Book 1 in the planned trilogy The Girl Who Sang to the Engine. In a parallel reality where humanity thrives on Ether-a mysterious energy derived from the alien element Anonium-progress comes at a hidden cost. Unbeknownst to society, their reliance on Ether awakens a cosmic Eldritch machine known only as the Engine, whose cryptic motives remain shrouded in static and whispers.
Amid this unraveling world, two high school girls emerge as unlikely players in a cosmic game they don't yet understand. Rachel Harper, captain of her basketball team, discovers she has the ability to manipulate time-but each use leaves behind faint traces of static, distorting her reflection and eroding her sense of self. Her best friend, Emily Voss , foresees fragments of alternate lives-all ending tragically-and fears she's next. Together, they stumble upon clues linking their fates to the Engine, though neither understands why.
Haunted P.I.A. agent Elijah Carter arrives in Corwood, Tennessee, tasked with investigating reports of anomalies tied to the town's new reactor. A seasoned tracker with the rare ability to see residual echoes of paranormal events, Elijah quickly realizes he's dealing with something far beyond his usual assignments.
Meanwhile, drug lord Dezerea Hernandez floods the streets with Gloom, a substance transforming users into static-ridden husks called Hollows to flush out a threat to humanity.
As Rachel grapples with her growing bond to the Engine, she risks losing herself to its cold logic. Meanwhile, Emily battles insomnia and visions of her own deaths, desperate to break free from fate's cruel grip. With the Engine's awakening imminent, humanity stands on the brink of collapse-or rebirth. But can two teenage girls rewrite fate before time runs out?
Warning: This book contains violence, psychologically disturbing images, heavy foreshadowing, red herrings, fourth wall breaks, and sexual content.
