Aria

The rain hit the asphalt like gunfire, cold and relentless, soaking through Aria’s clothes. She pulled her purple hoodie tighter around her body, hiding in plain sight as she weaved through the crowded streets. Even here, in the heart of the city, the scent of chemicals clung to her skin like a ghost of the place she’d escaped from. They were still out there, hunting her—like they always would. She wasn’t supposed to exist. Born in a sterile lab, molded by hands that never cared for her humanity, she had been designed to be perfect—a weapon in the flesh. Faster. Stronger. Smarter. But they didn’t expect her to think for herself, to break free. And now, after two years on the run, Aria was closer than ever to finding the key that would shut the whole operation down. But it wasn’t just her creators she had to worry about. The powers coursing through her veins had a mind of their own, threatening to consume her with every use. Each time she called on her enhanced abilities, it cost her something—a piece of her soul, or maybe her sanity. She wasn’t sure anymore. Footsteps echoed behind her, growing closer. They’d found her. No time to think, only to react. She bolted into a side alley, muscles responding faster than any normal human could. But then again, she wasn’t human. Not anymore. As the first figure stepped into view, Aria turned slowly, letting the rain drip down her face. She had one rule: Never let them take you back alive.