Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Forty.

Clear.

"Magna?" Iris questions, looking up at the woman, Iris stands and rushes over to her, carefully pulling her into a hug, "i'm so sorry" Iris whispers to the woman as she hugs her back, "i tried to get you out" Iris adds, she pulls away and looks at the woman.

"Yumiko told me" Magna says. "I'm so sorry" Iris repeats, "you did your best... you almost died doing so" Magan says, "it's good to have you back with us" Iris smiles "it's good to be back" Magan says, Iris watches them go inside.

"Hey kid" Iris says, smiling down to RJ as he runs over to her, she winces as she picks him up and sits him on her hip before going back over to the porch and sitting on the steps, RJ lays his head on Iris's shoulder, she gently rocks side to side, lulling the boy to sleep.

"You're amazing with kids" Rosita says, wincing as she sits next to Iris, "thanks" Iris says, looking down at the boy's peaceful face, "have you ever thought about having your own?" Rosita asks, Iris looks down at the floor, thinking before she speaks up, "yeah... but i cant have them" Iris mumbles, "Iris, i'm sorry-" Rosita says "it's okay, you didn't know" Iris says, offering the woman a smile.

"I shouldn't have asked" Rosita says, "it's fine. I've mourned it already... i mean i thought i had mourned it already but-" Iris stops herself, she carefully reaches into her front pocket and pulls out her ring, Rosita looks down at the golden band, Iris slides the ring onto her ring finger.

"I can't help but hate not being able to give him a kid" Iris mumbles, Rosita rests her hand on Iris's back, "he loves you Iris" Rosita says, she leans in and kisses Iris on the head before standing and walking away.

"Hey kid" Iris says, watching Judith sit next to her, "hey" the girl smiles, "how're you doing?" Iris questions, wrapping her arm around the girl and pulling her into her side, "i'm fine" Judith mumbles, "y'know, it's okay if you're not" Iris says.

Judith lets out a small sigh "i'm not fine" Iris admits, Judith looks up at the woman, "i'm worried about Daryl, and Lydia... I wish your dad and Carl were here... i wish i could tell them my big news" Iris explains, "what news?" Judith asks, Iris smiles down at the girl, she shows the girl her ring "you and uncle Daryl are married?" she asks, "yeah... your dad found these rings and gave them to Daryl" Iris explains.

"So, are you gonna tell me how you really feel?" Iris questions, "I'm worried for people, you, uncle Daryl, RJ... What if something happens to you?" Judith asks, "hey look at me" Iris says, Judith lifts her head from Iris's chest and looks into the woman's eyes with her own teary ones.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you two... me and Daryl are going to protect you" Iris says, gently brushing her thumb over Judith's cheek as a stray tear slips down her rosy cheek.

..........

Iris walks at the front of the group, Judith by her side and RJ still sleeping as she carries him, they walk through the woods, Iris glances back at the group, counting them all and making sure no one has been left behind. She looks ahead again and stops, Iris holds her free hand up in the air, signalling everyone to stay quiet, she carefully hands RJ to Magna before pulling her sword from the strap on her back.

Iriss quietly walks towards the walker, watching its hands to see if it's a walker or a skin, before it notices her, Iris swings her sword at its head, watching it fall to the floor. "Was it them?" Judith asks as Iris walks back towards them, "no" Iris says, sliding the sword back into the strap.

"But that doesnt mean theyre not out there" Iris says to the group, she takes RJ from Magna as he starts to wake up and they walk again, Iris notices Judith's tense muscles, she reaches down and messes with the girls hat, "what?" Judith asks, smiling up at Iris, "nothin" Iris smiles.

Jerry moves next to Iris, "how much longer boss?" he asks, "not long, how's everyone holding up?" Iris asks, "they're tired" Jerry answers, "okay, just tell them it's a couple more miles" Iris says, Jerry scans the woman over, "how are you holding up boss?" Jerry questions, "I'll be fine" Iris mumbles, forcing a smile and watching the man go back to the others.

...........

"You and you go on the south side. You two go east. Jerry and I will take north and west." Iris says, staying quiet and hidden with the group, "keep your eyes and ears open, anything makes you feel uneasy tell me." Iris says, "the rest of you stay here, once it's clear i will come back and get you" Iris says.

She pulls her sword out "lets move" she whispers, leading the way out of the woods and towards the abandoned hospital, Iris and the others, hide behind the wall next to the entrance, Iris reaches up and knock on the door, gripping her sword, when she doesn't hear anything she opens the door, "go" she orders quietly.

The others move in, Iris and Jerry going last, they quickly and quietly move through the corridors, Iris walks into one of the rooms "clear" she announces, moving out, they clear all the rooms before making their way up stairs, the others making their way back to them.

Iris raises her left hand signalling two to go left, as they leave she signals the other two to go left before going forward with Jerry, "clear" Jerry says, coming back out of the room, Iris nods to him before moving to the next room.

After clearing it they meet back down at the entrance, "you four stay here, Jerry and I will go get the others" Iris says, they move out of the building, quickly going into the woods again, Iris lets out a loud whistle and watches as everyone comes out of hiding, she leads them into the hospital before setting herself up in one of the windows, keeping watch while the others rest and wait.