Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter 152.

End-Of-Life-Rally.

Iris sits in the chair next to Juniper's bed, she stares down at the girl as Siddiq lays out all his supplies to get the bullet out of Iris's arm, "can i get you something for the pain?" Siddiq asks, pulling a chair next to Iris and sitting down, "no" Iris mumbles. Enid stands and watches nervously as the man starts looking for the bullet, she watches as Iris's face stays blank as if she can't feel it.

Tara and Rosita walk inside the house catching Enid and Siddiq's attention, the two women look down at Iris unsure of what they should do, Siddiq pulls the bullet out of her arm and drops it into a tray before picking up a needle and thread and stitching her arm up.

Tara and Rosita pull up a chair, sitting down next to Iris as Siddiq puts the supplies away, Enid sits with them, the four of them staying silent. Tara reaches down and holds onto Iris's hand, letting the woman know she's not alone.

But Iris doesn't see that. She sees her dead family. Carl is dead. Rick is dead. And Juniper is probably dead. She stands from her seat, everyone turning and looking at her, Iris lets go of Tara's hand and walks out of the house, they follow her as she grabs a shovel, walking to the graveyard she starts digging a hole. "You're gonna open your stitches" Enid says "she needs a grave" Iris mumbles. Tara and Rosita look at each other, sad looks on their faces as they pick up a shovel, moving to Iris and helping her dig the grave.

............

Iris watches her sister slowly breath, the dark room filled with the sound of the others sleeping, Tara and Rosita had fallen asleep next to her. "You've gotta wake up" Iris whispers, holding Juniper's hand in between hers, "you have to fight" she adds, her voice weak from not speaking for days.

............

Iris leans back in her chair, holding onto Juniper's hand as she stares down into her lap, zoning out from the rest of the world, Tara and Enid sit with her, Rosita out getting them something to eat. Suddenly she feels a slight squeeze in her hand, her eyebrows pull together as she looks up at Juniper's hand in hers, she watches it squeeze again, "Juniper?" she questions, sitting up in her chair, Tara and Enid look at the woman confused.

The watch as Juniper's eyes slowly open, "juniper?" she whispers "hey" the blonde whispers, looking up at Iris, Enid runs out of the house to find Siddiq, "hey" Iris says, standing up, she strokes her thumb across Juniper's cheek, looking down at her.

Iris watches as Siddiq checks Juniper over, Siddiq looks at Iris and signals her to step outside with him. Iris stands on the porch, Tara and Enid behind her "she's not gonna make it is she?" Iris questions "I don't think so. I'm sorry" Siddiq says, "how long?" Iris asks "I don't know. It could be a day, a week, maybe even hours" the man explains, Iris looks down at the floor "what's wrong with her?" Enid asks.

"The hit to her head must've caused a brain injury." Siddiq says "but she's awake, she's responsive" Tara says "it's the end-of-life-rally" Iris mumbles before walking back into the house, she hides her pain as she sits down next to Juniper again "is the bridge done?" Juniper asks, Iris forces a smile on her lips "yeah... we stopped the fight and everyone worked together to finish the bridge" Iris lies. "Good" Juniper whispers, smiling up at Iris.

"When you've built up some strength i'll take you there" Iris says, "wheres Rick?" Juniper asks, sitting up and looking around the room, "he's out on a run with Daryl" Iris lies "i can't wait to see his face when he sees me awake" Juniper laughs "he'll be back soon" Iris says.

"I'm so proud of you Iris. Even though it was hard for you, you fought and worked so hard to create the new world" Juniper says, reaching down and holding onto Iris's hand, "i couldn't have done it without you" Iris says, holding back her tears.

"Can I have a pen and some paper?" Juniper asks "what for?" Iris questions "i dunno, i just feel like writing" the blonde smiles, "okay" Iris says, she looks around the room and finds some paper, picking up a pen she hands it to her sister, "i'll be back" Iris mumbles before walking out of the house.

..........

"Iris" the redhead slowly opens her eyes and looks around the room, "iris" she looks down at her sister, "what's wrong?" she questions, standing up and scanning over her sister "i love you" Juniper cries, "i love you too" Iris says, panicking as she looks down at her sister "it feels weird" Juniper cries "Siddiq!" Iris dreams, "it's okay. I've got you" Iris whispers, holding onto her sister, the life slowly slips from Junipers eyes.

"I love you" Iris whispers, tears falling from her eyes, she presses her fingers against her sisters neck, trying to find a pulse but failing, Iris interlaces her fingers and starts pressing her hands into Junipers chest, "come on" she says through gritted teeth as she tries to do CPR on her sister, "you cant leave" she says "you cant leave me... i only just got you back".

Her vision goes blurry with tears as she looks down at her sisters lifeless eyes, Siddiq and the others walk into the room, they freeze when they see the woman trying to bring her sister back, "come on!" Iris shouts, pressing down harder "you cant leave! You cant! I need you!" she continues, Tara and Rosita slowly walk over to her, standing on both side of her, "she cant" Iris says, her sadness slowly turns into anger, Tara and Rosita places a hand on Iris's back.

"Iris. shes gone" Rosita whispers, "no... she cant be gone!" Iris cries, as she continues CPR "Iris, stop" Tara says, the two women try and pull Iris away, "i need her" Iris cries, her arms go weak and she steps back from her sisters body, Iris turns and walks out of the house before anyone can stop her, she wipes her tears before she walks down into the basement.

"she's dead" Iris says, looking at negan, "what?" he questions, he stands and walks over to the cell bars "Juniper. Is. dead" Iris says, she looks up and watches the man cry. "I'm sorry" she mumbles before walking out.

............

Tara and Rosita help Iris bury Juniper in the hole Iris dug, Enid collects some rocks, laying them out in a 'J'.