The vibration started in the porcelain of the sink. It wasn't a sound yet. It was a tremor, a subtle geological shift that made the water in Victor’s glass shiver into concentric rings.
He stared at his toothbrush. It chattered against the ceramic like a shivering tooth.
Then the air pressure dropped. It felt like being underwater, or trapped in a diving bell. His eardrums popped.
"Incoming!" he had screamed, seconds ago.
Now, the world simply shook.
There was no explosion. There was no shattering of walls. There was only a low, rhythmic thrum that bypassed the ears entirely and resonated directly in the bone marrow. A frequency designed to unthread screws and loosen molars.
Victor gripped the edge of the sink. His grip was tight enough to c***k the porcelain. The mirror above him di
