Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighty-one.

Outpost 22.

"The only thing I've ever known is the fight. There's so much we've done. So much more to do... But I want to believe there's hope... That together, there's hope. Isn't there?"

...........

"There's six of 'em." Daryl says looking at Iris and Carol next to him, "You think we can follow it without them seeing us?" Iris questions, "I think we hang back far enough, we'll be fine." Daryl says, Iris watches him as something catches his attention.

"What is it?" she asks, Daryl looks over at her, "They got Connie." he says, handing her the binoculars, "shit" she mumbles, looking at the guards holding Connie, she hands the binoculars to Carol.

Carol grabs the walkie from her belt, changing channels, "Guy's saying I have to put an exile on here. It's a cargo transport and against regs. Over." an officer says, "It's been cleared from up on high. She's not gonna be a worker. She's designation two." another man says.

"Oh, shit." the officer says, Iris looks to Daryl, seeing him looking back at her, "Yeah, exactly. Get her there safely." "Copy that." "What's 'designation two'?" Carol asks, "We can't go get her. They'll radio ahead." Iris says.

"We'll go find the kids." Daryl adds, Iris looks down at the floor, "Hey. We'll hang back, and we'll follow it to the others, and we're gonna bust them out all at once." Carol says, Iris lets out an exhausted sigh, feeling Carol rest a reassuring hand on her back.

............

Iris holds onto the back of Carols chair as Daryl speeds down the road, trying to keep up with the train, "Damn it!" Daryl mumbles, watching the train get away, "Just get ahead of it." Carol says, Iris watches the road as Daryl keeps driving.

............

"Train's gotta hit that junction. We should just sit tight until it does." Carol says, "I don't think I can do that." Daryl says, grabbing is crossbow from the roof of the car, "Do what?" Carol asks, "Sit tight." the man says, climbing back into the car.

Iris sits in the seat next to him, "Daryl. Hey. When I saw Connie get on that train, and I saw the door shut, I thought the same thing that you two did." Carol says.

"What's that?" Daryl asks, "The cave." Carol says, Iris looks down at her hands in her lap, Daryl looks over at his wife, " Do you remember what Kelly said the minute her sister was gone?" Carol asks, "We can't save them if we're dead." Daryl says, "We can play this however you want. But if we go it alone, we might be making the same mistakes again." Carol says.

"Alright." Daryl says, "Good." Carol says, reaching down and holding his hand, Daryl gently holds Iris's hand, she looks up at him, nodding slightly to show she's okay.

............

"Shit its maggie" Iris says as Daryl slows the car, she jumps out of the back and walks over to the woman, looking down at the dead child in her arms, "hey, it's okay" Iris says, kneeling down in front of Maggie, Iris grabs onto the child's body, pulling it off of Maggie.

She stands up and holds out her hand, "thanks" Maggie says, taking her hand and standing up, they climb into the back of the car again driving back to the spot.

"They just ripped him away from me. I wasn't strong enough." Maggie explains, Iris hands her the water, "I hate not knowing. It's worse. I shouldn't have... I shou..." Maggie says, holding back her tears, "This is not on you. You are just one person." Carol says.

"Doesn't matter. It's on me." Maggie says, Carol pulls Maggie into a hug, Iris gently strokes the brunette's hair, "You know... I barely saw Daryl and Iris when I got my new job at The Commonwealth. I barely saw anyone. Just doing our own thing." Carol explains.

"It was like the old world." she says, pulling away from Maggie and looking at her, "Back then, we never would've spoken to each other. But after The Fall, we were forced to become family. That's a good thing. It's a gift that's held, even in that place. They had to come at us when we were separated. What does that say to you?" Carol asks.

"That we scare the shit out of Pamela." Maggie says, "Exactly. And she failed. We're not alone any more, and we're gonna make it right." Carol says, "Iris. Carol." the redhead looks up at Gabriel and Rosita running towards them, "Maggie!" Rosita smiles.

Iris jumps out of the car, hugging Rosita and Gabriel "How did you find us?" Carol asks hugging Gabreil, "We heard a train." Gabriel says, "Did you hear a train?" he asks hugging Maggie, "Yeah, yeah." "Hey. Where's Daryl? Is he with you?" Rosita asks looking over at Iris, "He's inside." the woman says.

"Train's gonna be here soon." Iris says, to her husband, the other following her, "That's alright. We can hurry." Daryl says, pulling out his knife, "You wanna die quick? Or you wanna die screaming?" Daryl questions the officer.

"I know you." Gabriel says, looking down at the man, Iris looks to Gabriel as Daryl steps back to stand next to her, "Every Sunday, back pew, closest to the door. You'd always come a little late and leave a little early. Seemed like you wanted to talk about something." Gabriel explains.

"Does God forgive people like me?" the officer asks, "I don't know. I wish I did." Gabe says, "It's, like... torn up all the time with guilt. And shame." the man coughs, "Because you're a coward. It's okay. You're trying not to be. Fear can make us do things that... that bring shame. Could also push us into the light. And you're trying to do the right thing now. He sees that. I see it, too. We all do." Gabriel explains.

"I wish I'd talked to you sooner." the officer says, holding his side in pain, "I wish you had, too." Gabriel says, the man turns to the side, coughing up blood and spitting it onto the floor.

Gabriel kneels down neck to the man and rests his hand on his shoulder, "People remember the last thing that you do. The end of each story is very important. How do you want yours to end?" Gabe asks.

"They punish exiles by making them do hard labour. Your friends are on railway duty." the officer says, "Where?" "I don't know. They called me out when you escaped. You'll have to follow the train to find out where your friends are. I've only heard rumours about designation two. They're taken somewhere far away. They're never seen again." the officer explains.

Daryl looks to Iris, nodding to her before rushing away, "Will you help me? And pray with me while I go?" the man asks, Gabriel looks back at Iris and Carol, "Can you give us a minute?" he asks, Iris turns and walks away.