POV: Jenna
Jenna's legs felt like jelly as she charged toward Kane, her crowbar raised and her zombie gang at her heels. Her breaths were shallow, her vision blurred, but she pushed forward. She wasn't sure if this was courage, desperation, or just plain stupidity.
"Alright, glow stick!" she yelled, her voice cracking. "Time to see how you handle a full dose of Jenna!"
Kane turned to face her, his glowing eyes narrowing. "Foolish."
With a flick of his staff, a shockwave rippled toward her. Jenna braced herself, but Carl appeared in a blur, deflecting the blow with his sword. The impact sent him skidding back, but he held his ground.
"Jenna, get back!" Carl barked, his voice sharp.
"Not a chance!" Jenna retorted, raising her crowbar again. "You're not hogging all the glory, Mr. Broody Hero."
---
POV: Carl
Carl's sword clashed against Kane's staff again, the force of the impact sending sparks flying. His arms burned with effort, but he refused to back down. Jenna's reckless charge had complicated things, but he wasn't about to let Kane harm her.
"She's more trouble than she's worth," Kane said, his tone calm but mocking. "You're wasting your energy protecting her."
"She's stronger than you think," Carl replied, his voice steady. "And smarter than you."
Jenna, overhearing, raised an eyebrow. "Smarter? That's debatable, but thanks for the vote of confidence."
Carl shot her a brief glare. "Focus."
---
POV: Rick
Rick was fighting off the last of Kane's controlled zombies, his knife flashing in the dim light. His heart pounded as he glanced toward the center of the battlefield, where Carl and Jenna were facing Kane.
"Jenna's going to get herself killed," he muttered under his breath.
"She's already dead," Sarah quipped, swinging her crowbar at a berserker. "But I get what you mean."
Rick gritted his teeth. "We need to give them some cover."
Sarah nodded, setting her sights on the remaining controlled zombies. "Let's clear the field."
---
POV: Kane
Kane blocked Carl's next strike with ease, his glowing eyes narrowing. "You're persistent," he said, his tone almost admiring. "But persistence won't save you."
Carl didn't respond, his movements precise and unrelenting. Kane could feel the weight behind each strike, the sheer determination driving the man forward.
"And yet," Kane continued, deflecting another blow, "you fight for someone who is a liability. A parasite."
Jenna, still catching her breath, tightened her grip on her crowbar. "Hey! I'm a zombie, not a parasite. Get it right."
Kane turned to her, his expression darkening. "Your humor is tiresome."
"Yeah, well, your glowing veins are tacky," Jenna shot back, stepping forward. "Let's call it even."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's crowbar swung through the air, aimed directly at Kane's side. He deflected it easily, but the force of the impact jarred him slightly.
"Not bad," Kane said, his tone almost amused. "For someone so hopelessly outmatched."
"Hopeless?" Jenna repeated, grinning despite her exhaustion. "Buddy, I'm the queen of hopeless."
She activated her portal again, the glowing void opening behind Kane. The pull wasn't as strong as before—she was too drained to fully power it—but it was enough to disrupt his balance.
Carl seized the moment, his sword slicing toward Kane's chest. Kane barely managed to block the strike, his smile fading.
---
POV: Carl
Carl pressed the attack, his movements faster and more aggressive than before. Kane was skilled, but Carl's determination gave him an edge. He could feel the tide turning, the advantage shifting in their favor.
"You're losing," Carl said, his voice steady. "Give up."
Kane's glowing eyes narrowed. "Not yet."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna staggered, the effort of maintaining her portal taking its toll. Her zombie gang, sensing her struggle, surged forward, attacking Kane's controlled forces with renewed ferocity.
"Go, guys!" Jenna shouted, her voice hoarse. "Show them who's boss!"
Her zombies roared, their glowing eyes blazing as they tore into the remaining controlled zombies. Jenna managed a weak grin. "Best team ever."
---
POV: Kane
Kane's patience was wearing thin. The girl's chaotic energy was more disruptive than he'd anticipated, and Carl's relentless attacks were pushing him to his limit.
"This ends now," Kane said coldly, raising his staff.
---
POV: Rick
Rick's breath caught as he saw Kane's staff begin to glow brighter. "Jenna, Carl, watch out!" he shouted, running toward them.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's eyes widened as Kane unleashed a blast of energy, the shockwave ripping through the battlefield. She was thrown backward, her body hitting the ground hard. Pain flared through her, but she forced herself to her feet.
"That… all you got?" she muttered, swaying slightly.
---
POV: Carl
Carl pushed himself up, his sword still in hand. He locked eyes with Kane, his jaw tightening. "You won't win."
Kane's smile returned, faint but sharp. "We'll see."