POV: Rick
Rick trudged along the cracked pavement as the group moved through the outskirts of the town. The fight with the mutated dog had rattled everyone, and now there was a new layer of tension hanging in the air. Despite Jenna's group proving themselves useful—even essential—the humans were still struggling to accept their undead allies.
He glanced back at Sarah, who was walking beside Carl. The two of them seemed to be working well together, which was more than he could say for the rest of the humans and zombies. Most of the survivors kept their distance, muttering among themselves or shooting nervous glances at Jenna's gang. One of the zombies stumbled too close to Theo, and the man flinched, gripping his crowbar like it was the only thing standing between him and death.
Rick sighed. This was going to be a long day.
"We need to regroup," he said, raising his voice just enough for everyone to hear. "Take five. Stay alert."
The group halted, spreading out into a loose circle. Rick could see the unease in their faces—the humans were clearly on edge, and even the zombies seemed restless. Jenna was the only one who looked remotely relaxed, sitting on a chunk of broken concrete with her gang clustered around her like a pack of oversized, groaning puppies.
Carl approached, his expression unreadable. "You've got a problem," he said quietly, nodding toward the humans.
Rick followed his gaze to Theo, who was glaring daggers at one of Jenna's zombies. "Yeah, I've noticed."
"They're scared," Carl continued. "And scared people make bad decisions."
Rick rubbed the back of his neck. "I know. I'm trying to keep things under control, but it's not easy."
Carl smirked faintly. "Welcome to my world."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna watched Rick and Carl talking, their expressions serious. She could guess what they were discussing—it wasn't exactly a mystery. The humans didn't trust her group, and her gang wasn't exactly helping matters. One of them was currently chewing on a piece of rebar, while another seemed to be fascinated by a squashed soda can.
"Guys, can we try to look… less zombie-ish?" she asked, gesturing vaguely at her gang. They responded with a series of low groans and blank stares, which was about as much as she'd expected.
"Great talk," she muttered, standing up and stretching. She noticed Sarah watching her from a distance, looking like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure how to start. Jenna decided to make it easy for her.
"Hey, Sarah!" she called, waving her over. "What's up?"
Sarah hesitated, then approached, her crowbar still in hand. "I, uh… just wanted to check in. See how you're holding up."
Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Me? I'm fine. Why?"
Sarah shrugged, glancing at the zombies. "I mean… this whole situation is kind of… unusual."
Jenna snorted. "Yeah, that's one way to put it."
They stood in awkward silence for a moment before Jenna grinned. "You know, if you want to make this less weird, you could always join us. I could teach you how to groan convincingly."
Sarah blinked, then laughed—a real, genuine laugh that caught Jenna off guard. "Thanks, but I think I'll stick to being human."
Jenna smirked. "Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't offer."
---
POV: Kane
Kane leaned against a rusted streetlamp, watching the group with a calculated eye. The cracks in their alliance were becoming more visible, and it wouldn't take much to widen them. He'd already planted seeds of doubt among the humans—now it was just a matter of waiting for them to grow.
He noticed Theo pacing near the edge of the group, his grip on his crowbar tight. The man's nerves were shot, his eyes darting to Jenna's zombies every few seconds. Perfect.
Kane approached him slowly, his steps deliberate. "Theo," he said, his voice calm and steady. "You alright?"
Theo flinched but quickly masked it with a scowl. "I'm fine."
"You seem… tense," Kane continued, his tone soothing. "It's understandable, given everything we've been through. But if you ever need someone to talk to…"
Theo hesitated, his grip loosening slightly. "It's just… those things," he muttered, nodding toward the zombies. "I don't trust them."
"Neither do I," Kane admitted, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But Rick seems determined to keep them around. We just have to hope he knows what he's doing."
Theo frowned, his gaze darkening. "And if he doesn't?"
Kane smiled faintly. "Then we'll have to do what's best for the group. Whatever that may be."
---
POV: Carl
Carl watched Kane talking to Theo, his instincts prickling. There was something about Kane that set him on edge—something he couldn't quite put his finger on. The man was too smooth, too controlled. It reminded Carl of someone… but the memory was just out of reach.
"What's his deal?" Jenna asked, appearing at his side.
Carl didn't look away from Kane. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."
Jenna frowned, following his gaze. "You think he's up to something?"
Carl nodded slowly. "I don't trust him. And neither should you."
Jenna shrugged. "Fair enough. But honestly, I don't trust anyone right now."
Carl smirked. "Smart."
They stood in silence for a moment before Jenna sighed. "So, what do we do about him?"
Carl's smirk faded, his expression turning serious. "We keep an eye on him. And when the time comes… we deal with him."
Jenna raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound so dramatic."
Carl didn't respond, his gaze fixed on Kane. Something was coming—he could feel it. And when it did, they needed to be ready.