Deterioration

A disease known as "Filth" was starting to spread on the uninhabited island.

The symptoms were that black ashes would begin forming on the limbs and body of the afflicted. These ashes would eventually spread across the body and expand their effects into other sections of the skin and turn them into the same ashes.

What was even more terrifying was that the ashes could spread into the body. The ashes started with only affecting the outer layer of the skin but as time passed, not only did it spread outward, it began to spread inward deep into the skin as well.

The flesh, arteries, veins, even bones…

More teams were returning to the camp from their successful expedition of lighting the signal towers, but there was not the slightest hint of joy painted on the faces of the returning members. This was because each volunteer who lit up the signal tower was covered in these black ashes.