And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 4 Hayes

I stagger out of the arena, dazed and disoriented. The bright lights and raucous crowds of the Little Japan District assault my senses after the darkness and chaos of the underground fight club. I lean against a nearby wall, drawing in shaky breaths as I try to process what just happened.

The woman with the cybernetic enhancements—her voice still echoes in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. Who was she? And what did she mean by "the real games"?

"Noah!" I turn to see myself and Lily approaching, our faces flushed with excitement and relief.

"You made it out," I say, my eyes bright with a mixture of exhilaration and concern. "What happened back there? One minute you were next to me, the next—"

"I got swept up in the crowd," Noah interrupts, not wanting to relive the terrifying moments of being crushed and separated from us. "Are you two okay?"

"A little shaken, but yeah, we're fine," Lily assures him, squeezing his arm.

"That was intense," I add, running a hand through my hair. "I've been to some wild places, but that... That was next-level."

"We should probably get out of here," Lily says, glancing around uneasily.

Noah nods in agreement, still shaken by the night's events. "Let's just get back to my place and—"

"Hey, you guys made it!" A new voice cuts through the night, and we turn to see Jordan approaching, his eyes sparkling with delight. "I was starting to wonder if you'd actually show up to my party."

"Jordan," Noah greets him with a mixture of relief and fond exasperation. "It's good to see you."

"You too," he says, pulling Noah into a quick hug. "Come on, the party's in full swing. I've got a drink with your name on it."

We follow Jordan through the streets, leaving behind the neon glow of the Little Japan District. The fresh air and familiar surroundings of our neighborhood help to calm my nerves, though my mind is still reeling from the night's events.

Jordan's apartment is alive with laughter, music, and the warm glow of paper lanterns. A joyful chaos greets us as we step inside, with people milling about, holding drinks and laughing, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of fairy lights.

"Drinks are over there," Jordan says, gesturing to a makeshift bar set up in the corner. "Help yourselves. I'll go find us some snacks."

Lily and I head towards the bar, while Noah makes his way through the familiar faces, exchanging greetings and well-wishes for the new year. The warm buzz of alcohol and good company begins to ease the tension from earlier, and I feel myself relaxing into the familiar surroundings.

"Hey, you made it!" Sophie appears at Noah's side, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I was starting to think you'd stood me up."

"Sorry, things got a little...hectic," Noah explains, his eyes scanning the room for Lily and me. "Liam wanted to show us something in the Little Japan District. It got a little out of hand."

Sophie's eyes widen. "Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I know how those 'tours' of his can go. Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Noah pauses, recalling the cyberhuman fights and the mysterious woman. "It was intense, but we made it out. Liam is over there." He points towards the bar, where Lily and I are deep in conversation.

Sophie raises an eyebrow. "Well, I'll leave you to it, then. But let's catch up later, okay? I want to hear all about it."

"Definitely," Noah agrees, grateful for her understanding.