Chapter One

The First Storm

The coastal city of Harborview had always been a postcard-perfect place. Nestled between towering cliffs and the endless ocean, it was where people came to escape their busy lives, taking in the salty air and marveling at sunsets that painted the sky in rich shades of pink, purple, and gold. On this particular day, though, something was different.

Sarah Drayton was walking along the docks, her usual post-run routine. She loved the sea breeze, the comforting sound of waves lapping against the boats, and the laughter of tourists exploring the boardwalk. Today, though, there was an odd tension in the air. Maybe it was the way the seagulls, usually obnoxious and loud, had gone quiet, or perhaps it was the stillness of the water, usually never so calm. Sarah wasn’t one to get spooked easily—she was a former Navy pilot, after all—but something felt off.

She paused mid-step, her eyes drawn upward. The sky was... wrong. Just moments ago, it had been a clear, perfect blue, but now dark clouds were rolling in unnaturally fast, swirling together like smoke. She frowned, squinting at the unusual sight. It wasn’t the typical storm clouds Harborview was used to. These were darker, thicker, and had an almost metallic sheen to them, glinting as the sun’s last rays were swallowed whole.

Her commlink crackled to life, breaking the eerie silence.

"Sarah, you there?" Jackson’s voice sounded tense, a rare thing for him. He was usually the laid-back, joking type, but even he was feeling the strangeness in the air.

"I’m here. You seeing this?" she asked, still staring at the sky.

"Yeah, and I don’t like it. I’ve got a bad feeling."

"Me too," she admitted, her stomach twisting with unease. "I’m heading back to base. Something’s wrong."

Before Jackson could respond, a sudden gust of wind hit, almost knocking Sarah off her feet. The calm waters turned choppy, waves crashing hard against the docks, spraying salty mist into the air. She started moving quickly, her boots pounding the wooden planks as the wind picked up strength. The smell of rain was heavy now, but it wasn’t just rain. There was a strange, electric charge in the air, like the whole world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

As she approached the edge of the city, the wind howled through the narrow streets, whipping stray papers and loose debris into the air. Pedestrians had started to notice too, glancing up at the sky with a mix of curiosity and concern. A few people took out their phones to film the ominous clouds swirling above, unaware of what was really coming.

Then it happened.

A brilliant flash of lightning split the sky, illuminating the entire city for a heartbeat. It wasn’t like any lightning Sarah had ever seen before—this bolt had veins of red and purple snaking through it, as if the very atmosphere had been electrified by something otherworldly. The thunder that followed was deafening, shaking the ground beneath her feet.

People screamed. Children started crying. A few tourists who had been sipping drinks by the boardwalk dropped their glasses and bolted for cover. Sarah stood frozen for a split second, staring at the sky as it opened up in a way that made her blood run cold.

From the churning mass of clouds, something massive was emerging. At first, it was just a shadow—a dark, looming figure that seemed to blend with the storm itself. But as it descended, the details became horrifyingly clear.

It wasn’t a bird. Not even close.

The creature was enormous, its wings stretching out to an impossible span that blotted out the sky. Its feathers shimmered like polished steel, reflecting the dim light of the storm. Its beak was long and sharp, curved like a scythe, and its eyes—bright, glowing yellow—cut through the gloom like searchlights. As it descended, it let out a shriek that pierced the air, a sound so unnatural, so terrifying, it sent chills down Sarah’s spine.

The creature hovered above the city, casting a shadow over everything below. It circled slowly, as if surveying its prey, its massive wings slicing through the wind with effortless grace. People were running now, scattering in every direction, but the creature paid them no mind. It was looking for something else.

Sarah’s instincts kicked in. She grabbed her commlink, her voice sharp. "Jackson, do you see that? There’s something coming out of the storm. It’s huge."

"Yeah, I see it. What the hell is that thing?"

"I don’t know, but it’s not from this world. We need to get back to base. Now."

Just as she turned to head toward her vehicle, the creature made its move. With a deafening screech, it dove straight toward the center of the city. Its wings folded tight against its body as it plummeted like a missile. Sarah could only watch in horror as it crashed into the ground with a force that shook the earth. Cars flipped, windows shattered, and debris flew in all directions.

The creature unfurled its wings, standing tall in the middle of the destruction it had just caused. It was massive—easily the size of a building—and its talons, razor-sharp and glistening, tore through the asphalt like it was paper. With a swift movement, it lashed out at the panicked crowd, sending people running for their lives. It was hunting.

Sarah’s heart pounded in her chest as she ducked into an alley for cover. She had faced plenty of danger in her military days, but nothing like this. This creature was something entirely new, something beyond what any of them had prepared for.

"Jackson," she breathed into her comm, her voice shaky, "we’ve got a serious problem. That thing isn’t just passing through. It’s attacking the city."

"Get back here. We need to regroup. Fast."

Sarah peeked out from the alley just in time to see the creature rip the roof off a nearby building with terrifying ease. Its wings stretched out wide, each feather gleaming like a blade. It let out another screech, and this time, Sarah saw something else—movement in the sky above. She squinted through the swirling clouds and realized, with growing dread, that there wasn’t just one.

There were more.

Another creature, slightly smaller but no less deadly, emerged from the storm, its wings beating against the air as it joined the first. Together, they began to circle the city, their screeches echoing through the streets like a nightmare come to life.

Sarah’s mind raced. This wasn’t just a freak occurrence. These creatures were here for a reason, and if they didn’t figure it out soon, Harborview would be nothing more than rubble.

Taking a deep breath, she darted out from the alley and sprinted toward her truck, dodging debris and panicked civilians. She could feel the ground tremble beneath her as the creatures stalked the streets, hunting, destroying.

As she jumped into the driver’s seat and started the engine, one thought kept running through her mind: This is only the beginning.