Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Fifty-eight.

Recruited.

Daryl watches nervously as Iris stands in front of Carver, Iris keeps her focus on the man, not daring to look at Daryl, she hear a whistle and Carver lunges at her, Iris ducks down, kicking out her leg and watching the man stumble forward, she stands again and grabs onto his arm, pulling it back and twisting before kicking him in the back of the knee and shoving him to the floor.

The people surround them shout and whistle, Iris steps back and lets the man stand again, he swings at her but misses, the redhead grabs onto his arm as he swings at her again, she twists it behind his back, hearing him groan in pain, the man reaches back with his free hand and grabs her by the hair, Iris lets go of his arm as he yanks her to the floor, pinning her down under him and wrapping his hands around her throat, Iris grabs onto his wrists, pressing her finger into the nerves in his wrist.

His grip loosens and Iris leans up, smashing her head into his face and sending him back, when she gets free she punches him in the face, sending him further back, Iris stands and presses her foot into the man's chest, forcing him down as she stands over him, slowly restricting his breathing. She watches the defeated look in his eyes as he reaches out and taps the floor three times.

Iris shoves him harder before stepping back, the group cheer around her, the Pope stands next to her, holding onto her hand and raising it up into the air, "the Black Dahlia!" the man shouts, Iris glances over to Daryl, her face cold, she looks away from him, staring at Pope next to her as he holds her hand up while the others cheer.

The man lowers her hand and turns to look at her, still holding her hand in between them, "you are one of us now... the Black Dahlia." the man says, she watches him walk away, Iris stands there, staring at the floor, "good fight" Carver says, holding his hand out in front of Iris, "you too" Iris says, taking his hand and shaking it.

........

Iris stares into the fire, keeping to herself while the others talk, "You were right." Pope says, Iris looks up at the man, walking towards the group with Daryl behind him, "About this one." he adds pointing to Iris's husband, "Of course I was." Leah says.

"Give him some, Bossie. Don't be greedy. He's family now... You know what he did, don't you? He walked ten miles with his dead brother on his back. ten miles. The strength that took... You have any idea how grateful we are? Turner will have a proper burial." Pope says.

"Just did what any one of us would've done." Bossie says, "These still hurt? Hmm? You need anything?" Pope asks, he turns the man around and starts touching his shoulders, "I just have one question." Pope says.

"S-Sure." Bossie stutters, "Something's been bothering me. Your wounds... are on your back." Pope points out, "Pope, it's been a rough day." Leah says, "Just getting clarity, Shaw. Where were you when Turner was being attacked?" Pope asks, " I-I was right there, just like I told you." Bossie says.

"Uh-huh. Facing the enemy?" Pope questions, "Yeah." "He's been through enough." Leah says, Iris watches Pope push Bossie away "Human nature is to run when you are scared. You know what that's like, right? It takes divine strength to face your fear head-on. Risk everything for someone else. We all saw what you did. Getting Shaw out of the fire first, and you felt it, huh? How far he would go just to keep you safe." Pope says, pointing to Daryl.

Iris grips her fork, watching as the man steps closer to Daryl, "Today, God baptised you in that fire. Made you one of us. You see... There's one thing I forgot to tell you. Never turn your back on your brother." Pope says, walking away from Daryl and looking down into the fire.

"God doesn't only use fire as his baptism... It's also his wrath." Pope says, Iris stays in her seat as the man grabs onto Bossie, throwing him into the fire, Pope looks over at Iris, noticing how she doesn't flinch, unlike the others as he holds the screaming man to the flames.

"We are the Chosen Ones! We run into the battle! We run into the fire!" Pope says, he looks away from Iris and stares at Daryl, "Always." Pope adds, he signals Iris as he walks away, the redhead puts her plate on the floor before standing and following the man, glancing up at Daryl as she walks past him.

Iris sits on the couch across from the man, he holds a drink out in front of Iris, "thanks" she says, taking the drink, "do you believe in god?" he asks, sitting back in his seat, "yes. My father taught me to love him" Iris says, the answer wasnt all a lie, her father actually did teach her about god but she doesnt believe.

"Sounds like he was a good man" Pope says, Iris sits the cup down on the coffee table in front of her, "he wasn't" Iris says, "I was in the military before this happened. You?" he asks, Iris shakes her head, "no, i was a cop" Iris mumbles, "a cop? with your training? There must be something more" he says, "my father trained me. Taught me to fight. To hunt... to be hunted" Iris explains.

"He beat you didn't he?" Pope asks, Iris looks down at the floor, "did you punish him or did God?" Pope asks when the woman doesnt answer, "god" Iris answers, the two go silent again, Iris watches as Pope leans forward, "youre wondering why I chose you to join us aren't you?" he asks, Iris nods "you are strong. You didn't know those people on the road but you also didnt rat them out" the man says.

"I didn't know anything about them" Iris says, "i know, i believe you." Pope says, Iris watches him stand, "go back to the others" he says, Iris nods and stands, walking back outside and sitting by the fire, Iris looks up at Daryl, catching his eyes on her from the other side of the large flames.