Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter 154.

Just take it.

Iris slowly walks through the woods, her bow and arrows sitting across her back as she searches through the trees, "have you found anything?" Tara asks, Iris slowly turns back and looks at the woman, "no" Iris says "you've been out here for weeks, maybe you should come back to Alexandria for a while" Tara says, "nah" Iris mumbles, turning and walking again, Tara follows Iris as she makes her way into a clearing.

"Is this where you've been staying?" Tara asks, looking up at the old farmhouse, "yeah" Iris mumbles, walking up the porch steps and opening the front door, "i brought you some bread" Tara says, "i don't need it" Iris says "well just take it" Tara says, holding it out to Iris, the woman takes the bread and puts it on the table, "thanks".

The two fall silent and Tara stands, watching Iris awkwardly, "you should head back before it gets dark" Iris says, looking up from the floor "yeah your right" Tara says, Iris watches her walks down the dirt road. Shutting the front door she throws herself onto the broken sofa, staring up at the ceiling she slowly falls asleep.

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

"Anything?" Tara asks, Iris looks up from the dirt and stares at the woman, slowly shaking her head no, "i brought you a fish" Tara says. Iris and Tara walk back to the farm house in silence, a routine they have fallen into. Every two weeks Tara visits Iris and brings her some food, she asks if she has found anything yet and Iris always says no, Tara only asks as an excuse to check on Iris.

Iris opens the front door and Tara follows after, she watches the red head throws her bag on the floor before grabbing a bottle from the table, Iris throws herself on the table and opens the bottle, lifting it to her lips and drinking the strong liquid.

Tara sits with her in silence, Iris holds the drink out to Tara and watches as she takes a sip, Iris scans the woman's features, watching her eyes glisten in the light from the sun set peering through the windows. "What?" Tara asks, turning and catching Iris staring at her, Iris doesn't say anything, she takes the bottle from Tara's hand, taking one last swig before sitting it on the floor next to her.

Tara watches Iris slowly hold onto her face, Iris leans in, slowly capturing Tara's lips with hers, the brown haired woman closes her eyes, sinking into the kiss and letting the alcohol calm her nerves. Iris gently pushes Tara back against the sofa, not breaking the kiss.

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

Iris stands up from the bed, quietly pulling her clothes on, she looks back at Tara sleeping in the bed, she creeps out of the room and walks into the living room, she picks up a pen and writes a small note, 'gone searching. Be safe', Iris sets the note on the table before she grabs her weapons and her backpack before walking out of the house.

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

"Nothing" Iris says to the woman standing behind her, "I found a pack of cigarettes for you" Tara says, Iris turns and starts walking back to the house with her. They sit on the sofa and watch the small fire, "you know i didn't sleep with you just because i was lonely right?" Iris asks, not looking away from the bright flames, "I know" Tara whispers, holding onto Iris's hand.

"I do love you Tara... i just" Iris tries but she can't figure out how to say it, "but you're not in love with me" Tara says, "i'm sorry" Iris says, looking over at Tara, "it's okay. I love you but I'm in love with someone else" Tara says.

Iris wakes up and turns to look at the woman lying next to her, she slowly stands from the bed and pulls on her clothes, she quietly walks out of the house and makes her way into the woods, searching a new area.

As the sun slowly starts to set Iris starts making her way back to the house, she looks around the empty dark house and puts her stuff down, she sits down on the broken sofa and stares blankly at the wall in front of her.

She quickly stands and picks up her pen and a piece of paper, writing a note before shoving it into her back pocket, she packs her back with a small amount of supplies and picks up her bow and arrows. She walks out of the house and climbs onto her bike. She turns off the engine and climbs off, pushing it along the dark road the last few miles, she parks it outside the Alexandria gate, she pulls the note out of her back pocket and sits it on the bike before walking away.

Iris walks through the woods, watching as the sun rises, shining through the treetops, she listens as her walkie crackles from her belt.

"Alexandria to hilltop. Do you copy?" Gabriel's voice sounds through the walkie.

"We copy"

"Has Iris been there?" Gabriel asks

"No. Not here. Everything okay?"

"We found her bike outside of the gates this morning. She left a note that said she was leaving, wanted to know if she was there" Gabriel explains.

"Sorry no, we'll send someone out"

Iris reaches down and pulls her walkie from her belt, dropping it to the floor and walking away.