The Phone Call with Gabriela Sanchez
In the middle of the chaos, Amber received a call. Seeing Gabriela Sanchez's name flash on her screen, she answered immediately.
AMBER:
"Mom! Where are you? What's going on?"
GABRIELA (voice calm but commanding):
"Amber, listen to me carefully. A convoy will come to get you shortly. I'm aware of the situation, but for now, focus on staying together and staying safe."
AMBER (almost in tears):
"But what's happening? What are those monsters? And what are you doing in all this?"
GABRIELA (slightly hesitant, but authoritative):
"It's complicated, Amber. What matters is that we have the situation under control. Don't panic. I love you, sweetheart. I'll make sure you're safe."
Amber hung up, visibly shaken, but tried to hide her emotions.
VERA (sarcastic, raising an eyebrow):
"Well, reassured now? Your mom's got everything under control, huh?"
AMBER (shooting her a glare):
"She's doing what she can, okay?"
Rising Tension
The luxury room, despite all its material comfort, felt increasingly suffocating as fear and uncertainty crept into each of the young elites. They tried to shield themselves behind their strong personalities and privileges, but the threat outside brought them closer to a harsh truth: their money and status might not be enough to save them.
Outside the Karaoke Bar: Using the Eye of Truth
Hayden's group stood at the entrance of the karaoke bar, the lifeless bodies of zombies scattered around them. The heavy silence was broken only by the wind and the distant hum of a city spiraling into chaos.
HAYDEN (turning to Mary, voice calm but serious):
"Mary, use the Eye of Truth on these zombies. I want to know exactly what we're dealing with… especially that special one."
The others exchanged surprised glances, not having expected Hayden to make such a request. It wasn't just a tactical move—it was a clear sign of trust.
FLORA (with a sincere smile):
"Hayden… you really trust us, don't you?"
Hayden gave a slight nod, a faint smile forming on his lips.
MARY (hesitant, placing a hand on her chest):
"Me? Uh… okay. I'll try."
She activated the technique, and information began to appear before her eyes. The others gathered around her, waiting for the results.
Eye of Truth Results
Standard Zombie:
Status: Non-special
Origin: Infected in a residential area
Level: 1
Threat Level: Low
Special Zombie:
Status: Experimental specimen
Origin: Life Corp Laboratory, underground facility
Level: Unknown
Threat Level: High
Mary's Reaction
When Mary read the origin of the special zombie, her face turned pale instantly.
MARY (in a trembling voice):
"Life Corp… My parents work for them… This can't be…"
Her hands started shaking as tears threatened to fall. Hayden, despite his obvious fatigue, stepped forward and gently pulled her into a comforting hug.
HAYDEN (in a soothing voice):
"I'm here, Mary. I know this is hard, but we'll get through it together. I promise we'll find out what's really going on."
The rest of the group remained silent, respecting the emotional moment. Katie and Flora exchanged a glance, their expressions showing a mix of compassion and determination.
In Front of the Dormitory: A Cautious Arrival
After a slow but safe journey, the group finally reached the entrance to the dormitory. The large metal gates were shut and guarded by several teachers armed with sticks and metal bars.
Upon seeing the teachers, Hayden made a subtle gesture to make his katana disappear, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention.
WILLIAM (murmuring to Hayden):
"Smart move. With everything going on, they would've definitely freaked out seeing a weapon like that."
HAYDEN (nodding):
"Yeah. We've got enough problems as it is."
The teachers looked over the group with suspicion before letting them in after a few quick questions. The atmosphere inside the dormitory was tense: the gathered students seemed torn between fear and confusion.
Decision to Meet the Next Day
Once in the dormitory halls, the group split up to head to their rooms.
KATIE (before leaving):
"Let's meet tomorrow after the principal's announcement, in a classroom. We have a lot to talk about… especially about all this."
FLORA (with a reassuring smile):
"Yeah. We have to stick together, no matter what."
Hayden nodded with a tired smile.
HAYDEN:
"Good idea. Get some rest. We're going to need all our strength."
As the others walked away, Mary lingered for a few moments near Hayden, watching him with gratitude.
MARY (in a soft voice):
"Thanks for earlier... I won't forget it."
HAYDEN (giving her a sincere smile):
"We're a team, Mary. I'll never let you down."
She nodded before leaving him to rest, her mind still troubled by the revelations.
The Shower: A Moment of Respite
Hayden stepped into the dorm's communal showers, his body heavy and sore after the exhausting day he had just endured. He removed his torn, bloodstained clothes, letting them fall to the floor in a shapeless heap. His hands trembled slightly—a mix of physical and mental fatigue.
Turning on the water, he let it run until it reached a comforting warmth. The hot stream hit his back, soothing his tense muscles and washing away the blood and dust that had accumulated.
HAYDEN (murmuring to himself):
"Happy birthday, Hayden… What a day."
He let out a sigh, his thoughts drifting to everything that had happened: the zombie horde, the battle against the special specimen, the revelation about Life Corp, and most of all—the fact that he had to kill for the first time.
HAYDEN (thinking):
My friends… Thank God they were there. But am I really ready for all of this? Can I truly protect them…?
Back to His Room: An Exhausting Day
After finishing his shower, he gathered his torn clothes and tossed them into a trash bin near the entrance. Then, dressed in simple sweatpants and a clean t-shirt, he made his way to his room.
The room was silent, illuminated only by the dim glow of the streetlamp outside. Hayden collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
HAYDEN (thinking):
All I wanted was a quiet karaoke night with my friends for my birthday… And now I'm fighting zombies, uncovering some secret system, and trying to accept that the world has changed.
He closed his eyes, replaying the day's defining moments: his friends' support, Mary's shock upon discovering the truth about Life Corp, and the strange feeling of having a guardian angel in Blue Dragon.
BLUE (in his mind, in a soothing voice):
"You did good today. You survived. And your friends are still here because of you. Isn't that all that matters?"
HAYDEN (thinking, with a bitter smile):
Maybe… But this was supposed to be a special day. Instead, I'm trying to make sense of this mess. Happy birthday to me.
Exhausted, he pulled the blanket over himself, letting the weight of the day carry him into sleep. Yet, one thought remained in his mind: he had to protect his friends, no matter what the future held.
Group Chat Discussion
In the darkness of their respective rooms, Katie, Mary, Flora, and William each held their phones, connected to a group chat they had named "The Survivors"—a small joke to lighten the heavy atmosphere of the day.
Katie: Guys… we totally forgot his birthday. 😔
Mary: Oh my God… You're right. With everything that happened, it completely slipped my mind. He must have been so disappointed… 😟
Flora: Disappointed is an understatement. This was supposed to be his special day, and he ended up fighting zombies. I don't even have words for how unfair this is.
William: Yeah… And yet, he never complained. He just did what he had to do to protect us. Honestly, he deserves better than that.
Katie: We need to do something. A gift or something to show him we're here for him. He deserves it.
Gift Ideas and Discussions
Mary: Okay, but what? It's not like we can just give him a gift card or something…
Flora: Maybe something that could actually help him? You know, given this… end-of-the-world situation?
William: Like weapons or survival gear? Isn't that a little extreme? 😅
Katie: Not necessarily. But we could also think of something more personal. He needs to feel like he's not alone in this.
Mary: What if we combined both? Something useful and personal. Like a survival kit, but customized with messages of encouragement and little memories from the four of us?
Flora: I love that idea. A kit he can actually use but also reminds him we're with him.
William: Not bad. And to top it off, we could set up a small surprise for him tomorrow after the principal's announcement. A mini celebration between us.
Katie: Yes, that would be a much-needed break. And we could give him the kit then. It's perfect.
Task Distribution
Flora: Alright, who's doing what?
Katie: I can handle the messages and small personal keepsakes.
Mary: I'll gather some useful stuff for the kit—like a flashlight or a filtered water bottle. I have some gear at home.
Flora: I can cook or prepare something to snack on for tomorrow. Something different from the usual.
William: And I'll find a good bag or box to put everything in. I want it to look nice.
Katie: Perfect. We're doing this to remind him he's not alone. 🖤
As they wrapped up their discussion, each of them felt a little better. The day had been tough, but they were determined to show Hayden that they were there for him—ready to face this new reality together.
The Principal's Speech
That morning, the school was in turmoil. The recent events had created a wave of panic and confusion among the students. The principal, a man in his fifties with an imposing presence, stood on the auditorium stage. His deep voice echoed through the crowded hall.
Principal: "Dear students, we are facing an unprecedented situation. I ask you to remain calm and follow your teachers' instructions. Additional security measures have been put in place to ensure your safety. We will keep you informed as soon as we have more information. In the meantime, show solidarity and discipline. Together, we will overcome this challenge."
The speech, though brief, brought a slight sense of reassurance. However, in the minds of many students, doubt and fear still lingered.
The Surprise for Hayden
After the speech, Hayden headed toward the room they had chosen the night before for their meeting. Upon arrival, he was surprised to see Katie, Mary, Flora, and William gathered around a small table. A carefully prepared bag, containing the personalized survival kit, was placed at the center. A small improvised garland made of colored paper decorated the room, and Flora had prepared some snacks.
Seeing the scene, a wide smile lit up Hayden's face. A single tear rolled down his right cheek, a testament to the emotion he was feeling.