Unbreakable threads

Chapter Seventy Four: Escaping Terminus.

Rick's jaw tightened, but his eyes flicked subtly to Daryl and Alyssa. Even without words, the unspoken understanding between them was clear: they would fight. They had to.

But before they could do anything, a  loud boom shook the building, the sound reverberating through their ears. It was deafening, disorienting, and for a moment, everyone froze. Gareth faltered, his calm demeanor slipping as his head whipped toward the direction of the explosion. His eyes widened with alarm, and he immediately barked orders to his men. "Get outside! Find out what the hell's going on!"

The chaos gave Rick, Daryl, Alyssa, Glenn, and Bob the opportunity they desperately needed. As Gareth's men scrambled toward the doors, the group sprang into action. Rick was the first to move, surging to his feet and shoving one of the men aside with a burst of adrenaline. Alyssa followed suit, her fists clenched as she shoved another guard out of the way, her body moving on instinct. Daryl and Glenn charged toward the double doors, forcing them open as the group pushed their way out into the open air.

The sight outside was chaos. The gates of Terminus had been blown off their hinges, thick smoke billowing into the sky. Flames licked at the gasoline tank near the edge of the compound, the remnants of the explosion crackling loudly. Walkers were already shambling into the yard, drawn by the noise and the fire, their groans mixing with the shouts of Gareth's people as they scrambled to contain the chaos.

Rick led the charge, shouting back to the others. "We need to get to the cart! Get the others and get out of here!"

Alyssa sprinted beside him, her mind racing. Her eyes darted to the burning tank, the flickering flames casting shadows over the yard. Someone had done this. Someone outside of Terminus. Her gut told her it wasn't random—someone had come for them.

{Earlier, outside Terminus}

Carol crouched behind the treeline, her sharp eyes fixed on the compound ahead. Smoke was rising, and she could see flames licking at the edges of the gasoline tank. She hadn't intended for things to escalate so quickly, but when she'd seen Alyssa and Daryl being dragged out of the building earlier, fury had ignited in her chest. She couldn't sit back and let this happen—not to Daryl, not to Alyssa, not to the rest of them.

Her face was streaked with dirt and ash, her shoulders squared as she adjusted her rifle. She had left Tyreese behind in a nearby shack, along with baby Judith, knowing it was too dangerous to bring them closer. But she couldn't stay away. The fire and the gunshots coming from inside Terminus had drawn her closer, and when she saw her people being manhandled like cattle, she knew what had to be done.

Taking a deep breath, she steadied her aim. Her rifle pointed toward the gasoline tank, and with no hesitation, she pulled the trigger. The tank exploded in a massive boom, sending flames and debris flying. The gates were obliterated, and walkers immediately began pouring into the compound, drawn by the noise and destruction. Carol didn't flinch, her face a mask of determination as she moved closer to the fence line.

{Back at Terminus}

Alyssa and the others were running full speed toward the train cart where the rest of their group was still trapped. Rick was leading the charge, barking orders as they moved. "Get the door open! Get them out, now!"

The group reached the cart, working together to pry the doors open as the chaos of walkers and fire spread behind them. In the distance, Carol moved closer, her rifle still in hand, her eyes scanning for her people. She wasn't going to stop until she knew they were safe.

Rick and Alyssa grunted as they pried the cart door open, their combined strength forcing the heavy metal to screech apart. The rest of the group spilled out, their faces etched with relief and determination. Sasha, Michonne, Carl, Tara, Eugene, Rosita, Maggie, and Abraham joined them, the chaotic din of walkers and flames growing louder behind them. There was no time to lose.