The silence that had fallen over Los Angeles was more unnerving than the screams that had preceded it. The constant, low-grade hum of fear that had been the city's background noise since the invasion was gone, replaced by a breathless, waiting tension. From the roof of the Kane Building safe house, Alexander, Scarlett, and Marcus watched the frozen tableau below.
The hunger entities weren't moving. They were scattered across the streets and rooftops like grotesque statues, their forms flickering erratically. The oily blackness and sickly green energy that defined them seemed to be at war with themselves.
"Report," Alexander said into his comm, his voice low and steady, though his knuckles were white where he gripped the rooftop ledge.
"Same thing everywhere, boss," a voice crackled back. "London, Tokyo, Mumbai... they all just dropped. Some are twitching. Some are... crying?"
