Dahlia scrapes a living as a prostitute within the virus-plagued, dystopian New York City of 2187. Working at Rudy's bar, she possesses distinctive auburn hair and cyan eyes. Her path crosses with Colin MacLeod upon his arrival in the city.

Resourceful and deeply connected to the city's underworld, Dahlia leverages her knowledge to show Colin a secret passage to the resistance hideout. Her driving purpose is a desperate mission to steal the virus vaccine from Marcus Octavius' fortified tower, the sole source, to save her community. This goal compels her to recruit Colin for the heist after Marcus' forces kill her regular supplier.

Hardened by survival in a brutal environment, Dahlia voices a stark worldview: "Sometimes it's better to die than to live." Yet, she clings to faith amidst the bleakness, praying daily for freedom and believing Colin is God's answer to her prayers – a perspective contrasting sharply with Colin's cynicism. During the assault on Marcus' stronghold, she kills Marcus' lieutenant, Kyala, unaware of Kyala's immortality. When Kyala regenerates and mortally wounds her, Dahlia sacrifices herself, detonating a grenade inside Kyala's mouth to ensure mutual destruction.

Her final words express a hope to reunite with Colin in another life. This wish resonates with spiritual guidance suggesting Dahlia is a reincarnation of Colin's ancient wife, Moya. Her death contributes to Colin's emotional transformation beyond vengeance, reinforcing the theme of cyclical rebirth integral to his character arc.