People gathered below, their attention fixed on a working television. Behind it sat a small satellite dish and receiver box, all powered by a gasoline generator humming nearby.
From above, Thomas noticed the man calling everyone over. The man kept glancing at something in his hand, checking it against the time.
"I think that's a satellite phone," Thomas said, leaning toward Bryan.
"I think so too. Let me get ours," Bryan replied.
He opened one of their boxes and pulled out two satellite phones, both still powered off. He switched one on. Within seconds, a message alert popped up on the screen.
"Attention citizens of Gaur. An emergency broadcast will begin at 11:00 AM.
Tune your satellite television receiver to Channel 3.
This transmission contains critical information for your safety and future.
Do not ignore this alert."
They set up the satellite TV in the receiving area. The small dish was placed beside the television, angled toward the window. The receiver box flickered to life, and soon the familiar rainbow test pattern filled the screen.
It was the first time they had turned on their television since the power grid had gone down. There had been no point before, and conserving their power hub for essentials was more important. But this time was different.
At exactly 11:00 AM, the rainbow image vanished and was replaced by a live broadcast.
Thomas and the others sat together on the sofa, eyes fixed on the screen. Outside, the people below crowded the street, watching in silence as the broadcast began.
A reporter appeared on screen, sitting across from a man in a wrinkled lab coat. His glasses were crooked, his hair messy, and dark circles hung under his eyes, but his face carried an undeniable spark of excitement.
"This is Doctor Halbridge," the reporter began. "One of the first specialists studying the Pink Fog. Doctor, let me start simply. What exactly is it?"
"At first we mistook it for an electromagnetic event, an EMP of impossible scale. That was wrong. The fog is not selective. It does not just cripple circuits or drain batteries. It is a null field."
"A null field? Could you explain?"
"Inside the fog, fuel will not burn, engines will not run, even simple gears refuse to move. All energy except what comes from living bodies is suppressed. People can still move and fight, but every human invention, from matches to missiles, stops working the moment it enters. It is not disruption. It is complete negation."
"That explains why nothing works inside the pink fog. We have also heard that even guns fail?"
"Correct. Devices still work in safe zones or outside the fog. You can drive a car or run a generator here. But once power lines, machines or even phone signal cross into the pink fog, they are cut off. That is why the grid is dead and why our phones have no signal."
"Speaking of the safe zones, Doctor, what exactly are they?" the reporter asked.
"These are areas where the Pink Fog cannot enter. As we announced before, the meteor fragments create a barrier-like field that keeps the fog out. Our theory is that the fog was originally contained inside the meteors. When they shattered, the fog was released."
"And the size of the safe zone depends on the size of the meteor?"
"Correct. The larger the meteor in your area, the wider the radius of protection."
"Right. I believe most citizens are already aware of that. Now, Doctor, you and your team are also studying the effect of the fog on the human body. What exactly happens to people exposed to it?"
"The fog causes abnormal mutations. And not random ones. We believe it follows specific patterns. Humans are transforming into creatures out of fantasy and imagination."
The reporter's eyes narrowed. "And those who transform, do they all become monsters?"
"Most do. The majority lose themselves and become mindless. But depending on the strength of their resolve, there is a chance to retain sanity. However, once you transform, you cannot reenter the safe zone unless you carry a special item."
The doctor reached into his pocket and held up a glowing pink shard.
"When you kill a monster inside the fog, they sometimes drop these pink fragments. Rarely, they drop another kind, grey in color." He pulled out a second shard for the camera. "With the grey one, you can enter a safe zone again. Your transformation will be canceled once you're inside."
"So if someone transforms but keeps their sanity, they can still return to a safe zone and become human again?"
"Yes. But only if they obtain a grey fragment. To get one, they must fight and kill monsters inside the fog until it drops. The grey fragment is the key. Once they carry it back into a safe zone, their transformation will be undone and they will return to being human. However, it does not work on those who are fully transformed and mindless. If they lose their sanity completely, they cannot be saved."
"You said fully transformed, Doctor. Does that mean some are only partly changed?"
"Yes. Exposure does not transform the whole body instantly. It begins part by part, hands, feet, body, or even the head. And once the process starts, the urge to run toward the Pink Fog becomes overwhelming."
The reporter nodded grimly. The broadcast cut to quick footage of monsters running into the fog.
"Earlier you mentioned pink fragments drop from monsters. Are they the key to fighting back the pink fog?" the reporter asked.
The scientist's eyes gleamed as he laughed. "For us to leave our safe zone bubbles, we will eventually need to fight the monsters. But if guns and bombs fail inside the Pink Fog, then how can we fight? The answer lies in these pink fragments. Inside the fog they can be absorbed just by holding them, and they will make you stronger. To face the monsters, we must also transform. To survive against them, humans will have to evolve as well. This is human evolution."
Halbridge adjusted his glasses and held up a chart. "These are the results of our initial studies. After examining multiple transformations, we've identified what we believe are stages of Fog Power for transformed humans. This is still early research, but the pattern is clear enough to share."
The camera cut to the presentation chart as he spoke:
Stages of Fog Power
Stage 0 (Adaptation): The body accepts the Pink Fog, triggering transformation while the mind stays stable.
Stage 1 (Internalization): The body strengthens internally. Faster healing, greater endurance, tougher skin and bones.
Stage 2 (External Aura): Energy radiates outward. A visible or felt aura increases pressure on the surroundings.
Stage 3 (Extension – Theory): Power extends beyond the body, allowing long-range attacks or weapons formed from Fog energy.
Stage 4 (Enhancement – Theory): Full control of Pink Fog energy. Possibly more beyond this stage.
Halbridge sat back with a grin. "Stage 3 and 4 are still theories, but the pattern is there. And honestly? I believe there's more beyond even that."
The reporter leaned back. "And Doctor Halbridge, what about the long-term effects? Should people keep seeking pink fragments? Is there a danger in absorbing too much?"
For the first time, Halbridge's grin faltered. "We're… still studying that. But there's something else we need to address."
He turned to the next slide. "The Pink Fog isn't only changing people. It's changing everything."
"You mean animals?" the reporter asked, uneasy.
"Animals, plants, anything organic. Once exposed, the animals and plants mutate beyond saving. Instead of calling them all 'monsters,' scientists around the world have agreed on terms to classify them."
The camera showed another presentation slide:
Classification
Nightmare Creatures: Animals or plants transformed by the Fog.
Glints: Humans who survive transformation without losing their minds.
Fades: Humans who lose their sanity after transforming. They no longer think like people and become the same as Nightmare Creatures, only stronger and more dangerous.
Halbridge's tone hardened. "And that is not the main issue. The main issue is that if we can evolve and grow stronger, those monsters can too. We must be careful. Not all monsters are the same. Some are stronger than others, and some even hunt in groups."
The reporter leaned forward. "Doctor, you just said not all monsters are the same. Could you explain what you mean by that?"
"Of course. Through our studies and confirmed sightings, we've learned that monsters exposed to the Pink Fog do not develop equally. Some gain raw strength, some develop speed, and some even show signs of intelligence."
The camera shifted to an image: a group of Fades and Nightmare Creatures chasing survivors through the fog, moving in formation as if following orders.
The reporter frowned. "And these Fades… Nightmare Creatures… they're organizing?"
Halbridge gave a grim nod. "Yes. It's the part no one wanted to believe, but it's true. They are forming ranks. Claiming territory. Fighting for control."
Another chart appeared on screen:
Fade Ranks
Stray: Weakest. Wander alone. No coordination. Easy targets if handled carefully.
Pack: Small groups. Still clumsy, but dangerous through numbers.
Caller: Leads multiple packs. Directs ambushes and defends territory.
Boss (Theory): Commands entire hordes, controls wide regions. Stronger than Callers.
King? (Unconfirmed): Rumors suggest higher entities that control vast territories, possibly entire zones of fog. If true, it means the Fog has a hierarchy within.
Halbridge looked directly at the camera. "If these higher orders exist, then humanity faces not just scattered threats, but an organized force evolving inside the Fog."
The crowd watching the broadcast stayed silent.