Unbreakable threads

Chapter Ninety Seven: The people of alexandria.

Alyssa eventually pushed herself off the porch, her boots hitting the pavement as she wandered down the pristine street. Daryl stayed put, true to his word, leaning against the railing and watching her go. She didn't expect him to follow. He was stubborn, sticking to his guns about this place not being for them.

As Alyssa walked, her eyes scanned the neighborhood, almost on autopilot. She found herself looking for Carl, curious about where he'd wandered off to. Rounding a corner, she spotted him coming her way, flanked by two others—a boy about his age and a girl who looked a little younger.

"Hey, Lyss," Carl called out, a smile breaking across his face as he gestured to the two with him. "This is Enid," he said, nodding toward the girl, "and Ron. Jessie's son."

At the mention of Jessie, Alyssa immediately smirked, the thought of the blonde woman flickering in her mind. But she quickly refocused, her gaze sweeping over the two newcomers. Enid, around 14, looked a little rough around the edges—sharp eyes, messy hair, like she was still carrying the world's weight on her shoulders. Ron, on the other hand, seemed clean-cut and unsure of himself, more polished like someone who'd been inside Alexandria for a while.

"Nice to meet you," Alyssa said, her tone casual but laced with her usual dry humor. "So, you're the infamous Ron, huh? Jessie's kid?" Her smirk deepened slightly as she looked him over, clearly teasing but in a way that didn't feel mean.

Ron blinked, a little caught off guard by her directness, but he nodded. "Uh, yeah. That's me."

Enid, on the other hand, was quiet, her eyes fixed on Alyssa with something that looked like awe. Alyssa's sharpness, her confidence—it was clear Enid was taking it all in, processing her presence like she was some kind of enigma.

Carl, proud and eager, added, "Alyssa's my sister." His voice carried a hint of excitement, like he was introducing someone he admired.

Alyssa glanced at Carl, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "That's me," she said lightly, giving Enid and Ron a slight nod of approval.

Enid shifted slightly, her gaze lingering on Alyssa. "You're... different," she said quietly, her voice hesitant but curious.

Alyssa raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" she asked, her tone teasing.

Enid shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Good, I think."

Alyssa chuckled softly, glancing at Carl again. "Well, look at you," she said, nudging him lightly. "Making friends already."

Carl grinned, clearly pleased with himself. "I figured I should show 'em how it's done."

Jessie rounded the corner, chatting with Rick, her soft laugh carrying through the air. Alyssa immediately clocked the way Rick was subtly checking Jessie out. Her eyes narrowed for a second before a smirk tugged at her lips. Of course, she thought, amused. Father and daughter with the same damn taste in women.

"Hey, Jessie," Alyssa said, her voice casual as she leaned back a little, her gaze running over Jessie from head to toe. The look wasn't subtle at all, and she made no effort to hide it. Jessie, however, remained oblivious, smiling warmly at Alyssa.

"Hi, Alyssa," Jessie replied, her tone cheerful and friendly as ever. She looked between Alyssa, Carl, Enid, and Ron. "It's nice to see you  settling in."

Rick, on the other hand, had picked up on Alyssa's demeanor immediately. He shot her a sharp look, clearly unimpressed with how blatantly she was staring at Jessie. Alyssa ignored him entirely, her smirk widening as Jessie turned back to Rick to continue their conversation.