In the Hush of Midnight, the Transformation to Werewolf Unfolds

Chaos! Chaos reigns supreme! The world is in turmoil, and the uncanny has descended upon us! News broadcasts are frantically reporting bizarre phenomena, with anchors speaking at breakneck speed, their voices racing to keep up with the rapidly shifting images on screen. An eerie old man roams the city streets; those who witness him bleed from all seven orifices and drop dead on the spot! A child with no eyes, a ghostly figure, wanders aimlessly, searching for its lost eyes. Those who see it are instantly struck blind! And then there are the blood-red hounds that hunt humans, the butcher who roams the streets chopping flesh, and the alluring female corpse that ensnares men... At this point in the broadcast, the anchor's face darkens with gravity. "Residents, please remain vigilant. If you encounter any of these phenomena, prioritize your safety and report the incident immediately." After watching the news, Alex lets out a heavy sigh and slumps back onto the couch, feeling utterly powerless. In the face of such chaos and the arrival of the uncanny, how can an ordinary man like him hope to survive? Alex is a moderately successful fitness trainer, strong and well-built, with a decent grasp of combat skills. But against the supernatural, these abilities are utterly useless. After all, what he’s up against are demons and monsters. No matter how skilled he is, he’s nothing more than a jumping grasshopper in their eyes. His muscular frame would likely be seen as a prime cut of meat by these horrors. Thud! Thud! Thud! Suddenly, a series of strange noises emanates from the kitchen. Alex’s heart tightens, and he instinctively tenses his muscles, rising slowly to his feet. He moves cautiously, afraid of alerting whatever might be lurking there. The noise grows louder, as if something is trying to claw its way out of the drain. After a moment’s hesitation, Alex decides to bolt for the door. Only a fool would confront the unknown. Running is the only sensible option! As if sensing his thoughts, the entity in the kitchen bursts through the door with a crash, giving chase as Alex flees down the stairs. Alex lives on the sixth floor. Though he’s in good physical shape, descending the stairs at full speed is risky. He dares not go too fast. The creature lets out a piercing shriek, a sound so ear-splitting that Alex doesn’t dare look back. He grits his teeth against the pain in his ears and continues his frantic descent. Thwack! The sound of claws tearing into flesh reaches his ears before the searing pain registers in his mind. Alex stumbles, unable to maintain his balance, and tumbles down the stairs. He curls into a ball, protecting his head as he rolls down the steps. Despite the pain, he doesn’t hesitate. He scrambles to his feet and continues his desperate flight. The pain is excruciating. His back is bleeding profusely, and his arms and legs are bruised and swollen from the hard edges of the stairs. But Alex can’t stop. To stop is to die. It’s been three months since these horrors first appeared in public, and no one has ever survived an encounter with them. Running might not guarantee survival, but not running guarantees death. "Aaaah!" The creature lets out a furious scream, as if Alex’s escape has enraged it. It picks up speed, closing the gap between them. "So terrifying!" Alex’s mind replays the brief glimpse he caught of the creature when he fell. Its form was that of a gaunt child, its body withered and its skin horrifically wrinkled. Its face was twisted into a grotesque mask, with furious, ghostly eyes and a gaping maw filled with jagged teeth. Its clawed hands, tipped with razor-sharp nails, were perfect tools for hunting humans. Alex’s heart leaps as he nears the exit of the stairwell. But just as he’s about to push through the door, his head begins to spin. A numbing sensation spreads from the wound on his back where the creature’s claws had torn into him. He’s been poisoned! Summoning the last of his strength, Alex shoves open the door to the first floor and stumbles out. His body collapses uncontrollably, and the creature pounces on him, its jaws wide open as it lunges for his neck. Though his consciousness is fading, Alex’s survival instinct kicks in. He raises his arm to shield his throat, and the creature’s teeth sink into his flesh, blood spraying everywhere. "Aaaah!!!!!" Alex lets out an agonized scream, but his body is growing weaker by the second. He can’t push the creature off. "So this is how I die..." Resigned to his fate, Alex’s mind is filled with nothing but bitter defiance. The creature tears a chunk of flesh from Alex’s arm and prepares to go for his neck, ready to finish off its prey and savor the meal. But just then, the thick clouds that had been obscuring the moon part, revealing a bright, full moon. A beam of moonlight streams through the glass, illuminating Alex’s dying form. Even the creature seems to sense that something is amiss. It looks up through the glass, its gaze fixed on the night sky. Suddenly, a massive, furry hand clamps around its neck, lifting it into the air. The creature struggles in terror, but its claws are useless against the hand’s iron grip. Alex, who had been lying on the ground awaiting death, is gone. In his place stands a terrifying werewolf. Its sleek, black fur glistens, and its towering, muscular frame exudes raw power. Its wolfish head is crowned with glowing green eyes that burn with malice as they lock onto the creature. "Now it’s my turn, you damned fiend!" The werewolf speaks in a low, guttural growl, its voice like the roar of a beast from the depths of the jungle. Its clawed hand tightens around the creature’s neck, forcing it to experience the same despair it had inflicted on so many others. With one final squeeze, the creature’s struggles cease. Its head lolls to the side, lifeless...