The island appeared on the third day.
A dark smudge on the horizon, rising from the endless blue of the Pacific. As the boats drew closer, Ethan could see its true shape—jagged cliffs, dense vegetation, and at its center, a peak that seemed to pierce the sky itself. The air grew heavy. The waves grew still. The silence was absolute.
Nora stood beside him at the bow. Her eyes were closed, her face pale. "I can feel her. She knows we're coming."
"Can she stop us?"
"She's trying. The Frequency is warped here. Twisted. Like she's bending the space around the island to keep us out."
"But we're still moving forward."
"For now."
---
The boats anchored a mile from shore.
Sonya led the landing party. Two inflatable rafts. Twelve people. The rest stayed behind to guard the boats.
Ethan ste
