This year was destined to be anything but ordinary.
Hard on the heels of the crisis with Thanos, another crisis arrived.
One night in New York, a wolf-like monster with tentacles growing from its back appeared on the street.
The girl by the roadside had not noticed any of this. She was looking at her phone when a rideshare driver rounded the corner and spotted her.
Robert wore a reassuring smile. He had switched from driving a taxi to driving for a rideshare service.
He had no idea who had come up with it, but it had greatly reduced the time people spent waiting for a taxi.
The girl wore a backpack and blue headphones that were playing music.
Robert rolled down his window, about to call out to her.
His gaze sharpened. A beast's low growl echoed down the otherwise deserted street.
He looked toward the sound and saw a shape like a dire wolf in the darkness.
"Roar!"
The growl finally pulled the girl out of her world of music. To her horror, she saw the monster charging toward her.
Without a second thought, Robert shouted, "Get in!"
Slow to react, the girl fumbled frantically with the car door.
A second after she climbed inside, the car jolted violently, then began rocking hard.
The girl huddled in the back seat as a fang pierced the roof.
Robert gritted his teeth and slammed his foot on the accelerator.
The rubber tires scraped against the asphalt, giving off an acrid smell. The fang tore a horrifying gash through the roof and ripped it open.
Unwilling to give up the prey within its grasp, the Deviant pursued them relentlessly.
After years of driving a taxi in New York, Robert knew the surrounding roads well.
Even so, he could not shake the