Unwanted Power, Needed Strength

Sora stood in the doorway of his apartment, staring out at the desolation that had overtaken the once-familiar city streets.

The sky, once vibrant and blue, was now a dull, bruised gray. The wind howled down the abandoned roads, carrying the distant sounds of crumbling buildings, the wailing cries of the lost, and the eerie echoes of creatures that roamed the city.

His fingers tightened around the strap of his backpack, the weight of its few supplies a stark reminder of how little he had to face the dangers awaiting him beyond his walls.

Beside him, Roper stood tall, her massive frame a sharp contrast to the small dog she had once been. Her fur bristled in the cold wind, her glowing eyes flickering with an almost unnatural intelligence.

The changes that had taken hold of her were unlike anything Sora had ever imagined. What was once a loyal pet had become a creature both terrifying and comforting—a guardian whose presence made him feel both vulnerable and protected.

Roper let out a low growl, her gaze shifting to the street ahead as if sensing his hesitation.

"Ready, girl?" Sora asked, glancing down at her. Roper gave a quiet bark in response, nudging him forward with her massive head, urging him to step into the unknown.

Taking a deep breath, Sora stepped out of his apartment and into the wasteland that had once been his home.

The streets were barely recognizable. Twisted metal and debris littered the road. Abandoned cars, many overturned or crushed, lined the sidewalks, their shattered windows and scorched frames telling the story of a world in chaos.

Fires burned in the distance, sending thick plumes of black smoke spiraling into the bruised sky.

The acrid smell of burning plastic and wood filled his nostrils, overwhelming him.

His senses, once normal, had sharpened to an almost unbearable degree. Every sound, every scent, every movement around him screamed for attention.

He could hear the distant rumble of collapsing buildings, the faint cries of people who were likely miles away, and the guttural growls of the creatures that now prowled the streets.

The sensory overload was almost too much, pressing against his mind like an invisible weight.

Sora pressed a hand to his head, trying to focus, trying to block out the chaos, but it was no use. His body had changed, just like Roper's. He couldn't escape it. The world wouldn't let him.

But he had no choice. His mission was clear: find Saya, protect her, and get them both somewhere safe. That thought alone kept him moving.

As Sora and Roper walked down the empty streets, he noticed how drastically his surroundings had changed. Where life had once thrived—bustling shops, busy sidewalks, the hum of traffic—now lay ruins, silent and empty. The path ahead was littered with obstacles.

At one point, a building had collapsed onto the road, its bricks and steel beams strewn across the asphalt. Sora had to climb over the wreckage, his hands scraping against jagged metal as he pulled himself up and over.

Roper, with her newfound size and strength, easily leaped over the debris, waiting patiently for him on the other side.

Once on solid ground again, Sora paused to catch his breath. His chest heaved, not just from the physical exertion but from the weight of everything that had happened, everything he had seen.

His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts—what he had done, what he had become.

He glanced down at his hands. They were streaked with dirt, small cuts bleeding from his climb, but something else caught his eye. His reflection in the glassy surface of a puddle near his feet showed the dark veins in his eyes—faint, barely noticeable but undeniably there, like blackened threads twisting through the whites.

He stared at them for a moment, a cold knot of fear twisting in his stomach.

What am I turning into?

He forced the thought away, unwilling to let it consume him. He had to keep moving, had to keep going.

The distant growls of the creatures that now roamed the streets pulled him from his thoughts. His heightened senses picked up their movements long before they came into view, allowing him and Roper to stay out of sight.

But every time one of those growls echoed through the streets, Sora's heart raced with anxiety. The creatures were relentless, prowling the ruins of the city in search of anything—or anyone—that still moved.

The worst was yet to come.

A few blocks from his apartment, Sora and Roper came upon a scene that turned his stomach. A pack of creatures—dog-like in their appearance but far more sinister—huddled over the remains of a human body. Their sleek forms were built for speed, their sinewy muscles flexing with each movement.

What set them apart, however, was the way their bones seemed to shift beneath their skin, protruding outward like deadly blades, as if their very skeletons had become weapons.

It was as though their bones could extend and retract at will, creating claws that sliced through flesh and bone with ease.

The sight sent a shiver through Sora. These creatures weren't grotesque in the traditional sense, but there was something deeply unsettling about them.

Their sleek, predatory bodies, combined with the unnatural sharpness of their bones, made them both beautiful and terrifying.

Sora crouched low behind a broken-down car, his heart pounding as he tried to steady his breathing. Roper was by his side, her growl low and dangerous, her eyes locked on the creatures.

"We'll slip past," Sora whispered, gripping the knife he had strapped to his belt. But as he moved to take a step, one of the creatures lifted its head, nostrils flaring as it caught his scent.

A bone-rattling howl pierced the air, and in an instant, the pack was on alert. Their yellow eyes locked onto Sora and Roper, and without hesitation, they lunged.

"Dammit!" Sora hissed through clenched teeth.

There was no time to think. Instinct took over.

The creatures moved with terrifying speed, their bone-claws flashing in the dim light as they charged. Sora's muscles tensed, adrenaline flooding his veins. Before he could react, Roper launched herself forward, colliding with the first creature.

Her massive frame slammed into it, knocking it to the ground with a bone-crushing force. Her teeth sank into its throat, and with a violent shake of her head, she tore it apart.

Sora didn't waste a second. Another creature lunged at him, but this time, he was ready. His movements were faster than they should have been—more precise.

He ducked under the swipe of its bone-claw, driving his knife into its side. The blade sank into the creature's flesh, and with a grunt, Sora twisted it free as the beast collapsed.

The fight blurred around him as more creatures attacked. Sora's reflexes, sharper than ever, allowed him to anticipate their moves.

One came at him with its claws extended, but he sidestepped with ease, grabbing it by the throat and slamming it to the ground. Another slashed at him, but he blocked the attack, driving his knife into its skull with a precision that felt almost unnatural.

Beside him, Roper was a whirlwind of fury, tearing through the pack with ruthless efficiency. Her strength was overwhelming, her movements fluid and powerful.

She was a force to be reckoned with, her once-soft eyes now filled with an intensity that mirrored the world they now lived in.

By the time the last creature fell, the street was eerily silent again.

Sora stood panting, his chest heaving as he surveyed the carnage around him.

The bodies of the creatures lay scattered across the street, their bone-claws still gleaming in the dim light. His hands shook, bloodied and bruised, but his mind was strangely calm.

He looked down at his reflection in the pooling rainwater at his feet, catching sight of the dark veins in his eyes once more.

They seemed to pulse with some unknown force, a reminder that he was no longer the person he used to be.

What am I becoming?

Roper padded over to him, her muzzle slick with blood, but her eyes softened as she nudged him gently. Sora knelt beside her, resting his forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her fur against his skin.

"Thanks, girl," he whispered, his voice rough.

Roper whined softly, licking his face, her loyalty unchanged despite everything that had happened.

Sora stood, his resolve hardening. Whatever he was becoming, whatever changes were taking place inside him, he couldn't let it stop him. He had to keep moving.