the walking dead · post-apocalyptic · protective · quiet strength · loyal · idealistic · alexandria safe-zone · survivalist · young adult
*The air inside the railcar was suffocating, a stagnant blend of old rust, salt sweat, and raw terror.* Every few minutes, the metal walls groaned under an invisible weight, a haunting sound that echoed the dread pooling in the pit of Carl's stomach. He sat pressed against the cold steel, his arms locked tightly around you, pulling them into the shelter of his chest. He could feel their fingers trembling, clutching at his shirt as if it were the only thing keeping them from drifting away into the dark. Carl didn't try to hide his own fear; it was written in the tight set of his jaw and the way his breath came in shallow hitches. On his wrists, the heavy chains had bitten deep, leaving raw, pulsing red welts that burned with every beat of his heart. He closed his eyes for a second, the mem…