Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighty-eight.

Rest in Peace. |||

"The variants are too dangerous to just lead away, so here's the new plan. First, we need to get a vehicle out of the Estates. Clear a path, but do not engage the rotters more than absolutely necessary." Mercer explains.

Iris reaches over the wall of shields, she swings her sword at the walkers, slicing the blade through their heads, "Keep going!" she shouts to the others as they fight the walkers, "Hold the line!" Aaron adds, "The vehicle's out the back gate. We're on our way to the town square. Let us know when we're clear." Mercer says through the radio, Iris pulls the walkie from her belt and lifts it up.

"We diverted the walkers. It's as clear as it's gonna get. Go!" she says "Copy that! We're on our way to the fuel depot!" "Truck's coming!" Iris says into the walkie before going back to stabbing her sword into the walkers heads.

"Keep holding! Keep holding! Don't let them through!" Aaron shouts as the truck drives past them, 'cult of personality' starts echoing through the streets, getting louder as it gets connected to more speakers, "The music's working. The walkers are turning and heading for the Estates. It's almost go time. Let's get that fuel down in the sewers. We're only gonna have one shot at this." Everyone rushes away before the explosions go off, taking out all of the walkers just like they had planned.

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

"It's not easy having so many lives in your hands." Pamela says, Iris leans back against the wall next to Daryl, looking at the woman sat in the cell, "There are decisions you'll have to make that are ugly. How do you pick who does the jobs no one wants? Who gets the nicer house?" Pamela continues.

"We've already had to make an ugly decision. We kept you alive. After everything you've done. 'Cause we've all done things." Iris says glaring at the woman, "We'll figure it out. I'll make sure of it." Carol adds, walking out of the cell, she stops in the doorway and looks back at Pamela.

"And at least we don't have to worry about who gets your house." she says, Iris nods to Mercer, a smile on her face as the man closes the cell door, locking Pamela in there, Daryl grabs onto Iris's hand and they walk away, leaving the woman to rot in the cell.

..........

Daryl holds onto Iris's hand, smiling at her as she laughs with the group "Hey, everybody." Yumiko says, standing up, "A toast. To Luke." she signs, holding up her glass of wine, Iris grabs her glass, rasing it in the air, "To Luke." everyone says, Iris looks over at Daryl.

A smile on her face, she stands from her seat and everyone looks up at her, "I never had a family growing up. When I met Rick I never would've imagined the family he would build, the world Carl would've started... i wanna give a toast to everyone we lost, fighting for the new world" Iris says, holding her glass in the air. "To our family" she adds, "to our family" everyone repeats.

"hey, you okay?" Iris questions, wrapping her arms around Daryl's waist, "yeah" he says, Iris looks out the window to see what he was looking at, she watches Negan walking away, "i'll be back" she says, pulling away and running out of the house, running to Negan.

"Negan! Wait!" she shouts, the man stops and turns to her as she stops in front of him, "thank you" she says, Negan looks down at her confused, "i never thanked you for keeping my sister safe all those years. For loving her. For giving me a chance to love her" Iris explains.

"And thank you for helping me see her even when she's gone" she smiles, tears filling her eyes, "I would've done anything for her" Negan says, "i know" Iris whispers, reaching up and pulling him into a hug, the man is shocked at first but hugs her back.

"Stay safe" Iris says, pulling away, "you too" Negan says, watching as the redhead walks away, Iris joins the group again, "everything okay?" Daryl asks, Iris wraps her arms around his waist and looks up at him, resting her chin on his chest, "everything is perfect" she smiles.

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

Iris carefully lays Coco in the bed, stepping back she watches Carol and Maggie help Rosita walk into the room, helping her sit on the bed, Maggie pulls Rosita into a hug, walking out, Carol hugs Rosita next, pulling away, smiling at her one last time before leaving the room.

Iris walks around the bed, sitting next to Rosita, "i'll keep Coco safe. I'll tell her stories of her badass mom" Iris says, laughing softly with Rosita, tears falling down their faces, "i'll train her to fight just like you. And i'll cover for her if she gets in any trouble" Iris continues, Rosita laughs softly, looking at the redhead with teary eyes.

"Thank you" she says, "i love you Rosita" Iris whispers, pulling the woman into a hug, Rosita hugs her back, "i love you too" she whispers, Iris pulls back and gently wipes the tears from Rositas cheeks, standing, she helps her lay back.

She walks out of the room, looking up at her husband as he stands in the doorway, she grabs onto his hand, squeezing it gently, they watch as Gabriel walks into the room, kneeling down next to Rosita, "Receive her into your arms of mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace and into the glorious company of the saints and light. May her soul and the soul of all those departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen." Gabriel prays.

The man stands up and walks to the other side of the bed, "We'll see you again someday." he says, reaching down and lifting Coco, walking out of the room as Eugene walks in, sitting on the chair next to her, "Rosita..." he says, crying softly.

"I wouldn't be the man I am today if I hadn't met you." he says, Rosita holds onto his hand, "I'm glad it was you in the end." she says, weakly, Iris lays her head on Daryl's shoulder as they watch Rosita's eyes slowly close, her last breath leaving her mouth.