POV: Rick
The summit was chaos. Controlled zombies surged from the forest, their glowing veins pulsing in the dim light. Rick's knife flashed as he fought to keep the line intact, but the numbers were overwhelming.
"They're everywhere!" Sarah shouted, her crowbar smashing into a zombie's head. "We can't hold this much longer!"
Rick gritted his teeth, scanning the battlefield for any sign of weakness in the enemy's formation. There was none. Kane had orchestrated the attack perfectly, leaving them no room to breathe.
"We hold!" Rick barked, slashing at another attacker. "No one falls back!"
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna swung her crowbar wildly, her movements fueled by a mix of adrenaline and sheer panic. "Why is it always me?" she shouted, dodging a swipe from a particularly large zombie. "Do I have a sign that says 'please attack?'"
Carl, fighting beside her, didn't bother responding. His sword moved with deadly precision, cutting down zombies with ease. Jenna glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "Do you ever get tired of being so perfect?"
Carl raised an eyebrow, but his focus remained on the fight. "Do you ever get tired of talking?"
"Not a chance," Jenna replied, slamming her crowbar into another zombie. "Talking is my superpower."
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched the battle from his vantage point, his expression calm and calculating. The group was holding, but only just. Their movements were slower, their attacks less coordinated. It was only a matter of time.
"They're nearing their limit," Theo said, his tone laced with satisfaction. "Another wave, and they'll break."
"Not yet," Kane replied, his gaze fixed on Jenna. "Let them struggle a little longer. It makes the fall that much sweeter."
---
POV: Rick
Rick's muscles burned with every swing of his knife, but he refused to give in. The group was battered and bloodied, but they were still standing.
"Jenna!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need that portal again!"
Jenna groaned, her crowbar pausing mid-swing. "Do you have any idea how much energy that takes?"
"Do it!" Rick snapped, his knife flashing as he took down another zombie. "Now!"
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna clenched her fists, her hands glowing faintly as she activated her portal. Several zombies were sucked into the glowing void, their snarls abruptly silenced. Jenna wobbled, her legs threatening to give out.
"That's all I've got," she muttered, leaning heavily on her crowbar. "I'm tapped out."
Carl stepped in front of her, his sword cutting down an approaching zombie. "Stay behind me," he said curtly.
Jenna blinked, surprised by the protectiveness in his tone. "Aw, Carl, you do care."
"Don't push it," Carl replied, his focus on the fight.
---
POV: Kane
Kane's eyes narrowed as he watched Jenna's display of power. Her portal was impressive, but it was also a liability. She was pushing herself too hard, and Kane knew it.
"She's weakening," Theo said, his voice tinged with amusement. "One more push, and she'll be useless."
Kane's smile was faint but sharp. "Exactly."
---
POV: Rick
Rick's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. They couldn't keep this up forever, and Kane wasn't going to let them escape. They needed a way out—a distraction, a break, anything.
"Sarah!" Rick shouted, his voice hoarse. "Get the traps ready!"
Sarah nodded, quickly pulling out the makeshift traps Jenna had provided earlier. She set them up along the perimeter, her movements quick and efficient.
Rick turned to Jenna. "Can your gang buy us some time?"
Jenna hesitated, glancing at her zombie gang. "They can try," she said, her voice uncertain. "But they're not invincible."
"Neither are we," Rick replied, his tone grim. "Do it."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna nodded, her heart pounding as she turned to her zombie gang. "Okay, guys," she said, her voice trembling. "This is it. Time to earn your keep."
Her zombies growled softly, their glowing eyes fixed on her. Jenna managed a shaky smile. "You've got this. I believe in you."
The zombies surged forward, their snarls turning into feral roars as they attacked Kane's forces. Jenna watched them go, a mix of pride and fear swirling in her chest.
"Be careful," she whispered.
---
POV: Kane
Kane tilted his head, watching as Jenna's zombies joined the fray. Their movements were chaotic but surprisingly effective, disrupting his controlled zombies' formation.
"She's using her gang as a buffer," Theo said, frowning. "It's working."
"For now," Kane replied, his tone cold. "But it won't last."
---
POV: Rick
The traps went off with a series of loud snaps and flashes, catching several of Kane's zombies in their wake. The group seized the moment, rallying together as they pushed back against the tide.
"Keep it up!" Rick shouted, his voice filled with determination. "We're turning this around!"
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna felt a flicker of hope as the tide of the battle began to shift. Her zombie gang was holding their own, and the traps were giving them a much-needed edge.
"Maybe we can actually win this," she muttered, a small grin spreading across her face.
Carl glanced at her, his expression serious. "Don't get cocky."
"Too late," Jenna replied, her grin widening. "I'm already planning my victory speech."
---
POV: Kane
Kane's expression darkened as he watched the group rally. They were more resilient than he'd anticipated, but resilience wasn't enough.
"Send in the second wave," Kane ordered, his voice sharp. "Finish it."