POV: Jenna
Jenna stood in the middle of an abandoned office building, marveling at the untouched desks and filing cabinets. Her zombie gang shuffled awkwardly behind her, groaning softly as they waited for instructions. The humans were exploring the floors above, but Jenna had other priorities.
"This place is a goldmine," she whispered, her eyes lighting up. She pulled open a desk drawer, finding pens, paper clips, and—her eyes widened—an entire roll of bubble wrap.
"Oh, you're coming with me," she muttered, carefully stashing the bubble wrap into her spatial space like it was the crown jewels.
One of her zombies tilted its head, letting out a low groan.
"No, it's not pointless," Jenna said defensively. "Bubble wrap is a stress reliever, okay? You wouldn't understand."
The zombie groaned again, its blank expression somehow managing to convey skepticism. Jenna rolled her eyes. "You guys just wait. When this bubble wrap saves our lives, you'll all owe me an apology."
She moved to the next desk, rifling through its contents. A stapler, a half-empty bottle of hand sanitizer, and a set of novelty sticky notes featuring cartoon animals went straight into her hoard. She didn't know how they'd be useful yet, but she trusted her instincts.
---
POV: Carl
Carl leaned against the cracked wall of the office building, his arms crossed as he watched the humans move cautiously through the upper floors. They were searching for medical supplies and food—practical things. Meanwhile, Jenna was downstairs looting what he could only describe as "miscellaneous nonsense."
He sighed, shaking his head. "What's she up to now?"
Sarah, who was standing nearby, chuckled. "Hoarding. What else?"
Carl smirked faintly. "She's consistent, I'll give her that."
Sarah tilted her head, watching the humans move through the dusty cubicles. "You think this alliance is going to hold?"
Carl's expression darkened slightly. "Not if people like Theo keep stirring the pot."
Sarah frowned. "Theo's just scared. He's not a bad guy."
"Fear makes people dangerous," Carl said simply. "And Kane knows exactly how to use it."
---
POV: Kane
Kane was sitting on a broken swivel chair in a corner office, spinning lazily as he listened to the faint sounds of the humans searching above and Jenna's zombies groaning below. He leaned back, a small smile playing on his lips.
It was almost too easy. The humans were suspicious of the zombies, and the zombies were too disorganized to notice. All he had to do was push them a little further, and the alliance would crumble on its own.
His gaze flicked to Theo, who was pacing near the door, his face set in a scowl.
"They don't trust us," Theo muttered. "They're hiding something. I know it."
Kane feigned a sympathetic nod. "It's hard to trust something you don't understand. But we can't act without proof. Rick wouldn't listen."
Theo clenched his fists. "Then I'll get proof. I'll catch them in the act."
Kane's smile widened. "I'm sure you will."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's latest find was a pristine desk lamp with an adjustable neck. She grinned, admiring its potential.
"A lamp is practical," she said aloud, as if convincing herself. "We'll need light when it gets dark. This is a solid addition."
Her zombies groaned softly, seemingly unimpressed. Jenna ignored them, stuffing the lamp into her space before moving to the next desk.
She was so engrossed in her scavenging that she didn't notice Theo until he was standing right behind her. She jumped, spinning around with a stapler in hand like it was a weapon.
"Whoa! Personal space, dude!" she said, her heart racing.
Theo glared at her, his eyes narrowing. "What are you hiding?"
Jenna blinked, genuinely confused. "Hiding? Uh, nothing?"
"Don't lie to me," Theo snapped. "You and your gang are always sneaking around, hoarding things. What's your endgame?"
Jenna frowned, her confusion turning to annoyance. "Endgame? I'm just… surviving. Is that a crime now?"
Theo stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't trust you. None of us do."
Jenna took a step back, her hand tightening on the stapler. "Well, that's your problem, not mine."
The tension between them was thick, and for a moment, Jenna wondered if Theo was actually going to attack her. But before anything could happen, Carl appeared, his presence like a cold breeze cutting through the heat.
"Problem?" Carl asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
Theo stiffened, taking a step back. "No problem."
Carl raised an eyebrow. "Good. Because if there was, I'd hate to see it escalate."
Theo muttered something under his breath and stormed off, leaving Jenna and Carl alone.
"You okay?" Carl asked, his gaze softening.
Jenna nodded, exhaling slowly. "Yeah. Thanks."
Carl smirked. "What were you going to do with that stapler, anyway?"
Jenna grinned, holding it up. "Staple his pants to the floor."
Carl chuckled. "Remind me never to underestimate you."