CHAPTER TWENTY SIX|| UNRAVELING TRUTHS

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"Yeah" Abraham scoffed as he turned to Rosita, Glenn's question hung in the air, he really thought it was safer leaving in the middle of the night rather than waiting till morning. Sam tried getting Alex to sit yet she was too focused on the altercation unfolding before her, her eyes glued to Glenn. 

"We need each other for this. we need each other to get to DC. we can get through all of this together." Glenn reasoned, his voice raised as Abraham turned back to him, their eyes locked as Abraham edged closer to Glenn, Alex took a step toward them only for Sam to stop her, sending the woman a warning glance. 

"I have an idea" Tara rushed toward Glenn and Abraham as Alex shrugged off Sam and began hobbling toward the group who had no idea they'd woken her up. Sam rolled his eyes following the woman who caused him anxiety.

"if you- if you stay one more day and help. I'll go with you to DC no matter what."  Tara offered as Abraham's eyes locked with hers distracting him  from Glenn, The pain in Alex's back prevented her from being able to outwalk Sam, the freckled brunette stopping her in her tracks again; "Alex, please sit down" 

Sam whispered desperation laced his voice as he didn't want the girl to injure herself more than she already had. the guilt that had built in his stomach still prominent from the fact he hadn't noticed Alex's injury while they were alone. their eyes met as she stared up at him, worry consuming his eyes when a voice tore their attention from one another.

"Glenn and Alex too." Abraham extended the deal his eyes meeting Rick's, as  Glenn shook his head unsure as to the extent of Alex's injuries. Alex stepped forward the group still primarily focused on Abraham not having noticed she was edging closer to them as Rick spoke up, his  voice blunt; "No"

"Good Luck then, I'm not interested in breaking up what you have here. Rosita, Eli grab your gear."" Abraham scoffed as he turned to leave, Alex's eyes flickered straight to Eli this couldn't be it.

"Abraham" Rosita tried to reason with him, Alex's heart broke as he shut Rosita down instantly with a quick "Now"

"Eugene" Abraham called upon not seeing the man move, as Eli and Rosita began collecting their gear, Eli's eyes fell on Alex a saddened expression laid upon his face as he almost instantly approached her gently pulling her into his arms.

"I'll find you alright?" Eli whispered promising both Alex and himself that this wouldn't be the end. no matter what happened to them, their bond was eternal. the two best friends had been through so much together. when trauma bonds like that are formed. when a friendship goes far enough you build a sibling-like bond it can never be forgotten. he would always care for her, even if they weren't together, even if they were far away from each other he would always be there. 

Tears pooled in Alex's eyes as she clung to her best friend, she'd just gotten him back, she never wanted to say goodbye to him again but here she was. She knew she didn't have a choice. she had to stay with her family. Rick, Carl, Glenn. She had to uphold her promise to Lori.

"I love you Eli, stay safe" She offered him a small smile as he broke the hug, a sadness clung to them, their souls connected, not in the way some might think. they were platonic soulmates. they loved each other greatly, just not romantically. 

"you too Lex" He smiled weakly, a pain returning to his chest as he turned to walk away following Abraham, Rosita and Eugene.  Glenn returned to Alex's side an arm immediately falling around her waist worried she'd injure herself further, and now Eli was leaving. The situation filling Glenn with more anxiety. 

"you're not taking the bus," Rick warned, his voice again rustic and cold. Abraham stopped in his tracks, Eli, Rosita and Eugene all coming to a stop Abraham exhaled deeply as he turned to face Rick, the tension throughout the air growing as Eli's eyes met Alex's. 

"Try to stop me." Abe's voice almost matched ricks, Glenn turned his head back toward Sam. a scowl upon his face as he nodded for Sam to come over and take Alex so he could mediate. made his way over,  as Glenn looked down at Alex and whispered: " go sit down with Sam"

As soon as Glenn passed Alex over to Sam ordering her to sit down, Rick began walking toward Abraham. a completely emotionless look on his face, head down, looking up through his brows as he approached the taller man. Abraham fully turned toward Rick taking a step forward ready to fight for what he wanted when Glenn rushed toward them. 

"wait, wait, wait, hey wait," Glenn exclaimed pushing himself between the two men in hopes of stopping an altercation, him being the mediator again as he tried to calm both men and stop an altercation between them for the second time. 

"Abraham. I'll come with you. If help us." Alex exclaimed noticing Glenn's mediating wasn't doing much for the cause. All eyes fell on her as she offered her own services. If whatever/whoever had done this to Bob and taken Daryl and Carol she needed them to make sure Carl and Judith were safe here. then she'd go.

"Alex.." Sam warned his panicked eyes meeting hers, as Both Rick's and Glenn's eyes fell on her. She was injured. A small smile tugged on Eli's lips as he glanced at his best friend who was leaning against Sam due to the pain in her back.

"you stay... you stay and help us. and we will go with you." Glenn offered knowing there was no way in hell he was leaving Alex's side. His eyes glued to Abraham's as the ginger thought on their offer.  anxiety rushed through some members of the group, Josh, Carl and Sam. Their hearts dropped as Glenn reiterated the offer.

"no" Rick spoke up, He couldn't just let his family leave. Not just like that. Alex shook her head, she never wanted to make this decision in the first place. but doing it to protect her family, Get Daryl and Carol back. it was needed. and she'd find them. she'd find Rick, she'd find her family again.

"It's not your call" Glenn turned to Rick, his heart racing as for the first time he went against ricks orders without a second thought. his eyes drifting back to Alex, anxiety flooding through him as he met ricks eyes again. tension loomed through the room as Glenn turned back to Abraham.

"you stay. help us" Glenn's voice was deeper than usual as he waited for Abraham's response, the man thinking through his deal and how he could keep Eugene safe in the process. Alex's heart raced as she agreed to leave her family a familiar anxiety pooling in her stomach.

" half a day. come noon, we're taillights. I'm not waiting for the other damn shoe to drop" Alex let out a breath of relief as Abraham agreed to their deal, she was really leaving them. Josh's eyes darted to Alex a familiar dread pooling in his stomach as his arms crossed over his body the whole situation fuelling his anxiety... what was he supposed to do now?

"12 hours then we go" Abraham confirmed and Alex could only hope that was long enough for them to find the last missing members of the group. the two young boy's she'd grown close to eyes glued to her as they wondered what could possibly come next if she was leaving. 

Abraham walked off, the anger written all over Rick's face didn't budge as silence took over the group, eyes glued to the couple who'd agreed to leave without a second thought. Glenn immediately walked over to Alex as Abraham left the room. he gently pulled the girl into his arms, she hugged him back the warmth that radiated from him always making her feel complete.

"Are you okay?" he questioned, his voice barely above a whisper as he held the woman carefully in his arms not wanting to hurt her. having seen her like that filled him with a dread he never wanted to feel again. he couldn't even imagine her in pain without an ache filling his chest. 

"yeah, yeah I'm okay" Alex nodded breaking the hug, glancing over his shoulder she could see the eyes on her, Sam, Rick, Carl, and Josh. all waiting for an explanation. all waiting for something that would make it feel right, feel okay. but she wasn't sure there was anything to say. pulling away from Glenn his arm slipped around her waist as Rick approached the couple.

"ill come back, Rick..." Alex whispered looking up at her uncle an unfamiliar sadness gloomed within his eyes as he carefully pulled his niece into a hug Glenn caught sight of Josh, the young boy's eyes glued to the floor as he tried to control his own anxiety.

"Josh, come here," Glenn called for the boy, Josh looked up tucking his trembling hands into his pockets as he slowly walked over to Glenn, the anxiety within his stomach only growing as he got closer to the Korean. alex broke the hug with Rick slightly unsteady on her feet, Gleenns arm immediately wrapped around her waist to steady her as the couple both looked down at Josh. 

"what's gonna happen now?" the young boy asked looking up at the couple, Alex's eyes flickered between Josh and Glenn as she sighed unsure as to what actually was going to happen. it was the not knowing that scared her. not knowing if she could keep Josh safe if he came with them, not knowing if she'd even make it back to Rick.

"it's your choice Josh... you can come with us. or stay here with Rick and Sam," Alex spoke softly to the boy, seeing his anxiety despite how he tried to hide it.  His eyes flickered between Alex and Sam, knowing he only had 12 hours to make his decision. he nodded gulping the down the anxiety.

"We need to know about those pills as well Josh" Glenn's words made Josh's heart drop, and anxiety coursed through his veins as his face fell. panic consuming him. 

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a/n- hey guys, what we thinking, should josh go with Alex and Glenn? should sam maybe tag along?

icl I think this book might end up being the longest in the series.