Bloodlines.

Chapter Twenty three: Rick meets Ezekial.

At the same time, back at Alexandria, the remaining group gathered in the church. The atmosphere was heavy with tension as Rick stood at the front, his expression determined but weary. Everyone's faces reflected the same emotions: anger, fear, and desperation.

Rick stepped forward, addressing the group. "We need to regroup. We need to fight back. And we need help. Hilltop is where we start."

Rosita folded her arms. "We made a deal with Hilltop before. They dragged us into this mess in the first place with the promise of food. If it weren't for that, maybe none of this would've happened."

Michonne shook her head. "What's done is done. Hilltop might be the only place we can turn to now."

Rick nodded. "It's not just food this time. We need people. We need weapons. And we need to let them know what's happening—what Negan has done. Sasha and Maggie have no idea Alyssa sacrificed herself for Daryl, or that Negan's taken Eugene."

Carl, sitting quietly in the back, stood up abruptly. "We need to tell them everything. And we need to figure out how to get Alyssa and Eugene back."

Aaron stepped forward. "If we're going to Hilltop, we need to plan this carefully. Negan will be back in a week, and we have no idea what state he'll leave us in when he does."

The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement as Rick laid out the plan. "We leave tomorrow at first light. A small group. Enough to make it there safely and talk to Gregory—or anyone willing to help. The rest of you stay here and keep Alexandria secure."

Everyone nodded, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. The loss of Alyssa and Eugene was palpable, and the group knew the journey to Hilltop would be just the beginning of what they needed to do to fight back against Negan.

As the sun rose over Alexandria, the group prepared for their journey to Hilltop. Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Carl, Tara, and Rosita loaded into their vehicle, weapons and supplies secured. Before departing, Rick gave a few final instructions to those staying behind, ensuring that Alexandria would remain protected in their absence.

The drive to Hilltop was tense, the silence only broken by the occasional murmur from Carl or the hum of the engine. Everyone was focused, their minds heavy with the weight of what they needed to do.

When they arrived at Hilltop, the gates opened to reveal Jesus, Maggie, and Sasha waiting for them. Maggie, though visibly stronger, still showed signs of her grief and the strain of her pregnancy. Sasha stood by her side, her protective nature evident in the way she kept a hand near her weapon.

Jesus greeted them warmly, though his expression quickly turned serious as he took in their somber faces. "Come with me," he said, leading them through the community and into Gregory's office.

Inside, the group stood in a tight circle as Rick began to explain. His voice was steady but filled with anger and pain as he told them about Alyssa's sacrifice. Maggie gasped, her hand instinctively moving to her small baby bump. The news seemed to hit her harder than anyone expected.

"She went willingly," Rick continued, his tone almost bitter. "To spare Daryl. And now Negan's got her at the Sanctuary."

Maggie's eyes filled with tears as she whispered, "She did that for us?"

Rick nodded grimly. "And it's not just her. Negan took Eugene too. He knows how to make bullets, and Negan's going to use him to his advantage. We're running out of time. We need to figure out how to stop this before he comes back in a few days."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the reality of the situation sank in. Maggie clutched her stomach, Sasha placed a hand on her shoulder, and Jesus looked from face to face, his expression unreadable.