Clyde grabs Mary's arm with excessive force.
CLYDE: (menacing) You're lucky I'm patient. But I was told I'd find some interesting faces here.
MARY: (fearful but trying to stay calm) Let me go. Now.
HAYDEN: (sarcastic, slowly standing up) Hey, big guy, you really think we're gonna let you do that?
WILLIAM: (serious, switching to English to make his point) Hey, let her go, or you'll regret it.
FLORA: (calm but determined) You'd better leave. Now.
CLYDE: (chuckling) What? A bunch of teenagers think they can scare me?
Hayden, faster than he looks, grabs a glass and slams it onto the table, drawing everyone's attention.
HAYDEN: (calm, but with an icy tone) Last warning. You leave, or you find out I can be a lot less polite.
Clyde hesitates for a second before letting go of Mary.
CLYDE: (smirking) You just made an enemy.
He leaves the room, but the tension lingers.
Reactions After Clyde's Departure
KATIE: (energetic but still shaken) What was that? Why did he come after us?
MARY: (visibly shaken) Thank you, Hayden… and William. I don't know what he would have done if you hadn't stepped in.
HAYDEN: (nonchalant, with a sarcastic smile) Oh, it was nothing. Just another day in the life of Hayden.
WILLIAM: (serious, in English) That guy was dangerous. We need to be more careful.
FLORA: (gentle but worried) Do you think he'll come back?
HAYDEN: (sarcastic) Maybe with friends. Great night, huh?
They try to relax, but a shadow looms over their evening. Meanwhile, in the rich kids' room, Clyde returns, a wicked smile on his face.
CLYDE: (calm but dangerous) You're gonna love what comes next. Trust me.
---
Tensions Rising at the Karaoke
In Hayden's group, the atmosphere, though shaken, slowly starts to ease. After the incident with Clyde, everyone tries to enjoy their tapas again and laugh off the misadventures of the night. However, an odd tension lingers.
Back to Normal in Hayden's Group?
KATIE: (trying to break the tension) So, Hayden? No sarcastic jokes about that guy to lighten the mood?
HAYDEN: (nonchalant, biting into a nacho) Oh, I have plenty, but I'm not sure you're ready for them.
MARY: (calmer, but with a serious look) Thanks again, Hay… and you too, William. That was really scary.
WILLIAM: (switching between English and French) You're welcome, Mary. I mean, it's what friends do, right?
FLORA: (softly) Do you think we should tell someone about Clyde?
HAYDEN: (sighing, looking concerned) Nah… No need. If that guy's a threat, he'll find trouble on his own soon enough.
---
Meanwhile, in the Rich Kids' Room
In their luxurious room, Clyde has returned after his little detour to Hayden's group.
VÉRA: (sarcastic, holding a glass of champagne) So, Clyde? Did those losers scare you off?
CLYDE: (calm but with a menacing smile) Let's just say they've got guts. But trust me, they won't be laughing for long.
LOÏS: (bored) Oh, great. You mean you're gonna keep playing the tough guy?
AMBER: (vicious) Doesn't matter. As long as we get a show.
Outside: The Invasion Begins
Outside, a silent chaos is unfolding. The first flickering shadows of staggering figures appear in the streets around the karaoke bar. In the distance, bloodcurdling screams and the sound of shattering glass echo through the city.
Zombies—horrifying in appearance, with glazed-over eyes and erratic movements—begin swarming the neighborhoods of Orlando. The horror is absolute, yet inside the soundproof karaoke rooms, no one is aware of what's happening.
---
Back to Hayden's Group
As calm slowly returns to Hayden and his friends' room, a lingering question weighs on their minds.
KATIE: (curious, frowning) Hayden, tell us… has your intuition come true or not?
HAYDEN: (sighing, taking a serious tone) No… not yet. But…
MARY: (intrigued) But what?
HAYDEN: (looking at each of them, slightly nervous) Alright, listen carefully. Do you remember this morning when I said something was going to change? Well, it's way worse than you can imagine.
FLORA: (worried) What do you mean, Hayden?
HAYDEN: (speaking gravely) The world is collapsing. Not just here—everywhere. There's a zombie invasion happening… worldwide.
KATIE: (stunned) What? You're joking, right?
WILLIAM: (frowning, switching to English) Hayden, this better not be one of your jokes. Zombies? Seriously?
HAYDEN: (shrugging, calm but serious) Not a joke. It's real. And it's going to get worse.
MARY: (frightened) How do you know all this?
HAYDEN: (hesitating for a moment before speaking) Because… I have a system, a kind of interface that warned me. And trust me, this isn't a dream or a hallucination.
KATIE: (skeptical) A system? Like, something out of a video game?
HAYDEN: (sarcastic) Yes, Katie. Exactly. Because why not, right? No, this is serious. And if I'm telling you this now, it's because we don't have much time left.
FLORA: (trying to stay calm) What do we need to do?
HAYDEN: (crossing his arms, looking determined) First, we stay together. Then, we get out of here. But we need to move fast.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoes through the walls, followed by screams coming from outside. The room falls silent, and the atmosphere turns ice-cold.
HAYDEN: (calm but urgent) And there it is… it's starting.
KATIE: Tell us, Hay, what you know so we can act accordingly.
MARY: Seriously, Katie? I'm willing to try believing Hayden's story, but this is too much. No scientific magazine has ever talked about zombies or a disease capable of causing this.
WILLIAM: I'm with Mary on this. Come on, Hayden, this is real life, not some video game or sci-fi movie.
FLORA: The real question is what's happening in other countries. After that, we can interrogate Hayden about what he knows.
HAYDEN: (calmly, looking at them one by one) Thank you, Katie and Flora, for keeping an open mind. I understand your doubts, and that's normal. But I'm going to prove I'm not making this up.
---
Mental Discussion Between Hayden and Blue Dragon
BD: (deep, slightly mocking voice in Hayden's mind) So, you're really going to tell them everything? You sure about that?
HAYDEN: (clear and determined thoughts) Yes, I don't have a choice anymore. If they don't believe me, we're doomed.
BD: Honestly, I'm surprised. I thought you'd keep all this to yourself, or maybe go full dramatic hero mode and save the one you love at the last second.
HAYDEN: (with an inner smirk) And what kind of person do you think I am?
BD: The selfish kind. I mean, you stuck me with this name without asking me. I won't lie, I'm a little offended.
HAYDEN: (laughing internally) Okay, fair point. My bad. But to be honest, getting this power made me forget an important lesson…
BD: That great power comes with…?
HAYDEN: (dryly) Absolutely nothing. Don't even start. You're not the one who has to fight zombies out there.
BD: (chuckling) Touché. Alright, back to business, Mr. Sarcastic. If you want to prove my existence to them, I have three options for you:
Send them an invitation to join a specific group.
Summon your katana.
Switch me to 'voice-on' mode so they can hear me.
HAYDEN: (hesitating, but determined) Wait, you're really giving me the green light to share you with them? Okay. Thanks, Blue. With this, maybe they'll finally believe me.
BD: No problem. Besides, I'd rather be your full-on ally. Like they say, knowledge is power.
HAYDEN: (weakly smiling) That's true. And you know what? I've always considered you my guardian angel.
BD: (chuckling) Oh, stop it, you're gonna make me blush. Alright, let's get to work. They're waiting.
Back to Reality
Hayden opens his eyes, his features etched with a cold determination. His friends watch him—some with curiosity, others with skepticism.
HAYDEN: (calmly) You want proof? Fine. Watch this.
---
First Offer: Group Invitation
Hayden extends his hand before him, and a translucent holographic interface appears in the air, visible to everyone. The screen seems linked to each of them, as if their presence activates a connection.
Interface:
Create a Team
[Group Name: Survivors]
[Invited Members: Katie, Mary, William, Flora]
The members' names blink on their respective screens, and a message appears:
"Accept the invitation?"
[✔️ Yes] [❌ No]
KATIE: (frowning, touching the interface with her fingertips) Uh… Why can I interact with this? It's really in front of me, isn't it?
MARY: (staring at the screen warily) Are we in a collective dream? Or maybe some kind of mass hallucination?
WILLIAM: (crossing his arms, examining the screen skeptically) Seriously, Hayden, what the hell is this? A projection? A magic trick?
FLORA: (calmly, scrutinizing every detail of the interface) This isn't a projection, William. If it were, we'd see the source of the light. This is… something different. Hayden, how are you doing this?
Hayden gives a nervous but determined smile.
HAYDEN: (confidently) This isn't a magic trick. It's the system that allows me to interact with this world in ways you can't yet understand. Accept the invitation, and you'll see for yourselves.
After a moment of hesitation, Katie presses "✔️ Yes." The others gradually follow, except for William, who remains still, deep in thought.
WILLIAM: (finally pressing it with an exasperated sigh) Okay, fine. But you better explain all of this in detail, Hay.
A soft mechanical sound echoes, and a luminous ring briefly surrounds each member before fading.
---
Second Offer: The Katana
A blue flash illuminates the room, followed by a distant humming sound. Slowly, a radiant shape descends from the ceiling, surrounded by a dazzling light. The katana materializes in an awe-inspiring display, its blade gleaming like a star.
WILLIAM: (stunned) Holy crap… It's like… a legendary weapon coming to life.
KATIE: (eyes wide) This is… incredible.
MARY: (stepping back slightly, nervous) No, this—this isn't normal. That thing… It defies all the laws of physics.
FLORA: (staring at the blade with intense focus) It's alive… This katana—it's like it's breathing.
HAYDEN: (gripping the hilt, the blade gently vibrating in his hand) Now, you're starting to understand.
---
Third Offer: Blue Dragon's Voice
HAYDEN: (calmly) And finally, let me introduce the one who's been with me all along…
A subtle vibration sweeps through the room, and a deep, commanding voice resonates in the air, seemingly coming from everywhere at once.
BD: Greetings, everyone. I am Blue Dragon, and yes, I am real. Hayden wasn't lying. You've entered a world where the impossible becomes possible. Brace yourselves, because everything is about to change.
A heavy silence follows, each person reacting in their own way.
MARY: (shaking her head, panicked) No, this is too much. A voice coming out of nowhere? This is… madness. (She steps back, breathing unevenly.)
KATIE: (awed but slightly uneasy) This is insane… A little terrifying, but insane.
WILLIAM: (mouth slightly open, placing a hand on his head as if trying to process it) Damn, it's like I've stepped into a sci-fi movie… What's next, aliens?
FLORA: (crossing her arms, voice colder) So, you have a "guardian angel" that talks? Fascinating. But if he's so powerful, why isn't he doing the work for you?
BD: (directly responding to Flora, his tone amused yet serious) Because that's not my role. I'm here to guide, not to fight. That's Hayden's job.
HAYDEN: (staring at Flora, his tone grave) Now do you see why I couldn't keep this to myself? We're part of something much bigger.
MARY: (looking at Hayden with a mix of doubt and fear) But why us, Hayden? Why is this happening to us?
HAYDEN: Because we're already in it, Mary. Whether you like it or not, we're going to have to fight.
Another tense silence falls over the room as each person absorbs the revelations in their own way.
Hayden feels the weight of the silence pressing down on his shoulders. He watches his friends, studying their faces—seeing their confusion, fear, and doubts. Then, he slowly rests the katana on his lap and lets out a long, deep sigh.
HAYDEN: (with a slight smirk) You know what? This is huge—even for me. I'm just… me. I'm still the same sarcastic guy who'd rather stay in bed than run a marathon, who eats a whole pizza without sharing, and who loves teasing you at every opportunity. None of that is going to change.