Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Forty-six.

 I lost myself.

Maggie, Daryl and Iris slow down and split into three, Iris in the middle, Maggie on her left and Daryl on her right, holding onto their weapons as they move through the woods, another gunshot echoes through the trees followed by a scream.

The three of them run towards the injured woman, finding her bleeding out on the floor, "It's a trap." Iris says, hiding behind a tree, "They're trying to flush us out, Pick us off one by one." she explains, "Yeah." Maggie and Daryl agree.

Iris notices Maya running towards the injured woman, "Oh, shit." Daryl mumbles, "Maya, get down!" Maggie shouts, but a bullet flies through Maya before she could move. "I think she saw hershel. That's what she's trying to tell me." Maggie says, "We got to get to 'em first." Daryl says.

Iris ducks when a bullet hits the tree next to her, "We should-" Daryl says but another bullet interrupts him "There's only one shooter." Daryl says "Three shots. One at a time. He had to reload." Iris explains, "Yeah." Daryl agrees, "I'll go around and flank him." Maggie says.

"No." Daryl argues "Just keep his attention here." Maggie says before creeping away, Iris peers around the tree, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion when the gun doesn't go off, she slowly steps out from behind the trees "what the hell are you doing?!" Daryl panics.

"He's had enough time to reload" Iris whispers, looking over to Daryl, "he's up to something" she adds, Daryl and Iris start making their way to Maggie.

They stop when they see Maggie hanging from a trap in the tree, Daryl covers Iris as she runs over to Maggie, "Daryl!" Iris shouts as she watches the man throw her husband against a tree, knocking him unconscious.

Iris steps away from Maggie, bawling her hands into fists, "come on then" she says, eyeing the man, she watches his charge towards her, Iris side steps, kicking out his legs and making him stumble, the redhead jumps onto his back, tightening her arm around the man's neck.

The man runs backwards, hitting Iris against a tree, she grits her teeth as she holds on but the man steps forward and hits her against the tree harder, knocking her onto the floor.

Iris pulls her knife from her belt, she looks over to Maggie, watching her signal, Iris slowly stands, stepping behind the man with Daryl, she raises her knife but before she uses it an arrow flies into the man's body.

Iris lowers her knife and watches the others step out from the trees, "Daryl, wait." Maggie says, "Who are you? Who are you?!" Maggie questions, everyone stands with their weapons pointed at the man.

"You're one of them, right? You attacked our home. killed my friends, our family. Why'd you do this? We did nothing to you. Who are you? Who are you?! What do you call yourselves?! I know it's just you out here, So you can answer my questions or die. It's your choice." Maggie threatens, the man holds out his knife and drops it on the floor.

"Why'd you do it?" Maggie asks, "Pope marked you." the man says, Iris watches him reach into his pocket, a familiar click sounds throw her ears, "move!" She orders, everyone turns and drops, Iris covers her ears as the loud explosion goes off, dirt and body pieces hitting her back.

She slowly stands and looks around at the mess, Daryl steps in front of her, holding onto the sides of her face, "im okay" she whispers, leaning into his touch, she reaches up and gently strokes his hair from his face, "are you okay?" Iris asks, "i'm fine" Daryl mumbles, Iris takes his hand from her face and intertwines her fingers with his before following Maggie.

They walk in silence as they search for Hershle, Maggie stops walking and lets out a bird call, Iris watches something fall from the tree above them, "Hey, mom." Iris's breath gets caught in her throat as she looks up at the small boy in the tree, Daryl gently squeezes Iris hand before stepping forward.

But the redhead cant move, she just stays frozen looking up at the boy, it's like Glenn is with them again, his smile is the same. "Iris" she looks over to Maggie as she calls her name, "Hershel this is your aunt Iris. she's the one i told you about" Maggie says to her son, "hi" Iris says, smiling up at the boy.

Daryl catches Hershel as he jumps down from the tree, Daryl holds onto Iris's hand again and they start making their way back to the others, deciding it's best to set up camp at the shipping containers again.

...........

"You alright?" Daryl asks as he stands in the doorway with Iris, looking down at Kelly and Maggie talking as Hershel sleeps, "Yeah." Maggie smiles, Kelly stands up and walks towards them, Iris gently squeezes her arm as she walks past them, "It's real quiet out there." Daryl says to Maggie.

"For now." Maggie says, "Hey, that guy knew he was a dead man. He was just messing with you." Iris says, "Maybe." "We'll stay here a few more days. Sweep the grounds, make sure he was alone." Daryl says, "Nothing follows us back to alexandria." Maggie says, "We'll take the long way back. Cover our tracks... Does this mean you're coming home?" Daryl asks.

"These people deserve one. So does hershel. I'll deal with Negan if I have to. Right now, the only thing that matters is alexandria." Maggie says, "Alright." Daryl mumbles before walking away, Iris grabs onto his arm and stops him, she pulls him closer to her and gently places her lips on his.

"I'm gonna talk to her. I'll see you in a minute" Iris whispers, Daryl nods and kisses her again before watching her walk back into the container. "Hey" she whispers, sitting on the floor opposite Maggie, she nervously picks at the skin around her nails.

"Hey" Maggie says, Iris looks down at her hands nervously, fighting off her anxiety as she sits in the box, "when i lost Carl he told me that i couldn't lose myself. I tried really hard not to but then I lost Rick and I lost Juniper" Iris explains, fighting the tears in her eyes, "I lost myself... I couldn't even recognise who I was anymore. I lost the first people who ever saw anything in me" Iris says, her voice shaky as tears escape her eyes.

"I hurt a lot of people when I left... what i said to you was wrong" Iris says looking up at Maggie nervously, tears fill Maggie's eyes, "i've regretted it everyday for seven years and when i came back and you were gone i hated myself" Iris adds.

"I never hated you Iris" Maggie whispers, tears spilling from her eyes, "you're my sister and i love you" Maggie adds, Iris wipes the tears from her face and smiles at Maggie, "i love you too" Iris whispers, she stands up and gently kisses Maggie and the head before walking out of the container.