Haunted | Daryl Dixon

48. Loss

Caspian hadn't once been able to look away from the gruesome scene before him.

Never once- not as the seconds ticked into minutes which later turned into hours- was he able to tear his gaze from the lifeless, brutalized body that lay before him.

When Negan had hissed that he hadn't yet been through with his group, Holloway had felt his heart stop. His throat had closed up and his lungs felt as though they had been about to collapse all together as the deranged man with a bat had sauntered his way. Only to come to a stop right in front of his boyfriend.

His kind, loyal, generous boyfriend. The one who had no doubt preferred that it be him than the others. The one that no doubt wished more than anything to comfort the others in that time of need, not to save himself. The one that had been taken away much too early.

While wails of sorrow and pain had gone up around him, not a sound escaped his lips. Not a tear slipped from his eyeducts. All he could do was stare, frozen as a statue as Negan whipped around and beat Daniel to death.

He had listened to Evelyn scream out in terror and anguish. Had listened as Negan gave the order to take her away. Had listened as Daryl struggled against whatever Savior was holding onto him to get to Evelyn.

But Caspian couldn't once tear his eyes away from Hayes.

In the final seconds before Negan had turned to swing the bat at him, it was as if Daniel knew what was coming, as he tore his soft gaze away from his best friend and smiled at his boyfriend, extending a hand in his direction.

Before Holloway could even lift his arm to reach for him, Negan had struck.

So the man had been frozen, arm half outstretched and eyes wide, complete and utterly frozen. He didn't even flinch as the blood from his boyfriend's head splattered out and landed on the side of his face.

All he could do was sit there and watch. Helpless to move to stop him, for it was much too late. Daniel Hayes was already dead and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Even as Negan had finished and turned around with a booming laugh, he didn't peel his eyes away. Not when Rick had been dragged into the RV and driven away. Not when the sun began to rise over the treeline. Not when Rick was dumped back with the group hours later. Not when Negan stood before them once more and gave a long speech that he didn't bother listening to.

What was the point, when all he could do was stare at his boyfriends dead body, head beaten beyond recognition, the ringing in his ears louder than any words coming out of the deranged man's mouth?

Had he been able to tear his eyes away, had he been able to listen in on the rant Negan had gone off on, then Caspian would not have been able to control himself. The anger would have taken over. The white, hot rage would have blinded him and driven him into a frenzy that would've led to him lunging at the leader of the Saviors and killing him with his bare hands.

But, no, Caspian didn't once look away from Daniel until a hand came to gently rest on his shoulder, drawing his attention.

The man finally flinched, stumbling over himself from where he still kneeled in the dirt, eyes wide as he whipped his head around to face Aaron, whose lips were pursed and a grim expression was upon his face.

No longer were any Saviors surrounding them as the sun was high in the sky. The others either stood or sat around- minus Daryl and Evelyn, who must've been taken alongside the woman. Their RV sat a couple feet away, bloodstains along the side.

But Caspian's attention snagged onto Maggie, who was slowly limping in the opposite direction of the group.

"You can barely stand up-" Rick's voice was small, weak, as he shakily raised an arm to try and put a stop to the sickly woman's protests.