Unbreakable threads

Chapter Ninety Seven: The people of alexandria.

But Alyssa wasn't done. She stepped forward, casually sliding herself between Rick and Jessie, cutting their conversation short. "Well," she said smoothly, her tone dripping with confidence, "if you ever need anything... like protecting or whatever, just shout me, yeah?"

Jessie blinked, momentarily surprised by Alyssa's interruption, but she smiled again, clearly not catching the full weight of Alyssa's tone. "That's sweet of you, Alyssa," Jessie said warmly. "I'll keep that in mind."

Rick's jaw clenched as he stepped to the side, his eyes narrowing at Alyssa. "What are you doing?" he muttered under his breath, his tone low and irritated.

Alyssa glanced at him over her shoulder, her smirk sharp and unrepentant. "Just bein' neighborly," she replied innocently, though her tone made it clear she knew exactly what she was doing.

Ron, meanwhile, seemed completely oblivious to the tension in the air. He shifted awkwardly, glancing between his mom and Alyssa but not saying anything. Carl, on the other hand, looked like he was about to burst out laughing, his face scrunched as he tried to hold it in.

"Well, thank you," Jessie said kindly, placing a hand on Ron's shoulder. "I think we're doing okay so far, but it's good to know we've got each other's backs."

"Always," Alyssa said smoothly, her smirk softening into a more genuine smile.

Rick, clearly done with the entire interaction, ran a hand down his face and muttered something under his breath before stepping aside. "C'mon, Jessie," he said, motioning for her to follow him. "Let's finish the tour."

As Jessie and Rick walked off, Alyssa turned to Carl, her grin widening. "What?" she said, her tone playful but daring.

Carl just shook his head, unable to keep the laughter from spilling out now. "You're insane," he said, shaking his head. "She's twice your age."

"Yeah, and your dad's older than her," Alyssa shot back with a wink. "Seems like a Grimes family tradition."

Carl groaned, but he couldn't stop laughing. Enid and Ron exchanged puzzled glances, still not sure what exactly had just happened. Alyssa leaned back against the post again, clearly pleased with herself as she watched Rick and Jessie disappear around the corner.

As Carl, Enid, and Ron walked off, mumbling something about video games, Alyssa found herself standing alone in the middle of the street. The quiet of Alexandria felt unnatural to her, like she didn't belong in a place so pristine.

She wandered aimlessly, her boots crunching against the ground until she passed a house where a man was sitting on the porch. His posture was casual, but there was something in the way he looked at her that made her uneasy.

"You're Alyssa," the man said, his voice calm but carrying a sharp undertone. "Rick's daughter."

Alyssa immediately bristled. Her jaw clenched, and her shoulders tensed. She hated being tied to Rick like that, especially now, when things between them were strained at best. But she couldn't exactly deny it—not when she looked just like him.

"Yeah," Alyssa said bluntly, her tone clipped.

The man leaned back slightly in his chair, studying her. "My wife cut your dad's hair yesterday," he said, almost conversationally, but there was an edge to his voice.

"Yeah," Alyssa repeated, her tone flat. She was already piecing it together—this had to be Jessie's husband.

"Welcome to Alexandria," he said, but the way he said it felt anything but welcoming. His eyes lingered on her, sharp and calculating, as if he were sizing her up.