Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighty-two.

I'm dead.

"If that train pulls in, Connie's gone." Daryl says, "If they see us coming, they're gonna radio ahead." Rosita says, "The best way for us to get the kids is with them not knowing that we're coming." Iris adds, "We can't just leave her on there, though." Daryl says. "We won't. I think there's a way to do both." Carol says, everyone looks over at the woman.

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

Iris watches the train slow to a stop, eyeing the guard as he climbs off of the train, she slowly stands and runs to the train, climbing up and laying on the roof, she army crawls to the front of the train cart, as Maggie moves into the drivers room.

She moves the gun to sit in front of her, aimed at the officer on the ground, another officer walks in front of her, trying to fix the tracks but failing, Iris waits for the right time, "Somebody jammed this. Everybody get back here now." he says into his walkie.

"Does anyone copy?" he questions, guns fire from behind her, Iris shoots at one of the officers, hitting his arm before they move to hide, she stands up and follows them from above.

Peering over the edge she shoots one in the head, stopping him from shooting at Daryl and Carol, she moves to the other side, peering down and shooting at the other officer, when his body drops to the floor Iris climbs down and runs to the others.

Iris wraps her arms around Connie, holding her tight, "you're okay" she says, pulling back and letting the woman read her lips, Iris looks back, watching the last guard drive away.

Daryl climbs onto the other bike, reving the engine and driving off after the officer, Iris walks over to the bodies, collecting their weapons before they make their way back to the spot. Carol and Maggie drag the train driver along with them, taking him inside, "I do what you're asking, I'm dead." the man cries.

"You know what? You're dead if you don't." Maggie says, the man looks down at the dead officer, "Sit down." Iris orders, pointing her gun at the man, he follows her orders, "My family lives at a nearby outpost. Warden finds out I helped you... I'll end up just like your friends." he panics.

"They took our children. You said you have a family? I bet he had a family." Rosita says, the man looks down at the dead officer, "There's a map. Back at the train. It's in the engine room." he says, "Let's go." Maggie says, grabbing him with Carol and lifting him to his feet.

A motorcycle gets closer as they start to walk, Iris moves away to go and see Daryl but before she can she hears yelling "Stay back!" Iris runs towards them, pointing her gun at the man holding a knife to his chest.

"Put it down." Carol says, "I'll do it! Please. I help you, my wife and two boys will die!" the man cries, Iris lowers her gun, stepping forward, "hey, listen" she says gently, the man looks at her, she lets her gun hang by her hip as she holds her hands up, moving closer to him.

"Just tell us where our people are, and we'll injure you. N-Nothing serious. Just enough to make it look like... Make it look like you barely got away, and you can tell him you escaped. He'll never know." she explains, "He'll know I lied! He'll torture me when he finds out I did! Then he'll kill my family." he cries.

"Please... i won't let that happen" Iris says, "I can't! I'm sorry!" he cries, driving the blade into his neck, "No!" Iris shouts, running to him, Carol grabs her arm as the man drops to the floor, the knife moving further into his neck, "fuck!" Iris shouts, kicking the side of the car before walking away from the others.

"Hey" Daryl says, catching up to her, he grabs her arm and stops her from walking away, "we'll find them" he says, looking down at her, "how?" Iris questions, shaking her head she looks down at the floor, "we never should've stayed there" she mumbles.

Daryl gently holds her face, making her look up at him, "stop blaming yourself" he says, gently kissing her on the head, Iris reaches up and takes his hand, taking a deep breath before walking back to the others.

"So we don't know which way to go?" Connie signs, "We don't know." Daryl says, "Kelly is there, and I know she is scared. I can't lose her" "Don't worry. We'll find Kelly." Daryl says, "how?" "We can go back to the train, get the long-range radio back up." Iris suggests.

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

"Outpost 22 this is 301, I need help. The train was overtaken, and I'm in the woods, I'm lost. They're still looking for me. I-I need to get back to the site. Over." Rosita says into the radio, Iris looks down at the fire as they wait for a response.

"Outpost 22, please. I need help, over." Rosita says, "301, what was your original sit-rep and location?" a woman's voice sounds through the radio, "Junction seven. I'm the last one left." Rosita says.

"Damn. Copy that. Don't worry. We'll get you home. Do you still have your compass?" "Yes." "Good. Head due north through the woods. You'll eventually reach a breach. After that, you'll be on a rough road. That's Packard Avenue. Gauge your direction, and head south. Copy so far?" the woman asks.

"Yes, copy." "Eventually you'll hit the highway. Take it east. Get off at Crooks. Head down the road until you find a suburban neighbourhood. A section has been shored up and fortified with walls. You'll see friendly faces in the guard tower."

"When you get here, you'll take the northeast gate closest to the railroad tracks, and we'll have guards on the lookout for you. Unfortunately, we don't have any spare units to send out your way for a pickup. We have a convoy coming in for colonial processing. Governor's orders."

"22, did you say a convoy is coming in for reprocessing?" Rosita questions, "Yes, ma'am. Word is that most of the processees used to live here before the Commonwealth claimed the territory and turned it into an outpost, back when it was still called Alexandria."

Daryl and Iris look at eachother, "The Warden will debrief you when you get to base. In the meantime, keep an eye out for any more hostiles on the road. If you have to engage, shoot to kill. Watch your six, and godspeed, 301." "Thanks, 22. I'll see you soon." Rosita says, throwing the radio on the floor and standing up.

"Milton has underestimated us since day one." Maggie says, her anger growing, "We are gonna get our kids, take back our home, and make it right." Iris says, looking at the others, "And Pamela's never gonna see it coming." she says, looking back down at the fire.