The sun sank below the horizon, swallowing the camp in darkness. One by one, the lights flickered on, yet every face remained shadowed as they watched a man standing before them, a hammer dangling from his hand.
Clementine gritted her teeth as the plant crumbled in her grasp. Her gaze drifted to Nick, who couldn't even manage a single task without screwing it up.
Carver pointed at Reggie."Come here."
Reggie hesitated, then stepped forward.
"Somebody dug a hole," Carver said evenly. "You know anything about that?"
"C-Carver… I swear, I don't," Reggie stammered. "I wasn't involved."
"That's the problem," Carver snarled. "You don't know anything."
The hammer came down.Again.And again.
Carver smashed Reggie's head until his body went limp.
The room froze.
Blood dripped from the hammer as Carver wiped his hand, utterly unfazed. Even the guards looked shaken.
"Somebody dug that hole," Carver said, turning to the group. "So raise your hand, or tell me who did it. If nobody speaks, I punish all of you. That'll be bad for everyone... so you'd better hurry."
Silence.
"How can you be so sure it was us?" Luke asked, forcing his voice to stay steady. "Why not question the others?"
"I don't need to," Carver replied coldly. "I know it was one of you."
He walked toward Nick, who was trembling.
"Someone tried to stop a guard from checking that closet," Carver said, gripping Nick's shoulder. "Someone just like you."
Nick's breathing turned ragged.
"Point to who helped you," Carver whispered. "Do that, and maybe I'll be gentle."
Nick's eyes darted across the group. Every face reflected fear. Nearby, Sarah cried quietly, barely holding herself together.
"Hurry up," Carver said.
Nick clenched his fists."Fuck you!"
He swung at Carver.
The punch barely connected. Nick tried again, but Carver dodged, slammed him to the floor, and beat him mercilessly. Nick screamed until he couldn't anymore.
Carver finally straightened, breathing hard.
"I tried to be nice to this kid," he said calmly. "Look how he repaid me."
He turned to the others.
"If nobody talks, I'll chop off all your hands," he said. "You've got ten seconds."
Shock rippled through the group. Reggie and Nick lay dead.
No one spoke.
Clementine's heart pounded. Her eyes flicked to the hammer near her foot, but a guard's gaze never left her.
She looked to Jane.
Jane tightened her grip on her rifle, helpless, for now.
The countdown ended.
"Still nothing?" Carver said pleasantly. "Fine. I don't mind punishing everyone."
"Get it over with, you bastard," Rebecca snapped.
Carver smiled softly."Except you, darling. You know I can't hurt my baby." His tone darkened. "But watch your mouth. Don't make me the bad guy."
Rebecca turned away, seething.
Carver grabbed a machete and strode toward Kenny.
"This might hurt a little."
"Shut the fuck up and do it," Kenny snarled, bracing himself.
Carver's face twisted with rage as he raised the machete.
BOOM.
A thunderous explosion rocked the building.
A guard burst in. "The Negan man attacked us! They blew the gate!"
Gunfire erupted outside.
"Fuck!" Carver shouted. "Watch them!" he barked at the guards as he ran for the gate.
Three guards stayed behind.
The moment Carver turned away, Clementine moved.
She snatched the hammer and hurled it into a guard's face. He screamed and dropped.
Another guard raised his gun.
Jane lunged forward, driving a knife into his throat.
"Now!" Jane shouted. "This is our chance!"
She finished off the wounded guard on the floor.
Clementine grabbed a fallen rifle and tossed another to Kenny.
"The hole...we can escape through there!" Luke shouted, urging everyone forward.
"They probably covered it," Clementine said, scanning for threats.
"Got a better idea?" Luke shot back. "We can't go out the front. It's our only chance."
Reluctantly, Clementine followed as they rushed toward the closet.
Gunfire echoed as they burst outside. The hardware store exit loomed ahead. As Mike reached for the door.
Bang.
Troy burst through and opened fire. Mike, Walter, and Sarita dropped instantly.
Kenny froze, staring at Sarita's lifeless body.
Troy swung his rifle toward Sarah.
Before he could fire, Clementine pulled the trigger. Troy collapsed.
"Move! Now!" Luke shouted, grabbing the fallen gun.
Sarah crumpled, shaking uncontrollably. Carlos rushed to her side.
"Sarah, get up... we have to go!" he pleaded. She didn't respond.
Clementine stepped forward and slapped her hard.
"Snap out of it!"
With Carlos's help, Clementine hauled Sarah to her feet as explosions and gunfire intensified.
Clementine glanced back. Kenny knelt beside Sarita's body.
"Kenny, we have to go!" Clementine shouted. "There's no time!"
"I'm not letting them get away with this," Kenny growled. "I'll kill them all."
He turned and ran toward the armory, the key clenched in his fist.
"Kenny!" Clementine called, but he didn't slow down.
"Move!" Clementine shouted, leading the others toward the general store. They fought their way through, dropping several guards before reaching the closet.
Jane ripped the door open.
"Fuck!...they covered it," she muttered, slamming it shut.
"What do we do now?" Rebecca cried, panic sharp in her voice.
Luke and Jane exchanged a look. Neither answered.
Sarah clung to her father, trembling.
"The front gets is suicidal," Jane said bitterly.
"Then we go to the power room," Clementine said firmly. "We cut the lights. In the dark, we will have a better chance."
After a beat, everyone nodded.
They turned and ran toward the power room.