Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Five.

You're okay.

"I'll probably reach Alexandria before you get back to Hilltop, so if you need any supplies, you should take them." Michonne says to Iris and Siddiq as they walk together, getting ready to leave "I'd rather have the company, honestly. Come with us. It's the least you could do after murdering Luke's violin last night." Siddiq says, "It's for the best. You know that." Miichonne says "You don't have to worry about Maggie." Siddiq says.

Iris's eyebrows furrow together "We can't take the risk. I don't know what she'll do if she sees me." Michonne says "Michonne, Maggie's gone. Took Hershel with her. Jesus runs Hilltop now." Siddiq explains "what?" Iris questions "Where is she? And how do you know?" Michonne asks.

"Michonne." Iris turns to see everyone looking at something with concern, "What is it?" Iris asks "Walkers! Let's move!" DJ says, Iris sits her bow on her back over her backpack, she pulls out her knives and runs out of the building. "Michonne, DJ needs to give us our weapons!" "Michonne! Hey!"

Iris starts driving her blades into the walkers heads, she stops and looks up at the horses as they start stressing, the redhead spots the walkers stumbling to the animals, "shit" she says, fighting through the sea of walkers and working to get to the horses before the dead do. Iris grabs onto the horse's reins, putting her knives back into her belt, she starts stroking the animals noses, hushing them and calming them down.

...........

"This is as far as i go" Michonne says, Iris looks up at the woman "I should've told you about Maggie sooner. I'm sorry." Siddiq says, Iris looks at the man "Where is she?" Michonne asks "With Georgie. Someplace far. Helping her with some new community. That's all I know." Siddiq explains, "Mm." "I wanted to say something sooner, but I promised someone I wouldn't. So I didn't. This means you can come with us to Hilltop. You should." Siddiq says.

"No. I'm needed back home. I kept my promise to Judith." Michonne says "What about Carl? What about your promise to him?" Siddiq asks, Iris looks down at her hands sitting in her lap, "It's not that simple." Michonne says, Iris stands and pulls her knives from her belt when she hears horses coming towards them "Those spears. You from Hilltop?" Michonne asks the men.

"We are. You?" one of them asks "Alexandria." Michonne says "We're headed there now. We have a message. We have one of yours, Rosita Espinosa. She's been injured." the man explains, Iris's heart drops at the news "Let them know Michonne and the others are headed to Hilltop. Tell them we're safe." Michonne says, and Iris watches the men ride off.

"DJ, hold up. Hold up. Do you see something? What is it?" Siddiq asks Connie, "She says it's nothing." "Let's go." Iris says, wanting to get to Hilltop to see Rosita, all her nerves about seeing the others disappears as her only worries are if Rosita is safe and where is Eugene?

..........

Iris nervously looks at the Hilltop walls, noticing how quiet and empty it is, "Be ready." "Be patient." "If it were me, I'd have you up on that wall ready to shoot an arrow at anyone I didn't like the looks of." "What's not to like about us? We're a solid-looking group. We're scrappy." "State your business." Iris looks at the road behind them, "We're here for Rosita." Michonne says "We met your messengers on the road. They told us what happened." Siddiq explains.

"And the others?" "They're good people looking for a home. I told them Hilltop would consider taking them in." Michonne says, Iris watches Siddiq and Michonne throw their weapons on the ground, Iris pulls her knives out and throws them down before doing the same with her bow and arrows. Iris jumps out of the trailer, looking around at the trees as the gate slowly opens.

She slowly turns and notices the others already inside the walls, she lets out a shaky breath before walking up the path, keeping her eyes on the floor, she stays behind the group "As for the rest of you, you're gonna have to wait until Jesus gets back. And if you want to stay, stay, I'm gonna have to talk to him. And you're gonna have to earn your keep." Tara says. Iris looks up nervously "She says, "Thank you." We all do.".

Iris watches Tara walk away from the group, she quickly pushes past everyone, "Tara" she calls out, Iris watches the woman slowly turn, a shocked look on her face, Tara runs to Iris, wrapping her arms around her friend, Iris grips onto Tara, closing her eyes and taking in the moment, "you came back" Tara whispers, "I came back" Iris says pulling away from Tara.

Enid is next to throw herself at Iris, "hey kid" she mumbles hugging the girl tight, Enid laughs into the woman's shoulder, "i'm not a kid anymore" she mumbles, Iris pulls away, taking in how much the girl had grown, Iris looks up at the manor, she rushes up the dirt path and quickly pulls Carol into a hug.

Carol lets out a sad laugh as she hugs Iris, "your okay" she mumbles, gripping Iris so tight she almost can't breathe, "i'm okay" Iris says, pulling away from her, she looks back at Michonne, watching as Carols smile drop before following her into the building, "when did you get back?" Tara asks "two days ago" Iris says, "where have you been?" Enid asks, Iris looks down at the floor "i was on the road" Iris says, "the whole time?" Carol asks, Iris nods yes.

Iris hugs Carol, holding her tight "i can't believe i'm leaving just when i've gotten you back" Carol says, "i'll see you soon" Iris says, Carol holds Iris in front of her, her face turning serious "even if you're leaving you come and say goodbye" Carol orders "i will" Iris mumbles stepping back and watching as the woman leaves.

Iris sits on the porch steps, rolling a cigarette, "why'd you go?" Tara asks, sitting on the steps next to her, "I had to" Iris says, letting out a sigh, "I wasn't finding anything... I had to go out further. I thought that maybe he was alive and he got confused. I thought maybe he was walking around somewhere. Alone." Iris explains "I missed you" Tara admits before standing up and going off to work.