Bidiya

Chapter One: The First Encounter

The sun was setting, casting its dim light over the remnants of a broken city. The streets were silent, save for the occasional groan of wandering zombies, their lifeless eyes glowing faintly in the shadows. Among the ruins, Zayn stood motionless, his white hair catching the fading light, and his glowing blue eyes scanning the area.

His breath was steady, but his grip on the crimson blade in his hand tightened. "They're close," he muttered, his voice calm yet carrying a sharp edge.

A loud crash echoed from a nearby building, and within moments, a swarm of zombies poured out, their decayed forms moving unnaturally fast. Zayn didn't flinch. With a deep breath, he raised his weapon, its dual aura—a radiant white and a sinister crimson—pulsing with power.

As the horde closed in, Zayn moved like a shadow, his blade cutting through the air with precision. Each swing released bursts of light and darkness, obliterating the undead in his path. Yet, as efficient as his strikes were, their numbers didn't seem to dwindle.

Suddenly, a scream pierced through the chaos. Zayn's eyes darted toward the source—a young woman with long black hair and glowing red eyes was cornered by a group of zombies. Her hands trembled as she tried to fend them off with a broken pipe.

For a moment, Zayn hesitated. A voice within him spoke, cold and commanding: "Let her die. She's not your problem." But another voice, softer yet resolute, countered: "She needs help."

Gritting his teeth, Zayn made his decision.

He surged forward, his blade slicing through the air with a ferocity that even the undead couldn't withstand. Within seconds, the zombies surrounding the girl were reduced to lifeless husks.

The girl stared at him, her red eyes wide with shock and fear. "W-who are you?" she stammered.

Zayn didn't answer immediately. His glowing eyes softened, and he extended a hand to her. "Stay behind me," he said simply.

But before she could respond, more zombies emerged from the shadows. Zayn's expression hardened, and for the first time, she noticed the duality in his aura—the light that comforted her and the darkness that sent shivers down her spine.

As the battle raged on, Zayn's movements became more erratic, his strikes more brutal. It was as if another presence had taken over. The girl watched in awe and terror as he single-handedly turned the tide of the fight, but at what cost?

When the last zombie fell, Zayn stood still, his shoulders rising and falling with heavy breaths. The crimson glow in his blade dimmed, and he turned to the girl. His eyes, now soft and full of regret, met hers.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of guilt.

She shook her head, unable to speak.

"Good," he said, glancing at the ruined street. "We need to move. More of them will come."

Without waiting for her reply, Zayn began to walk, his figure a mix of light and shadow against the backdrop of a dying world. And though she hesitated, the girl found herself following him, drawn to the mysterious man who had saved her life—and who carried a darkness that seemed to echo her own.