Exactly at noon, every screen on Earth changed.
Lily and Ivory stared at the screen in the master bedroom as Ivory breastfed Lyra. Ivory's eyes were glued to the TV, anticipation built up in her body. She glanced at Lily whose body shook in fear, whose eyes didn't blink, whose eyes stayed to the screen. Lily was more of a mess than Ivory was.
Ivory removed what Blue told her before he left. He took her hand and ruffled Lyra's hair as Lyra smiled at him.
"Keep her safe," he told Ivory. "Don't let our daughter out of your sight."
Ivory looked at the TV.
Lily tried turning it on; the TV wouldn't budge. Nothing could be weirder than this, they both thought.
No warning.
No announcement.
No explanation.
Televisions turned on.
Phones activated.
Computers displayed the same image.
Blue.
Ivory held Lyra to her chest as she grunted and stood on one leg; Lily intertwined her arm with Ivory's.
Neither of them spoke. They waited for Blue to speak.
Blue looked different. Not because his appearance changed --- Because now he was no longer hiding.
For years, he had been a mysterious mafia leader.
A man with secrets. A man people feared. A man people heard of from the streets or the news, but not a man many encountered, not the man on the screen.
They probably expected a scary looking man that was all rugged with tattoos.
Here Blue was, handsome, polished, blue hair --- young and charming. No one suspected that a 30 year old man could hack the databases and send a message to humans through their own technology.
Now he stood before the entire planet.
"My name is Blue."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"And I represent the Seraphyne."
The world watched.
Some laughed.
Some dismissed it.
Some thought it was a performance.
Then the image behind him changed.
The Hollow Earth.
The cities.
The civilizations that had existed beneath humanity without their knowledge.
Ivory felt Lily step closer.
"They were there the whole time..."
Ivory nodded.
Blue continued.
"Humanity has existed above us for centuries."
A pause.
"You believed yourselves alone."
His expression remained emotionless.
"You were mistaken."
Ivory felt cold.
Not because of what he said.
Because she knew him.
She knew that tone.
Blue only spoke like that when something was already decided.
"The Seraphyne will no longer remain hidden."
The screen changed.
The Earth.
"The surface and the world below will become one."
Lily whispered:
"He's really doing this."
Ivory didn't answer.
She watched the world listen.
"For years we were just the world's most dangerous mafia gang located in New York City; we are much more than that. We exist in stories, in minds, in feelings, and everywhere you haven't looked yet on planet Earth. For centuries, humanity believed it controlled this planet. You built civilizations without knowing another existed beneath you. For centuries, you thought there weren't a species greater; you believed yourselves to be more capable than any other living thing that exist or could exist."
There was a pause.
Ivory and Lily got closer to the screen.
"Today, that changes."
Ivory and Lily continued listening.
"You will have six hours to decide if your life or your pride are more important. The Serapyhne are dominating the Earth; this means we are taking over humanity. Either you will shown allegiance or you will die with your pride. Your forces --- your police, your army, your military, and your politicians -- are useless. They cannot save you from what is ready to come your way, humanity. This is your time to live in an advanced and civilized economy and civilization; where there's intelligence, technological advancement, controlled climate, real food, spiritual awareness and capacity, extended life expectancy beyond anything humanity has achieved."
Lily shook her head and scoffed as Ivory stared in defeat.
"This will be a world where it's really survival of the fittest. Those who adapt will thrive. Those who refuse will fall behind."
The screen turned black.
"Decide now, beforeI I decide for you." Blue spoke one last time through the black screen.
The power went out.
Lily stood up and flickered the lights on and off -- the lights refused to light.
"Ivory! It's happening!" Lily cried.
Ivory sniffed and tears streamed down her face. "He's serious, Lily. He's taking over the world."
Ivory and Lily heard commotion outside --- people screaming and freaking out from miles away.
The world belong to Blue now -- not in six hours or days, in this very moment. And humanity had no idea what would come to pass. Even Ivory didn't know.