POV: Rick
The morning came too quickly, the first rays of sunlight filtering through the dense forest. Rick had barely slept, his mind racing with contingency plans and strategies. He knew Kane wouldn't give them much time before the next attack.
"Everyone up," he called out, his voice cutting through the groggy silence. "We move in ten."
The group stirred reluctantly, their exhaustion evident. Sarah approached him, her face pale but determined. "What's the plan?"
Rick rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the group. "We keep moving. Kane's testing us, and I don't want to be here when he decides to get serious."
Sarah nodded, though her eyes flickered with doubt. "And if he catches up?"
Rick didn't answer, but the set of his jaw said enough.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna stretched dramatically, her arms flopping to her sides. "Do we have to move already? My legs feel like jelly, and not the fun kind."
"You think anything about you is the fun kind?" Carl quipped, his voice dry as he inspected his sword.
Jenna gasped, clutching her chest. "That was almost mean! I thought we were bonding."
Carl didn't respond, but Jenna caught the faintest twitch of a smile. "See? You secretly like me," she said smugly. "Admit it."
"Focus," Carl replied, his tone firm but not unkind. "We're not out of danger yet."
Jenna sighed dramatically but stood up, her zombie gang groaning as they shuffled to follow her. "Fine. But if we get ambushed again, I'm blaming you."
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched the group from a distance, his controlled zombies blending seamlessly with the forest. They were moving slower now, their fatigue evident.
"They're cracking," Theo said, his tone confident. "It won't take much to break them."
"Not yet," Kane replied, his gaze fixed on Jenna. "The seeds of doubt are already there. We just have to give them a little push."
"And if they recover?" Theo asked.
Kane's smile was cold. "They won't."
---
POV: Rick
The group moved cautiously through the forest, their steps heavy and uneven. Rick could feel the tension growing, the unspoken fear gnawing at everyone's resolve.
"You think Kane's still following us?" Sarah asked quietly.
Rick glanced over his shoulder, his expression grim. "He's always following us. The question is when he'll strike."
As if on cue, a distant growl echoed through the trees. The group froze, their weapons drawn as they scanned the shadows.
"Stay close," Rick ordered, his voice low. "And stay quiet."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna gripped her crowbar tightly, her usual bravado replaced by unease. "Why is it always us?" she muttered, glancing at Carl. "Can't Kane pick on someone else for once?"
Carl didn't respond, his focus on the shadows. Jenna sighed, trying to shake off her nerves. "Okay, gang," she whispered to her zombies. "Stay sharp. This could get messy."
Her zombies growled softly, their glowing eyes darting around the forest. Jenna felt a small spark of pride—her gang might not be the smartest, but they were loyal. And sometimes, that was enough.
---
POV: Kane
From his vantage point, Kane signaled to his controlled zombies. The creatures moved with eerie precision, encircling the group silently.
"Now," Kane said softly.
The attack began with a sudden, ear-splitting roar. Mutants and controlled zombies surged from the shadows, their glowing veins pulsing as they closed in on the group.
---
POV: Rick
"Ambush!" Rick shouted, his knife flashing as the first mutant lunged at him. The group scrambled into formation, their weapons swinging wildly as they fought to hold the line.
"Keep them back!" Rick barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Don't let them surround us!"
Sarah fought beside him, her crowbar smashing into a mutant's skull. "This is bad, Rick! There's too many of them!"
"We'll hold," Rick said through gritted teeth. "We don't have a choice."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna swung her crowbar with all her strength, knocking a mutant to the ground. "I hate this! I hate this so much!" she shouted, dodging another attacker.
Carl was beside her, his sword slicing through a controlled zombie. "Stop whining and fight."
"I am fighting!" Jenna retorted, slamming her crowbar into another mutant. "I just happen to be a multi-tasker."
Her zombie gang joined the fray, their growls turning into feral snarls as they tore into the attackers. Jenna couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. "Good job, guys! Keep it up!"
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched the battle with a calm, calculating gaze. The group was holding their ground, but they were clearly outmatched.
"Should we press harder?" Theo asked, his tone eager.
"Not yet," Kane replied. "Let them struggle. Let them exhaust themselves. Then we strike."
---
POV: Rick
Rick's muscles burned as he fought, his knife sinking into yet another mutant. The group was battered, but they were holding.
"Jenna!" he shouted. "Your space ability—now!"
Jenna hesitated, her eyes darting between Rick and the mutants. "I'm running out of room!" she shouted back.
"Figure it out!" Rick snapped, slashing at a controlled zombie.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna groaned but focused, her hands glowing faintly as she activated her portal. Several mutants disappeared into the glowing void, their snarls cut short.
"That's all I've got!" Jenna shouted, stepping back as another wave of attackers closed in. "Any other brilliant ideas?"
Carl moved in front of her, his sword raised. "Stay behind me."
Jenna blinked, surprised by the protectiveness in his tone. "Uh… thanks?"
"Just don't get in my way," Carl muttered, his focus on the fight.
---
POV: Kane
The group's resilience impressed Kane, but it only made him more determined. They wouldn't hold forever. And when they fell, it would be by his hand.
"Pull back," Kane ordered, his voice cold. "Let them think they've won."
Theo frowned but obeyed, signaling the controlled zombies to retreat. The creatures melted back into the shadows, leaving the group battered but alive.