POV: Jenna
Jenna barely ducked as the mutant creature swung its grotesque arm, smashing a shelf into splinters. She skidded across the dusty floor, her crowbar still clutched tightly in her hand.
"Okay, big guy," she muttered under her breath. "You're mad. I get it. Let's call this a tie and go our separate ways."
The creature roared, clearly not interested in negotiations.
Carl moved in, slashing at the beast's legs with precision. "Jenna, get out of here!"
"Not without you!" Jenna shouted, dodging another swipe. "I didn't come all this way to let you play hero solo."
"I'm not playing hero," Carl shot back. "I'm playing survivalist. Now move!"
---
POV: Rick
Rick could hear the chaos from outside the store. The crashing shelves, guttural growls, and Jenna's exasperated shouting painted a vivid picture of the battle within.
"Where's Carl and Jenna?" Sarah asked, her knife ready in case the fight spilled out.
"They're still in there," Rick said grimly, scanning the building. "We've got to give them backup."
"We can't risk everyone," Theo snapped. "They made their choice."
Rick rounded on him, his patience snapping. "We don't leave people behind. That's not how we survive."
Theo glared but said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line.
---
POV: Jenna
Carl lunged at the creature again, his sword biting into its mutated flesh. It howled in rage, swinging its massive arm and narrowly missing him. Jenna seized the opportunity to dart forward, jabbing her crowbar into what looked like a vulnerable spot near its neck.
The creature shrieked, its movements growing more erratic. Jenna stumbled back, her hands shaking from the effort.
"Did we kill it?" she asked, her voice hopeful.
Carl gave her a flat look. "No. It's just angrier now."
The beast roared, slamming its fists into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the store, toppling shelves and scattering debris.
"Time to go!" Carl shouted, grabbing Jenna's arm and dragging her toward the exit.
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched the commotion from his vantage point outside the store, his expression calm and calculating. The creature's appearance was unexpected, but it served as a reminder of the growing dangers in this mutated world.
His gaze shifted to Rick, who was organizing a small group to head back inside. Kane smirked. "Foolish loyalty," he murmured. "But useful."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna and Carl burst through the shattered doorway, panting and covered in grime. Rick and Sarah immediately rushed to meet them, while Theo lingered in the background, his scowl deepening.
"What the hell happened in there?" Rick demanded.
"Mutant monstrosity," Jenna said between gasps, gesturing vaguely toward the store. "Big, angry, hard to kill. You know, the usual."
"It's still alive?" Sarah asked, her eyes wide.
"Oh, it's alive," Carl said grimly. "And it's not going to stay contained for long."
As if on cue, the creature roared from inside the store, the sound reverberating through the air.
Rick clenched his jaw. "We can't let that thing roam free. It'll tear through everything in its path."
"Great plan," Jenna said. "Except for the part where it's unkillable."
"We'll find a way," Rick said firmly. "We have to."
---
POV: Theo
Theo watched as Rick rallied the group, his irritation growing by the second. Every decision Rick made seemed to revolve around Jenna and her gang. It was as if they were more important than the humans who had been with him from the start.
"This is insanity," Theo muttered to Kane, who had sidled up beside him.
Kane tilted his head thoughtfully. "Is it? Or is it opportunity?"
Theo frowned. "Opportunity for what?"
Kane's faint smile didn't reach his eyes. "To prove that Rick's leadership is flawed. That he's leading us down a dangerous path."
Theo's scowl deepened. "I don't need your help to see that."
"Of course not," Kane said smoothly. "But a little push in the right direction never hurts."
---
POV: Jenna
As the group regrouped, Jenna leaned against a nearby tree, trying to catch her breath. Her zombie gang hovered nearby, groaning softly as if to check on her.
"Don't worry, guys," Jenna said, waving them off. "I'm fine. Just a little shaken. And maybe mildly traumatized."
Carl approached her, his expression a mix of concern and exasperation. "You really need to work on your definition of 'retreat.'"
"Hey, I retreated," Jenna said defensively. "Eventually."
Carl shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're unbelievable."
"And yet, you're still here," Jenna pointed out, grinning.
"Against my better judgment," Carl muttered, but there was no heat in his words.
---
POV: Rick
Rick gathered the group, his expression grim. "We're not out of the woods yet. That thing is still in there, and if it gets out, we're in serious trouble."
"What's the plan?" Sarah asked.
Rick looked around, his gaze lingering on Jenna and Carl. "We regroup, come up with a strategy, and take it down. Together."
Theo scoffed. "We should just leave it. Let it be someone else's problem."
Rick's jaw tightened. "That's not how we do things."
"Maybe it should be," Theo muttered under his breath.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna watched the exchange, her mind racing. The creature was dangerous, but it also felt… off. Like it wasn't just a random mutation but something more deliberate. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was a bigger picture she was missing.
"Carl," she said quietly, pulling him aside. "Doesn't this all seem a little too… convenient? First the wolves, now this?"
Carl frowned. "You think it's connected?"
Jenna nodded. "Yeah. And I think we're just starting to scratch the surface."