It happened like a glitch in reality — not a sound, but a pressure. The streetlights dimmed and buzzed before flickering out, one by one. The ground didn’t shake. It thrummed.

Devika’s book snapped shut. Rian stood up fast enough to topple his chair.

“What the hell was that?” Zara asked, already halfway to the sidewalk.

Rian’s breath caught. The street was rippling — not visibly, but viscerally. Like every instinct was trying to run in a different direction.

[Canon Sync] Overhead, a barely audible tone rippled through the sky — not natural. Not local. Something woven into the air itself.

⚠️ LOCAL NOTICE: Interference Field Detected – Origin Unknown.

Devika stared at the center of the street, her eyes wide. “There.”

A single crack had formed in the concrete. Thin, almost elegant — but it glowed. A pale blue fissure that shimmered like ice under pressure.

Zara stepped forward, but Rian caught her wrist. “Wait.”

The glow pulsed once. A burst of energy rippled outward. Not air. Not fire. Something else. It passed through them like a vibration through bone.

The windows of nearby buildings spiderwebbed instantly.

Devika’s breath hitched. “I felt it inside.”

Rian knelt, palm grazing the edge of the glowing crack. “What is this… energy?” he whispered.

Devika’s eyes locked on his. “You felt that too.”

The light began to fade — not vanish, but recede, like the crack had inhaled and was waiting to exhale again.

Zara looked up at the sky. “Is it over?”

“No,” Rian said. “It just started.”

A sudden wind whipped through the street. Trash danced. Pigeons exploded into the air. In the distance, someone screamed — not frightened. Agonized.

The skeletal tower loomed ahead, its flickering lights barely piercing through the dense fog. Rian crouched behind a derelict car, signaling for the group to hold position. Milo adjusted his backpack, trying to see through the mist. Zara peered around the edge of the car, her grip tightening on the makeshift spear. Devika stood still, her hand resting lightly on Lucky’s head as the dog remained unusually quiet.

Rian whispered, “We move slow. Stay low. If it’s a trap, we need to be ready to retreat.”

Milo nodded, trying to steady his breathing. “You think the broadcast was real?”

“Maybe,” Rian replied. “But real doesn’t mean safe.”

They moved in formation, skirting the edge of the road. As they got closer, they could make out figures moving near the base of the tower — three people, dressed in mismatched gear, standing guard. One of them seemed to be adjusting a panel near a generator, while the others scanned the area with rifles at the ready.

Zara murmured, “They look organized. Not like the others we’ve seen.”

Rian weighed the options. “If they’re guarding the place, it might be more than just a shelter. Could be a hub.”

Devika whispered, “Should we risk contact?”

Milo bit his lip. “If they’re warning people, maybe they’re not hostile.”

Lucky let out a low growl, sensing the tension. Rian scratched behind his ears to calm him. “We’ll approach cautiously. If they’re friendly, good. If not, we pull back.”

They moved forward, making themselves visible without appearing threatening. One of the guards noticed them, raising a hand. “Hold up! State your business!”

Rian raised his hands slowly. “We heard the broadcast. Looking for safe passage north.”

The guard, a woman in her thirties with a bandana over her hair, lowered her rifle slightly. “You from the city?”

Rian nodded. “Been moving out for days. Place isn’t safe.”

She glanced at the others, then motioned them closer. “You’re not wrong. We’re gathering anyone left who hasn’t… changed.”

Zara relaxed just a fraction. “You’re not infected?”

The woman shook her head. “No. We’ve been monitoring the grid activity. Whatever’s happening, it’s coming from deeper in the city. We’re keeping watch here to guide survivors away.”

Devika glanced at the generator. “You’ve got power?”

The guard looked back at the panel. “Barely. Just enough to broadcast and keep the perimeter lights on. The grid’s shot to hell. Whatever hit it isn’t just a power surge — it’s corrupting the whole system.”

Rian lowered his hands. “You have shelter here?”

The guard gestured toward the tower’s base. “There’s a basement. Reinforced. We’re rotating shifts to keep watch. Name’s Leah, by the way.”

Rian introduced the group, including Lucky, who sniffed cautiously at Leah’s boots. Leah knelt, giving the dog a quick pat. “Not many animals left. Guess he’s lucky to find you.”

Inside the tower, the basement was surprisingly organized — cots along the walls, a table covered in maps, and a small stash of supplies. Leah explained that they’d been broadcasting for days, hoping to gather survivors before moving further north. “We’re planning to regroup with a larger convoy at the ridge. Safety in numbers.”

Rian studied the maps. “Have you seen any altered humans around here?”

Leah nodded grimly. “They’ve been wandering closer every night. Like they’re drawn to the tower’s signal. We’ve had to take down a few. It’s getting worse.”

Devika frowned. “If they’re attracted to energy, staying here might not be safe.”

Leah exhaled. “We know. But we’ve still got people straggling in. Can’t just leave them. Once we have enough, we’ll move.”

Milo looked at a crate of supplies. “You’ve got enough to make it?”

Leah hesitated. “Depends on how many more show up. We’ve already lost two of our scouts who didn’t make it back.”

Zara leaned against the wall. “If the altered are following power signals, what’s to stop them from following you if you move north?”

Leah gave a tired smile. “Nothing. But we’ve got to try. Staying here’s just as dangerous.”

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from above. One of the other guards shouted from the roof, “Incoming! East side!”

Rian snapped to attention. “Zara, Devika — take the rear exit. Milo, with me. Leah, how many?”

Leah grabbed her rifle. “At least four, maybe more. They move fast.”

They ascended the tower’s narrow stairwell, emerging onto the platform. In the fog below, distorted shapes moved quickly, weaving through the rubble. Leah fired a warning shot, and the creatures hesitated, but only for a moment.

Rian leaned over the edge. “They’re drawn to the signal. Can you cut it?”

Leah shouted down to the man by the generator. “Marcus, kill the broadcast!”

The hum of the signal died, but the creatures didn’t stop. They charged, moving like a swarm. Rian tightened his grip on the gauntlet, trying to coax a reaction. Nothing.

Devika appeared at his side, hands faintly glowing. “If we can funnel them through the alley, we can take them one at a time.”

Leah nodded. “There’s a back path through the maintenance tunnels. It’ll take us out of the grid area.”

The first creature leapt onto the platform, but Zara intercepted, slamming her spear into its shoulder. The force sent it sprawling. Another lunged from the right, and Rian shoved it back with a punch, the gauntlet sparking just enough to knock it off balance.

Milo called from the stairwell. “There’s more coming from the south!”

Rian cursed under his breath. “We need to move. Can you lead us to the convoy?”

Leah nodded. “There’s a back path through the maintenance tunnels. It’ll take us out of the grid area.”

They fought off the remaining attackers, retreating down the stairwell. Leah shouted to Marcus to grab the essentials. As they moved toward the maintenance tunnels, the fog outside thickened, and the altered humans’ distorted cries faded, but not entirely.

Once inside the tunnel, Rian caught his breath. Leah secured the gate behind them. “We’ll have to keep moving. They’ll regroup.”

Devika looked back at the flickering lights of the tower. “Do you think there’s any way to save them?”

Rian shook his head. “Right now, staying alive is our only mission.”

Leah led the way, her voice quieter now. “If there’s anyone left at the ridge, they’ll know more. We’ve heard rumors of a group that’s figured out how to resist whatever’s changing people.”

Rian glanced at his gauntlet. “Let’s hope they’re right.”

End of Chapter 2.