Sunburn Book Novels & Stories

The concert's atmosphere grew more intense by the minute, with everyone's focus locked on the stage. It seemed like I was invisible, blending into the shadows of the concert. The dim lights gave me a false sense of bravery. I moved to the beat of the music, letting the rhythm guide my steps. She moved with a rhythm that made the air between us tremble, every motion sent a heat through me that I could not contain. I reached for her waist and pulled her close, the sudden rush of contact hit me like fire, every cell in me coming alive.

Suddenly, he felt a strange vibration throughout his body and looked up to see unfamiliar words written on the cave wall. With a burst of light, the words disappeared, and he saw the light shoot up to the moon, surrounded by a shimmering dance of stars. He followed the light until he found himself in the maternity ward of Corer Hospital. The light stopped at Ward 119, and he heard the cry of a newborn baby.

August flinched from the shattering sound. "That time our whole family was alive Steve! Do you even hear yourself!?," Adriel roared. "Have you forgotten what they did to us? It wasn't you who saw them bathed in blood, it was me. And our mother? Think about the pain she endured when her whole body was burned. Were her mighty husband and three children able to save her? No." August cried silently allowing his brother to let it out from his heart. Adriel snatched the unfinished bottle from the table chugging the contents down his throat. He gazed at the portrait of the beard man on the wall with resentment. August followed his gaze where their father's picture was hanged.

Shaking off the doubt I was feeling, I turn my gaze toward the window, where I can see sunlight beginning to trickle in. “We should go,” I murmur, stepping forward and preparing to climb out but stopping as the light that begins to touch burns. “What?” I hiss, stumbling backwards. “What was that?” Looking down, I examine the spot that burned to find that there are blisters as if I had been burned. “That…” Slowly, I reach out until my fingertips touch the light and become burned. “Titus,” I gasp, my eyes growing wide. “The sunlight… it…”

The person stuttered, "M-Mr. Zalmer… are you saying D-Dr. Zal—Winifred—is your daughter?" Serena ignored the crowd and moved the cursor to play the surveillance footage. In it, I wore a white laboratory coat and wore a surgical mask as I meticulously worked on an experiment. Everything seemed normal. Just then, the glass beaker before me caught on fire without warning. Flames soon shot to the sky as a thick plume of smoke came from the beaker. Upon seeing that, Raiden pointed at the screen and exclaimed, "There! Winifred, you must've done something wrong. Don't worry, though. I can endure your punishment on your behalf!"

"Look at you, all eager to please. You didn't even offer anything in return. Why would she help you out?" He then handed me a card. "I'm Daniel Jenkins. Here's a little something for our first meeting. ZenWave's beauty clinics are all part of my family business. With this card, you can enjoy unlimited visits." ZenWave was a well-known, high-end beauty clinic chain. A single visit there could cost tens of thousands of dollars. This gift was too generous. I didn't take the card, but Leon snatched it from Daniel's hand and stuffed it into mine.

The heels were resting in my lap like a heavy weight of shame. "If you're not going to wear them," Tucker said sharply, "then give them to Shelby yourself. That can be your apology." He slid the shoes toward me with quiet contempt, as though my hesitation merely proved my ingratitude. "Shelby's always been kind enough to overlook your little games," he added. His tone was sharp and unforgiving. "She won't hold it against you." Those elegant heels now felt like sharp knives digging into my heart. Every burn on my legs throbbed fiercely. They were a brutal reminder of his cruelty.

“It just doesn’t apply to me.” My glare snapped into place. “Well, it applies to me. Watch where your face goes.” His smirk deepened, eyes flicking briefly to the book in my hands before meeting mine again. “I do, Frosty,” he said. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have been perfectly positioned for your little jumpscare.” I narrowed my eyes, tightening my grip on the book. Infuriating. Absolutely, undeniably infuriating. I scoffed and hugged the book tighter to my chest like it needed protecting—from him, from his stupid smirk, from the way his presence made the room feel smaller.

The devil spoke with a mocking tone, "My beautiful visitors, I think you were dying to see me. Now I’m here, but I was in the middle of something. I suppose I’ll have to finish it in front of you." With that, the devil lifted the barely conscious woman, preparing to deliver a fatal blow. Zack sprang into action, using all the strength he could muster to punch the devil. At the same time, Petra threw a knife-like device at the devil’s arm. This device, crafted by the Angels of the Burning Sun’s science tech team, had the power to break bones in ordinary humans. However, it only managed to scratch the devil slightly, though it was enough to make him release the woman.

“I HAVE THEM! I HAVE THEM!” The voice isn’t familiar. It grates through me, however, igniting a sharp pain in my back that threatens to split my spine. Suddenly, the light is too much. The pain ebbs before exploding with heat. Searing, blistering heat. The smell of scorched meat. My skin. I’m–I’m burned– My breath comes in a rattling whoosh as hands reach for me, and I’m lifted, naked, into the sunlight, through feet of rubble.