iris says "we'll make our way back to each other again" Juniper says standing, Iris stands up and wraps her arms around Juniper.

"I'll fix this" Iris mumbles "i know you will" Juniper says, pulling away, she goes back to the stove and starts making tea again, Iris wipes her tears and sits back down again, "when you leave, will i see you again?" Juniper asks, handing the tea to her sister and sitting across from her again, "i dont know" Iris says, "what if we come up with a plan to meet?" Juniper asks, keeping her voice quiet so no one can hear, "we could figure out a place and a time to meet" Juniper adds.

"I dont know" Iris mumbles "it will work" Juniper says "i dont want you getting hurt" "i wont, i can take care of myself" Juniper says, "well where should we meet?" Iris asks, Juniper stands up, placing her mug on the coffee table and looking through her draws, she pulls out a pen and a map, she sits back down and lays the map out on the table in front of them, "here" she says drawing a circle around a location. "Okay, we'll meet there at noon in a day's time" Iris says, she takes the pen from her sister and writes the street name on the corner of the map before ripping it off and shoving to small note in her boot.