Chapter 3 Beauty Under The Sun

Damien sat in the car, his body still tense from the earlier encounter with the raiders. His mind raced with questions, but one above all nagged at him. He turned to the woman—Aria—who had just saved his life, her crimson eyes now focused ahead, scanning for danger.

"How did I survive?" Damien finally asked, breaking the silence.

Aria didn't look at him, but he saw her lips twitch slightly, as though she'd been expecting the question. "What do you mean?" she asked, her tone casual, yet there was a subtle edge to it.

"I mean… the coma," he clarified, leaning forward slightly. "I've been unconscious for… I don't even know how long. No food, no water, no treatment. And you just said this world is full of… whatever those were." He gestured vaguely toward the window, referring to the raiders. "How did I survive? Why didn't the zombies or something else get to me?"

Aria turned her head slightly, her crimson eyes locking onto his. For a moment, there was a flicker of amusement in her gaze, as if she found his confusion endearing. She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms, her red cloth shifting slightly to reveal more of her pale, flawless skin.

"You're not wrong," she said finally, her voice calm but laced with a hint of intrigue. "When the world changed, everything fell apart. Hospitals were overrun almost immediately. Patients were either thrown out to fend for themselves or left to the mercy of the infected. A coma patient like you should've been an easy meal for the zombies."

Damien's stomach churned at the thought.

"But," she continued, her gaze sharpening, "this world isn't what it used to be. Strange things started happening right from the beginning. People surviving impossible odds. Wounds healing faster than they should. Hell, even the zombies are evolving." She tilted her head slightly, studying him. "So no, I'm not surprised you survived your coma without treatment. A lot of weird shit has been happening lately. You're just another anomaly in a world full of them."

Damien frowned, her words only adding to the confusion swirling in his mind. "You're saying… I survived because the world changed?"

"That's part of it," she replied, her lips curving into a sly smile. "The rest? Well, I guess we'll find out."

Before Damien could respond, Aria extended her hand toward him. Her crimson eyes glinted with a mischievous light as she said, "Let's start over. Aria."

Damien hesitated for a moment, unsure of her intentions. But seeing no harm in it, he reached out and shook her hand. Her grip was firm, her skin surprisingly warm against his.

Then he felt it.

Her grip tightened, the pressure increasing rapidly until it felt like his hand was caught in a vice. Damien's eyes widened as he tried to pull away, but her hold was unrelenting. Her strength was incredible, far beyond what he would have expected from someone her size.

"Hey—what the hell?" he grunted, his free hand trying to pry hers off, but it was no use.

Aria's smile widened, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "See? Stronger."

Before Damien could question what she meant, something happened. A strange sensation coursed through him, a flicker of energy that seemed to ignite from deep within. For a brief moment, a blue light flashed in his eyes—a glow so faint that even he didn't notice it.

Aria, however, seemed to sense something. Her smile turned into a smirk as she released his hand, her demeanor casual as if nothing had happened. "Told you," she said cryptically, leaning back in her seat.

Damien flexed his fingers, the ache lingering in his hand. "What the hell was that about?"

Aria didn't answer. Instead, she turned her attention to the window, her gaze scanning the street. After a moment, she nodded to herself and opened the car door.

"Come on," she said, stepping outside.

Damien hesitated, still rubbing his hand, but eventually followed her lead. The moment he stepped out of the car, the sunlight hit him, and his eyes instinctively squinted against the brightness.

Then he saw her.

Under the sunlight, Aria was breathtaking in a way that almost seemed surreal. Her alabaster-white hair shimmered like spun silver, cascading down her back in waves that caught the light. Her crimson eyes sparkled, their intensity softened slightly by the golden glow of the sun. Her pale skin was smooth and flawless, a stark contrast to the blood-red cloth that clung to her curves, leaving little to the imagination.

Her figure was undeniably captivating. The red cloth wrapped tightly around her torso highlighted her narrow waist and ample chest, the fabric swaying gently with her movements. Her long, toned legs carried her with a confidence that was both intimidating and alluring, her every step radiating power and grace.

But it was her hips that truly caught Damien's attention. Her curves were mesmerizing, her wide hips swaying with every step she took. Her buttocks, round and impossibly soft-looking, seemed to jiggle slightly with her movements, a hypnotic rhythm that made it impossible to look away.

Damien felt his face heat up, and he quickly averted his gaze, trying to focus on anything else. But it was no use—Aria's presence was magnetic, and the way she moved, so effortless yet deliberate, made it clear she was fully aware of the effect she had on others.

"Keep up," she called over her shoulder, her tone playful but commanding.

Damien shook himself out of his daze and hurried to catch up with her. As they walked, he couldn't help but feel a strange mix of awe and wariness. Aria was unlike anyone he had ever met—beautiful, strong, and undeniably dangerous.

"Where are we going?" he asked, trying to distract himself from her presence.

"To where I live," she replied without looking back. "You'll be safe there. For now."

Damien frowned at her cryptic response but decided not to press her further. Instead, he focused on the path ahead, his thoughts a whirlwind of questions and uncertainties.

Who was Aria, really? And what exactly had happened to him in that moment of helplessness?

As they walked through the desolate streets, Damien couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change in ways he couldn't yet comprehend. And with Aria leading the way, he had no choice but to follow.

As they walked through the eerily quiet streets, Damien couldn't ignore the unsettling absence of life—or unlife. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps on cracked asphalt. He glanced around, his eyes darting to the empty windows of abandoned buildings and the shattered remnants of vehicles. There were no people, no zombies, no animals—just an overwhelming emptiness that sent a chill down his spine.

"Where is everyone?" Damien finally asked, breaking the silence.

Aria didn't stop walking, her crimson eyes scanning the street ahead as she replied, "Gone."

"Gone?"

She nodded, her tone matter-of-fact. "Dead, hiding, or worse."

Damien frowned. "What about the zombies? I haven't seen any since we left the car. Shouldn't there be… I don't know, hordes of them?"

Aria glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "Zombies don't come out during the day. Not the regular ones, anyway."

"Why not?"

"No one knows for sure," she admitted. "Maybe it's the sunlight. Maybe it's something else entirely. But what you should be worried about are the evolved ones."

"Evolved?" Damien repeated, the word sending a shiver through him.

Aria stopped walking and turned to face him. "The ones that come out during the day aren't like the mindless hordes you're thinking of. They're faster, stronger, and a lot more dangerous. They don't just stumble around looking for food—they hunt."

Damien swallowed hard, suddenly feeling exposed despite the sunlight.

"Relax," Aria said, noticing his discomfort. "There aren't many zombies in this area. That's one of the reasons I chose to stay here—for now."

"For now?" Damien asked.

She started walking again, her tone casual. "I don't stay in one place for too long. It's too dangerous. I've been here for two days, and I'll be moving again soon."

"Two days," Damien repeated, shaking his head. "And before that?"

Aria shrugged. "Other places. The world's a graveyard now—you take what you can, stay alive, and move on."

Damien fell silent, her words sinking in. The more he learned about this new world, the more alien it felt. He glanced at her again, wondering how someone like her had managed to survive for so long. She moved with an ease and confidence that suggested she'd seen her fair share of danger—and overcome it.

After what felt like an eternity of walking, they finally arrived at their destination. It was a modest house near the remnants of the hospital, its exterior worn and battered but still standing. Aria led him around to the backyard, where a set of stairs descended into the ground.

"This is where you live?" Damien asked, eyeing the dark staircase warily.

"For now," she said, her tone clipped. She moved to the door at the bottom of the stairs and unlocked it, pushing it open with a creak. Without waiting for him, she stepped inside.

Damien hesitated for a moment before following her. The air inside was cool and damp, the darkness swallowing him as soon as he stepped through the door. He heard Aria close it behind him, the sound of the lock clicking into place making him feel oddly trapped.

"Can't see a damn thing in here," he muttered.

"Hold on," Aria said.

A moment later, the room was flooded with light. Damien blinked rapidly, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. The basement was surprisingly well-lit, the fluorescent bulbs humming softly overhead.

"What the hell?" Damien said, his jaw dropping slightly. "You have electricity?"

Aria smirked at his reaction. "I met it like this. The house is powered by solar panels."

"I didn't see any panels when we came in," he said, still staring at the lights.

"They're on the roof," she explained, moving further into the room. "Whoever lived here before must have installed them. Lucky for me, they still work."

Damien nodded slowly, impressed despite himself. In a world that seemed to be crumbling, finding a place like this felt like stumbling upon a treasure chest.

"Wait here," Aria said, disappearing into another room. "I'm going to wash up and change."

"Sure," Damien replied, his curiosity piqued as he glanced around the basement.

It was a small but functional space, with a cot in one corner and a makeshift kitchen in another. There was a stack of canned food on the floor near the counter, and a few personal items scattered here and there. The air smelled faintly of metal and damp concrete, but it wasn't unpleasant.

Damien wandered over to the kitchen, his stomach growling as he eyed the canned food. He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten. The hunger gnawed at him, and before he could stop himself, he grabbed a can from the pile.

He pried it open and took a bite, the taste hitting him like a revelation. It wasn't gourmet by any stretch, but in that moment, it was the best thing he'd ever eaten. He closed his eyes, savoring the flavor as he let out a small groan of satisfaction.

One bite turned into another, and before he knew it, he was tearing through the cans, the hunger driving him to eat as much as he could. He didn't think about the consequences—he only thought about filling the emptiness in his stomach.

By the time he came to his senses, the pile of food was nearly gone.

"What are you doing?"

Aria's voice snapped him out of his trance. He turned to see her standing in the doorway, her crimson eyes fixed on him with a mixture of disbelief and irritation. She had changed into a simple tank top and shorts, her pale skin glistening slightly from her recent wash.

Damien froze, a can of food still in his hand. "Uh…"