Bloodlines.

Chapter Thirty Three: Alyssa Makes Maggie a promise.

When the Saviors' trucks finally disappeared down the road, Alyssa, Daryl, and Maggie carefully made their way up the cellar steps. The fresh air felt both relieving and heavy as they stepped into the open. Daryl's hand remained firmly around Alyssa's waist, his touch protective and steady. He wasn't letting her go—not now, not ever.

They still had to talk, still needed to figure out what they were to each other. Daryl knew now wasn't the time. There was too much chaos, too much still left unsaid. But as far as he was concerned, it didn't matter. He was hers, and she was his. Whatever obstacles lay ahead—her struggles with her identity, his deep-rooted fear of intimacy—they would face them together. They belonged together. That much was clear to him.

As they stepped into the yard, Enid came running toward them, her face pale with urgency. She stopped in front of them, panting slightly as she caught her breath.

"They took Gregory," she said quickly. "And the doctor. And the ultrasound machine..."

"Fuck," Maggie muttered, her hand instinctively brushing over her small bump. The loss of the doctor was a devastating blow—not just for her pregnancy, but for everyone in Hilltop. Her frustration bubbled to the surface, but she held it back, trying to stay focused.

Jesus appeared next, his expression grim. "And Sasha..." he started, trailing off as he looked at Maggie.

Maggie's head snapped toward him, her face hardening. "What about Sasha?" she asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.

"She's missing," Jesus confirmed. "She went to the Sanctuary. I think she's trying to get revenge... for Abraham."

Maggie's jaw tightened, her anger barely contained. "Damn it, Sasha," she muttered, running a hand through her hair. She took a deep breath, her mind racing. "She's gonna get herself killed."

Alyssa tensed, her fists clenching at her sides. She understood Sasha's pain—her need for vengeance. It mirrored her own. But the thought of Sasha going to the Sanctuary alone, walking straight into the lion's den, made her stomach twist. Alyssa knew exactly what awaited her there.

Daryl's grip on Alyssa's waist tightened as his face darkened. "She can't do this alone," he muttered. "She's got no idea what she's walkin' into."

Maggie nodded, her expression resolute. "We need to get her back."

"Before it's too late," Jesus added, his voice steady but tense. "She won't survive in there by herself."

Alyssa took a deep breath, her mind racing. "We'll get her," she said firmly, her voice calm but determined. "But we need to act fast. If she's already there..."

"We'll get her out," Daryl said, his voice low and filled with certainty. His hand stayed on Alyssa, his determination radiating off him. "We're not losin' anyone else."

Maggie looked between the two of them, nodding. "Alright. Let's come up with a plan," she said, her tone hard but focused.

Alyssa sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair. "It can't be me," she said firmly. "Not that I wouldn't want to... but Negan already sent me back." Her eyes flicked to Maggie and Daryl, silently pleading with them not to mention what she had shared in the cellar. The weight of her unspoken words hung between them, understood but unspoken.

"That was unheard of for him," she continued, her voice steady but tense. "He'll expect I'm still in Alexandria. And he already knows when he sees me again... well, it isn't to pop by and say hello." She paused, her tone darkening. "That will kick off the war before we're ready."

Jesus nodded thoughtfully, his arms crossed. "She's right. If Negan sees Alyssa, it'll escalate things immediately. We're not ready for that yet."

He glanced at Maggie and Daryl, adding, "And if Hilltop sends too many people, we'll be left defenseless. The Saviors could come back anytime."