Unbreakable threads

Chapter One hundred and Sixteen: Your Stuff Belongs to Negan.

But the man in front of her held up a finger, wagging it in the air with a smug smirk. "Bite. Chew. Swallow. Repeat," he said, his tone mocking as he repeated his earlier words.

Alyssa's teeth clenched as she froze in place, her glare locked on him. She wanted to fight, to do something, but the odds were against them, and she knew it. Her fists trembled slightly as she held herself back, watching helplessly as Daryl was dragged away.

Alyssa stood her ground, her eyes narrowing as she asked firmly, "Who's Negan?"

The man let out a loud, theatrical laugh, shaking his head. "Ding dong, hell's bells... You see, usually, we introduce ourselves by just popping you one off the bat." He raised his gun slightly for emphasis, a crooked grin on his face. "But you? You seem like reasonable people. I mean, you're a young girl with muscles like a young man, for fuck's sake."

He gestured lazily with his gun, smirking at Alyssa's growing frustration. "Now, like I said, we are gonna drive you back to wherever you come from. And do you know how awkward it is carpooling with someone whose friends you just killed? But here's the thing—I told you not to ask any questions. So, that's that. I don't want you to get the wrong impression of me."

Without warning, he turned his attention to Abraham, pointing his gun directly at him. The atmosphere shifted instantly, tension crackling in the air like static electricity.

"Wait. Wait. You don't have to do this," Sasha interjected, her voice urgent as she stepped forward slightly.

Alyssa spun toward her, her tone sharp and commanding. "Shut up!" she barked.

Sasha's jaw tightened, her eyes darting between Alyssa and the man. "I am talking to the man," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.

The man cocked his head to the side, his grin fading as he raised the gun higher, aiming it more intently at Abraham. "No, you're not," he said coldly, his voice dropping as his finger hovered over the trigger.

Alyssa immediately bristled, her body tensing as she prepared to dive forward if she had to. Her fists clenched, her mind racing as she calculated her next move.

The man in front of them started laughing, his grin spreading wider. "I'm not gonna kill you... wait. Wait. You know what? Yes, I am."

But before he could finish his last word, the world around them erupted into a massive explosion of fire. The bikers were consumed in a fiery blaze, the force of the blast sending Alyssa stumbling back as she braced herself against the shock. Heat washed over her, the smell of burning rubber and ash filling the air.

When the flames began to subside, Daryl stepped out from behind the tanker, a large flamethrower slung across his body. His expression was calm, but his eyes glinted with satisfaction. Alyssa's face immediately broke into a grin.

"Mother fucker" she muttered, her voice full of admiration.

But as her eyes moved to him, she noticed the blood trailing down his back. Her grin quickly faded, replaced with concern. "Did he cut you?" she asked, rushing over to him.

Daryl grunted, shifting the flamethrower to one side. "Son of a bitch was tougher than he looked," he said, wincing slightly as Alyssa placed a hand gently over his wound.

She examined it quickly, her brow furrowed. "Let's get you fixed up at home," she said firmly, her voice softening as she gave him a small smile.

Daryl smirked despite the pain, his tone smug. "Yes, ma'am."

The group regrouped and began walking back to the truck. Alyssa stayed close to Daryl, still keeping a careful eye on him. As they reached the truck doors, Abraham paused, turning back to the charred remains of the bikers and smirking.

"Nibble on that," he said, his tone dripping with satisfaction.

With that, the group climbed into the truck, ready to leave the chaos behind and head back to Alexandria.

The group began their journey back to Alexandria in the tanker, the atmosphere quiet and heavy. Abraham was at the wheel, his focus locked on the road ahead as he navigated the massive vehicle. The hum of the engine filled the cab, the only sound accompanying their thoughts.

Daryl sat in the middle seat, his expression unreadable but his body language protective. Alyssa was wedged up against him on one side, her body leaning slightly into his. Without saying a word, Daryl slid his arm around her, pulling her closer than he probably should. His eyes flicked down to her, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. The love he felt for her was written all over his face, even if he didn't say a word.

Alyssa didn't seem to notice the depth of his gaze, her mind preoccupied as she stared out the windshield, her thoughts distant. Sasha sat quietly in the back of the cab, her sharp eyes occasionally glancing at Daryl and Alyssa but saying nothing. She sensed the unspoken tension, but it wasn't her place to interfere.

The tanker rumbled down the road as they made their way back to Alexandria, completely unaware of what awaited them. The safe haven they called home was in chaos. One of the walls had fallen, and walkers had overrun the streets. Rick, surrounded and fighting with everything he had, was in the heart of the community, battling to protect the people inside.

But inside the cab, there was only silence. None of them knew the horrors waiting for them. None of them knew how much things had already changed. They drove on, oblivious to the storm they were about to walk into.