The tower loomed over New York City, a colossal monolith piercing the heavens like an accusing finger pointed at God himself—at least that was how it felt to me as we stood before its base in stunned silence. I'm Alex Hartman; you might know my byline from The Daily Chronicle's investigative desk.

"Alex," whispered Emily Thompson, our photographer and long-time friend—a rare moment of vulnerability cracking her usually stoic demeanor—her camera dangling limply at the end of one arm as she stared up in disbelief. "What... what just happened?"

I didn't have an answer for that question—not yet—but I knew we had to find out.

The tower, dubbed 'Babel's Folly' by locals due its unfinished state and eccentric architect who'd vanished without a trace years ago during construction—had stood as both testament of human ambition gone awry...and now it lay in ruins. A gaping wound on the cityscape where once there was only skyward reach.

We pushed through crowds gathered around makeshift barricades, police officers barking orders and paramedics tending to shocked survivors with varying degrees of injuries—some physical; others psychological trauma etched into their wide-eyed stares at what remained above them. Or rather...what didn't remain anymore: a jagged stump where once the tower stretched towards infinity.

Emily snapped photos as we moved, capturing raw emotion in each frame—the horror on faces turned upwards toward devastation instead of salvation they'd expected from such structures built by man's hubris and greed for power over nature. I jotted notes furiously while trying to keep pace with her relentless march forward; every detail mattered now.

"Alex," she said suddenly, stopping short beside me so abruptly that my pen scratched across paper like nails on a chalkboard—an apt metaphor given the scene before us."Look at this."

She pointed towards an area cordoned off by yellow tape fluttering in breeze kicked up from distant sirens wailing their mournful song. A group of suited men huddled together, talking animatedly while gesturing toward something obscured beneath a tarp.

"That's not right," I murmured more to myself than her as we approached cautiously; they didn't notice us at first amidst chaos surrounding them—until Emily lifted camera and began snapping pictures again without hesitation or fear of consequence. Their heads whipped around simultaneously, eyes narrowing when recognizing intruders onto their secretive little powwow.

"Who are you?" one barked aggressively while stepping forward—a tall man with silver hair slicked back severely from his forehead like a mirror reflecting cold light cast by overhead sun through smoky haze lingering over city streets. His suit was immaculate despite surroundings; power radiated off him in waves almost palpable enough to touch.

"Alex Hartman, Daily Chronicle," I replied calmly yet firmly—no sense backing down now when we'd come this far."And you are?"

He ignored my question entirely instead turning towards Emily who continued documenting their clandestine meeting with unblinking lens. "Put that away immediately!"

She didn't flinch but lowered camera slowly before addressing him directly: "'Fraid I can't do that, mister...whoever-you-are."

His face darkened further if possible; veins pulsed visibly at temples beneath taut skin stretched tight over prominent cheekbones."You have no idea what you're meddling with here," he growled lowly—more threat than warning.

"Then why don't enlighten us?" I challenged, stepping closer until mere inches separated our faces. Up close like this his eyes held something else besides anger...fear? Anxiety perhaps?

He sneered but didn’t respond further; instead glanced back at whatever lay hidden beneath tarp before turning away abruptly and barking orders to others who scrambled after him without question.

Emily raised camera again once they'd moved out of earshot, capturing final shots as men retreated towards waiting black SUVs idling nearby—windows tinted so darkly it seemed impossible anyone could see inside let alone through them. "What do you think that's about?" she asked softly while lowering device finally after snapping last frame.

"I don't know," I admitted truthfully, turning back toward tarp now left unattended amidst flurry of activity around us."But whatever they're hiding...it can’t be good."

We approached cautiously; my heart pounded in chest like a drumbeat counting down seconds until some unknown reckoning. Kneeling carefully beside makeshift grave marker—if indeed that's what it was—I reached out tentative fingers towards edge where fabric met ground.

"Alex..." Emily warned softly, uncertainty lacing her voice as she watched me intently; ready to intervene if necessary but hoping against hope I wouldn't find anything worth intervening over. Too late for such hopes now though—not after seeing those men's reactions earlier...

I lifted corner of tarp slowly—just enough so we could peek underneath without revealing contents entirely—and gasped aloud at what lay revealed beneath.

A body sprawled there, limbs twisted grotesquely as if broken by some immense force; clothing torn and bloodied beyond recognition. But it wasn't the state of corpse itself that made bile rise in throat or sent shivers down spine—it was something else altogether: an unnatural darkness clinging to flesh like shadow given form...and moving.

"Emily..." I whispered hoarsely, unable toreach out further without touching whatever this thing might be."Get back..."

She didn't need telling twice; retreating several steps before freezing suddenly—as if held in place by unseen hands—staring wide-eyed at something behind me. Slowly turning around to face same direction she now gazed upon with such terror etched into features, I saw it too: a figure emerging from wreckage of fallen tower.

Tall and gaunt as skeleton left bleaching under desert sun; skin stretched tight over bones until seemed ready snap apart any moment—yet still managing somehow retain semblance humanity despite being clearly not human at all. Eyes burned like twin suns within sockets hollowed out by time or perhaps some other force entirely, casting eerie glow upon surroundings while mouth hung open revealing rows jagged teeth stained dark with...blood?

It moved towards us slowly but deliberately—each step echoing through city streets as if announcing arrival of something ancient and terrible beyond comprehension. And maybe it was; because nothing about this creature fit within realm possibility let alone probability.

"Alex..." Emily whimpered again, voice barely audible over pounding blood in ears."What...what is that?"

"I don't know," I replied honestly—though part me screamed inside knowing full well what we were witnessing here today defied all logic reason. This was something else entirely; some cosmic horror unleashed upon world by our own hubris and greed for power.

As it drew closer, tendrils of darkness reached out from body like writhing serpents seeking prey—tasting air around us before snapping back suddenly as if sensing presence intruders onto their domain. Those eyes never left mine though; burning into soul itself until felt certain they'd consume me whole given chance...

Then without warning it stopped dead in its tracks, head tilting slightly to one side—as if listening intently for something only audible through channels beyond human perception.

"What's happening?" Emily asked breathlessly beside me—her hand gripping my arm tightly enough fingernails dug into flesh leaving crescent-shaped marks behind later when finally released their hold on reality itself...

"I don't know," I repeated softly, unable tear gaze away from creature now regarding us with renewed interest—or was that hunger? Hard tell anymore amidst swirling chaos within mind struggling to make sense of impossible sight before eyes.

Suddenly it lunged forward—fast as striking snake—and grabbed Emily around waist lifting her off ground effortlessly despite size difference between them. She screamed once, sharp and piercing enough cut through haze surrounding us both; then went silent abruptly when thing brought mouth close hers...

And kissed her gently on lips?

No—not kiss exactly—but something else entirely: some dark exchange of energies transferring back forth until felt certain whatever essence made Emily who she was being drained away slowly but surely. Her struggles grew weaker by second, limbs going limp as life force ebbed from body leaving behind empty husk devoid all vitality.

"Emily!" I cried out desperately reaching towards her even though knew there wasn't anything could do stop this now...not without risking same fate myself."Please..."

It looked up then—those burning eyes meeting mine once more—and smiled cruelly before tossing my friend aside like discarded ragdoll. She landed hard several feet away, crumpling into heap upon ground where remained motionless save for occasional twitch indicating still clung tenaciously to life despite all odds.

Then creature turned back towards me again; advancing slowly now knowing no resistance offered here...only prey waiting patiently end come...

But instead of attacking directly as expected—it simply stood there staring at me intently, head cocked slightly sideways once more—as if trying decide something important. Then without warning spoke aloud in voice like grinding gears: "You see her?"

I blinked stupidly."See who?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Her," it repeated gesturing vaguely behind itself towards wreckage of fallen tower looming large against skyline beyond—where countless other bodies lay strewn amidst rubble, broken and twisted by force brought structure crashing down around them...

And there among carnage stood figure woman dressed all in white; long hair blowing gently despite lack wind anywhere else. She seemed unharmed unlike everyone surrounding her—and yet somehow more terrifying than any monster could ever hope be.

"Who...who is she?" I stammered, unable tear eyes away from spectral apparition now regarding me solemnly with gaze filled equal parts sorrow and regret...

"That," creature said softly before turning back towards wreckage itself."Is your fate."

With those final words echoing through empty streets like funeral dirge—it disappeared into shadows cast by fallen tower leaving behind nothing but silence...and despair.

I stumbled over to Emily then, falling beside her prone form as tears streamed down cheeks unchecked. Cradling head gently in lap while checking pulse still present though weak—I knew she wouldn't survive much longer without medical attention...

But even if somehow managed find help before it was too late—what kind life awaited someone who'd witnessed such horrors? Who now carried knowledge impossible to forget or ignore?

No, there could be no going back after today—not for either of us. Only forward into darkness...and whatever lay waiting beyond.

As I sat cradling my friend's lifeless body amidst ruins once-great city—now reduced mere graveyard by our own folly—I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lurked hidden beneath surface world around me...

And whether any of us would ever truly be safe again.

I woke up to a cold sweat, heart pounding like it wanted out my chest—nightmares clinging stubbornly as tendrils refusing release from grip on reality they'd claimed during sleep. The tower...the thing that emerged...

"Just dreams," I muttered aloud while rubbing temples where headache threatened brewing storm."Nothing more."

Yet something felt off; air hung heavy with anticipation, like world held breath waiting for unseen force to exhale once again.

Emily stirred beside me—we hadn't left each other's side since yesterday—and rolled over groggily. "Morning already?" she mumbled into pillow before noticing my state."Alex? You okay?"

"Fine," I lied automatically; old habits die hard even when faced with cosmic horrors defying comprehension or explanation.

She sat up abruptly, eyes narrowing as they met mine—no fooling her so easily despite exhaustion etched deep lines around mouth and corners of those usually vibrant green irises now dulled by fatigue."What happened?"

I hesitated before recounting events from last night; every detail burned into memory like brands seared onto flesh. Her expression grew grimmer with each passing moment until finally I fell silent, leaving us both staring at nothing in particular while minds raced trying to make sense of senselessness.

"Alex..." she began softly after what felt eternity."We need help."

I nodded agreement—though part me screamed against idea involving others; fearing whatever this was might spread like plague if given chance. But we couldn't handle it alone either—not when faced with something beyond human understanding or control...

Our first call went unanswered—a recorded message informing us all lines were currently engaged due to emergency situation unfolding across city—so instead headed straight for police station nearest our location.

Chaos reigned inside; officers rushed back and forth barking orders, civilians huddled together seeking solace amidst shared terror. We pushed through crowd gathered around front desk where harassed-looking sergeant tried desperately maintain order while fielding endless stream questions from worried citizens demanding answers no one had yet...

"Excuse me," Emily interjected firmly when finally reaching counter."We need to speak with someone in charge."

Sergeant glanced up briefly before returning attention elsewhere—dismissive wave indicating we should wait our turn like everyone else. But something about her tone must've caught his notice because he paused mid-sentence, looked again...and paled visibly upon recognizing us.

"Miss Thompson," he stammered."Mr.Hartman! I-I didn't realize..."

"What's going on?" Emily demanded sharply—no time for pleasantries now; not with lives potentially at stake here. "Where can we find someone who knows something?"

He swallowed hard, glancing around nervously before leaning closer conspiratorially: "'Bout that tower collapse...we've got reports of strange occurrences happening all over town since then."

"Strange how?" I pressed.

"I-I don't know," he admitted sheepishly."But they're saying things are disappearing—people too—and when we send officers to investigate, well..." He trailed off shuddering slightly at memory evidently haunting him still. "They never come back."

Emily and me exchanged worried glances; this was worse than feared.

"Take us there now," I ordered sternly—not leaving room for argument."We'll find out what's happening ourselves if no one else will do it properly!"

He hesitated before nodding reluctantly, grabbing keys off hook behind him while barking orders to nearby colleague who scowled but complied nonetheless. Within minutes we were speeding through city streets towards unknown danger lurking just beyond horizon...