The ridge loomed ahead, the eerie blue light pulsating rhythmically like a heartbeat against the darkening sky. Rian glanced over his shoulder to ensure the group was keeping pace. Bran and his men moved efficiently, their formation tight despite the lingering fear from the earlier assault.

Leah wiped sweat from her brow, keeping her rifle trained on the tree line. “That light’s coming from the old broadcast tower. Used to be a weather station before the surge.”

Milo squinted up at it. “Why is it glowing like that?”

Marcus adjusted his transmitter, frowning. “Signal’s bouncing back — like it’s amplifying something.”

Zara gripped her spear. “If it’s affecting the altered, we need to shut it down.”

Bran shook his head. “We tried that days ago. Whatever’s feeding it isn’t just power. It’s like the place itself changed.”

Rian weighed their options. “If the altered are being drawn to it, shutting it down might give us some breathing room.”

One of Bran’s men jogged up, his face pale. “Sir, we found tracks. Not just altered — human. Fresh.”

Leah tensed. “Another group? Or survivors?”

The man hesitated. “Not sure. Could be scavengers. They’ve been trailing us since the last checkpoint.”

Bran cursed under his breath. “If they’re desperate enough, they’ll try to take the tower from us.”

Devika glanced at Rian. “If they’re drawn to the light too, it might turn into a fight.”

Rian looked at Bran. “You think it’s worth holding the tower?”

Bran considered it. “If we can control the light, maybe we can redirect the altered. Turn it into a lure to keep them away from the convoy.”

Leah shot him a skeptical glance. “Or it could just attract more of them. Either way, we need to move before those scavengers decide to make a play.”

As they reached the base of the tower, the light flickered, sending a shockwave through the ground. Marcus stumbled, catching himself on a rusted signpost. “That wasn’t normal. It’s resonating with something.”

Rian approached the main door cautiously, testing the handle. It gave way with a low groan. The inside smelled of mildew and old electronics, dust motes dancing in the dim light filtering through the cracked windows.

Leah motioned for everyone to spread out and secure the first floor. Rian moved with Zara and Devika, checking the rooms one by one. Most were empty, save for scattered papers and broken equipment.

Marcus stayed near the entryway, tweaking his device. “It’s like the signal’s running through the whole building. If I can find the source, maybe I can weaken it.”

A sudden noise from the stairwell made everyone freeze. Leah gestured for silence, moving toward the sound. Bran signaled his men to cover the exits.

The door to the second floor creaked open, and a figure stumbled out — a man in torn clothes, eyes wide and unfocused. He mumbled incoherently, hands twitching as if trying to grasp invisible threads.

Leah lowered her weapon cautiously. “Hey, you okay?”

The man’s head jerked up, eyes locking onto Rian. “You hear it too? The song in the light?”

Zara exchanged a glance with Devika. “What song?”

The man’s voice dropped to a whisper. “It calls to them. It calls to me. Makes my head feel… too full.”

Marcus frowned. “Is he one of the scavengers?”

Leah approached slowly. “What’s your name?”

The man shook his head, mumbling. “Was… Josh. Before the light. Now it’s just noise.”

Rian’s gut tightened. “He’s been affected. Not fully changed, but close.”

Bran whispered, “If that light’s driving people insane, we have to shut it down.”

The man suddenly lurched forward, clutching Rian’s sleeve. “It’s not just a light. It’s feeding them. Making them… more.”

Rian eased him down, careful not to startle him. “What’s feeding them?”

The man’s eyes glazed over. “The pulse. It’s not just power. It’s alive.”

Leah pulled Rian back. “If he’s right, the light itself might be a signal — a living signal.”

Suddenly, the ground shook, and the light intensified, flickering faster. Leah barked orders to secure the exits, while Marcus hurried to a control panel in the corner. “If I can tap into this, maybe I can disrupt the signal.”

Rian nodded. “Do it. We’ll hold the ground floor.”

Zara moved to cover the stairwell while Devika kept an eye on the entrance. Bran’s men took defensive positions, and Lucky stayed close to Milo, sensing the tension.

As Marcus worked, the light seemed to pulse in sync with the faint cries outside — a rhythm that grew more frantic as the altered approached. Leah called out, “We’ve got movement outside! At least a dozen!”

Rian looked at Marcus. “How long?”

Marcus gritted his teeth. “I’m close. Just keep them out!”

The first creature slammed against the door, its face pressed against the glass, distorting as if the skin itself were melting. Zara speared it through the opening, pulling back just as another clawed at the frame.

Rian looked at Leah. “If the light is alive, what happens if we kill it?”

Leah hesitated. “Depends if it’s just a signal or something more. Either way, we have to try.”

Marcus yelled, “Got it! Disrupting the pulse now!”

The light flickered violently, then dimmed to a faint glow. The altered outside stumbled, some collapsing as if disconnected from a power source.

The man on the floor gasped, clutching his head. “It’s… quieter. I can think again.”

Bran lowered his weapon, looking cautiously at Rian. “Looks like it worked. At least for now.”

Rian glanced at the fading light. “We’ll take what we can get. Let’s secure this place before it starts up again.”

End of Chapter 16. Enjoyed the chapter? Get the next one early on Patreon!"