The morning sun rose over the mountains, painting the valley in shades of gold and amber. The birds were singing. The breeze was gentle. The world was peaceful.
But for Ethan, peace was a distant memory.
He stood on the porch of the community center, watching the light spread across the buildings below. It had been three weeks since the confrontation with the darkness. Three weeks of watching the community heal. Three weeks of watching the fear slowly fade. Three weeks of waiting for the next attack.
The darkness was still out there. Still watching. Still waiting. Still gathering strength.
Ethan could feel it in the Frequency. A pressure that never quite went away. A presence that lingered at the edges of perception. The shadow had been quiet since the battle. Not silent. Just quiet. I
