The first scream split the air like the crack of a whip.
At first, everyone thought it was just one of the extras rehearsing her scene—until the sky darkened.
The sound came next—a sharp, buzzing roar that seemed to vibrate through every bone in the human body. The crew looked up, their laughter freezing into horrified silence. Overhead, a swarm of massive creatures descended like a living shadow.
"Everyone, get down!" one of the security guards shouted. But his voice was swallowed by the chaos.
The flying beasts were like monstrous ants, each the size of a large dog, their black exoskeletons glinting metallic silver under the sun. Their wings moved in eerie unison, slicing the air with a shrill hum. Some carried shards of debris in their claws—pieces of rock, metal, or whatever they had found on their way down from the hills.
Lea froze for only a second. The familiar pulse of danger raced through her bloodstream.
Her mint pheromone stirred like a breath of wind—then ignited.
