Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Sixty-two.

Murdered.

Iris stands behind Pope as he sits, listening to Leah try to contact Wells, "Wells, it's Shaw. Do you copy? Over." she gets nothing, "I'm going after him." she says, turning to leave, "There's no point." Pope says, stopping the woman.

"He's already dead." the man adds, "No, I've seen him kill dozens of rotters at a time." Leah says, "Oh, they didn't kill him. She did it. My enemy." Pope says, taking a deep breath, "So you did come back." he says.

"You thought that woman was out there... and you sent Paul in? What was he... bait?" Leah questions, "He was a soldier. Soldiers sometimes fall." "No. He was more than that. He was family." "Yes. Whose fate God decided." "God didn't send him out there. You did." Leah snaps.

"A decision you disagree with, Shaw?" Pope asks, standing up and walking over to the blonde "You have had a hell of a lot to say, ever since your boyfriend showed up." Pope says, Iris feels Daryl's eyes flicker over to her but she ignores it, "Anything else you wanna share?" Pope asks.

"No, sir." Leah says, "Wells may have been your brother... but he was a son to me. Because of his courage... we now know the enemy is close! And I promise you, they will not escape this time." Pope says, Iris watches the man turn away from the others and walk towards her, he picks up her sword and holds it out to her. Iris nods to him, taking her weapon back and sitting it in the strap across her back.

.........

"Rotters are gone." Powell says, walking into the room everyone is waiting in, "But she's not." Pope says, "How long did you travel with her for?" he asks, "Not long at all." Daryl says, "What can you tell me about her?" "Not... Not much." "Why am I keeping you around?" Pope questions.

"You said God chose me." Daryl says, Pope chuckles slightly, "Oh, Dixon. I had this dog. Named Tick, on account he was a Bluetick hound. Found him on the side of the road. He was starving, half-dead. But the thing with some of these rescues like Tick, they don't trust easy. Now, sometimes, I would reach for Tick, and he'd give me this look. That look." Pope says, pointing at Daryl.

"Like he couldn't decide whether to lick my hand or bite it off." Pope continues, "Don't worry. I ain't gonna lick ya." Daryl says, taking a seat, Pope laughs, "There he is!" he says, stepping closer to Daryl, "Fair enough. Just don't try to bite me, either. Tick did. Hurt like hell having to strangle that dog." Pope says.

"We kept him here 'cause he's an excellent tracker. I'm sure he noticed something." Leah says, "She's... She's a great shot. I know that. That's probably how she took out Wells." Daryl says, "So, where would you look for her?" Pope asks, "Well, she's gonna want to see us coming. She's got that bow, so I'd look up. In the trees maybe." Daryl explains.

"Trees?" Pope questions, "Yeah." Daryl says, "We'll see." Iris watches him glance back at Leah, when the walkie crackles again, "Sir, they're back." Carver says, Iris follows behind Pope as he walks back to the walls, climbing up the ladder to the platform.

Iris looks out as the walkers start getting closer again, Pope lets out a laugh, "What is it?" Leah asks, "Somehow, she has turned the dead against the living. Ooh, that's impressive." Pope says, "How strong is this gate?" Daryl asks, "Oh, it's strong enough. They won't get that far, though." Pope answers.

An explosion goes off a few feet in front of the walls, then another and another, they wait and watch as more explosions go off, "What's on your mind, Shaw?" Pope asks, "Nothing." the blonde mumbles, "Come on. I know you better than I know myself. What?" Pope asks.

"I'm thinking of the ones we've lost." Leah answers, "And you blame me." "I didn't say that." "'Will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.' These are all tribulations, Leah. The black horse of famine, it rides after us all. I knew this war was coming. And in every war, there is... sacrifice." Pope explains as more explosions go off.

"That's why we were chosen in the first place, 'cause we didn't run from the fire. Just like we don't run from our enemies. Those men that have died... they didn't die in vain. It's their sacrifice that shows we are still worthy. That's why we will prevail." Pope says, Iris turns and walks towards the ladder.

"Where are you going Daliah?" Pope asks, Iris looks back at the man, "i need a piss, i'll be back" Iris mumbles, turning back to the ladder and climbing down it. The redhead walks away, she sees two patrols walking in front of her, quietly pulling out her sword, she creeps up behind them.

"Hey" she says, holding her sword by her side, "the boss wants you at the gates" she lies, the men nod and start walking past her, Iris raises her weapon, slicing her blade through their necks, she quickly drags the bodies and hides them in the tall grass.

She cleans her blade before sliding it onto her back again, she checks herself, making sure she has no blood on her before she starts making her way back.

Iris climbs back up the ladder, noticing Pope, daryl and Leah are no longer there, she glances around at the other soldiers, she leans against the walls, she feels eyes burning into the back of her head, glancing back she finds Daryl standing on a roof across the street, watching her.

"Daliah!" Iris looks down to see Pope at the bottom of the ladder, he nods his head to her, she climbs down the ladder and follows him, she walks with the man and they make their way up to the roof Daryl is on.

"It is time for our enemy to face their reckoning!" the man shouts, walking towards Leah and Daryl, "Oh, my. What were you two talking about?" he asks, noticing something off about them, "Family." Leah answers.

"Ain't nothing more important. The only real thing that... we got left in this world. Would you agree, Dixon?" Pope asks, "Yeah. Yeah, I would." Daryl says, "how about you Daliah?" he questions, looking back at Iris, "you're correct sir" Iris says.

Pope nods and looks back at Daryl, stepping closer to him "When this is done... I want you to find that woman for me. Bring her to me, Dixon." Pope orders, Daryl nods, "Good man." Pope says, walking forward and looking out at the walkers.

Iris hears the roar of an engine and sound of tires screeching against the floor as a red truck speeds at the gates breaking them down, the redhead pulls out her sword and watches the soldiers trying to fight off the walkers as they stumble into the community.

"Carver, what the hell's going on down there?" Pope questions into his walkie, "It's the enemy. They're inside the walls." Carver says, "Aim into the courtyard and fire." Pope orders, "Sir?" "Uh-huh. You heard me. Now!" he shouts.

"Our people are out there." Leah says, "I am aware of that." "So let's call them back in." "Alert the enemy? No. God will protect them!" Pope argues "and what if he doesn't?" Leah asks, "Then it was their time to die."

"Pope. We can win this another way." "We will win this... our way." "You can't kill..." "I can. I can! The Lord speaks through me! You don't question the Lord! You don't question me! Light it up!" Pope demands. Iris watches as the line sparks, Daryl pulls out his knives but Pope turns and looks at him.

Before the man can do anything Leah drives her knife into Pope's neck, "Iris! Go find Maggie!" Daryl shouts, throwing his knife at the other man, Iris runs to the door, quickly making her way out of the building.

"Hey we could use a hand!" one of the soldiers shouts, Iris looks at him before running the opposite way, she drives her sword into the people that get in her way.

Leah drives her knife into Pope, killing him, she turns and looks at the body of her brother on the floor, "Leah. Come on. Before they find us." Daryl says, "you told me she was gone" the blonde says, hurt in her voice.

"I'm sorry I lied to you. I love her. But you can still come back with us" Daryl explains, Leah pulls out her walkie "Pope is dead... Dixon murdered him. He's with the enemy. And so is the black Dahlia" Leah says.