Lord Of Harem

The Evolved stopped talking and froze, his eyes locking onto Damien as if he'd just remembered something important. Without a word, he grabbed a piece of paper, scribbled down a set of coordinates with his blood, and thrust it into Damien's hand.

"Go there," The Evolved said urgently, his voice firm but trembling slightly. "Take the most trusted scientist you can find. Everything you need to make the cure is there."

Before Damien could process what was happening, The Evolved turned and bolted toward the exit of the tunnel.

"Victor!" Damien shouted, his voice echoing through the metallic space. "Wait! What's going on? You owe me an explanation!"

Victor paused briefly at the doorway, turning to look at Damien one last time. His eyes carried a mix of desperation and regret.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "But I can't stay."

And with that, Victor disappeared, his footsteps fading quickly into the distance.

Damien clenched the paper tightly in his hand, frustration and confusion bubbling inside him. He wanted answers. He needed to know how Victor had turned into a zombie, yet somehow still in control of himself. But now, that chance was gone.

He looked down at the crumpled paper in his hand and opened it carefully. The coordinates stared back at him. Whatever this place was, it seemed to hold the key to everything—the cure.

Damien tucked the note into his chest pocket, patting it for good measure. He couldn't risk losing it. With a deep breath, he turned and began making his way toward the tunnel entrance.

When he reached the base of the towering entrance, he glanced up. A broken ladder still hung there, swaying slightly in the breeze.

Bending his knees, Damien launched himself upward with surprising force. He soared higher than he ever thought possible, his hands just barely catching hold of the bottom rung of the ladder.

Hanging there for a moment, he couldn't help but marvel at what he had just done. What's happening to me? he wondered.

With a grunt, he pulled himself up and climbed the rest of the way out of the tunnel.

When he finally reached the surface, he was greeted by the sight of the old car where everything had started. The afternoon sun was high in the sky, its golden rays beating down on the earth. The familiar hum of cicadas filled the air.

Damien climbed out of the tunnel and walked out of the car. He noticed how quiet it was—no zombies in sight. They had retreated, hiding from the sunlight as they always did during the day.

The sunlight bathed his face, warm and bright, filling him with a brief but much-needed sense of calm.

For the first time in what felt like ages, Damien allowed himself to breathe.

After soaking in the sunlight for a moment, Damien didn't waste time. He had no reason to linger, and his next move was clear—Aria's place.

The streets were eerily quiet as he moved quickly, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger. By the time he reached her house, the silence felt heavy. The windows were dark, and the door was shut tight.

"Maybe she's gone," Damien murmured to himself, remembering her words the last time they spoke. She had told him she wouldn't stay here for long.

Still, something told him to check. He circled around the house to the back, where the entrance to the basement was hidden. Carefully, he opened the door and stepped inside.

The air was cool and still. Damien moved cautiously, his senses on high alert. He avoided every trap Aria had set, remembering her warnings. She was thorough when it came to securing her space.

When he finally reached the basement, Damien froze. Something didn't feel right. All of her belongings were still there—her supplies, her maps, even her weapon stash. But she wasn't.

He scanned the room until his eyes landed on a small piece of paper lying on the table. Picking it up, he read the note aloud:

"Went to scout for food near Crescent Hollow. Be back in a few hours. —Aria."

The handwriting was unmistakable—it was hers. But as Damien held the paper and examined the pen lying next to it, a feeling of unease washed over him. The note had been here for a while; the ink looked dry, the edges of the paper slightly curled.

Frowning, Damien looked around again. Something didn't sit right. Why would she leave everything behind to scout for food? And why hasn't she come back yet?

His grip on the note tightened. The more he thought about it, the more his gut told him something was wrong.

"I need to check," he muttered, stepping out of the basement and back into the sunlight.

The thought of Aria out there alone, potentially in danger, gnawed at him. Crescent Hollow wasn't far, but it wasn't a safe place either.

Looking at the location on the note one more time, Damien made up his mind. The only way to put his mind at ease was to make sure Aria was safe. Without hesitation, he started toward Crescent Hollow.