Unbreakable threads

Chapter one hundred and four: Noah is dead and tara is hurt.

Alyssa climbed onto the roof, her movements quick and agitated. The police jacket and shirt went flying over the edge, landing somewhere in the yard below. She didn't care. She was done. Done pretending to be Deputy Grimes. Done pretending she fit in here.

She collapsed onto her back, staring up at the sky as the weight of everything crushed down on her. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill, but she clenched her jaw, forcing them back.

It had been a year—an entire year—since she and Daryl had last fallen out like this. She thought they'd gotten past the worst of it, that their bond had become unshakable. But now, it felt like the ground beneath her was crumbling, and the one person who always had her back was suddenly out of reach.

The roar of his bike echoed faintly in the distance, growing fainter with every passing second, and it felt like a knife twisting in her chest. She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms as she tried to keep herself together.

But she couldn't shake the thought that maybe this time, things wouldn't go back to normal. Maybe this time, they'd lost something they couldn't get back.

Rick, his frustration bubbling under the surface, walked briskly through the streets of Alexandria. He was supposed to meet Alyssa after lunch at the wall, but she hadn't shown.

With most of the group scattered—Daryl out with Aaron, Abraham off with the men, Glenn's crew on a run—there weren't many options for who Alyssa could be with. Unless, of course, she was with Carol. She always seemed to find Carol when she wasn't with Daryl.

Rick's boots thudded against the pavement as he scanned the quiet streets, spotting residents here and there tending to their gardens or chatting on porches. He tried to keep his irritation in check, knowing he and Alyssa were just starting to rebuild some semblance of a connection.

Finally, he spotted Carol near one of the houses, handing a tray of cookies to an older resident. Her cardigan and soft demeanor were almost comical to him now, knowing what Carol was truly capable of.

"Carol," Rick called as he approached.

Carol turned, her smile fading slightly as she noticed his expression. "What's wrong?"

"Have you seen Alyssa?" Rick asked, cutting straight to the point.

Carol shook her head, a hint of concern crossing her face. "Not since this morning. What happened?"

"She was supposed to meet me at the wall after lunch," Rick said, glancing down the street. "She's not there, and I can't figure out where she's gone."

Carol's brow furrowed. "She's not with Daryl?"

"No," Rick said sharply. "He left with Aaron. And I'm not sure where she went after that."

Carol placed the tray down on a nearby table, her demeanor shifting to something more serious. "If she's not with Daryl or me, then maybe she needed some time to herself. You know how she is, Rick."

Rick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I know. But I don't like it. Not after everything we've been through."

Carol nodded, her gaze softening. "She'll turn up. She's tougher than all of us combined, remember?"

Rick gave a reluctant nod, though the worry lingered in his eyes. "I'm gonna check the wall again. Let me know if you see her."

Carol watched as Rick strode off, the tension in his shoulders evident. She had a feeling Alyssa wasn't far—but wherever she was, she hoped she wasn't getting herself into more trouble.

Alyssa lay on the roof of the house, her thoughts spinning uncontrollably. She was trying desperately to hold back the tears threatening to spill. Daryl's words, his anger, and then the sound of his bike roaring away—it all lingered like an ache she couldn't shake.