Suddenly, Alex’s speakers began to emit that same low-frequency hum. It was deep, rhythmic, and strangely wet. He reached for the mouse to close the window, but his hand felt heavy, as if he were moving it through waist-deep water.
A new file appeared on his desktop, unprompted: Return_to_Source.exe . Iara Broin.rar
The hum in the room grew deafening. Looking down, Alex saw a thin layer of dark, brackish water seeping from beneath his keyboard. It smelled of crushed lilies and ancient silt. He looked at the monitor one last time. In the reflection of the black screen, he saw Dr. Broin standing directly behind his chair, her hair dripping, her eyes two dark pools of endless, rising tide. Suddenly, Alex’s speakers began to emit that same