Unbreakable threads

Chapter one hundred and eighteen : carls eye.

As the first light of dawn crept over Alexandria, Alyssa sprinted through the streets, leaping over bodies of walkers that littered the ground. Her breathing was ragged, her heart pounding in her chest as panic drove her forward.

Behind her, Rick ran as fast as he could, his bloodied boots slamming against the pavement. Daryl wasn't far behind, his face set with grim determination. He knew, no matter what, he had to be there for Alyssa—especially if the worst had happened.

As they neared the infirmary, Alyssa barely registered the sight of Carol, Rosita, Eugene, Tara, Heath, Tobin, and a few others sitting silently on the steps outside. Their faces were somber, their exhaustion evident, but Alyssa didn't stop. She pushed through the door without hesitation, her chest heaving as she stumbled inside.

Her eyes immediately found Carl lying on a bed. Half of his head was wrapped in thick bandages, a dressing covering where his eye had once been. His face was pale, his body still, and the sight of him stopped Alyssa in her tracks.

Denise stood nearby, her hands wringing nervously as she met Alyssa's eyes. "He lost the eye..." Denise said softly, her voice tinged with both sadness and reassurance. "But he's alive."

Alyssa didn't speak. She put her hands behind her head, pacing slightly as the reality of the situation hit her. Tears threatened to spill, her body trembling with the weight of it all, but she held them back as best as she could.

The door burst open behind her, and Rick rushed in, his eyes immediately locking onto Carl. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of his son. The room fell silent, the only sounds the distant crackling of flames.

Alyssa stood in the middle of the infirmary, her hands still behind her head, her face a mixture of shock and frustration as she turned to Rick. Her voice wavered slightly, though she tried to keep her composure. "How did this happen?" she asked, her eyes locked on her father.

Rick sighed deeply, running a bloodied hand down his face. He looked exhausted, worn, and older than he had just hours before. "It was the W people," he began, his voice heavy. "They raided Alexandria. Drove a truck into one of the walls."

Alyssa's brow furrowed as Rick continued. "They jumped in while the rest of us were trying to deal with the herd. Carol and Morgan tried to stop most of them... and they did, for the most part. But by the time I got back, the watchtower fell. That broke the wall."

Rick's voice cracked slightly as he explained the rest. "We... we covered ourselves in walker guts to try and move through them. To get people to safety. But Jessie and Sam... they got taken down." He looked at Alyssa, guilt flashing across his face. "Ron was angry—he blamed me for everything. He had a gun. He fired, and... it hit Carl."

Alyssa's breath hitched, but Rick kept going. "Ron didn't have a chance after that. The walkers... they got him too." His voice trailed off, his eyes darting to Carl's still figure on the bed.

Alyssa's gaze shifted from Carl's bandaged face to Rick, her chest rising and falling as anger began to bubble up inside her. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tense silence of the infirmary. "Where the fuck is Judith?" she demanded, her tone laced with fury.

Rick paused, his eyes darting toward the floor for a moment before answering. "I gave her to Gabriel..." he said hesitantly, his voice quiet.

Alyssa's face twisted with rage. "Fucking Gabriel? You gave her to Gabriel? The little priest that PRAYS walkers away?" she shouted, her voice echoing in the small room. Her anger was palpable, and Rick flinched slightly at her outburst.

"He was taking her to the makeshift church with some of the others," Rick tried to explain, his voice still cautious. "Aaron... Eric... they're with him."