Ryder's Pov

The lake was glowing deceptively in the soft morning sunlight. The surface of the water was calm, but there was an unnatural gleam to it, a dull silvery haze that twisted and coiled around it as if it was a living thing, alive.

“What on earth is that?” Ollie asked me in a quiet voice though I could hear the unease and fright behind her soft tone.

“That is the source of the infection, the water supply,” I replied grimly, my eyes scanning the area.

“No, not that. I can see that it is the water supply. I mean, what is that thing surrounding it?"

“That is the...