POV: Rick
Rick's boots crunched against the gravel as he surveyed the camp early the next morning. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made people second-guess every word, every glance. He could see it in the way the humans clung tightly to their weapons, how the zombies shuffled in tighter groups, and how Kane lingered just outside the main circle, watching like a hawk.
The makeshift barricades around the camp creaked in the wind, a reminder of how temporary everything felt. Rick rubbed the back of his neck, his thoughts heavy. The alliance was fragile, and he was running out of ways to hold it together.
"Rick," Sarah's voice broke through his thoughts. She approached with her usual determined stride, a clipboard in hand. Jenna's addition to the camp had come with an unexpected bonus: endless supplies of scavenged office materials, including clipboards, which Sarah had immediately adopted as her organizational tool of choice.
"Morning," Rick greeted her. "What's the update?"
Sarah glanced around, lowering her voice. "Theo's been acting… off. More than usual."
Rick sighed. "Yeah, I noticed. He's been glaring at Jenna's group like they owe him money."
Sarah hesitated, then added, "I think he's planning something."
Rick frowned, his gut tightening. "Like what?"
"I don't know," Sarah admitted. "But whatever it is, we need to stop it before it makes things worse."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna was humming to herself as she rummaged through her stash, reorganizing the chaos she called "the system." Her spatial space had gotten a little cluttered lately, and she prided herself on keeping it semi-functional. Cans of food were stacked neatly in one corner, tools in another, and a random pile of "miscellaneous curiosities" filled the rest.
She held up a snow globe she'd found the day before, shaking it with a grin. "You're definitely going in the collection."
One of her zombies groaned in agreement—or possibly disapproval; it was hard to tell. Jenna nodded solemnly. "I know, right? It's classy."
Her moment of self-indulgence was interrupted by Carl, who appeared at the edge of her little corner with his usual look of exasperated amusement.
"What now?" Jenna asked, tossing the snow globe into her stash.
"We've got a problem," Carl said. "Theo."
Jenna rolled her eyes. "Let me guess—he's still mad about the time I pulled a stapler on him?"
Carl crossed his arms. "It's more than that. He's been talking to Kane."
Jenna froze, her expression turning serious. "Talking to Kane? That's… not great."
"No kidding," Carl said dryly. "We need to keep an eye on him."
Jenna nodded, already running through her mental inventory. If Theo tried anything, she'd be ready. She had duct tape, fishing nets, and at least three random sharp objects at her disposal. Let him try to mess with her.
---
POV: Kane
Kane stood near the edge of the camp, his arms crossed as he watched the humans and zombies move about. His patience was paying off. Theo was on edge, Rick was distracted, and the alliance was stretched thinner than ever. It wouldn't take much to push it over the edge.
He spotted Theo pacing nearby, muttering to himself. Kane approached him with a calm, measured stride.
"You seem troubled," Kane said, his voice low and smooth.
Theo glanced at him, his eyes wild. "They're hiding something. I know it."
Kane nodded sympathetically. "I understand your frustration. But you'll need proof if you want Rick to take you seriously."
Theo clenched his fists. "I'll get proof. They can't keep fooling us forever."
Kane smiled faintly. "I believe in you, Theo. Just be careful. You don't want to act too soon and give them the upper hand."
Theo nodded, his resolve hardening. "Don't worry. I've got a plan."
---
POV: Carl
Carl was on edge as he watched Kane and Theo from a distance. The two of them looked like conspirators in a bad crime drama, their body language practically screaming "we're up to no good."
"This is bad," Carl muttered to Sarah, who had joined him.
Sarah followed his gaze, her expression grim. "We need to tell Rick."
Carl shook his head. "Not yet. Rick's already under enough pressure. Let's see what they're planning first."
Sarah frowned but didn't argue. She trusted Carl's judgment, even if it made her uneasy.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna was testing the tensile strength of her fishing net when she heard the commotion. Shouts echoed through the camp, followed by the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground.
She bolted toward the noise, her gang of zombies groaning in confused unison as they followed. When she arrived, she found Theo standing in the middle of the camp, his crowbar raised as he glared at one of her zombies.
"This thing tried to steal our supplies!" Theo shouted, his voice shaking with anger.
Jenna's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about? My guys don't steal. They can barely hold a conversation."
Theo sneered. "Oh, so now you're defending them? Typical."
Jenna stepped forward, her hands on her hips. "Listen, buddy, if you've got a problem with my group, take it up with me. But don't go around accusing us of stuff we didn't do."
The tension in the camp was palpable as everyone gathered to watch. Rick stepped in, his voice sharp. "Enough! We're not turning this into a witch hunt."
Theo glared at Jenna one last time before lowering his crowbar. "This isn't over," he muttered before storming off.
Jenna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her fists unclenching. "What a drama queen," she muttered.
Carl appeared at her side, his expression serious. "That was too close."
Jenna nodded, her humor fading. Theo wasn't just paranoid—he was dangerous. And if Kane was pulling his strings, things were only going to get worse.