Unbreakable threads

Chapter Ninety Four: Settling in to Alexandria.

Rick stepped out onto the porch, his voice carrying a sharp edge of authority. "Alyssa. Get in here," he called, his tone leaving no room for debate.

Alyssa let out an audible groan, rolling her eyes. "Seriously?" she muttered under her breath.

Aaron chuckled softly beside her, crossing his arms. "One day at a time," he said, his tone light but encouraging.

Alyssa sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Yeah, yeah," she mumbled before turning and making her way toward the house. As she climbed the steps to the porch, she could feel Rick's gaze on her, but she didn't meet his eyes, brushing past him and stepping inside.

The house was eerily quiet, but it felt... normal. Too normal. Alyssa glanced around, unsure how to process the sight of the tidy living room and the untouched furniture. The walls weren't smeared with dirt or blood, and the air didn't carry the metallic tang of fear.

In the kitchen, Carl was at the sink, flicking the tap on and off with wide-eyed amazement. "Running water," he said, his voice filled with awe, like he'd discovered a long-lost relic.

Alyssa raised an eyebrow at him, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. But before she could respond, her eyes darted toward the staircase leading to the bathroom. Her priorities shifted immediately.

"DIBS!" she yelled suddenly, her voice echoing through the house. Without waiting for a reply, she sprinted up the stairs, ignoring Carl's protests. She reached the bathroom, slammed the door behind her, and locked it in one smooth motion.

It had been far too long since she'd had a real shower. The thought of hot water and soap felt like a luxury beyond anything she could imagine.

Downstairs, Carl huffed dramatically. "Really? She always does that!" he complained, looking over at Rick, who shook his head with a faint, bemused smirk.

Aaron, still lingering on the porch, glanced at Rick through the doorway. "Told you," he said with a grin. "One day at a time."

Aaron left the family to settle in, closing the door behind him as he walked back down the street to his own house. Inside, Rick picked up Judith and set her down on a makeshift play mat in the living room, watching her babble softly as she grabbed at a small stuffed bear Aaron had left for her. Carl was still in the kitchen, testing the faucet and marveling at the running water.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Alyssa was finally taking a shower—a real shower. The warmth of the water hit her skin, and she let out a sigh of relief as it began to wash away the layers of dirt, sweat, and blood that had clung to her for longer than she could remember. She hadn't seen herself in a mirror in ages, and now, as the steam fogged the glass, she caught glimpses of her reflection.

She paused for a moment, staring at herself. Her dark hair hung messily around her face, framing features that seemed sharper, more worn than she remembered. Her skin was darker from days spent in the relentless sun, and her eyes held a hardened edge that hadn't been there before. She barely recognized herself.

The water continued to run, turning black as it carried away the grime of countless weeks on the road. She reached for the soap, scrubbing her skin clean, and then worked the shampoo through her hair, the lather rich and unfamiliar. By the time she was done, her hair was soft and wavy again, falling naturally against her shoulders.

Stepping out, she grabbed a towel and began to dry herself off, the cool air hitting her fresh skin. On the counter, Aaron had left some clothes for them, neatly folded and ready. She sorted through them and settled on a pair of tight black jeans and a black tank top, pairing them with a black-and-white plaid shirt she left unbuttoned. The clothes fit snugly, comfortably, and for the first time in a long while, she felt human again.