the air feels like it’s closing in, heavy and suffocating. knees press into the cold dirt, rough and unforgiving beneath the weight of exhaustion and fear. negan’s voice slices through the silence, slow and deliberate, savoring every word. lucille drags along the ground, the sound grating against raw nerves.

carl sits a few people away from you and from her, stiff and silent, his single blue eye locked on negan with a fire that refuses to die, no matter how much fear is in the air. his hands are clenched into fists, trembling slightly, whether from rage or terror, it’s impossible to tell.

and then negan stops.

right in front of her.

“you know… i was gonna pick any ol’ one of you. but damn, kid, you look real scared. now that’s interesting.”

the words hang there, sickening and cruel.

carl’s breath catches in his throat. “no—” it’s barely a word, more a broken plea, but negan doesn’t even spare him a glance.

the bat rises.

and falls.

the sound—god, the sound—isn’t something that can be forgotten. the crack of lucille against her skull, carls girlfriends skull, the dull, wet impact, it echoes louder than the screams that never had the chance to escape.

carl’s scream rips through the air, raw and brutal. “NO!”

and that was it. she died. his breaths come in sharp, ragged bursts, chest heaving as if the world itself is crushing him.

“no, no, no…” the words tumble out in a broken chant, spilling into the dirt along with everything else he’s losing.

but negan only laughs, stepping back, admiring his work like it’s nothing.

carl collapses forward, trembling hands hovering just above where she now lays, not daring to touch, like contact would make it all too real. his whole body shakes, the weight of it all dragging him down.

all you could do is watch him.. what could you possible do? he wouldn't even let you touch him probably. but as you saw ricks gaze, you knew it was you who should comfort him. rick couldn't. not in that state, watching his son in pure agony.