The Beast God

Damon Cole hated Mondays. And this one was the worst. He sat at his desk in the small, brightly lit lab where he worked. The computer screen in front of him showed endless rows of numbers. “This job is a waste of time,” he mumbled, rubbing his tired eyes. Outside the lab's dirty window, the city of New Haven looked boring as usual. People walked slowly to work, pigeons ate trash, and a car alarm blared somewhere. Everything was normal. Then the sky 'exploded' . First, there was a loud buzzing noise, like a swarm of bees. Damon’s coffee cup shook. Everyone in the lab froze. "WEAK.” The word didn’t come from anywhere it shook their bodies like thunder. Damon covered his ears as the windows shattered. Glass flew everywhere. People screamed. Outside, the sky had turned into a swirling mess of red and black clouds. In the center was a giant shadow a monster with claws, sharp teeth, and eyes like dark stars. It didn’t speak again. It didn’t have to. The air smelled like blood and rot. Then everything changed. The floor shook. Cracks split the walls, glowing red. A young intern named Lila screamed as the floor beneath her broke apart, and she vanished into the hole. “Get out!” someone yelled, but there was no escape. Outside, buildings bent like rubber. The ground opened up, spewing black smoke. And then the monsters appeared. They were nightmares. A giant bug, as big as a dog, crawled up the building. It had a human face and jaws that dripped slime. Flying creatures that looked like eels with teeth swooped down, grabbing people off the streets. Damon’s heart pounded. This can’t be real. This can’t Survive. The word shot into his mind like ice. Damon jumped up, dodging chunks of falling ceiling. The lab’s back door was still there. He ran, leaping over broken furniture, and stumbled into the stairwell. The stairs shook. Behind him, a wet, growling roar echoed. He didn’t look back. The streets were a nightmare. Fires burned everywhere. Cars were flipped over, crushed by giant thorny vines growing from the ground. The air smelled like blood and something sweet and sour. Damon hid behind a burned truck, holding a fire extinguisher like a weapon. His phone was dead. No one was coming to help. Think. Stay calm. His old teacher’s voice rang in his head. A scream cut through the noise. Across the street, a woman in a ripped suit ran from a… thing. It looked like a hyena, but its back was covered in jagged bones, and its mouth opened too wide. The woman fell. The monster leaped WHAM! Damon didn’t plan it. He just swung the fire extinguisher at the creature’s head. It stumbled back, snarling, thick black blood oozing from its wound. The woman crawled away, crying. The monster turned to Damon, eyes blazing. Run. Now. He dodged as it lunged, rolling behind a smashed car. The beast slammed into the door, denting it. Damon swung again, hitting its legs. It yelped, limping. That’s when Damon saw it's a glowing mark under the creature’s fur. Take it. The voice in his head was strange but clear. Damon grabbed the monster’s side. Its body melted under his hand, turning into red light that flowed up his arm. Heat rushed through him. His bones popped. His muscles burned. When the light faded, the monster was gone. Damon stood shaking, his skin buzzing. He felt… stronger. He looked at his hands. His nails were now sharp black claws. “What…?” His voice sounded deeper. Another growl. Two more hyena monsters crept from an alley, teeth bared. Damon’s chest tightened, but this time, fear mixed with something new. Hunger. He attacked. The fight was fast. Damon’s claws ripped through flesh. When he bit the second monster’s neck, its energy flooded into him hot, wild, and powerful. His eyesight sharpened. He could smell water blocks away. Hear tiny feet scratching on roofs. When it was over, Damon stood in the ruins, breathing hard. His clothes were torn, his body now stronger. He saw his reflection in a broken window: his eyes shone with a golden light. “Evolution,” he said quietly. A roar shook the ground. In the distance, a huge winged creature darker than the smoke flew across the red sky. The Beast God was watching. Damon grinned.