Before the Fall: Rise of the Apocalypse King-Chapter 39: The Third Avatar -Aiko Nakamura

In a small apartment tucked away in a quiet corner of Tokyo, a young woman suddenly woke up. Her name was Aiko, and she was 20 years old. Her eyes opened wide as she sat up on her bed, breathing heavily.

Everything around her looked... familiar. The same faded curtains, the tiny desk near the wall, her old lamp with a cracked base, and her favorite plushie lying beside her pillow.

She blinked a few times, rubbed her eyes, and looked around again.

"This looks like... my apartment," she whispered, confused.

But how could that be?

The last thing she remembered was fire, screams, and falling buildings. There had been chaos, zombies, and... death. She was sure she had died.

She was eaten alive by the zombies and she felt it. And now she was here, lying peacefully in her cozy bed, in a quiet room filled with warm sunlight.

Am I dreaming?

She didn’t want to wake up from this dream. It felt too good. She slowly got out of bed, still unsure if this was real. Her bare feet touched the cool wooden floor, and she walked softly to the window. freewebnoveℓ.com

Pulling the curtains aside, she let the warm sunlight hit her face. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The sun... it felt real. So warm. So peaceful.

A soft knock broke her moment.

Knock knock.

Aiko turned around.

"Huh?" she muttered. "Even dreams have sound effects now?"

She chuckled a little and walked toward the door, still half-believing she was dreaming. When she opened it, a tall woman stood in front of her. Short dark hair, sharp eyes, and a cigarette behind one ear. She looked slightly annoyed.

It was Maze, her 29-year-old roommate and part-time friend. The woman who always spoke her mind, never cared about politeness, and had a habit of calling Aiko names.

"Aiko, you’re still not ready?" Maze snapped. "Don’t you remember we have to go to that hotel gig today? It’s 200 dollars per person, and you said you needed money. Like, a lot."

Aiko stared at her, eyes wide, lips parted.

"Even you... you look too real. Your hair... same. Your voice... same. And your foul mouth is still the same too."

What the f*ck...

Maze rolled her eyes and stepped inside.

"Haaa... okay, missy. What the hell did you take last night?" she asked, flicking Aiko lightly on the forehead. "Snap out of it, will ya? We’ve got work to do."

"Ouch!" Aiko stepped back, rubbing her forehead. "Wait a sec... that hurt. How come I can feel pain in a dream?"

Maze raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you babbling about now?"

"I mean it... I felt that hit. Dreams don’t hurt like that."

Maze rolled up her sleeves and tapped Aiko on the head again, harder this time.

"Maybe you’ll wake up now, Sleeping Beauty."

This time, something clicked in Aiko’s mind. Her heart started racing. Her breath caught in her throat.

"I’m... alive," she whispered.

She placed a hand on her chest, feeling the steady beat.

"I’m alive.I’m really alive," she repeated.

Then louder—like a chant.

"I’m alive. I’m alive. I’m alive. I’m ALIVE!"

Maze took a step back, watching her like she was losing it.

"Okay, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Maze muttered. "Seriously. What did you take yesterday? Some kind of brain-frying magic mushroom?"

Aiko didn’t answer. Her mind was spinning. Her legs felt weak, and she sat down on the floor, staring at the wall, then at her hands, then at the sunlight.

It’s real. I’m really back. Not dreaming. Not hallucinating.

Maze scratched her head.

"Right... I’ll give you a minute or ten," she said.

Aiko took a few deep breaths and finally stood up, calmer now.

"Maze..." she began slowly, her voice soft. "I... I’m not feeling well today. Can i skip the hotel gig? Just for today? Please?"

Maze gave her a long look and sighed.

"Yeah, no shit. I can see that. You’re acting like your brain took a vacation."

She grabbed her jacket from the chair near the door.

"Fine. I’ll tell the manager you’re sick or whatever. But you better get your shit together, Aiko. That gig pays well, and you can’t afford to miss it more than once."

"Thank you," Aiko said quickly. "Thanks, Maze. You’re the best."

Maze rolled her eyes again but smirked a little.

"Yeah, yeah. Save it. I’ll be back in a couple of hours. Try not to set the place on fire."

And with that, she left.

Aiko closed the door behind her, locked it, and leaned back against it. She let herself slide down until she was sitting on the floor again. Her hands trembled. Her eyes filled with tears, but she smiled.

She was really here.

Back in her old apartment.

Back before everything went to hell.

Back... before the apocalypse.

"I have another chance," she whispered.

She stood up slowly, walked to the mirror, and looked at her face.

Same old Aiko. Same tired eyes. Same messy hair.

But this time... she was going to be ready.

She wasn’t going to die again like that—not without a fight.

---++-+--

Aiko’s life had been far from easy. Born into a world of depravity and despair, she had grown up in the belly of a brothel, watching as her mother sold her body to countless men for a meager living. Aiko had learned early that in this life, you do what you had to survive.

Her mother, didn’t care about her, didn’t loved her onces,she couldn’t even remember if she ever had a happy conversation with her.

She soon fall victim to the lure of drugs, her addiction consuming her until nothing was left but a hollow shell. When Aiko was just thirteen, her mother succumbed to an overdose, leaving the young girl alone and abandoned in a world that cared little for the innocent.

It was Maze, a hardened prostitute with a heart of gold, who took Aiko under her wing. She taught the girl everything she knew, from the art of seduction to the harsh realities of the trade. At seventeen, Aiko stepped into her prostitute career, offering her body to any man with enough cash to pay for her time.

The years passed, and Aiko grew accustomed to her prostitute life. She served countless men, satisfying their deepest desires while keeping her own heart guarded.

But when the apocalypse struck, Aiko’s world turned upside down.

In the chaos and desperation of the post-apocalyptic world, Aiko found herself using her only skill to survive. She offered herself to men in exchange for food, shelter, and protection, but the world had grown even more cruel and unforgiving.

One fateful day, as Aiko was serving man in desolate streets, a horde of zombies descended upon them.

They used her as a shield and fled the place, leaving her in company of zombies.

She screamed and pleaded for help, but the men she had once served turned their backs on her, leaving her to fend for herself against the ravenous hordes.

Aiko fought bravely, but it was no use. She was torn apart limb by limb, her cries for help falling on deaf ears. As her life faded away, she realized the bitter truth:

in this world, no one cared about a prostitute’s fate.

This time, Aiko won’t be that same weak and helpless girl she used to be. She’s done crying in the dark and waiting for someone to save her.

She’s changed.

She remembers everything — the pain, the betrayal, the fear. She saw the world fall apart, and she felt it break her too. But now, she’s putting those broken pieces back together. Stronger. Sharper. Smarter.

Aiko will rise like a phoenix from the ashes.

She won’t just survive this apocalypse — she’ll own it. She’ll carve her name into this ruined world and let everyone know she’s not the one to be messed with.

The people who once ignored her, used her, or looked down on her — they’ll be the ones begging for mercy.

But she won’t show any.

This time, she will be the one calling the shots. She’ll build her own safe house, her own army, her own rules.

No one will decide her fate anymore. She’ll be the one standing above them all — watching, judging, choosing who deserves to live or die.

She won’t be a follower.

She’ll be the emperor.

And no matter how dark things get, no matter how many enemies come her way, Aiko will keep going. Because she has nothing left to lose... and everything to take.

She’s not afraid anymore.

Not of monsters.

Not of people.

Not of death.

Let the world burn. She’ll walk through the flames and come out stronger than ever.

This time, Aiko is the storm.

And the world better be ready for her.

====≠====================

Author’s Note:

Roman has chosen the dark path. The world will burn again... but under **his** rule this time.

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Your support helps the story rise — and ensures Roman doesn’t come after *me* for stopping. 😂

See you in the next Chapter!

—Author

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