POV: Jenna
Jenna sat cross-legged in the middle of camp, surrounded by a growing pile of what she lovingly referred to as her "treasures." The others called it junk, but they didn't understand the vision. A couple of rusty saw blades, a stack of random wires, and a pristine soccer ball she'd found earlier were now part of her prized collection.
She was engrossed in testing the springiness of a frayed bungee cord when Carl walked up, hands on his hips.
"Jenna," he began, the exasperation already clear in his tone. "Why do you have a soccer ball?"
Jenna held it up proudly. "Distraction tool. You kick it, mutants chase it, we escape. Genius, right?"
Carl blinked. "That's… actually not the worst idea you've had."
Jenna beamed, tossing the ball into her storage space with a flourish. "Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to figure out what to do with this bungee cord."
Carl shook his head, muttering something about priorities as he walked off. Jenna just smirked, satisfied with her ingenuity. She didn't care if they thought she was a little eccentric—her hoard had gotten them out of tight spots before, and it would again.
---
POV: Rick
Rick paced near the edge of the camp, his mind racing. The scouting mission had been a mixed success—they'd found some supplies, sure, but the tension within the group was worse than ever. The humans were growing more vocal in their distrust of Jenna's zombies, and he could feel the cracks in their alliance widening.
He glanced over at Jenna, who was busy fiddling with a set of pliers she'd salvaged. She looked like she didn't have a care in the world, which only frustrated him more.
"How does she stay so… unaffected?" he muttered to himself.
"She's a zombie," Sarah replied, appearing beside him with a small smile. "I think that comes with the territory."
Rick sighed. "Yeah, but even Carl seems more grounded than she is. Jenna just… floats through this apocalypse like it's a game."
Sarah shrugged. "Maybe that's how she copes. We all have our ways, right?"
Rick didn't reply, but the thought stuck with him. Maybe Sarah was right. Maybe Jenna's obsession with hoarding was her way of holding onto some semblance of control in a world gone mad.
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched the camp from the shadows, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. He'd noticed the growing divide between the humans and the zombies, and he was more than happy to fan the flames.
Jenna was an enigma to him—her quirks, her strange combination of chaos and cunning. She was unpredictable, and that made her dangerous. But it also made her useful.
"She's a wildcard," Kane muttered to himself. "And wildcards can break the game."
He'd already begun planting seeds of doubt among the humans, but now he wondered if he could use Jenna's hoarding obsession to his advantage. If he played his cards right, he could push her to make a move that would destabilize the entire group.
For now, though, he would wait. Patience was a virtue, after all.
---
POV: Carl
Carl sat near the campfire, sharpening his blade as he watched Jenna out of the corner of his eye. She was still sorting through her latest haul, her face lit up with the kind of excitement most people reserved for birthdays or holidays.
"You really don't stop, do you?" he asked, his tone more amused than annoyed.
Jenna glanced up, grinning. "Why would I? The apocalypse is a goldmine. You never know what you'll find."
Carl chuckled. "You're something else, Jenna."
"Thanks," she said, tossing a handful of mismatched screws into her storage space. "I try."
Carl shook his head, but he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. For all her quirks, Jenna had a way of making the bleakness of their situation feel a little less heavy.
---
POV: Theo
Theo sat on the outskirts of the camp, his eyes darting between the humans and the zombies. He'd always been uneasy around Jenna's group, but lately, his discomfort had turned into full-blown paranoia.
"They're up to something," he muttered under his breath. "I know it."
Kane appeared beside him, his presence as calm and unassuming as ever. "Something on your mind, Theo?"
Theo jumped slightly but quickly recovered. "It's the zombies. They're… too organized. Too coordinated."
Kane nodded thoughtfully. "I understand your concern. It's not natural, is it? Zombies working together, acting almost… human."
Theo frowned. "Exactly. And Jenna's the worst of them. She's always hoarding stuff, like she's planning something."
Kane placed a reassuring hand on Theo's shoulder. "You're not alone in feeling this way. But we have to be careful. Rick won't take kindly to accusations without proof."
Theo nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'll find proof. I'll show everyone what they're really up to."
Kane smiled faintly, his eyes glinting in the firelight. "I'm sure you will."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna stretched her arms above her head, letting out a content sigh. She'd made good progress today—her hoard was growing nicely, and she'd even managed to convince Carl that a soccer ball was a valuable asset. All in all, it was a productive day.
She glanced around the camp, her eyes landing on Theo, who was glaring at her from across the fire. She raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. If he wanted to sulk, that was his problem.
Still, a small voice in the back of her mind warned her to be careful. Not everyone appreciated her unique approach to survival, and it wouldn't take much for someone like Theo to stir up trouble.
"Let them try," she muttered under her breath, a determined glint in her eye. "I've got duct tape and a soccer ball. What could go wrong?"