Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Seventy-nine.

What's Been Lost.

"My mom once told me that the only thing more dangerous than the dead is the living. But without the living, we might as well be dead. We all need people we can count on. And that's not just about words... but action... having the strength to put someone else's life ahead of your own. If we're willing to do that, then maybe we can get back some piece of what we've lost."

...........

Iris reaches back, clawing at the man's face as he tightens his arm around her neck, she looks down at Daryl as he fights off another man, suddenly she's thrown into the wall, reaching down and she pulls the knife from her boot.

The man grabs her again, wrapping his hands around her throat and pressing her against the wall, Iris gasps for air as she drives her knife into his stomach, releasing one of his hands he punches her across the face.

Iris's eyes roll back as his hands tighten, blocking her airway, she opens her eyes again and watches a knife slide into the man's head and his body drops to the floor, Iris doubles over, coughing and trying to catch her breath, "i got you" Daryl says.

Iris stands up again and hugs the man before pulling away and turning to Carol, "They took the kids." She says, "They took everyone." Carol adds, "Come on." Daryl says, Iris grabs her sword from the floor and they run out.

"I don't know. They jumped us." Daryl explains to Carol as they make their way through the alleyways, "They even took Dog." Iris adds, "You think they were Troopers?" Carol asks, "I think they were working for Pamela. We got to find Mercer." Daryl says.

They stop and hide for a minute, "Well, you don't think he would turn us in?" Carol asks, "Shit. There is one other person." she sighs "Hornsby?" Iris asks, "He knows all the dark shit that goes on here." "You know where to find him?" Daryl questions, "Yeah, but this isn't gonna be easy." Carol says, moving again.

"When is it ever?" Daryl says, following behind Carol, Iris lets out a sigh, looking up at the sky before following him.

.........

Iris presses herself against the wall, staying in the dark, Daryl grabs one of the officers, pulling him back and knocking him unconscious, he peers around the corner, checking it's clear before rushing to the other side and hiding in the dark.

Iris hears the other officer walking back to them, she nods to Carol and watches as she pulls back her arrow, shooting the officer in the leg, the man cries out in pain, Daryl grabs the man, taking off his helmet and smacking his head against the wall.

Iris pulls the zip ties from her pocket and tightens them around the officers wrists, she unclips his keys, "hey" she whispers, throwing them to Carol and picking up the man's gun, the three of them look in every room, Iris peers into the last room, looking back at Daryl and Carol.

They open the door and step inside, Iris stares down at Lance as he talks to himself, blood covers the room and the walker that was once Sebastion snarls at them, Daryl pulls out his knife and drives it into the walker's head.

The three of them look at each other, taken back by the scene, Daryl grabs Lance, wrapping his hand around the man's neck as he presses him against the wall.

"Where'd they take 'em? Where?!" Daryl questions, Lance groans in pain, Daryl moves the man face to the side, covering his mouth before digging his thumb in a cut, Lance screams in pain.

Daryl lets go, pulling his hand back and going to punch him before Carol stops him "No!" she shouts, Daryl steps back, Iris watches Carol gently speak "Lance, Lance... Lance, look at me. Look at me."

Carol raises her knife to the man's face, "We can't leave you here alive. Either you tell us where our friends are, or you're dead." she threatens, Lance's breathing slows and he looks at the woman, "I'll... I'll show you. You don't trust me. I get it. But I know a way out of the city." the man says.

Carol steps away from him, "Move." she orders, Iris notices something on the man's ankle, "Wait." she says, grabbing him and stopping him from moving, "What is that?" she asks, pointing to the object.

"It's a radio-frequency monitor. It'll set an alarm off if I leave this place." Lance explains, Daryl pulls out his knife and crouches down to the monitor, "You're gonna have to cut off my foot... are you gonna carry me?" he asks.

Daryl stands again, "You better be ready to run fast. Go." Carol says, "Wait. I need to do something first." he says, Iris stands at the door, looking around and keeping guard, the alarm starts to sound, she waits for the others to get in front of her before running.

Bullets fly around them, Iris turns to see officers shooting at them, Daryl and Iris shoot back, hiding from the bullets behind the wall, "Come on!" Carol shouts to the couple, "Go! Get him out of here!" Daryl says, looking at Iris.

"Not without you!" Iris argues, "I'll figure it out! Go!" he shouts, Iris quickly captures him in a kiss before reluctantly pulling away, "go!" he shouts, Iris looks back at him as she stops in the doorway, "be safe!" Daryl shouts, looking back at her, "I'll find you!" Iris shouts before running behind Carol and Lance.