Unbreakable threads

Chapter Sixty Three: The virus.

The peace and quiet of prison life—the fragile semblance of stability they had worked so hard to build—was shattered in an instant. The prison had become a home for them, a place to start over and maybe, just maybe, find some semblance of normalcy. But that hope dissolved the night Patrick, the young boy who had seemed perfectly fine just hours before, turned in his sleep and attacked. In the stillness of the dark, he bit into his friends, his neighbors—spreading terror and chaos through the close-knit community. The screams echoed through the corridors, filling everyone with the familiar yet deeply haunting sense of dread. It was happening again, only this time, within their walls.

The infection spread rapidly. It wasn't just the bites that turned people; it was something unseen, an illness creeping through the prison like a shadow. One by one, people began falling ill, their bodies succumbing to fevers, coughing fits, and unbearable weakness. Within days, they were dead. And, as they all knew too well, death didn't mean peace. The dead would rise, hungry and relentless, turning the sanctuary of the prison into a ticking time bomb. Alyssa's heart sank as she watched friends and strangers alike fade away, slipping into the grasp of this invisible killer that lurked within their walls. Hershel, ever the caretaker, was doing everything he could, but they were running out of time—and options.

Desperation grew as Hershel finally devised a risky plan. If they could retrieve the right medicine, they might have a chance to save those who were still clinging to life. He suggested a nearby veterinary university, one he knew would be stocked with the antibiotics they so desperately needed. Alyssa, Daryl, Bob, Michonne, Sasha, Tyreese, and Zach—Beth's boyfriend, who was always eager to help—volunteered to make the dangerous run. It wasn't the first time they'd had to venture out into the unknown, but this mission felt heavier. They weren't just risking their lives; they were racing against time to save everyone they cared about.

As they loaded up for the trip, a quiet tension hung between them. Daryl took charge, checking everyone's gear with his usual calm efficiency. His eyes met Alyssa's for a brief moment, an unspoken reassurance passing between them. Despite the fear clawing at her insides, Alyssa felt a flicker of courage, bolstered by Daryl's steady presence and the knowledge that they were in this together. They moved out, one by one, climbing into the vehicle that would carry them toward danger, but potentially, salvation as well. In the rearview mirror, Alyssa caught a final glimpse of the prison. She hoped, with all her heart, that this wouldn't be the last time she saw it.

Daryl drove the truck in silence, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, hands steady on the wheel as they maneuvered through the abandoned streets. Alyssa sat in the cramped back seat, wedged between Michonne on one side and Zach on the other. She tried to focus on the mission at hand, but the tension of the situation mingled with her own complicated feelings, making her feel trapped in more ways than one.

Zach's cheerful attempts at lightening the mood only grated on her nerves. She knew it was irrational—Zach was a good guy, always eager to help and always looking out for Beth. But that was the problem, wasn't it? Beth. Alyssa's feelings for her were something she kept tightly locked away, hidden from everyone but herself...and Daryl. It wasn't just that Zach was Beth's boyfriend. It was the fact that he got to be the one she turned to, the one she leaned on. Meanwhile, Alyssa was left in the background, forced to bury feelings she couldn't acknowledge.

As Zach laughed at something Michonne muttered, Alyssa forced herself to focus, pushing the jealousy and the ache of unspoken words deep down. They had a mission to complete, lives depending on them. She could deal with her feelings later—or, at least, she could try to. For now, survival came first, and her heartache would have to wait.

Alyssa's mind wandered as they bounced along the rough road to the university, her thoughts drifting back to the prison and the people she cared about, the ones they were fighting to protect. Hershel had done everything he could to contain the illness, isolating the most vulnerable in a separate cell block. Carl, Judith, Beth, Lizzie, Mika, and a few of the elderly were all tucked away, shielded from the sick as best as possible. It was a desperate attempt to keep them safe, but Alyssa's worry gnawed at her, persistent and unrelenting.