Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Ten.

I am Alpha.

Iris and Daryl sit in the hayloft, listening to the peaceful sound of the night, Daryl looks down at his dog laying with his head in Iris's lap, she lifts her head from Daryl's shoulder, "when Juniper died, she wrote letters for people" Iris says, opening her backpack and pulling a piece of paper from the bottom, "she wrote one for you... I never got the chance to give it to you. I've kept it in my bag this whole time. Unopened and unread" she explains, holding the paper in front of him.

Daryl takes the paper and opens it up, Iris looks down at her hands and starts picking at her skin, she watches as Dog nudges his head under her hands signalling her to stroke him, Daryl folds the letter and tucks it into his vest pocket. Daryl and Iris lay down, he watches as Dog lays down next to her, laying his head on her stomach as she slowly drifts off to sleep.

...........

Iris sits and watches the sun rise, she looks down at Daryl as he slowly starts to wake up, "morning" she mumbles looking back out at the sky "morning" he says, sitting up and petting Dog, "did you sleep?" he asks "a bit... Daryl. I want to help that girl" she mumbles, looking over at him "we will" he says.

Iris and Daryl climb down from the loft, Dog jumping down after them, Daryl grabs a tray of food for Lydia and they make their way down to the cellar, Iris lets out a sigh as she looks down at Henry sitting in front of the cell, "She didn't want to be alone." Henry says before standing up, "My ear hurts. Everything hurts. You still have those pills?" Lydia asks.

Daryl sits the tray of food down before grabbing the ladle and filling it with water, he hands it to her through the bars, Iris watches the girl drink the water and hands the ladle back to Daryl.

"My mom's not coming for me. None of them are. If someone dies or gets taken or whatever, they move on. Like they never existed. That's how it's always been. They don't come into contact with big groups unless they don't have another choice. That's why I... I was trying to find out everything I could about you. 'Cause then when I escaped, I'd have something to give them. A reason for them to take me back." Lydia explains.

"You're her daughter. Does that not matter?" Henry asks "What about our missing people?" Daryl asks "If my mom found them... I can't think of a reason she'd keep them alive. Sorry." Lydia says "She got a camp somewhere?" Iris asks "Near the guard bridge. Maybe a mile east. But we don't... They don't stay in one place for long." Lydia says.

"The story about your family... Was any of it true?" Henry asks "I thought all of it was. I needed it to be. But I had it all mixed up. It was a lie, but... the lie wasn't mine. My mom... she told it to me... over and over, for years. But... deep down, I knew... I knew what she was, and... I knew what she did." Lysia says, tears filling her eyes.

"One night, the people we were staying with started to freak out. My mom wanted us to leave but my dad wanted to stay.... He tried to take me with him. But she stopped him... He was against the wall... scared... and my mom was there. Had that cold look in her eye. Then she... She got her knife. And then she..." Lydia cries "It's okay. It's okay. We've heard enough." Daryl says "I'm sorry I couldn't help you. I'm sorry I wasted your time." the girl says "You didn't." Iris says before walking out of the room, Daryl following after her.

"So this whole time Lydia's mom made her think it was her fault her dad died?" Henry asks, Iris and Daryl stop and look at the boy "Why would a mom do that to a kid?" Henry asks "Some people ain't meant to be parents." Daryl says "So what happens now? Can she stay here with us?" the boy asks "We'll see. Why don't you get her some fresh clothes. We'll talk to Tara, see about that camp." Daryl explains. The two turn to walk again but Daryl stops when the boy talks to him "Hey, Daryl? I'm glad you and my mom are friends." Iris looks back at Daryl and watches him start to walk with her again.

"Hey! Daryl! Iris!" Iris looks up to Tara at the watchtower, she pulls her knives out of her belt and runs up to the tower, Daryl close to her. Iris looks down to see people wearing the walker masks, "I am Alpha. And we only want one thing from you. My daughter." the woman without a mask says. "Our community is more than capable of defending itself!" Tara shouts.

"I show you my face because we mean you no harm. I just want my daughter. I know you have her." Alpha says "You should turn around. Leave now and no one gets hurt." Daryl says "Wrong answer." Alpha says, Iris watches as she raises her arm in the air, more of the masked step out into the opening.

"They don't see her. Least not yet." Kelly whispers, looking at her sister through the binoculars, "That girl told me what her mom does to her. We ain't sending her back to that." Daryl says, "Yeah, but what if she has Alden and Luke? Pissing her off can get them killed." Tara says "Did you kill our friends? We found their horses." Magna says "No. Which one of you leads these people?" Alpha asks "What the hell does it matter?" Daryl asks

"Then I'll just address all of you. Your people crossed into our land. There will be no conflict. Your people killed our people. There will be no conflict. I'm done talkin'. Bring me my daughter, or there will be conflict." Alpha says "No one touches the girl." Daryl says walking away, Iris follows after him. "Daryl." "Where's he going?" "Daryl, stop."

"Does she have Alden and Luke?" Enid asks "I don't know." Daryl says, "What does she want?" Henry asks "No, Daryl, we... we can't do that." the boy says when the man doesnt answer "She ain't gettin' her." "Then what are you doing?" Iris asks "She's done talkin'. I'm not. Come on." Daryl says, signalling the guards to open the gates. Iris follows the man down to the second gate, "You can't have her. Now... if it's a fight you're lookin' for, we got enough firepower to light you up. Right here and now." Daryl threatens.

Iris looks away from the alpha when she hears a baby, she looks at one of the masked holding the small baby "You brought a baby out here?" she questions, looking back at the woman in front of them, "We're animals. Animals live out here. Animals have babies. So we have babies out here. Now, what were you sayin'? Lightin' us all up? You seem to want conflict. I don't. So I'm proposing a trade." Alpha explains, turning and watching masks getting pulled off of Alden and Luke. "I wanted to kill them. But I want my daughter more. One of mine, two of yours. It's a good trade, which is why you're gonna take it. Now... bring me my daughter." Alpha says.