POV: Jenna
The tremor rippled through the ground again, stronger this time. Jenna's zombie gang snarled, their glowing eyes darting around the clearing. She tightened her grip on her crowbar, her heart pounding. "Okay, seriously," she said, her voice shaky. "What's going on? Earthquake? Angry mole mutants? Tell me someone has an explanation."
"Quiet," Carl said sharply, scanning the forest. His sword was ready, his posture tense.
Rick crouched low, placing his hand on the ground. "It's not natural," he muttered. "Feels… rhythmic. Like something's moving down there."
"Moving?" Jenna repeated, her eyes widening. "Moving like what? A subway train? A giant worm? Be specific, Rick!"
---
POV: Kane
Far beneath the surface, the stone's energy surged, feeding into the surrounding earth. The glowing veins expanded, spreading further into the soil and stone. The air around it crackled with power as the pulsing light grew more intense.
Kane's influence lingered in the energy, his final words echoing in the stone's vibrations: It's never over.
---
POV: Sarah
Sarah tightened her grip on her crowbar, her eyes darting nervously between Rick and the trembling ground. "I don't like this," she said, her voice low. "It's too quiet. Too… deliberate."
Rick stood, his expression grim. "We need to move. Now."
"Move where?" Jenna asked, gesturing around them. "In case you haven't noticed, the whole ground is shaking. Where exactly do you think is safe?"
"The bunker," Rick said firmly. "It's our best shot."
Jenna groaned, her shoulders slumping. "Great. A bunker. Because nothing bad ever happens in an enclosed underground space."
---
POV: Carl
Carl ignored Jenna's sarcasm, his focus on the faint tremors beneath their feet. They were growing stronger, more frequent. He didn't know what was coming, but he knew they couldn't face it out here in the open.
"Stay together," Carl said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We don't split up."
"Yeah, because splitting up always works so well in horror movies," Jenna muttered, falling into step beside him. "Good call, fearless leader."
Carl glanced at her, his expression softening slightly. "Stay close."
Jenna blinked, surprised by the concern in his voice. "Aw, Carl, you do care."
"Focus," Carl said, his voice firm again.
---
POV: Rick
The group moved quickly through the forest, the tremors growing stronger with each step. Rick led the way, his knife in hand and his eyes scanning the shadows. He could feel the tension in the air, the unshakable sense that something was watching them.
"Keep moving," Rick said over his shoulder. "The bunker's just ahead."
"What if it's not intact?" Sarah asked, her voice tight. "What if it's already been overrun?"
Rick didn't answer. He couldn't let himself consider that possibility. They had no other options.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna stumbled over a root, barely catching herself before she fell. Her zombie gang growled softly, their glowing eyes scanning the trees.
"Okay, guys," Jenna said, her voice low. "If you see anything creepy, let me know. Preferably before it tries to eat me."
The zombies didn't respond, but their growls grew louder. Jenna tightened her grip on her crowbar, her heart racing. "Great. That's not ominous at all."
---
POV: Kane
The stone's energy reached a peak, the glowing veins now pulsing with a steady, powerful rhythm. The ground above cracked, releasing faint plumes of glowing dust. The first signs of what lay beneath were beginning to surface.
---
POV: Rick
The group finally reached the edge of the forest, the bunker looming ahead. It was half-buried in the earth, its metal doors slightly ajar. Rick's stomach twisted at the sight.
"It's open," Sarah said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's… not good, right?"
"No," Rick replied, his grip tightening on his knife. "It's not."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna stared at the bunker, a sinking feeling settling in her chest. "Okay, show of hands," she said, raising hers. "Who thinks this is a terrible idea?"
"No one asked for a vote," Carl said, stepping forward. "Stay alert."
Jenna sighed, following him toward the bunker. "I swear, Carl, if something jumps out at me, I'm blaming you."
"Noted," Carl replied, his sword at the ready.
---
POV: Rick
Rick pushed the bunker doors open, his knife raised as he stepped inside. The air was thick with dust and an unsettling quiet. The dim emergency lighting flickered, casting eerie shadows across the walls.
"Stay close," Rick said, his voice low. "And don't touch anything."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna glanced around, her crowbar resting on her shoulder. "Oh yeah," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "This definitely doesn't scream 'trap.'"
Her zombie gang shuffled in behind her, their glowing eyes scanning the dark corners of the bunker. Jenna patted one of them on the head. "Stick with me, guys. You're my emotional support zombies."
Carl shot her a look, but Jenna ignored it, her attention shifting to the faint rumbling beneath their feet. It was growing louder.
"What's that sound?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Rick didn't answer, his focus on the corridor ahead. Jenna swallowed hard, gripping her crowbar tightly. "Yeah, this is definitely a bad idea."