METAMORPHOSIS

Prologue

It is a dull day just as ever for the mundane Joe Blake. No, this day is even duller than before. Seeing people on the street enjoying their life and simply having a good time while he's waiting for a passenger on his cab made him envy a little. These youths or the so-called next generation have it easy, Joe thought.

With a heavy sigh, he turned his gaze away from the bustling crowd. Los Angeles, often hailed as the liveliest city in America, had shown Joe little liveliness since he set foot here. He weakly murmured to himself, "That's just how life goes, I suppose."

His reverie was broken by a sharp knock on the window, causing Joe to snap back to attention. A passenger had entered his cab, and not just any passenger – perhaps the oddest and most intriguing one Joe had ever seen.

The man's attire alone was an attention-grabber, from the crimson leather trench coat adorned with edgy shoulder spikes to the mysterious goggles that shielded his eyes. The contrast of a dark hood and shoulders against the coat's vibrant red added an air of mystery. The man's chestnut hair, styled in a defiantly windswept fashion, exuded an almost rebellious charm. But what truly seized Joe's attention was the metallic silver case the man held.

"How much and how long to get me here?" The man's voice bore a blend of rugged allure and seasoned confidence, as if it carried the weight of experiences beyond his youthful appearance. It possessed a certain depth, a subtle roughness, yet was laced with a casual ease. Handing Joe a meticulously detailed map with a marked circle denoting his desired endpoint, the man's inquiry hung in the air.

Blinking in response, Joe absorbed the map and its designated route. "Sir, that's quite a distance – way beyond the city limits. I'll be honest, it's going to cost you a lot and very much so, sir."

"That won't matter. I'm well provided for." The man replied with a tinge of indifference, his gaze now fixed by the scenery beyond the window as he leaned back comfortably against the seat, exuding an air of ease.

Joe nodded awkwardly, firing up the engine and setting the cab in motion. As he navigated the streets, he couldn't shake the feeling that this peculiar encounter marked the start of a very unusual day.