Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Sixty-three.

For Us.

Iris grips onto her sword, looking around and trying to stay quiet, the groans of the walkers echo through the night air, she creeps through the streets, making her way towards the gates.

The redhead starts driving her blade into the heads of the dead and the living, the sound of a body dropping behind her catches her attention, Maggie quickly nods to her before going back to killing the soldiers.

Iris can't help but feel guilt scratching at her insides as she drives her sword into one of the soldiers, fear flashes in his eyes as the life slowly drains from his body, she steps back as he collapses onto the floor.

A hand rests on her shoulder and Iris is pulled from her thoughts, she looks over to see Negan wearing the walker's skin, his eyes showing concern, she quickly looks away and watches the soldiers running off, "You have got to be shittin' me. They are retreatin'." Negan says in disbelief.

Iris looks around "But why?" Maggie questions, Iris looks up to see Leah still on the roof, fire growing from behind her, "oh shit" the redhead mumbles, realisation hitting, "move!" she orders.

Fireworks start flying around them, landing in the walkers and exploding next to them, Iris runs away from the gate, squinting through the smoke as it fills the air around her.

She presses her body against a wall, catching her breath, "fuck" she whispers, realising she's lost the others. Iris closes her eyes as the explosions go off around her, she lets out a sigh before opening her eyes again, she grips onto her sword as she steps away from the wall.

Iris makes her way into one of the buildings, slowly walking through the hallways, suddenly Iris is knocked into the wall, her sword drops to the floor, she quickly regains her balance and looks over at the man that had pushed her.

His fist collides with the side of her face, Iris starts throwing punches at him, the man grabs her by her ponytail, pulling tight and pushing her against the wall, his hands move to her face, pressing it into the cold wall.

She feels his blade sitting against her throat, he turns her to look at him, Iris kicks her leg up between his legs, grabbing his wrist as he groans in pain she twists his arm, hearing him scream as a small crack sounds from his arm, the knife falls to the floor and Iris shoves him into the wall behind him.

Using her free hand she grabs onto his hair, using it as leverage as she smacks his head against the wall, she watches his body fall to the floor, Iris walks over to her sword, picking it up, she looks down at the man as she raises the blade before driving it into his head.

Iris walks down the hall listening to the sound of fighting, before she gets any closer she hears voices, "Austin, you in there? Austin?" Walsh questions, "Break it down." Leah orders, Iris quickly creeps into one of the rooms, closing the door behind her, she stands against the wall holding her sword in front of her.

She holds her breath as footsteps walk down the hall, nervously biting her lip she waits for them to walk past the room, when the footsteps are gone Iris slowly opens the door, peeking out of the gap and looking up and down the hall, when she doesn't see anyone she quickly makes her way through the hall.

Iris looks around the old classroom, she stares down at Austin's body, sighing quietly before running out of the building, the woman searches for her people, she makes her way into another building, hoping she will find them, "where's Iris?" relief washes over her as she hears Daryl's voices.

"I don't know. We lost her when the explosions started going off" Maggie says, "i'm here" the redhead mumbles, turning the corner and looking over at her family, she slides her sword onto her back, as Daryl walks over to her, he wraps his arms around her, she slowly hugs him back, pulling away she looks down at Carver laying on the floor.

"We don't kill him yet." Daryl says, watching Iris as she stares down at the man on the floor, "He needs to pay for what he did." Elijah says, "I agree. But if we go down that route... we ain't all gonna make it out alive." Daryl says.

"No offence... I hate this prick. But we got him now. Let's use him. Get what we want and go home." he adds, "Are you doing this for her?" Maggie questions, Iris looks over at her husband, unsure what his answer is going to be, "No." Daryl says, looking his wife in the eyes.

"No, I'm not. I'm doing it for us. Leah wants us gone, but not more than saving her own family. Especially this asshole." Daryl explains, "This can go wrong in different ways. Me... I am down with us getting out of this alive." Negan says, Iris steps back as Daryl moves towards Carver's unconscious body.

"No!" Elijah cries, "Elijah..." "You're just gonna let him walk away?" he questions "They will get what's coming to them. Maybe not today, but they will. I promise." Maggie says, Daryl takes the walkers off of Carver and raises it to his mouth, "Leah, it's me. We need to talk."