In the bustling and noisy city of New York, Eric Morton, an ordinary young man as unremarkable as anyone could be, traversed the distance between his home and workplace each day, living a life of routine and predictability. He was fit, with deep-set eyes and slightly messy brown hair, and his face always carried a faint expression of exhaustion and resignation toward life.
That evening, the setting sun stained the city's skyline a deep orange-red. Eric had finished his workday and, as usual, was walking home. The streets were crowded with cars, and pedestrians hurried along, each lost in their own world. Eric's hands were in his pockets, his head slightly lowered as he pondered what to have for dinner.
As he turned into a quieter alley, a heated argument reached his ears. Frowning, Eric looked up and saw a group of people gathered ahead. Curious, he quickened his pace and moved toward them.
In the center of the crowd, a skinny teenager stood trembling, facing a group of tall, menacing thugs. One of them, with bleached hair, grabbed the teenager by the collar and snarled, "Kid, you haven't paid the full protection fee yet. If you don't pay up today, you'll regret it!" The teenager's face was pale, and his lips trembled as he begged, "I… I really have no money left, please, just let me go."
A surge of anger welled up inside Eric. He couldn't stand seeing such blatant bullying. He pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, his voice loud as he said, "What kind of man picks on a kid like that?"
The thugs turned, sizing Eric up. The one with the bleached hair sneered. "Well, well, what do we have here? A hero, huh? Mind your own business, or you'll get a beating too!"
Eric didn't flinch. He met the thug's gaze and said firmly, "What you're doing is wrong. How dare you act like this in broad daylight?"
The other thugs began to laugh, slowly closing in on him.
"Looks like you're asking for it," the bleached-haired thug growled, raising his fist toward Eric. Instinctively, Eric sidestepped, avoiding the blow. He had practiced martial arts as a child, and handling these small-time thugs was no problem at first. However, as the number of attackers grew, he began to struggle.
Just when he thought he couldn't hold on any longer, an odd sensation surged through him. It felt as if some mysterious force had taken over his body. His bones cracked as his muscles swelled, and coarse fur rapidly sprouted across his skin. His face contorted, his ears became pointed, and his teeth sharpened. In an instant, he had transformed into a half-human, half-wolf creature.
The people around him froze in shock. The thugs, their faces draining of color, stumbled backward in terror. Eric, too, was startled by the sudden transformation, but at that moment, he had no control over his body. A fierce, primal instinct spread through him, and he let out a deep, resonant growl. The sound seemed to carry a strange power, making the windows around him rattle.
The streetlights, once steady, flickered erratically, and the air grew cold. A mysterious, dangerous aura filled the atmosphere. The trees lining the street seemed to sway as if pulled by an invisible force, their branches thrashing violently.
Terrified, the thugs turned and fled, scrambling away. Eric wanted to chase them, but his mind was becoming foggy, and his body moved uncontrollably in the opposite direction. He tore through the city's streets and alleys, causing cars to swerve and pedestrians to gasp in alarm.
He wasn't sure how long he had been running, but eventually, Eric's mind began to clear. He found himself in the middle of an abandoned factory. His body slowly reverted to its human form, and a wave of exhaustion hit him like a tide. He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
As he recalled the events that had just transpired, Eric felt a profound sense of shock and fear. He didn't understand why he had transformed or what those supernatural phenomena had been. His mind was filled with confusion and unease. He knew, without a doubt, that the ordinary life he had once known had been shattered forever.
Struggling to his feet, Eric gazed out at the city, now cloaked in darkness. A storm of emotions stirred within him. He knew the future that lay ahead was one filled with uncertainty and danger, but he had no choice. He would have to face it with courage.