POV: Jenna
The hour of rest felt like a blink. Jenna rubbed her eyes as she stood, wincing at the stiffness in her legs. Her zombie gang shuffled around her, growling softly as if sensing her hesitation. She patted one of them on the head. "Alright, team. Time to do something really stupid. Again."
Carl was already at the bunker door, his sword gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Are you ready?" he asked, his tone calm but firm.
Jenna smirked, leaning on her crowbar. "Ready to regret all my life choices? Always."
"Focus," Carl said, giving her a pointed look.
Jenna rolled her eyes but nodded. "Don't worry, Mr. Serious. I'll keep it together."
---
POV: Rick
Rick led the group back toward the pit, his knife in hand and his nerves on edge. The tremors were stronger now, the faint glow from the stone casting eerie shadows across the cracked walls. He glanced back at the group, his jaw tightening. "Stay close. No one gets separated."
"Don't have to tell me twice," Sarah muttered, gripping her crowbar tightly. "I'm not looking to die in this creepy hole."
Rick ignored her, his focus on the glowing pit ahead. The creatures that had attacked them earlier were gone, but the sense of danger was stronger than ever.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna stared down at the pit, her stomach twisting. The glow was brighter now, pulsing with an almost hypnotic rhythm. "So… any volunteers to go first?" she asked, her tone half-joking.
Carl stepped forward without hesitation, his sword at the ready. "I'll lead."
"Of course you will," Jenna muttered, following him reluctantly. "Because you're Mr. Brave and Broody."
Rick shot her a look. "Jenna, focus."
"I am focused," Jenna replied, gripping her crowbar. "Focused on not dying."
---
POV: Carl
Carl descended into the pit first, his movements steady and deliberate. The heat was the first thing he noticed—it radiated from the stone like a furnace, making the air thick and hard to breathe.
"Be careful," he said, glancing back at the group.
Jenna snorted, her voice echoing faintly in the cavern. "Thanks for the tip, Captain Obvious."
Carl didn't respond. His focus was on the path ahead, the glowing veins in the walls pulsing like a heartbeat.
---
POV: Rick
The group moved carefully through the cavern, the glow from the stone growing brighter with every step. Rick's knife was in his hand, his grip tight as he scanned the shadows for any sign of movement.
"What's the plan?" Sarah asked, her voice low. "Once we get to the stone, I mean. How do we destroy it?"
Rick didn't answer right away. The truth was, he didn't know. The stone was ancient, powerful, and completely alien. Destroying it felt impossible, but they had no choice.
"We'll figure it out," Rick said finally, though his voice lacked confidence.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna trailed behind Carl, her zombie gang close at her heels. The heat was oppressive, and every step felt like a struggle. "You know," she said, her voice strained. "For a glowing pit of doom, this place is surprisingly boring."
"Jenna," Carl said sharply. "Quiet."
Jenna raised an eyebrow. "Why? Afraid I'll wake the glowing rock? Pretty sure it's already awake."
Carl gave her a warning look, but Jenna just grinned. "Relax, Carl. If it wanted to kill us, it probably would have done it already."
---
POV: Kane
The stone's light flared as the group approached, its energy rippling outward in waves. The cavern trembled, loose rocks falling from the ceiling as the ancient artifact reacted to their presence.
A faint voice echoed through the cavern, distorted and sinister. It was Kane's, carried by the stone's energy. "You cannot stop what has already begun."
---
POV: Sarah
Sarah froze as the voice echoed through the cavern, her blood running cold. "Did anyone else hear that?"
Rick nodded, his expression grim. "It's Kane. Or what's left of him."
Sarah's grip on her crowbar tightened. "Great. Because this wasn't creepy enough already."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna stared at the stone as they entered its chamber. It was massive, its surface covered in glowing veins that pulsed with a steady rhythm. The heat was unbearable, and the air felt heavy with energy.
"So, what now?" Jenna asked, glancing around. "Do we hit it with a stick? Say some magic words? Sacrifice a goat?"
Carl ignored her, stepping closer to the stone. "There has to be a weak point."
"Yeah, because giant alien rocks always have conveniently placed weak points," Jenna muttered, rolling her eyes.
---
POV: Rick
Rick approached the stone cautiously, his knife still in hand. The energy radiating from it made his skin crawl, but he forced himself to move closer.
"There," he said, pointing to a jagged crack near the base of the stone. "That might be it."
Carl nodded, his sword gleaming as he prepared to strike. "Stand back."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna took a step back, her zombie gang growling softly as they eyed the stone. She clenched her crowbar, her heart pounding. "This better work," she muttered. "Because if it doesn't, I'm blaming all of you."
Carl raised his sword, the blade catching the light from the stone. Jenna held her breath as he swung, the sound of metal meeting stone echoing through the chamber.