Unbreakable threads

Chapter Twenty: No Way Out

Daryl, noticing the way Shane's eyes darkened, stepped in, positioning himself between the two men. "Enough," he growled, his own anger simmering beneath the surface. "This ain't the time for your little power trip, Shane. We're all stuck here together, so either help us get out or shut the hell up."

Shane glared at Daryl, but he seemed to realize there was no winning this argument, not now. He took a step back, breathing heavily, his gaze still fixed on Rick with a look of betrayal and resentment that went beyond words.

Rick took a steadying breath, trying to shake off the tension as he turned back to the group. "We don't have time for this," he said, his voice strong and unwavering. "If we don't work together, we're not getting out of here. Shane, you can be angry all you want, but right now, I need you to focus. We all do."

For a moment, Shane's face softened, a hint of reluctant acceptance breaking through. But the anger remained, simmering just beneath the surface.

As the panic surged around them, Rick was desperately pleading with Dr. Jenner, trying to coax any last bit of help or information that could save them from the impending doom. Alyssa stood near the edge of the chaos, her heart pounding as she watched Rick with Lori and Carl by his side, the family he'd always known, clinging together in fear.

But something inside her ached, a quiet reminder that while she was Rick's daughter, she was still on the outside of that family unit. He'd promised to keep her safe, but right now, his attention was divided. She understood, but it still stung.

Suddenly, Shane was there, his face tense, his gaze flickering with a wild urgency. Without warning, he grabbed her by the arm, his grip firm but not painful. His eyes, usually filled with bitterness, held an intensity that was almost protective. "You stick with me, kid, ya hear?" he said, his voice low and rough.

Alyssa glanced up at him, surprised by his sudden closeness, the way his eyes softened for just a moment as he looked at her. Part of her wanted to pull away, to be the stubborn, independent person she'd always been, but another part of her, deep down, trusted Shane. Even though he was acting erratic, even though he seemed on edge, she sensed that he genuinely meant to keep her safe.

She nodded, her voice quiet but resolute. "Alright, Shane. I'll stick with you."

Shane gave a brief nod, his grip on her arm relaxing slightly as he led her away from the escalating argument between Rick and Dr. Jenner. His focus was sharp, his protective instincts kicking in as he looked around, scanning for any way out, any chance to escape.

As they moved together, Alyssa glanced at Shane, seeing the conflict in his expression, the way his anger and desperation battled with an unexpected kindness. She didn't fully understand his motivations, but in that moment, she didn't question them. She let herself trust him, if only because he was one of the few people in the group who seemed to care about her as more than just Rick's estranged daughter.

And as the CDC's lights flickered ominously, warning them of the impending self-destruction, Alyssa felt a strange comfort in knowing she wasn't alone—at least, not this time.

Daryl stood back, his gaze narrowing as he took in the scene unfolding before him. He watched as Shane grabbed Alyssa by the arm, his grip firm, a protective fierceness in his eyes. But Daryl could see the cracks forming in Shane's expression, the edges of his mental state beginning to fray. The desperation was seeping through, his eyes wild with anger and frustration.

Daryl felt a pang of worry as he watched Shane lead Alyssa away from the group. He knew Alyssa was a stubborn, capable kid, but she was still young, caught up in this mess like the rest of them. And after their argument last night, he couldn't shake the guilt that twisted in his gut, reminding him of how he'd snapped at her, shut her down when she'd just wanted to connect with someone who understood what it was like to be on the outside.