Unbreakable threads

Chapter Twenty: No Way Out

The morning came with a jarring dose of reality. The group gathered in the CDC's common area, groggy but slightly hopeful after their brief reprieve the night before. Dr. Jenner was already waiting for them, his face drawn, a haunted look in his eyes. His usually steady demeanor was gone, replaced by an unsettling mix of stress and resignation.

Rick's face tightened, a sense of dread settling over him as he saw Jenner's expression. "What's going on, Dr. Jenner?" he asked cautiously, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.

Jenner took a shaky breath, his hands trembling as he wiped them on his lab coat. "I... I have to tell you all something," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked around the room, his gaze landing on each person, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "The generators... they're running out of power. I tried everything, but the fuel reserves are almost empty."

The group stared at him in stunned silence, the gravity of his words sinking in. Rick stepped forward, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How long do we have?" he demanded, his voice edged with desperation.

"A few hours, maybe less," Jenner replied grimly. "When the power goes... the CDC is programmed to self-destruct. Everything—everyone in here—will be incinerated."

Chaos erupted. Daryl shot to his feet, his expression wild as he bolted toward the nearest door, fists pounding against the reinforced metal. "Open up! There's gotta be a way out!" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation as he banged on the door, trying to force it open. He ran from one door to the next, testing handles, smashing his fists against anything he could find, his frustration growing with each failed attempt.

Alyssa stood frozen in place, her breaths coming fast and shallow as panic clawed at her chest. She tried to steady herself, gripping the edge of a table to keep from collapsing as her heart raced. The room spun, her vision blurring as the reality of their situation sank in. She wanted to scream, to run, but she forced herself to stay still, to focus, even as her mind threatened to spiral.

Carol clutched Sophia tightly, both of them trembling, tears streaming down their faces. "I can't... I can't let her die like this," Carol whispered, her voice choked with fear as she held her daughter close, her fingers gripping Sophia's shoulders as if she could shield her from the inevitable.

Glenn, still groggy and disoriented from his hangover, looked around in confusion, unable to fully process the horror unfolding before him. "Wait... wait, what?" he mumbled, his eyes darting between Rick and Dr. Jenner, as if hoping someone would tell him it was all a sick joke.

T-Dog's face twisted with anger, his fists clenched as he paced back and forth. "So you're telling us you brought us here just to let us die?" he spat, his voice filled with fury as he glared at Jenner. "We trusted you!"

Dale placed a hand on T-Dog's shoulder, trying to calm him down, but his own face was etched with deep concern. "There has to be a way," he murmured, though even he didn't sound convinced.

Andrea and Jacqui, however, were eerily calm, their faces resigned as they looked at one another, a silent understanding passing between them. "Maybe... maybe it's better this way," Andrea whispered, her voice barely audible. "Better than out there. At least it'll be quick."

Jacqui nodded, her expression somber. "We've all lost so much already. Maybe this is... easier."

Lori held Carl tightly, her face a mask of horror as she clung to Rick. "Rick... do something," she whispered, her voice filled with desperation. "You promised... you promised you'd keep us safe."

Rick swallowed hard, his mind racing, his grip tightening on Lori and Carl. His promise to protect them rang in his ears, a vow that now felt impossible to keep. He looked around the room, seeing the fear, the despair, the frustration—and he knew he couldn't let it end like this. He had to find a way.