The dim glow from the disrupted light at the tower slowly faded, casting long shadows across the cluttered interior. Rian kept his stance firm, still wary that the altered might regroup. Leah checked the perimeter with Bran, ensuring the doors were securely barricaded.

Marcus leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from his brow. “Whatever that signal was, it’s not fully gone. I just weakened it. We might have bought some time.”

Devika knelt next to the man, Josh, who was still trembling but visibly calmer. “You said it’s alive. What did you mean?”

Josh’s eyes fluttered open, focusing slowly. “It feels like… something inside the light. Not just a machine. Like it’s pulsing on its own. It’s in my head.”

Leah frowned. “Is it still calling to you?”

He hesitated. “Faintly. Like a whisper. But it’s not pulling me anymore.”

Rian glanced at Marcus. “Any chance it’s some kind of broadcast interference?”

Marcus shook his head. “Doesn’t fit. It’s more like a harmonic resonance, like the building itself is generating it.”

Bran grunted. “Then what the hell are we dealing with? Some kind of living frequency?”

Leah rubbed her forehead, frustration showing. “If it’s affecting people like this, then why isn’t everyone in the city turning? Why just some?”

Zara leaned against the wall, thoughtful. “Maybe it’s not just exposure. Maybe it’s compatibility. Like some people’s minds just resonate with it.”

Devika’s eyes widened. “Or maybe it’s amplifying something that’s already there. Like a latent potential that gets triggered.”

Rian considered it. “If that’s true, then it’s not just random mutations. It’s something inherent in certain people.”

Milo, listening intently, spoke up. “So, some people are just more… attuned to it?”

Leah nodded slowly. “If that’s true, we might be looking at a fundamental change in human biology — something that makes certain people more susceptible.”

A knock at the door made everyone tense. Bran raised his rifle, and Leah approached cautiously. “Who’s there?”

A muffled voice called from outside. “It’s Kira. Let me in!”

Leah opened the door just enough to peek through. A young woman in torn clothes stumbled in, clutching her side. “We got separated. The scavengers — they’re following us. I barely got away.”

Bran cursed. “They’re still after us. Must’ve seen the light dim.”

Rian motioned for everyone to gather around. “If they’re coming here, we can’t hold this place for long. The altered will be drawn back once the signal picks up again.”

Marcus tightened his grip on his transmitter. “I can’t shut it down completely. Whatever’s powering it is too integrated. It’s like the tower itself became a conductor.”

Leah nodded. “Then we need to move. If we wait here, we’ll be trapped between scavengers and altered.”

Kira looked at Rian, eyes wide. “There’s a cave system north of here. Some of the convoy scouted it before the attack. It might be safe if we can make it.”

Bran glanced at the others. “Safer than staying put. If we can find a defensible position, we might have a shot.”

Rian agreed. “We move at dawn. We’ll need to gather supplies and be ready for a quick exit. Leah, you and Bran secure the area. Zara, Devika, check the second floor for anything useful. Marcus, see if you can stabilize the signal enough to delay the altered. Milo, make sure Lucky stays calm and help keep watch from the windows.”

As the group dispersed, Rian knelt next to Josh, offering him water. “You sure you can move?”

Josh took a shaky sip. “Yeah. Just… don’t leave me behind. I don’t want to hear it alone again.”

Lucky curled up beside Milo, sensing the unease. Milo whispered to the dog, “Stay close, buddy.”

Devika returned from upstairs with Zara, holding a small metal box. “Found this in one of the storage rooms. Looks like an old first aid kit.”

Marcus glanced at it. “Good find. We’ll need that if the scavengers catch up.”

As the night stretched on, the group huddled near the barricaded windows. Leah kept watch, while Bran discussed the next move with Rian. The eerie quiet seemed almost unnatural, as if the city itself was waiting for something.

Rian caught Leah’s eye. “You think the convoy leader made it out?”

She looked away. “Hard to say. If they didn’t, we’re on our own.”

Bran chimed in. “We’ll survive.”

The tension remained thick as the first hint of dawn crept over the horizon. The light from the tower remained faint but persistent, like a warning beacon. Rian knew that whatever awaited them beyond the ridge, it was going to test every bit of strength they had left.

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