Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighty-three.

 Faith.

"The world is dark and broken, but we're not. Not yet... We stare into the face of death every day... until, one day, that face is our own. How do you come back from that? My dad wanted mercy to prevail over wrath. If we lose that, we lose everything."

...........

"No, it's really bad. I don't think any of them are gonna make it." Daryl says, Iris nervously bites her lip, "But you saw everyone." Gabriel says, "The adults." Carol says, "Coco, Hershel, the kids?" Rosita questions.

"No." "But they have to be there. Right?" Maggie asks, "Okay, we need to go in now." Rosita says, "We can't. There's too many guards. We'll never make it." Daryl says.

"So, she turned our home into a prison... after promising to give it back." Gabe sighs, "She never planned to give it back." Maggie says, "Wait. We can go in the sewers. We did it before." Iris says, "I know a way to get back into our old house, but I need some backup just in case the guards have it blocked." Carol explains.

"I'll go with you." Maggie says, "All right, we're gonna go to the windmill." Daryl says, "There's a sewer grate there." Iris adds, "All right, I'm going with you guys." Rosita says.

"All right." "But we need eyes out here." Carol says, "Carol, I'm not staying out here when Coco's inside." Rosita snaps, "You and Gabriel are our best sharpshooters. If it comes to that. We can radio each other if something goes wrong." Carol explains.

"If it's more than a night, I'm going in." Rosita says, Iris hands the woman her gun, "Here you go. Be safe." Daryl says, handing one to Gabriel before following Iris to their way in.

Daryl lifts the cover, sliding it out of the way, Iris slides her sword onto her back before climbing down the ladder, she looks around as the other two climb down after her, she shines her torch down the tunnels, before leading the way down.

"We're good. We made it." Carol says through the walkie, Iris grabs the walkie from her belt "Yeah, we're good, too." Iris says, she looks back at Daryl and Connie as he signs to her, telling her the others are okay.

She looks back ahead, leading the way, a hand gently taps on her shoulder, "are you okay?" Connie signs, "i'm fine" Iris signs, "what is it?" "bad memories down here" Iris says, trying her best to sign. Connie offers the redhead a comforting smile, before they focus on moving again.

Iris stops when she hears walkers growling, she raises her torch and looks at the dead, growl at them, her body freezes as their faces turn into Carl's face, Daryl steps past her and drives his knife into the head of the closest one.

He turns to Iris and rests his hand on her shoulder, "it's not him. It's not Carl" he says, Iris squeezes her eyes shut, "i'm okay" she whispers, Daryl gently squeezes her shoulder before turning and clearing a path through the vines.

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

"There is a traitor in our midst." Warden announces, standing in front of the crowd, "Someone who thinks he's above the rules." two guards drag Negan to the front of the crowd, "This prisoner has admitted to spearheading a rebellion. Any co-conspirators will be given the benefit of the doubt. I trust they were not acting of their own free will." Warden explains.

"So only he will be punished." he shouts, turning back and pointing at Negan, "But it's important that you're all here to see. To remember." "Negan!" Annie screams, running towards the man, the guards grab her, holding her back, "No, Annie, don't! Hey, hey. It's okay." Negan says, "No. No." Annie sobs.

"I love you." Negan says, smiling sadly, "Get him on his knees." Warden orders, the guards move him in front of the windmill wall, "This is what happens when you forget your place. Take your positions." he orders, the guards stand in front of Negan, aiming their guns at the man.

"No! Don't let him do this! No! No! You... Listen to me! You can't do this! Please!" Annie cries, "Ready." Warden says, moving to the side, "Aim." he says, Negan smiles as the officers prepare to shoot him.

"There are no martyrs here." Warden says, walking over to Annie and grabbing her, "Get off!" she screams, "No. No! That wasn't our deal!" Negan shouts, as they push Annie to her knees next to him, "Take me! Take me!" Negan shouts.

"You will feel this punishment!" Warden says, pushing Negan back onto the ground before walking away again, "That is not what you said! No! You take me! Just me!" Negan yells, "Ready." Warden says, the officers raise their guns again.

"You." Negan says, looking at one of the men, "You have a family. Don't do this. Please." he begs, "I said ready!" Warden snaps, "Leave her! Take me! Just take me!" "Aim." "Please. Please." Negan begs.

Ezekiel steps forward, holding his hands up in surrender, "What are you doing?" Negan asks the man, "I don't know." Ezekiel says, turning and looking at the guards, others join him, creating a shield in front of Negan and Annie.

"I admire your bravery, prisoners." Warden says, "shoot them all." he orders, the officers raise their guns again, "You don't have to do this! This world is broken, but we don't have to be." Ezekiel says, one by one the officers lower their guns.

One raises his gun and points it at Warden, shooting the other gaurd that tries to stop him, "No! No! Kelly!" Magna screams as Warden grabs Kelly, holding her as a shield in front of him, pointing a gun to her head.

Everyone screams as he walks back, he stops when a blade drives through his back, sliding through his body and coming out of his stomach, when he drops everyone looks to see Iris standing behind him, her sword covered in his blood.

.......

"Negan! Don't kill him!" Rosita shouts, Negan stands back from the warden's body, Rosita grabs him and turns him over, "Where's my daughter?" she questions, the man doesn't answer, "Where is she?!" she shouts, shaking his weak body.

Rosita punches him, standing up and grabbing the trooper as it wakes up again "Where the hell is she?!" Rosita screams, holding the walker's face close to Wardens, "Tell me where she is! Where is she?!" she shouts.

"You will lose everything." Warden smiles, Rosita pushes the walkers head down, the mans scream echo through the night air as the walker bites at the flesh on his face.

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

"Judith, RJ" Iris smiles, running to the kids, the two of them wrap their arms around her, Iris hugs them back, holding them tight, "are you okay?" she questions, pulling away and holding them both in front of her, "we're okay" Judith says.