Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Thirty-seven.

 Hey, you still with us.

Iris's eyes shoot open as her leg burns, she grits her teeth as she lifts herself up, limping towards the wall and grabbing at the rubble again, the redhead freezes when she feels a small breeze against her face, Iris turns and grabs her backpack, pulling it onto her back before moving back to the wall and pulling the rocks away.

After hours of fighting for her way out a small beam of light shines through a small hole, a weak relieved sigh escapes her mouth, she reaches her hand into the hole, throwing more rocks to the floor. Tears fill Iris''s eyes as she looks up through the hole, squinting her eyes as the sun shines down on her.

Iris carefully pulls herself through the hole, collapsing on her back when she makes it out of the cave, she forces her body to her feet, looking around she starts limping away, trying to make her way home, stumbling through the woods as the sun goes down, she grips onto her knife and watches as the walkers move past her, ignoring her existence, branches scrape against Iris's skin as she moves through the dark night. Her head pounds in pain as the sunrises and beats down on her skin, she steps out from the trees, looking up at the tall walls.

..........

"We got a walker!" Alden shouts down to the guards, he looks out at the tree line watching the walker stumble towards the walls. He lifts his binoculars and looks at the body, "wait!" he shouts, "what is it?" Aaron questions from the ground, "its not a walker" Alden says, looking down at Aaron.

..........

Iris limps towards the gate, she stops when guards run towards her, she holds her hands up in surrender, "Iris!" Aaron shouts, wrapping his arms around her, Iris grips onto the man, sobs escaping her body, he pulls back and looks down at the woman.

Dirt covers her face, mixing with blood and tears, dirt and blood stains her clothes, "let's get you to the doctor" he says, holding her up and helping her walk into Hilltop, "Iris?" the redhead looks up to see Kelly waiting, Iris lets out a small sigh "sorry kid... i got separated when it collapsed" Iris explains, tears falling down her face.

Jerry pulls Iris into a hug, she hugs him back before pulling away and going to the medical trailer, "where's Daryl?" Iris questions, sitting on the bed, she watches nervously when Aaron looks down at his feet, "Aaron" "he's out looking" Aaron explains.

"I gotta go find him" Iris says, standing up and pushing her way out, "you need to get fixed up" Rosita says as Aaron gently sits Iris back down, the doctor starts stitching up Iris's leg, checking her head injury, Aaron and Rosita watch Iris as she stares blankly at the wall in front of her.

Rosita catches the distant look in Iris's eyes, "hey, you still with us?" she asks, "yeah" Iris mumbles, keeping her eyes glued to the wall, Aaron and Rosita watch as the medic starts working on Iris's injuries, they look up at each other as they see Iris's leg.

"Here" Jerry says, handing Iris some bread and water, she takes the food, quickly eating it before drinking the water, "thanks" she whispers, handing the bottle back to Jerry, "your all done" the doctor says, finishing with the bandages, Iris stands up and walks out of the trailer.

Aaron, Jerry and Rosita following close behind, Iris's leg gives out but before she falls Jerry grabs her, he helps her sit on the trailer steps, standing back with the other two and looking down at Iris, she holds her head in her hands, closing her eyes. "Can I get you something?" Jerry asks, Iris takes a deep breath before lifting her head and looking up at the man, "i'm okay" Iris whispers.