Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Twelve.

Still got it.

Iris watches the sun slowly rise, she stands up and puts her backpack back on before sitting her bow and quiver on her back again, Iris helps the horse stand, holding onto the reins she guides the horse out of the woods, when they make it back onto the road she climbs up on top of the horse and continues the journey to Alexandria.

Iris watches the gates open, she climbs off the horse and hands the reins to someone, letting them take the horse to the stables. She walks to the graveyard and looks down at the three graves, "hey guys" she whispers, smiling down at them, she walks back onto the road and starts looking for everyone.

"Hey red" Iris looks down at the basement window, looking down at Negan, Iris rolls her eyes and walks down into the basement, "what do you want?" she asks "it's been awhile" Negan says, "not long enough" Iris says, Iris looks down at the ground before taking her backpack off and opening it up, she reaches into the bottom and pulls out a piece of paper with Negan's name written on it.

"This is yours" Iris says, holding the letter through the bars, Negan stares down at it "Juniper wrote it before she died" Iris mumbles, Negan looks up at Iris, "i'm sorry i didn't give it to you sooner" Iris says, the man takes the letter and Iris turns to walk away, "wait", she slowly turns and looks at the man, "thank you" he says, Iris nods to him and walks out of the basement.

"Hey" Iris looks up and sees Michonne walking down the road towards her, "hey" Iris says "when did you get here?" Michonne asks, wrapping her arms around Iris, "not long" Iris says hugging the woman back, Michonne pulls back from the hug and notices something off, "what's wrong?" she questions "we need to talk" Iris says.

Michonnes smile drops "okay... listen I need to talk to Negan. Why don't you settle in and I'll come and find you" Michonne says "okay" Iris says, forcing a tight lipped smile before walking away, Iris walks into the church and looks around, "this place looks great" Iris says when she hears Gabriel walk in.

"Thank you" he says, Iris turns back and looks at him, "what can i do for you?" he asks "i was wondering if you know what happened to my bike" Iris says "i think Aaron did something with it" Gabriel says "thanks" Iris says, giving the man a small smile and walking out of the church.

Iris walks up the porch steps and knocks on the door, the door opens and Aaron smiles down at her "hey, whats up?" he asks, "Gaberiel said you might know something about my bike" Iris says, "come on in" he says, stepping to the side.

Iris follows the man through the house and into the garage, she watches him pull a sheet off of her bike, "i wanted to keep it safe for when you came home" Aaron explains, Iris runs her hand over the seat and inspect the engine, "thank you" she says, glancing up at him before looking back at the bike, "your welcome... i knew you were gonna come home, having it here was just a reminder you would" he says, Iris looks up at them man, forcing a smile on her face, "i'm sorry i didn't say goodbye. You were an amazing friend, i should've said goodbye" Iris says, "its okay" Aaron says.

Iris drags the bike out of the garage, stopping it in front of her house, she takes her tools from her house and starts working on the bike, trying to get it to work again, "what are you doin'?" Iris looks up and sees Judith "tryin' to fix this" Iris says, "what's wrong with it?" the girl asks, sitting on the porch steps, Iris stands up and wipes her dirty hands on a cloth.

"She hasn't run in a while. Just needs a couple of things touched up" Iris explains, she tries to start the bike and smiles as it roars to life, "still got it" she says, looking over to the young girl, Judith smiles at her aunt, "you ever been on one?" Iris asks, Judith shakes her head no.

"Come here" Iris says, she sits on the bike and waits for the girl to walk over to her, "climb on" Iris says, reaching out her hand and helping the girl up on the bike, "hold on" she says, when she feels Judith's tight grip around her waist she kicks the stand up and starts driving down the roads, going slower than she usually would.

After doing a lap around the community Iris stops the bike in front of her house again, kicking the stand down and helping Judith off the back, Iris turns the engine off and climbs off the bike, "how was that?" Iris asks, looking down at the girl's large smile, "that was cool" Judith laughs.

"Iris!" Michonne calls, Iris slowly turns and looks at the woman, "i think i'm in trouble" Iris whispers to Judith, the young girl giggles and Iris walks towards Michonne, "i know i should have asked you first-" "Iris, it's okay, your not in trouble" Michonne says, laughing slightly at the woman.

"So what did you need to talk about?" Michonne asks, they sit on the porch steps and look out at the community, "me and Daryl spoke to the girl" Iris says "what did she say?" Michonne asks, Iris looks down at her hands and picks at the skin "Iris, what's wrong?" Michonne asks, "I saw myself in her. She was just scared. Her mom beat her" Iris says, looking over to Michonne.

"We had to let her go back to her mom. Henry went after her and now Daryl and Connie are out looking for him" Iris explains "there's nothing you could've done" Michonne says, "i know, but i feel like i could've tried harder" Iris mumbles