Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Twenty-seven.

I did it.

"Everything alright? we've been tryin' to reach you." Daryl says into the radio mic, "Rough day, but things are looking up. What's going on?" Michonne asks, "Something happened." Daryl says, Iris sits next to him, listening to him explain it.

"Negan's on the right side this time. I don't know if it's gonna make any difference, though." Iris says into the mic, "Should I come home?" "No, not if Hilltop still needs you." Daryl says, "How's Lydia?" "Not good." Iris says "Daryl, Iris, you have to protect her." Michonne says "Yeah, well, we're trying."

"No. You have to protect her for all of us. When we went to the border, we went there to de-escalate the conflict and buy time and strategic advantage. And it was working till Carol took her shot. Alpha could have killed us right there. Why didn't she?"

"You think she won't attack if we got Lydia?" Daryl asks "Alpha wanted you to protect her. Look, Lydia's presence might not help us, but if Alpha thinks she isn't safe with us or if Lydia runs off because of all this, it'll definitely hurt us. She has to stay at Alexandria."

"Alright. we'll make sure." Daryl says "Let's just keep this between us for now." Michonne says, "How's RJ?" Michonne asks "He's great. He won't eat his vegetables, so I'm a little afraid for him." Daryl jokes.

"Hey, the council's meeting right now." Daryl adds, "Daryl... I want you to be my proxy when they vote." "Alright. I should go." Daryl says, "I know you'll do the right thing."

Iris and Daryl walk into the meeting, Iris stays at the back, listening to the council talk, "But a man like that, who's done the things he's done, killed the people he's killed... something inside him is broken. We need to face that fact." Aaron explains.

"Yes, but killing him now over this undermines the civilization that we have built." Siddiq argues "What about the people who never got to witness that civilization because of him?" Aaron says "And what the hell are you even talking about? The Whisperers are attacking us." Siddiq snaps.

"Okay, let's take a break." Gabriel tries "No. Let me finish." Siddiq says, standing up "Look at what's going on at Hilltop. We're taking our eyes off the ball." Siddiq says "The council wasn't made for this, deciding on a man's life in the dead of night because people are carrying pitchforks and torches." Gabriel says.

"I... Look, if you can't make a decision, the people out there are gonna make one for you." Daryl says, "Well, what'd Michonne say?" Gabriel asks "She wants me to be her vote. Lydia said Negan saved her, so he saved her. I'm a "no."" Daryl says "So we're tied. Gabriel, where do you stand?" Aaron asks.

Everyone looks at the man as he stands. "I'm gonna take the night to clear my head and consider my vote, and I suggest you all do the same." Gabriel says, Iris and Daryl walk out of the building.

..........

Iris sits with RJ reading him a book when a loud thudding comes from the front door, she picks the boy up and follows Daryl to the door as the thuding continues, Daryl opens the door to reveal Gabriel "What?" he questions.

"He's gone." The man says, Daryl looks back at Iris before following Gabriel away, Iris sits RJ on her hip as she follows them outside, closing the front door behind her.

"The guards say the keys are missing." Gabriel says, "Whoever stole them must've let him out." Aaron says, "Who was on watch last night?" Iris asks "Laura was, but she said she didn't do it, and I believe her." Gabriel explains. "I did it." Iris looks up to Lydia "I let Negan out." she adds, walking down into the cell.

Iris walks back into the house, she sits the boy in his chair and starts putting some food on his plate, she sits back and watches as he starts eating, her mind getting lost in the stress of everything.

.........

"Come on. You didn't do this." Daryl says, opening the cell door, "Yeah, I did." Lydia says, "I kept watch last night. You never left the house." Daryl says, "Does it matter? This is where they want me." Lydia says "Doesn't matter what they want." Daryl says.

"You know, for a long time, I blamed myself for what happened last year. Kept thinking, what if I just stayed in that cell at Hilltop? If I never let myself be taken alive by you people in the first place? Never went off with Henry? Never said what I said to my mother?" Lydia explains.

"You're not to blame for her." "My mother was right. She said you people put on these polite faces, but it's just a mask 'cause when things get bad... when you get scared... you pick a target, aim, and shoot. Me, Negan, anything but you." Lydia says.

"Negan's different. You didn't know him." Daryl says "The Negan I know stood up for me when he didn't have to. I tried fitting in. I wanted to be like Iris, like you." Lydia admits "You don't belong in a cage." Daryl says. "I'm better here. I feel safe." Daryl closes the door again before reluctantly walking away.

"Where is she?" Iris asks, watching Daryl walk into the dining room alone, "she wants to stay down there" Daryl says, Iris lets out a defeated sigh, standing up she takes RJ's empty plate and takes it to the sink, "you got RJ?" she asks, Daryl nods and watches Iris walk out of the house.

Iris opens the cell door and steps in, sitting down across from the girl, "i'm not leaving" she mumbles "i know" Iris says, she looks up at the girl "neither am i"