POV: Rick
Rick pushed through the dense forest, his breath ragged and his muscles burning. The group had barely escaped the ambush, but the victory felt hollow. They'd lost supplies, energy, and, worst of all, time.
"We need to stop," Sarah said, her voice strained. "People are injured, and we're running on fumes."
Rick glanced back at the group. Jenna was trudging along with her zombie gang, Carl beside her, his sword still drawn. The rest of the humans looked just as bad—cuts, bruises, and exhaustion etched into their faces.
"Not here," Rick replied, his tone firm. "We're still in Kane's territory. We need distance."
Sarah didn't argue, but her grim expression said it all. They were running on borrowed time.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna limped along at the back of the group, her crowbar resting on her shoulder. She'd taken a few hits during the fight, but nothing serious. Still, her pride was bruised.
"That was rough," she muttered to her zombie gang. "I mean, we survived, but barely. Maybe we're not as invincible as I thought."
Her zombies groaned softly, their glowing eyes fixed on her. Jenna sighed, patting one on the head. "Don't worry, guys. We'll get better. Maybe Carl can give us some pointers."
Carl, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back at her. "What?"
"Nothing," Jenna said quickly, her cheeks flushing. "Just talking to my team."
Carl raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. Jenna exhaled in relief, though she couldn't shake the feeling that he'd heard more than she intended.
---
POV: Kane
Kane stood at the edge of the clearing, his sharp eyes following the group's retreating forms. His controlled zombies returned to his side, their glowing veins pulsing faintly in the dim light.
"They're more resilient than I expected," Theo admitted. "Jenna's space ability is a wildcard."
Kane nodded slowly. "It is. But it's also her weakness."
Theo frowned. "How so?"
Kane's smile was cold. "She relies on it too much. Take it away, and she's nothing."
---
POV: Rick
The group finally stopped in a small clearing, the dense forest providing a semblance of cover. Rick didn't like it—it was too open, too exposed—but they didn't have a choice.
"Set up a perimeter," he ordered, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "We need rest, but we can't let our guard down."
The others moved sluggishly, their exhaustion evident. Rick watched them for a moment before turning to Jenna, who was sitting on a rock and rummaging through her portal.
"Do you ever stop?" he asked, his tone half-annoyed, half-curious.
Jenna looked up, grinning. "Hoarding is a 24/7 job, my friend. You never know when you'll need an extra crowbar or a bag of chips."
Rick shook his head, muttering something about misplaced priorities as he walked away.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna leaned back, munching on a granola bar she'd pulled from her portal. "You know," she said to Carl, who was sharpening his sword nearby, "we should really think about upgrading our strategy. Maybe start using traps or something."
Carl didn't look up. "We?"
"Well, yeah," Jenna replied, gesturing to herself and her gang. "We're a team, remember?"
Carl let out a soft chuckle, and Jenna's eyes widened. "Oh my God, was that a laugh? Did Carl the Stoic just laugh?"
"Don't get used to it," Carl said, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Jenna grinned, feeling a small spark of pride. Maybe she wasn't completely hopeless after all.
---
POV: Kane
Kane's camp was quiet, the controlled zombies standing in perfect formation around the perimeter. He sat near a fire, his gaze distant as he planned his next move.
"They're resting," Theo reported, his tone cautious. "It's the perfect time to strike."
"Not yet," Kane said, his voice calm but firm. "Let them rest. Let them think they're safe. Fear works best when it's unexpected."
Theo hesitated but nodded. "And Jenna?"
Kane's smile returned, sharp and calculating. "She'll fall. They all will. It's just a matter of time."
---
POV: Rick
Rick sat near the edge of the camp, his knife in hand as he scanned the darkness. The group was battered, but they were alive. And as long as they were alive, they had a chance.
But deep down, Rick knew their luck wouldn't hold forever. Kane was out there, waiting, watching. And when he struck again, it wouldn't be a test—it would be the endgame.
For now, though, they could rest. And Rick would make damn sure they were ready for whatever came next.