Unbreakable threads

Chapter Forty-seven: the prison alarm

As Hershel, Carol, Maggie, Beth, Carl, and Alyssa settled in, trying to find a moment of peace after Rick, Daryl, Glenn, and T-Dog had ventured deeper into the prison, their sense of calm was shattered. A piercing, shrill sound filled the cell block—the unmistakable blare of the prison's alarm system. The loud, grating noise echoed through the concrete walls, vibrating the floor beneath their feet, as if the entire prison were coming to life.

Alyssa jolted up, her heart racing as the reality of the alarm hit her. This was no ordinary noise. It was a lockdown alarm, and in an instant, she understood the danger they were now facing. The piercing sound was bound to attract every walker within the prison's walls, drawing them out of whatever dark corners they had been lurking in.

Panic flashed across everyone's faces as they looked to each other, understanding the implications of the alarm. Carol's eyes widened in fear, while Maggie grabbed Beth's hand instinctively, both of them realizing the imminent threat. Hershel moved closer to Carl, his face tense but steady, trying to reassure the boy even as his own nerves spiked.

"What the hell is that?" Carl shouted, his young voice cutting through the chaos, fear evident in his tone.

Alyssa clenched her fists, trying to steady herself. "It's the alarm system. Must be... some kind of lockdown protocol," she muttered, her mind racing. She knew that wherever Rick, Daryl, and the others were, they would be hearing this too, and she could only hope they were prepared.

Hershel looked around at the group, his face filled with urgency. "We need to secure ourselves here, in case this draws any walkers our way. That sound... it'll wake up whatever's left inside this prison."

Alyssa's mind whirred with possibilities, thinking of Rick and Daryl, hoping they'd realize the gravity of the situation and come back quickly.

As the blaring alarm filled the cell block with its deafening noise, Lori darted out of the safety of the cell block, her face set with determination and panic. Without thinking of her own condition or the dangers, she moved swiftly, her only thought on finding Rick and ensuring he was safe. Carl, filled with an instinctive need to stay close to his mom, chased after her without hesitation.

Maggie hesitated for a heartbeat, torn between her fear and loyalty, but eventually ran after them, her expression conflicted as she tried to keep them within reach. She knew how reckless this was, yet the instinct to protect Lori and Carl pushed her forward.

Alyssa stood frozen in shock, her voice rising over the sound of the alarm as she shouted after them, "What are you doing? Get back here!" Her words were filled with frustration and fear, unable to comprehend why they would abandon the relative safety of the cell block.

She took a step forward, her fists clenched, torn between chasing after them and staying with the others. "You're going to get yourselves killed!" she yelled, her heart pounding as she watched their figures recede into the corridor.

Carol stepped closer to her, a hand on her shoulder, grounding Alyssa in the midst of the chaos. "We can't control what they choose, Alyssa," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the alarm. "We just... we have to hope they'll be okay."

Alyssa clenched her jaw, her heart aching with the weight of helplessness as Lori, Carl, and Maggie disappeared from view. All she could do now was wait, praying that they would return safely, even as the ominous sound of the alarm continued to reverberate through the prison walls.

Alyssa took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she pushed the door closed behind her, locking Beth, Carol, and Hershel inside. "Stay here. I'll come back, I promise," she said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest. With that, she turned and bolted out into the yard, determined to find the source of the deafening alarm and stop it before it attracted every walker in the prison.