As soon as arrived at scene—a quiet residential neighborhood now eerily deserted save for handful of police cars parked haphazardly along curb—knew something was seriously wrong here.

"Stay close," I warned Emily under breath, drawing revolver from holster beneath jacket; better safe than sorry given recent events. She nodded grim determination reflected in her eyes as she raised camera once more between us like shield against unseen foes threatening encroach upon reality...

We moved cautiously through empty houses—each one seemingly abandoned overnight despite signs life still lingered within: half-eaten meals left rotting on tables, TVs blaring static-filled screens where channels had been tuned before owners vanished without trace. It felt wrong somehow; unnatural silence broken only by distant sirens wailing mournful song echoing through streets outside.

Then came sound we'd both dreaded hearing again since yesterday: wet slither of something moving across floor behind us—tendrils reaching out from darkness itself, seeking prey...

"Alex..." Emily whispered hoarsely beside me; her hand gripping my arm tightly enough fingernails dug into flesh leaving crescent-shaped marks later when finally released their hold on reality.

I spun around quickly but saw nothing except shadows cast by flickering lightbulbs swaying gently overhead—yet knew whatever it was remained nearby, watching...waiting...

"Show yourself!" I shouted defiantly while brandishing gun at empty air."Whatever you are!"

Silence answered back; mockery of our impotent rage against forces beyond comprehension or control.

Then came laughter—a low guttural sound echoing through house like thunder rumble—followed by voice that seemed come from everywhere yet nowhere simultaneously: "You cannot stop what has already begun, mortal."

Emily gasped beside me as realization dawned on her face."It's...it’s the same thing..."

"Yes," I confirmed grimly before turning back towards source of sound now moving closer still; tendrils snaking along walls like vines choking life from everything they touched. "And this time we're not running."

But even armed with knowledge gained yesterday, couldn't help feeling utterly helpless against such overwhelming power—cosmic horror made manifest in flesh twisted beyond recognition by forces unknown.

Suddenly Emily stepped forward suddenly; camera raised high above head as if preparing smash it down upon unseen foe lurking just out of sight. "Leave us alone!" she screamed defiantly."Go back to whatever hell spawned you!"

For moment nothing happened—then tendrils recoiled sharply away from her, retreating rapidly until only silence remained once more.

"What...what did I do?" Emily asked softly after several heartbeats passed without incident; lowering camera slowly while staring at me in disbelief. "Did it work?"

"I don't know," admitted truthfully."But let's not wait around to find out."

We backed away cautiously, eyes scanning every shadow for any sign movement—any indication whatever had been here moments ago might still linger nearby waiting chance strike again...

Reached front door safely; stepped outside onto porch bathed in harsh glare sunlight streaming down from clear blue sky overhead. It seemed impossible such a beautiful day could exist amidst chaos unfolding around us—but maybe that was point: reminder how fragile our world truly is when faced with cosmic horrors lurking just beyond perception.

"Alex..." Emily began tentatively, turning towards me as we stood there momentarily frozen in place by sheer magnitude of what'd happened inside."What do you think it wants?"

I shook head slowly—no answer for that question yet. "All I know," said finally after long pause filled only with distant sirens wailing mournful song somewhere far off across cityscape sprawling out before us like a vast graveyard awaiting final burial rites..."is whatever this thing is...it's not done here."

And neither were we—not until truth lay exposed beneath harsh light of day, no matter how many lives might be lost along way. For now though? We needed help—real professionals equipped handle such situations better than either could ever hope achieve alone.

Back at police station found ourselves ushered into small office where waited stern-faced man introduced simply as 'Agent Johnson' from some government agency whose name escaped memory almost immediately after hearing it mentioned once...

He listened intently while we recounted events leading up to current situation—interrupting occasionally ask clarifying questions but otherwise remaining silent until finished speaking. Then leaned back in chair regarding us both thoughtfully before finally breaking silence:

"You realize what you're describing here...it defies all logic reason?"

"Yes," I replied firmly."But so does everything else happening around this city right now."

He nodded slowly, rubbing chin contemplatively as if weighing options available to him—before making decision evidently reached after much consideration: "Alright then. Here's my proposal..."

And thus began our descent into madness; journey through darkness where light seemed little more than fleeting illusion cast by dying stars in distant galaxies beyond reach human comprehension.

But we had no choice—not when faced with cosmic horror threatening consume everything held dear...including ourselves if given chance...

As days turned weeks, search continued unabated—despite mounting casualties among those sent investigate strange occurrences plaguing New York City. Each time another team went missing or worse returned bearing tales madness beyond belief; each new report only served reinforce grim reality facing us all: something ancient and terrible had awakened beneath our feet...and there was no stopping it now.

Yet still we tried—desperately clinging hope might find way halt impending doom before too late. Until finally came moment when realized truth staring back at me from reflection cast by dim lightbulb swaying gently overhead: this wasn't about saving city anymore; not even country...

It was personal—a battle waged against forces beyond human understanding or control, fueled solely desire protect those closest heart despite knowing full well odds stacked heavily against success.

And so here we stand today—on brink abyss staring down into depths unknown where lurks cosmic horror waiting consume all who dare challenge its existence. But even faced with certain defeat refuse back away now—not when everything hinges outcome of this final confrontation looming before us like a dark cloud threatening block out sun forever...

For better or worse, our fates intertwined inextricably together—bound by shared destiny forged amidst chaos and madness born from tower's fall...

I woke up to a world turned inside out, my bedroom ceiling now floor and vice versa—gravity defying all logic as it pinned me down against unyielding wood instead of cradling in familiar embrace. Panic surged through veins like wildfire; heart pounded furiously within chest cavity while lungs gasped for air that refused to fill them.

"Hello?" I croaked out, voice echoing eerily around room—or what used be my bedroom before reality decided it had other plans."Is anyone there?"

Silence answered back—heavy and oppressive as if waiting expectantly just beyond threshold of hearing. Then came faint scratching noises from behind closed door; growing louder until sounded like claws scrabbling desperately against metal.

"Who's out there?" I demanded, trying to sound braver than felt while pushing myself upright despite gravity fighting every movement."Show yourself!"

Door creaked open slowly—agonizingly so—as if revealing some ancient secret best left undisturbed. And maybe it was; because what stepped through couldn't possibly exist within realm of human experience.

It stood tall, taller even perhaps once had before being warped by forces beyond comprehension—a grotesque parody of man twisted into something else entirely: limbs elongated and jointed wrongly so they bent backwards at unnatural angles while torso bulged obscenely with pulsating masses beneath skin stretched taut over bones like drumheads ready to burst. Head lolled loosely atop neck, eyes milky white orbs staring blank yet somehow aware of my presence.

"Wh-what are you?" I stammered horrified—backpedaling away until hit wall behind me; nowhere left run except into madness itself."What do...you want?"

It tilted head slightly to one side—as if considering question carefully before responding in voice like gravel crunching under heavy boots: "We hunger."

I recoiled instinctively at sound, bile rising bitterly within throat as realization dawned upon consciousness slowly but surely. This thing—this abomination standing mere feet away from me now wasn't human; couldn’t be after seeing what it had become.

"We?" I echoed weakly."Who's 'we'?"

Its mouth split wide open revealing rows jagged teeth stained dark with...blood? Or something else entirely?

"Those who came before," rasped creature, taking another step closer despite my futile attempts to shrink further into wall behind me. "The old ones."

Fear gripped heart in icy fist; breath hitched painfully within constricted lungs as memories flooded back—of tower collapsing under weight of some unseen force and body sprawled beneath tarp with darkness clinging like shadow given form...

"You're...you were there," I whispered hoarsely."At the Babel Tower..."

It nodded slowly, milky eyes never leaving mine—not even when another figure stepped into room behind it: Emily—my friend; my colleague—and yet not her anymore. Not after whatever this thing had done to transform once vibrant woman now reduced mere shell of herself.

"Emily..." I whispered brokenly."Oh God...what have you become?"

She didn't answer but merely stared at me with same blank expression worn by creature beside which she stood—tendrils of darkness writhing around her like serpents seeking prey. And suddenly, it all made sense: why those men had been so secretive; what they'd tried hiding beneath tarp...

"Stop this," I pleaded desperately."Please...just stop."

But neither moved nor showed any sign acknowledging words spoken aloud—only stared on unblinking while silence stretched out between us like chasm ready swallow whole.

Then without warning, Emily lunged forward with sudden speed belied by emaciated frame; hands reaching for throat as if intent strangling life from body. I managed dodge just in time but momentum carried her crashing into wall instead—cracking plaster and revealing bare brick beneath while she slumped down bonelessly onto floor.

"Emily!" cried out, rushing towards fallen form despite knowing already there'd be no response—not after seeing what happened to others who crossed paths with these...things. Still had hope though; foolish perhaps but couldn't abandon friend so easily without fight first...

But creature intercepted me mid-stride—long limbs lashing out like whips as it moved faster than should've been possible given its grotesque appearance—and sent crashing down onto hardwood floorboards beneath us.

"She belongs to them now," rasped, looming over prone figure."As do you."

I struggled futilely against grip stronger even than steel; panic surging anew within chest as realization sank in: there'd be no escape this time—not from whatever fate awaited those claimed by old ones lurking just beyond veil reality.

"Please..." I begged one last time, tears streaming down cheeks now."Don't let them take me..."

Its mouth split wider still—revealing rows upon row jagged teeth ready rend flesh apart—and leaned closer until milky eyes filled entire field vision. "Too late," it whispered softly before darkness claimed all.

When consciousness returned sometime later—not sure how long passed exactly; time seemed irrelevant now anyway—I found myself lying prone on cold stone floor within some vast chamber illuminated only dimly by flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows upon walls carved with ancient symbols defying comprehension. A sense of dread washed over me as memories flooded back: Emily's lifeless eyes staring blank, creature looming above...

"Where am I?" croaked out hoarsely—voice echoing around empty space like ghostly whisper carried on winds through graveyard at midnight.

No answer came—not that expected one—but instead heard faint scuttling noises coming from darkness deeper within chamber. Something moved there; something large and heavy by sound of it, dragging itself slowly but deliberately towards where lay helpless captive...

Fear gripped heart once more as realization dawned upon consciousness: wasn't alone here after all—never had been since first encountered those things at Babel Tower ruins.

"Who's...who are you?" I called out tentatively into gloom."What do want with me?"

Silence answered back briefly before voice emerged from shadows; deep and resonant as if spoken by many mouths simultaneously: "We have waited long for one such as yourself," it rumbled ominously—chills running down spine at sound alone.

"W-what...why?" stammered, trying desperately maintain composure despite terror threatening overwhelm senses entirely."What am I to you?"

More silence followed before voice spoke again: "You are vessel chosen carry our message back into world above. A warning against further meddling with forces beyond human understanding."

I shook head vehemently—denial rising within chest like bile bitter and acidic upon tongue:"No...no, please don't do this..."

But there was no stopping what came next; only watching helpless as monstrous form emerged slowly from darkness surrounding me: a writhing mass of tentacles tipped with suckers pulsating hungrily while eyes glowed malevolently within sockets set around maw filled rows upon row needle-sharp teeth dripping viscous fluid onto stone floor below.

"Please..." I begged one final time, knowing full well pleas fell on deaf ears."Don't let them take me..."

But it was too late already; tendrils lashed out like whips striking flesh again and again until pain consumed all thought—body convulsing uncontrollably as darkness claimed consciousness once more...

When next opened eyes found myself back in bedroom—or what used be my sanctuary now felt alien, tainted by horrors witnessed beyond veil reality. Sunlight streamed through window casting long shadows across floor where lay sprawled amidst wreckage furniture upturned during struggle against creature that had taken Emily...and left me here alive but forever changed.