Wormhole Redemption

[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]

Michael sets off for Chicago with nothing but a duffel bag and big ambitions, trying to flee his criminal past. Settling down in an unfamiliar city, he strives to create a new life for himself - getting a job, meeting people and all the other parts of adulting.

Not long after his arrival, his ancient history catches up with him as strangers start to recognize him in public. His nights become sleepless from the memories of the acts of brutality he had once done. All this pressure only makes it easier for his dark inside to reemerge and resist Michael's attempts at becoming a different person. How much will his old self try to bring him back?

Before anyone has time to answer these questions, Earth is visited and changed by a rather large extraterrestrial being. Do we have anyone here who can speak 'worm'?