The message arrived at 3:47 AM.
Ethan was already awake. He'd been having the dream again. The voice calling his name. The darkness that wasn't quite darkness. The feeling of being watched by something ancient and vast.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. Unknown number. His heart pounded as he reached for it.
"Hello?"
"Ethan Cole. We need to talk."
The voice was familiar. Female. Calm. Controlled.
"Who is this?"
"Someone who's been watching your community. Someone who knows what you've done. Someone who knows what's coming."
Ethan sat up in bed. Nora stirred beside him but didn't wake.
"What's coming?"
"A war. Not against the government. Not against the facility directors. Something older. Something that's been waiting for the right moment to strike."
"Who are you?"
"My name i
