POV: Jenna
Jenna surveyed the open street with a critical eye. The once-bustling town was eerily silent, its buildings crumbling under the weight of time and neglect. It had been weeks since she and her gang ventured out of their usual scavenging routes, and this new area was ripe for the taking.
Carl walked ahead, his sword glinting faintly in the weak sunlight. "We'll clear the area first," he said, his tone brisk. "No surprises."
Jenna grunted in response, distracted by the rows of abandoned stores lining the street. Her gaze landed on a convenience store with a cracked neon sign. "Ooh, jackpot," she muttered, already envisioning the treasures waiting inside.
"Focus, Jenna," Carl snapped, glancing over his shoulder. "We don't know what's out here."
"Relax," Jenna said, waving him off. "I've got a nose for supplies."
Behind her, her zombie gang shuffled along, growling softly as they followed her lead. Jenna gave them a thumbs-up. "Stay close, guys. We're about to hit the mother lode."
---
POV: Carl
Carl sighed, watching as Jenna darted toward the convenience store without a care in the world. "She's going to get us all killed," he muttered under his breath.
But he followed her anyway, his sword at the ready. Despite her recklessness—and her tendency to hoard anything that wasn't nailed down—Jenna had a way of turning chaos into results. Sometimes, at least.
He caught up to her just as she kicked open the store's door, sending a shower of glass shards onto the floor. "Subtle," Carl said dryly.
Jenna grinned. "Why waste time?"
The inside of the store was a mess. Shelves were overturned, their contents scattered across the floor. A thick layer of dust coated everything, and the faint smell of decay lingered in the air.
"Perfect," Jenna said, clapping her hands together. "Let's get to work."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna moved through the store like a kid in a candy shop, shoving cans of food, bottled water, and even a box of mismatched batteries into her spatial space. "This is amazing," she gushed, holding up a slightly dented can of beans. "Vintage apocalypse chic!"
Carl rolled his eyes. "Focus on essentials."
"Everything's essential when you're a hoarder," Jenna replied, tucking the can away. "Besides, you never know when you'll need random junk."
Carl didn't bother responding. Instead, he scanned the aisles, his sword ready for any sign of trouble.
Jenna, meanwhile, found herself drawn to a dusty display of snacks near the counter. She picked up a bag of chips, her eyes lighting up. "Carl, look! Expired chips! It's like finding buried treasure!"
Carl glanced at her, unimpressed. "You're unbelievable."
"I know," Jenna said, tearing open the bag and popping a chip into her mouth. It was stale, but she didn't care. "Want one?"
Carl sighed. "Let's just finish up here."
---
POV: Kane
From his position on a nearby rooftop, Kane watched the group with mild interest. Jenna's antics were amusing, if nothing else. She moved through the store with reckless abandon, her zombie gang shuffling along behind her like obedient puppies.
"She's a liability," Theo muttered beside him, his tone laced with disdain.
"She's unpredictable," Kane corrected. "And that makes her dangerous."
Theo scoffed. "Dangerous? She's a clown."
Kane smiled faintly. "Clowns can be unpredictable too. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna was shoving a pack of instant noodles into her spatial space when a low growl echoed through the store. She froze, her hand hovering over the next pack.
"Uh, Carl?" she called, her voice wavering slightly. "I think we've got company."
Carl appeared beside her in an instant, his sword raised. "Stay behind me."
The growling grew louder, and a moment later, a pair of glowing eyes appeared in the shadows at the back of the store. Jenna's heart raced as a mutated dog emerged, its twisted body covered in pulsating green veins.
"Oh, great," Jenna muttered. "A zombie dog. Because this day wasn't weird enough already."
Carl didn't hesitate. He lunged at the creature, his sword slicing through its side. The dog yelped, its green blood spraying across the floor.
Jenna grabbed her crowbar, ready to jump in if needed. But Carl didn't give her the chance. With a final, decisive strike, he brought the creature down, its glowing veins dimming as it collapsed.
"Well, that was fun," Jenna said, wiping her brow. "Let's not do that again."
Carl gave her a flat look. "This is why I told you to stay focused."
Jenna grinned. "But then we wouldn't have found those chips."
Carl shook his head, muttering under his breath as he turned back to the door. "Come on. Let's move."