Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Thirty-nine.

Walk With Us.

"I had them... they were right there" Iris explains, looking at Kelly, Yumiko and Luke, "i was holding the beam up... i told Magna to get out with Connie... but then another explosion went off and everything went black" Iris says, tears filling her eyes.

"When I woke up I was separated from them... i'm sorry" Iris says, she watches the three of them cry, "i'm so sorry... i tried" she cries, "it's not your fault" Aaron says, Iris looks away, catching Carol watching, "i know" Iris mumbles.

She looks down at the ring on her finger, brushing over it before standing and walking away, "Iris" the red head turns to see Nabila walking towards her, "Jerry told me you got him out before it collapsed" the woman says.

"He had to get home to his wife and kids" Iris says, the woman pulls Iris into a hug, "thank you" Nabila cries, "of course" Iris says before pulling away and walking away from the woman.

...........

"The horde's coming!" Yumiko screams, running through the Hilltop gates, Iris runs and grabs a sword, before running into the manor, Iris rushes over to Judith and RJ, kissing them on the head "it's gonna be okay" she says, "i know" Judith says, Iris looks up at the staircase finding Daryl looking down at her.

..........

Iris stands in front of the group with Aaron, "remember your training!" Iris shouts, walking up and down the line of people, "we look out for each other! We fight for each other!" she continues, she stops at the front again.

"We do this for the dead! For the living! We fight for the future Rick and Carl started!" she shouts, "we win!" She finishes, Iris looks to Daryl standing next to her, he grabs onto her hand, gently squeezing it as the horde comes through the trees.

"Formation!" Aaron shouts, Iris reluctantly lets go of Daryl's hand, watching as the traps start to work, the walkers burning on the wire, "They're splitting into two! They're gonna load up! On my command, splitting ranks! And... break!" Aaron shouts.

Iris walks towards the barrier, raising her sword and swings it at the walkers, slicing the walker's heads off, bringing it back she starts driving the blade into the walkers, she grits her teeth trying to fight back the pain in her body, "The fence isn't gonna hold!"

Iris covers her face as the whispers throw things at the group, liquid sprays all over her face and body, the barrier next to her goes up in flames, "get back!" she orders, "It's like gasoline!" Jerry shouts, "Get ready to fall back!" Aaron shouts, "Back inside! Come on!" Daryl shouts.

"Come on! Retreat!" Iris yells, running back into Hilltop "Go, go, go! Come on! Go! Let's move!" Aaron shouts, "open the gate!" Iris screams, looking back she watches the horde climb over the barrier.

Daryl grabs her and pulls her into his body as flaming arrows land in front of them, she looks at the fire as it climbs up the walls, Iris pulls away from Daryl, running through a gap in the flames and pushing the gates open.

Iris swings her sword, driving the blade through the walkers, she looks around as Hilltop burns, she turns to a whisperer lunging for her, the woman swings her sword, cutting the skins head off. She freezes when an explosion goes off, a whisperer grabs her by her hair, throwing her to the floor, before the skin can attack an arrow flies through the skin's head.

Iris looks over to Yumiko standing with the bow before going back to fighting, the screams and explosions plague Iris's mind as she forces herself up, Iris drives her blade through the walkers, stepping over their bodies.

She slices one of the walkers arms off, holding it to the flames before throwing it into the horde, she watches the walkers go up in flames, she turns back and continues to kill the walkers and skins, the redhead looks up to the top of the walls, catching Carol staring at her again, Iris looks away and continues to fight. "Iris!" she turns and runs to Daryl, "we've gotta leave" he says.

............

"Nabila's been asking about her kids. You sure Ezekiel has them?" Rosita asks, walking with Daryl and Iris as they lead the way through the fields "They should be at the rendezvous." Daryl says, "Did you see Lydia get out?" Iris questions.

Daryl looks at her, a sorrowful expression on his face, "no" he mumbles. Iris lets out a sigh as she looks down at the floor, Daryl holds onto her hand, squeezing it gently, "we'll find everyone" he says, Iris nods, intertwining her fingers with his.

Iris looks at the abandoned house, "no" she mumbles, watching a walker stumble out of the house, Iris runs into the building, she looks in all the room, "they're not here" Iris says, looking at Daryl.

"This is the spot, right?" Rosita asks as Daryl and Iris step out of the house, "Yeah." "My babies? Where are my babies?! Where are my babies? No. Where are my babies?" Nabila cries out.

"Nabila, they're with Ezekiel, all right? They're with the king, they're with the king." Jerry says, trying to calm his wife, "Come on, spread out. Come on, let's go." Daryl says, walking away with Iris and trying to find the kids.

Iris grips onto her sword as she steps over the bodies, she looks up at the manor, smoke still coming off of it, she turns to the sound of something moving, she watches Ezekiel stand up from under a metal sheet.

"Jerry. The kids... Earl's got the kids!" The man says, running and leading the way, Iris quickly follows, holding her hand on her side as pain radiates through her body, Ezekiel leads them through the woods and to a house, Iris grips onto her sword as Daryl pushes the door open, "Daryl!", Iris smiles as she watches all the kids run out of the house.

Iris runs over to Daryl as he hugs RJ, "hey kid" she whispers, hugging the boy, "Is Judith in there?" Daryl asks the boy, Iris stands and follows Daryl into the house, "Judith?" he calls out, they quietly move in, pulling the makeshift curtains out of the way.

Iris and Daryl lower their weapons when they find the girl sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, Earl's body laying next to her, Iris drops her sword onto the floor as Daryl takes the girl's weapon from her.

Iris sits down next to Judith and grabs onto her hand, Daryl sits on the other side of the girl and wraps his arm around her "Come here." he says, Judith grips onto Iris's hand as she leans into Daryl.