Bloodlines.

Chapter Twenty Four: Alyssa is Traumatised.

[ WARNING THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SCENES AND DESCRIPTIONS RELATING TO SA.⚠️⚠️]

{ meanwhile at the same time back at the sanctuary).

Negan pushed himself off Alyssa, his breath still heavy from their heated brawl. He turned sharply toward Simon, his voice a low growl.

"What do you mean Sherry is gone?" he snapped, his anger palpable.

Simon clenched his jaw, clearly uncomfortable. "She wasn't in the wives' room. She's not anywhere in the Sanctuary. She's gone. She must have found a way out."

Negan's eyes darkened, his expression turning deadly as he stood upright and straightened his leather jacket. He walked over to the corner, grabbing Lucille with a firm grip. His knuckles tightened around the bat as he absorbed Simon's words.

The office was a mess, furniture overturned and items strewn across the floor from his earlier altercation with Alyssa. His gaze flicked to her, still lying on the ground, her chest heaving as she recovered. For a brief moment, Negan's eyes softened. A flicker of guilt crossed his face—he hadn't wanted things to escalate this far. Hitting her in the first place had been a mistake, and part of him hated himself for it.

But he shook the thought off, his expression hardening as he turned on his heel and headed for the door.

Without another glance at Alyssa, he strode out of the room, his boots thudding heavily on the floor as he began the hunt for Sherry.

With Negan gone, roaring off in a car to track down Sherry, the tension in the Sanctuary thickened. Simon lingered in the office, his gaze locked on Alyssa, who was still sprawled on the floor, trying to catch her breath.

He strode toward her, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her up roughly.

"This had something to do with you, didn't it?" he snarled, his face inches from hers. "Your little outburst earlier—that was a distraction, wasn't it? You helped the bitch escape!"

Alyssa, her eyes blazing with defiance, didn't hesitate. "Fuck. You," she spat, her voice dripping with venom.

Simon's face darkened. He grabbed the collar of her T-shirt and shoved her against the wall, his grip tightening as his anger boiled over.

"Negan isn't here right now," Simon hissed. "And I'm going to make you snap. He's being too lenient on you, giving you special treatment. But me? I don't see you the way Negan does. You're just a know-it-all little dyke," he sneered.

Alyssa didn't flinch, her jaw tightening as she stared him down. For all of Simon's rage , she refused to show him any fear. Her silence only seemed to fuel his fury.

Simon dragged Alyssa roughly out of the office and down the hall toward the wives' room. His grip was tight on her arm, his anger radiating with every step. When they reached the room, he practically threw her through the door, sending her stumbling forward.

The women inside immediately cowered, their gazes dropping to the floor.

Simon's eyes scanned the room before locking on Amber, the blonde woman sitting nervously in the corner. He pointed at her sharply.

"YOU!" he barked. "Get over here!"

Amber hesitated, fear etched into her face as she slowly stood up. Simon shoved Alyssa forward to stand between them.

"What the fuck are you doing, prick?" Alyssa snapped, her voice sharp and unyielding.

Simon threw his head back and laughed, a sinister and loud sound that echoed through the room. "Little miss dyke," he sneered. "You're gonna show everyone here how fucked up and unnatural you are. You're gonna kiss Amber."