Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter 123.

Carl... he didn't make it.

"What do you think he meant? Did he want us to stop fighting the Saviors? Just... surrender to Negan?" Rick questions, Iris listens to the man but she cant take her eyes off the road in front of them, "We could pull over. We could read what he wrote." Michonne says, reaching for the letters "No. Not yet. Not me." Rick says, looking back out to the road as he drives.

"Rick. He... Carl... He... wrote a letter to Negan." Michonne says, "I need to talk to Jadis." Rick says "What?" "They have weapons... people. We can't just give that up." Rick explains "Why now?" "They went with me to the Sanctuary. The Saviors saw us there. They're gonna be a target, too. We still need them. They're ours, not theirs." Rick says.

Rick stops the van and geet out, Iris sits for a minute and takes a deep breath, she rubs her hands down her face and climbs out of the van. She pulls out her gun and follows Rick and Michonne, they walk through a metal shipping container, as Rick opens the door Iris looks up to the sound of things falling, things start to fall above them, she pushes Rick and Michonne out of the way before moving herself.

When the things stop falling Iris looks around, the sound of walkers making their way to the three filling the air, Rick, Michonne and Iris start moving things from the exit as the walkers get closer, "dammit" Rick mumbles, Iris turns and sees the walkers surrounding them.

Iris raises her gun and starts shooting at the walkers, Rick doing the same and Michonne using her sword, the three of them fight their way through the walkers trying to find an exit, "come on!" Michonne shouts before climbing up one of the trash hills.

Iris uses the last of her strength to climb up the hill of trash, when they stop they look down at the walkers crowding below them, "rick" Iris turns to see Jadis "What happened here?" Michonne asks "The Saviors." Jadis says.

"Well, how do we get out?" Michonne snaps "Get out... how you got in." Jadis says, "These weren't heaps before. It was just trash laid out, as far as the eye could see. I used to come here to find things to paint on. Metal sheets. Fabrics. And then after... everything changed... I realized this whole place was a canvas. That we were the paint. We could create something new. We could become something new. We did. This was our world. Apart from everyone else. In every way." Jadis cries.

"You did this. This is because of you." Rick snaps, pointing at the walkers, Iris watches as he grabs onto a door and starts adjusting it "What are you doing?" Michonne asks "We're gonna run for it." Rick says, Iris slides her gun into her thigh hostler before pulling out her knives.

"Let me come with you. Just until they're gone." Jadis says "Nah. I'm done with her games. She can't help us, anyway. Come on." Rick says, he lifts the door and uses it as a shield, Iris follows him, driving her knives into the walkers heads as they fight their way to the exit. They climb up the trash to a small opening in the door, Michonne goes in first, Iris following and Rick joining them last.

The climb back into the van, Iris sits in the middle again and watches the road as Rick drives, " I shot above her head. I just wanted her gone. Look, I saw her. She made it. She ran into an empty alley just before I left. I didn't want her dead. I just wanted her gone." Rick explains.

"Feels like what Carl was talking about. What we should do when we have a choice?" Michonne says, "Uh... Um... I need a se... I need a second." Rick says, pulling the van to the side of the road, "It's fine." Michonne says, Rick grabs the letter and the walkie before getting out of the van, Iris climbs out after, she walks down the road, looking up at the sky.

She makes her way into the woods "Iris?" Michonne questions the redhead, "I'll see you at hilltop" Iris says, not looking back and keeping her eyes on the path in front of her. Iris moves through the trees, gripping one of her knives, she slowly lowers her body to the floor and leans against the tree.

Slowly she brings her knife to her bare thigh and presses the blade into her skin, she closes her eyes as the crimson blood starts trickling down her leg. Iris's mind finally goes quiet and she feels like she can finally breathe again.

........

"It's me" Iris mumbles, holding her hands up in surrender when everyone points their weapons at her, they slowly lower their guns and look at Iris with concern. Without saying anything she walks over to Tobin and takes Judith from him, "hey deputy" she whispers, walking away from the others and looking at the girl hugging onto her.

She closes her eyes as she holds onto Judith, bouncing her gently, "weres Rick and Michonne?" Rosita asks gently, Iris opens her eyes and turns to the woman, "i left them a couple miles back" Iris says. The group start moving again, Iris hands Judith to Daryl, her arms screaming at her, Daryl takes the child and watches Iris closely, he can tell she's in pain physically and emotionally.

Iris looks up at the Hilltop gates as they slowly open, she looks around at the people, watching Carol, Enid, Juniper and Maggie rush towards them. All the happiness drains from their faces "carl... he didnt make it" Daryl says, Iris watch Edin break down her legs giving out and falling to the floor, Iris stands still as everyone starts walking away, Maggie sits with Enid, holding onto her as she cries.

"Iris" Maggie says, standing from Enid and moving to the redhead, "come with me" Maggie says sweetly, Iris looks at Enid as she stands, trying to collect herself, Iris walks forward and wraps her arms around the girl, listening to Enids cries as she grips onto Iris's body.

Iris pulls away when the girls cries become softer, she places her hands on the girls cheek and makes her look at her, "he really loved you" Iris whispers, using her thumbs to wipe away Enid's tears.