Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Seventy-eight.

You are brave.

"Sometimes I wonder if it takes more courage to live or die. We've all done things to still be here... things we'd like to forget... We became whoever we needed to be... But who we are now, the choices we make now, maybe that's all that matters."

..........

A knock comes from the apartment door, Iris lets out a sigh, standing from the armchair and walking to the door, opening it up to see CA's on the other side, "come with us" they order.

Iris walks with the officers out of the building she looks around to see Princess and Ezekiel behind her with more officers, she looks in front again to see Rosita looking back at her.

Iris sits in the interrogation room, kicking her feet up on the table and sitting back, Mercer walks in and sits in the chair opposite her, "Iris wolf-" "Dixon, Iris Dixon" Iris interrupts, "Miller Street, Sector G . Currently unemployed." Mercer continues.

Iris rolls her eyes, "Married to Daryl Dixon, taking care of two children, Judith Grimes and Rick Jr. Grimes. Do you verify the information to be true?" the man questions, Iris just glares at him "Do you verify the information?" he repeats.

"This is bullshit" she mumbles, "Do you verify that this information is true?" "yes" Iris snaps, growing annoyed, "Where were you during the riot?" he asks, "i was trying to stop the walkers from killing people" Iris says.

"Who were you with?" "Myself." Iris says, "you were with Daryl and Judith. Several witnesses saw you." Mercer says, "I was. But when I saw the walkers I told him to get her safe and I went to help" Iris explains.

"You ran into Eugene while you were out there" the man says, "probably" Iris says, "you did, there were witnesses" Iris sits up straight, taking her legs off the table, "i was a bit distracted by all the people getting eaten" she snaps.

"Did you see Sebatian get attacked?" the redhead leans forward, resting her arms on the table, "why are you still doing this? You don't care about him. You don't need this place" Iris says.

"Did you see him get attacked?" he repeats, "yes, but it was too late to help him" Iris lies, she watches the man stand up and open the door, "you're free to go" he says, Iris stands and walks out of the room, catching up to Rosita as they walk down the street.

Iris knocks on the door, stepping back and waiting for it to be opened, she hears someone stop on the other side, she lets out a whistle and the door opens, "Hey" Daryl says, moving to the side and letting them in, locking the door behind them.

"How'd it go?" he questions, "A lot of repeat questions and intense staring." Rosita says, "You?" "Same." Iris says, "You talk to the others?" Rosita asks, "Yeah. We're gonna leave at dawn if we can get out." Daryl explains.

"Alright. Mercer's gonna be watching." Iris says, "I'm counting on it." Daryl says, Iris picks up her bag Daryl got for her, opening it up she pulls out her knife and slide it into her belt, grabbing her spare one and putting it in her boot.

"Hey. How you holding up?" Rosita asks Eugene as he comes out of hiding "Reckon better than I deserve. I don't suppose you have any news on Max's whereabouts?" the man asks, "I don't. I'm sorry." Rosita says, "It may seem trivial in light of all the melee and mayhem, but I'm the one who should be truly sorry. It's my actions that put you in extremely compromised situations." Eugene explains.

"No, don't be. That prick had it coming." Iris says, looking back at the man, "Alright, what we need to do now is figure out how to get you out of here." Rosita says, "I know a way. The east gate. I know when the shifts change. Might be a window we can slip out." Daryl says.

"Alright, good. We can meet up with the others on the road to Alexandria. Eugene, what's up?" Rosita asks, "At the risk of sounding ungrateful for all your efforts on my behalf, I cannot leave without my beloved. I need to go find her." the man says.

"You got every trooper in the city looking for you. You wouldn't make it a block." Iris says, "Well, be that as it may, I cannot... I-I will not leave without her. At the very least, ascertain her safety." the man argues.

"Okay. You stay here. I will go look for Max. If I can find her, maybe we can get both of you out. Is that a deal?" Rosita asks, "Deal." Eugene says, Iris hands Rosita her weapon "Be safe." she says "Yeah." Rosita says, taking the weapon and walking away.

Iris stops when Pamela's voice comes through the speakers, "Attention, my fellow citizens. The perpetrators of these horrific events cannot be allowed to go unpunished." Iris looks over at Daryl anxiously.

"Anyone providing information on the whereabouts of these individuals will receive a generous reward, while any persons found aiding and abetting these fugitives will share their fate... That of swift and final justice." Pamela finishes.

Iris sits down on the pew, nervously picking at the skin around her nails, "what is it?" Daryl asks, sitting next to her, Iris lays her head on his shoulder, "just thinking what would've happened if we stayed in Alexandria" Iris mumbles, "don't do that... dont try and find a way to blame yourself" Daryl says.

Iris lifts her head again, kissing him on the cheek before standing and preparing to leave. The sun goes down, Iris watches Daryl walk off, "You trying to get yourself caught?" she hears the man say, she stands up and follows him.

Standing behind him and watching Eugene shut the window, "I was merely peeping at trooper activity levels so as to allow my assistance in Rosita's search for Max. Tired of standing on the proverbial sidelines." the man says, storming towards Daryl and Iris.

Daryl steps in front of him, stopping him from leaving, "You'd be wise to step aside, hoss. No need for this to get ugly." Eugene warns, Iris leans back against the wall, watching Daryl not move, "Very well." Eugene says.

He steps back rolling his sleeves up before lifting his fists and squaring up to Daryl, Iris watches her husband stay still, "Go ahead." Daryl says, turning to the side and letting the man walk past, he slowly moves, stopping after a few steps.

"You're not trying to stop me." he says, "You ain't going." Daryl says, Iris looks at the pain on Eugene face, he slowly turns around again and walk to a chair, sitting down. "Because I'm a coward." he says.

"No. It's because you're smart." Daryl says, "I'm a liability. Always have been. Relying on others to survive, counting on their courage due to a dearth of my own. Hell, the only way I bucked natural selection was my penchant for prevarication... Means lying." Eugene explains.

"I figured." Daryl says, "Yeah, well, I'm ashamed to say it's my only discernible skill. Do you think people are born brave, or do they become it?" Eugene asks, "Both." Daryl answers, patting Eugene on the back before walking off.

Iris sits next to Eugene, "you are brave Eugene" she says, the man looks over at her, "the night of the line up, you stepped up and drove the RV" she says, "it didn't help" he says, "but you were still brave by doing it" Iris says, she stands up and gently squeezes his shoulder before walking away.

Iris stands and watches Rosita enter the church again, "Max?" Eugene questions, "She's not coming." Rosita says, "You found her?" he asks, "I did, but it was too late. She's already in police custody. I'm sorry, Eugene." Rosita says.

"Shift's about to happen. We should get going." Daryl says, Iris pulls her backpack on, grabbing her sword, "Then it's time I bid you adieu." Eugene says, Iris looks at the man sitting down. "We'll check on the others. Meet you back at your place." Daryl says, grabbing his crossbow, Iris follows behind the man.