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Patreón:Darkwolfest
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I cautiously ascended the ancient, creaking attic stairs, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and dread.
Well, well, I thought Eddy's old man was just an abusive dad. Who would've thought he'd be capable of such cruelty, experimenting on his own flesh and blood? I mean, seriously, that's some next-level sadism right there.
Venom's words might not be the gospel truth, but hey, I'm not exactly best buddies with the symbiote, it's just a voice in my head and I'm trying to avoid another city-wide chaos like last night.
Still, I gotta admit, these whispered hints are all I've got to crack this mystery. I need to figure out what Jack Brock was up to and who the hell he was working for.
Cause let's be real, if anyone caught a glimpse of the symbiote during last night's fiasco, I'd have a whole organisation hot on my trail.
Paranoid? Maybe.
But in this crazy universe, I can't take any chances.
As I reached the top step, I surveyed the dimly lit room, adorned with boxes stacked in a completely haphazard manner, covered in more dust and cobwebs than a '90s attic.
It seemed like a place where people didn't dare to venture, which is surprising considering Peter occasionally sneaks up here to nab a few books or old toys.
Taking a deep breath, I embraced the musty aroma invading my nostrils and began rummaging through the boxes.
Ever since I moved into the Parker residence, I knew Uncle Ben stashed away some boxes from my old home.
They were filled with stuff related to Eddy's parents, and I was desperately hoping to stumble upon something useful.
I embarked on my quest, sifting through ancient photographs, books devoured by moths, and clothes that had seen better days but after a few minutes of digging, all I was left with was a healthy dose of disappointment.
Nada. Zilch. Not a single trace of my dear old dad's belongings.
Frustration gnawed at me like a persistent mosquito as I pushed aside yet another box, revealing a faded photograph album hidden in the dusty corner.
Curiosity piqued, I delicately picked up the album, wiping away the layers of grime obscuring its cover.
The weight of it in my hands felt heavier than a dictionary, which is saying something.
I cracked open the album and just as I started leafing through the pages, Aunt May's voice echoed from below, piercing my eardrums like a bullhorn.
"Eddy, what in the world are you doing up there?" Her tone oozed sternness, as if scolding me for trespassing into forbidden territory.
Oh boy, she really doesn't appreciate anyone snooping around the attic, especially since Uncle Ben used to store his chemical experiments up here. Can't say I blame her.
Panicking, I hastily closed the album, slipped it under my arm and scampered down the stairs, hoping to evade her wrath.
Alas, Aunt May stood at the foot of the staircase, her hands firmly planted on her hips, an expression that beautifully blended concern and annoyance.
Ah, the quintessential look of a disappointed yet loving guardian. Can't escape it, can you?
"What on earth were you doing up there, Eddy?" May repeated, her voice tinged with worry. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, conjuring up an excuse I had ready in my back pocket.
"I... I was on a quest, you know, like Indiana Jones searching for lost artefacts." I stammered, trying to sound cool and mysterious, hoping Aunt May wouldn't push for more details.
I mean she can't really scold a 10 year old kid for playing make believe in the attic, even if my situation is way more serious than that.
Aunt May's gaze softened as she took the album from me, her eyes sparkling with a hint of nostalgia.
"And where did you stumble upon this little treasure, Kiddo?" May inquired with a smirk.
She opened the album and flipped through the pages, a smile slowly spreading across her face as she soaked in the vintage pictures.
"Oh my god, I can't even wrap my head around the fact that she actually kept all this." she chuckled, dropping a casual remark in the middle.
Naturally, my curiosity was piqued.
"Whose precious pic-book is this?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Believe it or not, it belonged to your mom." May replied, gently closing the book. "Hold on tight, this is gonna be a fun ride."
She guided me to the couch in the living room, where we both took a seat as she opened the album to a specific page, she pointed at two photographs side by side.
On the right, Uncle Ben and Aunt May stood there, grinning like Cheshire cats, flanked by two other individuals.
"It's Peter's mom and dad, Richard and Mary." May explained, pointing at a man with hair as grey as Gandalf's beard, rocking an identical pair of glasses to Uncle Ben's, while on his right stood a woman with flowing brown-red hair, looking like a cross between Ariel and Jessica Rabbit. "You do remember them, right?"
"Yeah." I nodded, pretending to recall those long-lost moments. "Uncle Richard used to shower me with wafers every time I swung by."
"Oh yeah, he had an insane stash of those, a sugary wonderland." May chuckled, relishing the memories.
She moved on to another picture, revealing a family portrait with Peter and me standing proudly in front of our respective moms.
"Those were the good ol' days." May sighed, her smile tinged with a touch of sadness.
We continued flipping through the album, commenting on the pics, one snapshot at a time, until we reached the end.
There were countless pictures, including a younger version of Ben and May cradling a baby Peter in their arms.
But my observant eyes couldn't help but notice the glaring absence of my own baby pictures.
I mean, seriously? Was Eddy invisible or something? It struck me as odd, considering this album supposedly belonged to my dear old mom.
"Why aren't there any baby pictures of me?" I blurted out, my voice barely a whisper.
Aunt May sighed softly, her eyes filled with a mix of sorrow and understanding.
"Your father and mother were out of America, Eddy, Your father worked overseas, France, I believe and you were born during that time. They only returned when you were a year old." She explained gently.
"Soo.. I'm like half-French?" I asked with an excited smile.
May blinked in surprise and rolled her eyes awkwardly. "I'm not sure that's how it works."
"Whatever." I shook my head and picked up the album before moving towards my room.
As soon as I got in, I felt a surge of confusion mixed with curiosity.
Why were there no pictures of me before that?
What was Eddy's parents hiding?
If I was doubtful before, I was sure now, there was obviously something fishy with his parents, both of them.
I need to visit Eddy's old house and find what they did to him.
What they did to me.
—---
I stared at Aunt May with pleading eyes, hoping to sway her decision.
"Come on, Aunt May," I whined, giving my best attempt at a puppy face. "I just want to visit it once more, it's been so long!"
May crossed her arms, her expression stern. "Eddy, you know I can't send a kid like you alone and it's halfway across New York, especially at this hour. Ben will be busy for the next few days in the lab and I can't go with you."
I sighed, understanding her concern. "Fine, Aunt May. I get it."
Deep down, I knew she was right. It wouldn't be safe for me to venture into the heart of the city alone even if technically I'm not alone but she doesn't know that.
Disappointment washed over me but I knew better than to argue with her. So I decided to resign myself back to my room.
I fell back on the bed, my eyes locked at the wooden ceiling, while with every passing moment, my mind was making a thousand theories about this scenario.
God, whatever organisation Jack was working with, I hope it's a small time thing like the Life or something alike but if it's a threat like Hydra or Spear.. or even Shield, I'm literally fucked.
I seriously need to visit the Brock residence, the sooner the better.
[I can get you there]
I blinked as I was broken out of my trance by the beastly growl of Venom.
"Where? To that house?" I asked, rising up from the laid back position.
[Yes]
"And why would you do that?" I hesitated, sceptical of Venom's intentions but the allure of uncovering Jack's secrets proved too tempting to resist.
[Because if you are right then you could be in danger and if you are in danger, it means I'm in danger]
"And why is that?" I perked up by its confession.
I know a few of its weaknesses, like fire and sound but knowing more would surely help me in the long run, if the worst comes to worst I can use it as a bargaining chip.
I was not really an optimistic guy to think everything would just work my way, I know about this place, about this world, I was bound to make enemies one way or another.
It was always better to prepare than retaliate, that's why I love Batman, even if he is a pussy, he always has a solution to a problem, except for the Clown obviously.
[Let's just say you are too good of a host to throw away this soon and I like you]
Great, the Symbiote is a pedo.
"Fine." I grumbled, letting out a mental sigh of relief.
As the night fell, I once again found myself in front of Aunt May. Uncle Ben was missing from the dinner table.
May was right, he would be cooped up in his lab for a few days to clean up the mess Venom made. She had to leave the house to give him a change of clothes after supper and that's when I planned to sneak out.
I stood at the window sill next to my bedroom and fidgeted around nervously as I looked down at the lawn.
"God, I'm having second thoughts." I mumbled.
[You sure about this?]
"...Yep." I nodded and as soon as I said those words, the black goo began to envelop me once more but this time it was smooth, it started from my ankles and moved up.
It felt like the morphing from the show Dragon Booster, my head went blank for a moment at the rush of adrenaline as Venom crawled up to my neck and covered my face.
It was a sense of power. I opened my eyes and felt taller than usual and bulkier. I was fairly tall for a 10 year old but now, I looked like a buffed up version of Rey Mysterio.
[Let's go.]
I jumped down from the sill, I just knew I could handle the fall, I landed perfectly and rolled up on the ground before I stood up and ran towards the city.
Once I reached the busy side, I climbed up a tall building and relied on Venom's assistance to navigate the rooftops of New York City.
We leaped from one building to another, blending into the shadows, until we finally arrived at the familiar neighbourhood where my parents' house stood.
I landed on the roof and with Venom's help, I broke into the house through a vent and carefully landed in the attic.
The air was thick with dust and memories. I took a moment to absorb the atmosphere, it was muskier than Ben's, every step left a print and I was feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation.
"Alright, Venom." I whispered, climbing down the stairs. "Let's start searching."
The Brock residence was on the outskirts of New York, it was definitely not a mansion but was considerably bigger than Parkers, which meant a lot of rooms I have to look through. I moved from room to room, my heart pounding with anticipation.
[Not this.]
Venom commented as I closed another door. It was like having a snarky sidekick in my head, making the search more annoying than it should have been.
Finally, after going through the rooms one by one, I reached a place that looked like an office.
The room was filled with books, papers, and peculiar gadgets, there was even a shark jaw embedded at the top of a wall.
I smiled, hoping I had finally found the right room and I started to sift through everything, determined to find a clue about Jack's line of work.
[Eddy, I smell something familiar, move closer to the wall on your right.]
Venom's voice suddenly grew more excited and my eyes darted to the seemingly plain looking wall, it was the only side of the room with no attachments, not even a hanging portrait.
That was certainly odd as Eddy's father filled the entirety of the house with specks of art and faux paintings of famous artists but left his own room empty.
I approached the wall hesitantly, running my hands over the smooth surface, as if guided by an invisible force and then it clicked.
A hidden block or button that went through the wall. I smirked as I was about to press it but then, I heard a creak, followed by a lot more.
I blinked as I crept out of the room, cautious not to make a sound and descended the first turn of stairs.
I glimpsed down at the living room and my blood ran cold as I saw five men dressed in black stealth armour, searching the place.
They didn't seem to have guns but I noticed one of them carrying a dagger in his ankle while holding a radio in his hand.
The radio suddenly buzzed confirming their presence once more.
"-Meryl, get the file and burn the establishment, leave no traces."
"Roger and out sir." The man spoke before giving a nod to the men around him.
I watched the intruders with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
Who were they and who did they work for?
The anticipation of the unknown gripped me as one of the armoured men started climbing the stairs, his steps muffled by his heavy gear.
I took a deep breath, preparing myself for whatever lay ahead.
[A kill on the way]
Venom whispered in my mind.
I rolled my eyes but still accepted it with a wry smile and a nod of agreement.
I was not taking the fact that I might have to actively kill someone or fight them right now very positively.
But I still braced myself for the confrontation as I backed into the office. I took a deep breath, calmed my thoughts and snapped my mental switch.
The position of the intruders zapped into my head like an Assassin's eagle vision. I couldn't read their thoughts, they were shallow and constantly changing but I could clearly sense their presence.
One of them was right outside the room, about to head in.
"Venom." I muttered, curling my fist.
Venom growled, unleashing its claws.
[Time for a snack]