Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighty-four.

Family.

"For the longest time, we were just fighting to survive... Trying to get back what we lost... This family, my family, we would do anything to protect each other. And we're fighting now for something else. Something bigger... A new beginning... But that comes with a cost... There's always a cost.

I never got to know my mom Lori... My brother Carl dreamed of a day when we'd all live together in peace... My mom Michonne tried to hang up her sword... My dad, Rick, was searching for mercy. And me? Well, I guess I'm a Grimes, too.

I keep thinking about something my mom told me... A secret saying she used to share with my dad... It was like a good luck charm... For me and RJ, too. I was afraid to say it out loud. I was afraid to say so many things out loud.

But we didn't know when we started this that this would be the day everything changed forever."

.........

"We'll be back soon. All right?" Daryl says, looking down at RJ sitting between him and Iris, "Till then, mind your sister, yeah?" the man adds, "I'm coming." Judith says, Iris looks at the girl in front of them.

"No." Daryl says, "But-" "I need you here." Daryl says, "That's crap." Judith snaps, "jude-" Iris tries but the girl interrupts, "This isn't the future my brother wanted. Not what my mom and dad fought for. Not what you fought for" Judith says, looking at Iris.

"Not yet. What we're doing could help everyone. Not just us, but maybe everybody everywhere. I want to be part of that. To make what my family believed in real." she continues.

"We've all been so focused on what's right in front of us for so long. You're thinking about what's after. It's a good thing. Maybe we could all do a little more of that." Carol says, "All right, but you stay right with me and Iris, okay?" Daryl says.

"Come on." Daryl says, he stands with RJ and takes him to Nabila, Iris stands and grabs onto Iris's hand, walking behind them.

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

"Once we're in, the group is gonna move the prisoners into hiding. Hopefully getting Mercer on our side. And as they work on taking out Pamela, we go for Coco heading through here." Rosita explains, Iris rests her head on Daryl's shoulder as they sit in the train cart.

She smiles at Judith resting her head on his other shoulder, "The lower ward? Why not the estates?" Gabe asks, "More money, more patrols. We don't stand out as much in the wards. We're gonna use this access road, and it should bring us behind the children's house. We're gonna hit it from behind." Rosita explains, pointing at the map.

Iris closes her eyes, listening to Daryls heartbeat, "are we sure Mercer is going to help us?" Gabriel asks, Iris looks up at the man, "He's going to help. He's one of us" Iris says.

"Haven't heard from my mom in a long time." Judith says, Iris looks over at the girl, "Tried a few times, but nothing came back." She says, "Could be a lot of reasons for that. But she can take care of herself better than just about anyone I've ever known." Carol says.

"She'd be real proud of ya. Your dad, too." Daryl says, Judith looks at Iris "Carl, too?" she questions, "yeah" Iris smiles sadly, "You two are a lot alike." she adds, "He died saving people." Judith says, " Yeah, he did." Iris says.

"I wish I had more time with him. I wish we had more time to just remember them." the girl says, looking at the floor, "me too kid" Iris says, she stands up and moves to sit next to the girl, "We will" Carol says, "And when this is over, I'm gonna tell you every story I remember, about all the people that loved you." Daryl says.

Iris holds onto the girl's hand, stocking her thumb across her skin, "Come here." Daryl says, pulling Judith into his side and holding her, he puts his hand on Iris's shoulder.

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

"Hey, we are sitting ducks. He ain't coming, and we can't wait." Negan says, Iris crouches down and peers through the fence, "It's time for a new plan." Carol says, "Guys, please. Mercer's gonna show up." Princess says, "We're running out of time." Daryl says.

"I'm gonna head around, try to find another way to slip in. Be careful." Carol says, "All right." Iris turns back and watches the woman leave, "There's only four of them. We could take 'em." Maggie says, "Those guards go missing, the clock's ticking on us." Iris says.

"Hey!" Judith whispers from next to Iris, the woman looks back through the fence, watching two guards walking closer to them.

"Sector D, gather all available units and report to the East Gate immediately. Mercer needs bodies to deal with an incoming swarm." Rose says through one of the walkies, "Sir, does that include Tunnel H?" one of the guards asks, "Yes, that includes Tunnel H."

"So are we supposed to just abandon our post?" "God damn it, soldier, it's locked! We've got it covered on this end. Stop wasting time. Move!" "All right, let's move. You heard it! Move!"

"I think we're good." Judith says, "You sure?" Daryl asks, the girl looks to Iris before looking back at the guards leaving, she looks back at Daryl, nodding to him.