Chapter 1 : Ordinary Morning
Early morning. A small apartment room. Phone alarm ringing.
Lian:
…Five more minutes.
(Alarm keeps ringing.)
Lian:
Alright, alright… I’m up.
(Phone notification sound.)
Phone Message:
“Rent reminder: payment overdue.”
Lian:
Great. Perfect start to the day.
(Knock on the wall from the next apartment.)
Neighbor:
Hey! Keep that alarm quiet!
Lian:
Sorry!
(Lian sighs and looks at the messy room.)
Lian:
Coffee first… problems later.
Street outside. People walking to work.
Vendor:
Fresh bread! Morning special!
Customer:
Give me two.
(Lian checks phone while walking.)
Lian:
Zero messages… not surprising.
(Phone notification pops up.)
News Alert:
“Unusual animal attacks reported in several districts.”
Lian:
Animal attacks?
(Someone nearby is watching the same news.)
Stranger:
Did you hear about those monsters?
Friend:
Monsters? Don’t start that nonsense.
Stranger:
I’m serious. People online are posting videos.
Friend:
Internet makes everything look fake.
Inside a small convenience store.
Cashier (Naro):
Morning.
Lian:
Morning.
Naro:
You look like you didn’t sleep.
Lian:
Rent problems.
Naro:
Same story every month.
(TV in the corner plays breaking news.)
TV Reporter:
Authorities are asking citizens to remain calm after several violent incidents overnight.
Lian:
Violent incidents?
Naro:
Probably drunk people fighting again.
(A customer rushes inside breathing heavily.)
Customer:
Did you see that thing outside?
Naro:
What thing?
Customer:
Something attacked a man near the alley!
Lian:
A dog?
Customer:
No… it wasn’t a dog.
(Silence.)
Naro:
People exaggerate everything.
Later that day. Apartment hallway.
(Lian walks upstairs slowly.)
Lian:
What a weird day.
(Neighbor door opens suddenly.)
Neighbor (Kiera):
You heard the noises outside earlier?
Lian:
Yeah. Some guy said something attacked someone.
Kiera:
People online are saying monsters appeared.
Lian:
Monsters?
Kiera:
I know it sounds crazy.
(Suddenly a distant scream echoes from outside.)
Unknown Voice:
RUN!!
(Both freeze.)
Lian:
…Did you hear that?
Kiera:
Yeah.
(Another scream.)
Lian:
Maybe we should check.
Kiera:
No. Don’t open the door.
(They slowly look through the hallway window.)
(Something moves in the street below.)
Lian:
What… is that?
Kiera:
I… I can’t see clearly.
(A distorted roar echoes through the street.)
(People start running.)
Random Person Outside:
MONSTER!!
(Silence fills the hallway.)
Lian (whispering):
This… can’t be real.
End of Chapter 1
