Chapter 16: The Device’s Hum

Silas, his face a mask of desperation, lunged towards the back of the diner where Whisper’s device sat, its lights still blinking ominously. Elias, his “Veridian Sight” still active, saw a surge of energy building around the contraption.

“No!” Elias yelled, moving to intercept, but Silas was faster. He slammed his hand down on a large, red button on the device.

A high-pitched hum filled the diner, growing in intensity until it became almost unbearable. The lights flickered violently, and a strange, acrid smell filled the air, like burning metal and ozone.

Through his “Veridian Sight,” Elias could see the energy field surrounding the diner intensifying, its patterns becoming erratic and unstable. It was resonating with the device, amplifying its power.

The hostages, now safely outside, cried out in alarm as the diner began to vibrate. The police officers surrounding the building recoiled, their weapons raised, unsure of what was happening.

Silas stood beside the device, a manic grin on his face. “You wanted a show, shadow man? Here’s your show!”

He grabbed a lever on the side of the device and yanked it downwards. The humming intensified further, and the energy field around the diner pulsed outwards, a visible wave of distorted air rippling across the parking lot.

Suddenly, objects inside the diner began to levitate – chairs, tables, shattered plates. The very structure of the building seemed to groan under an invisible pressure.

Elias felt a strange pull, a disorientation similar to what he had experienced near the alien object on the highway. His “Veridian Sight” flickered, the energy patterns becoming chaotic and difficult to interpret.

Silas was using the alien technology, weaponizing it. And Clover Creek was caught in the middle.