Unbreakable threads

Chapter Twenty-Two: Into the Woods

Rick and Daryl moved swiftly, disappearing into the dense woods, their silhouettes fading as they ventured further in search of Sophia. Daryl, crouching low, inspected the ground, his trained eyes following the subtle signs of her trail—the disturbed dirt, the broken twigs, the faint impressions of small footsteps in the soil. Rick kept close, his face tense with worry, glancing back now and then, as if Sophia might appear at any moment, unharmed and safe.

Meanwhile, on the highway, the others formed a protective circle around the vehicles, each of them scanning their surroundings with a mix of fear and frustration. Shane paced back and forth, his expression hard, his shoulders tight with tension. To him, this was just another needless delay, another instance of them risking their lives for a kid who should've stayed put. He muttered under his breath, shaking his head, his fists clenching at his sides as he kept glancing toward the woods, barely concealing his irritation.

Alyssa stood a little apart from the group, her eyes darting between the forest and her half-brother Carl, who looked pale and shaken. He was trying to be brave, but she could see the fear in his eyes, the worry etched on his young face. Alyssa hesitated, feeling a pang of sympathy for him. She didn't really know how to comfort anyone; sarcasm and deflection had always been her shields, but this situation called for something real. Something she wasn't sure she knew how to give.

She took a quiet breath, then moved closer to Carl, sitting down beside him as he looked out at the woods, clutching his knees. "Hey," she said softly, her tone uncharacteristically gentle. "She's gonna be okay, you know. Rick and Daryl—they'll find her."

Carl glanced at her, his lip quivering slightly as he tried to hold back his fear. "You really think so?" he asked, his voice small.

Alyssa forced a smile, nodding. "I do. Daryl's good at this stuff. He knows the woods, and Rick... dad.. well, he's not gonna give up until he finds her... right?"

Carl nodded, his expression softening a little as he processed her words. He seemed to draw a bit of strength from her reassurance, relaxing just slightly. Alyssa felt a quiet surge of relief, realizing that maybe, just maybe, she'd helped.

Nearby, Carol stood close to Dale, her face pale and drawn, her eyes fixed on the line of trees as if she could will Sophia to come running out. Glenn and T-Dog were keeping watch, their gazes sweeping the road for any sign of danger, while Lori huddled close to Carl, her eyes flickering between Shane and the forest, worry etched into every line of her face.

Shane, unable to stay still, cast a frustrated look at the group, his voice bitter as he muttered, "This is exactly what we don't need right now. Losing time, losing focus. We could be moving forward, finding a real safe place, but instead we're here, waiting on a wild goose chase."

Alyssa's patience snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. "She's a kid, Shane. Scared out of her mind. What would you want us to do—just leave her?" She met his gaze defiantly, feeling the frustration bubbling inside her.

Shane's jaw clenched, his gaze darkening as he looked down at her. "I'm saying we can't risk everyone's lives every time someone wanders off. It's not about leaving her; it's about keeping the rest of us alive."

Alyssa opened her mouth to argue, but Carol's quiet, broken voice cut through the tension. "She's my daughter, Shane. I'd go after her alone if I had to."

Shane fell silent, a flicker of something resembling guilt crossing his face, but he quickly brushed it off, resuming his restless pacing. The group fell into a tense silence, each of them feeling the weight of Carol's words.

As they waited, the minutes stretched into what felt like hours, every rustle in the woods, every distant noise making their hearts race. Alyssa kept close to Carl, sharing a quiet sense of determination to hold the group together, to protect each other, even as the uncertainty gnawed at them all.