C 16

"Don't worry. Once I'm out, I'll expose Drake's actions and ensure he spends the rest of his life behind bars!" Eddie declared, pounding his chest with conviction.

He had plenty of reasons to despise Carlton Drake, but what he had recently uncovered about Drake's experiments had escalated his feelings from dislike to utter loathing. Locking Drake away for life would be merciful given the depth of his crimes.

"I just don't want to see anyone die for something so… twisted," Dora murmured, her face shadowed with guilt and sorrow.

Eddie's gaze softened as he caught Dora's meaning. In the past, Dora had managed to justify the sacrifices made by Life Foundation's volunteer test subjects, convincing herself it was all in the name of medical progress.

But Drake's recent experiments—testing alien symbiotes on human subjects, risking their lives for an experiment that was barely understood—had crossed the line. Dora couldn't ignore her conscience any longer. And Eddie's appearance had given her the courage to finally take a stand against her employer's unethical practices.

"You have my word. I won't let Drake get away with this," Eddie reassured her, his tone steady and determined.

With a small nod, Dora unlocked the door of the glass chamber, setting Eddie free. But before he could make his escape, a security guard burst into the room, his hand instinctively reaching for his gun.

"Freeze! Move, and I'll shoot!" the guard shouted, his voice trembling slightly with tension.

Eddie cursed under his breath. The timing couldn't have been worse. Trying to keep calm, he raised his hands slowly, pretending to surrender, all while edging subtly closer to the guard.

Click!

Without warning, the guard fired, and Eddie dodged just in time. The bullet grazed his cheek, leaving a stinging, hot sensation. He barely had time to process it when he heard the sound of shattering glass behind him.

Both Dora and the guard turned toward the sound, their faces filled with shock and dread. The guard, now pale with fear, seemed to forget Eddie altogether. He backed away slowly, his gaze fixed on something behind Eddie.

"Run!" Dora screamed, her voice hoarse with terror.

The guard didn't wait for further instructions. He bolted from the room, abandoning both Eddie and his gun in a blind panic. Eddie was left alone, confused but relieved—until he felt something cold and viscous against his heel. He froze, dread creeping up his spine.

Slowly, he turned and saw it—a black, gelatinous substance slithering across the floor, inching up his legs and wrapping around his body. The sticky, alien ooze crept upward, as though it had a mind of its own. Eddie struggled, but it only tightened its grip.

"No!" he yelled, horrified by the realization.

This was a symbiote.

He'd never seen one in person, but the stories were unmistakable. The alien parasite latched onto him, melding with his skin, as if sinking into his very being. A chill of fear washed over him, but he felt something else too—a strange surge of energy, raw and untamed, as the symbiote began to merge with him.

Meanwhile, in New York, Anton and Jonah Jameson were discussing the fallout from the Life Foundation incident.

"Did you reach an agreement with Norman Osborn?" Jameson asked, looking more satisfied than usual.

Anton nodded. "The deal's set. But I have to ask—how did you build such a fortune, old man?"

Jameson chuckled. "Making money legally is an art. I invested wisely and used every legal advantage I could. Do you really think I got to where I am by blackmailing people?"

Anton smirked. "I underestimated you."

"Stick around," Jameson said with a grin. "You'll learn a thing or two."

Just then, Anton's phone buzzed. It was Phil, calling with an update. "Boss, the Life Foundation just announced a press conference to address the allegations. It looks like we're winning!"

Anton's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Let's see how Drake handles the pressure," he replied coolly, as he and Jameson climbed into a waiting car.

During the drive, Anton pulled up a live stream on his phone. The screen displayed the Life Foundation's headquarters in San Francisco, surrounded by a crowd of protesters and reporters. They were there to hear Carlton Drake address the mounting scandals surrounding his company.

"Do you think they'll actually admit fault?" Anton asked, glancing at Jameson.

Jameson scoffed. "Not likely. But remember, the truth always comes out eventually."

In San Francisco, the doors of the Life Foundation's headquarters opened, and Carlton Drake emerged, flanked by bodyguards. Reporters swarmed him, shouting questions.

"Mr. Drake, how do you respond to the allegations?"

"Is it true that the San Francisco Police Department issued a warning?"

"Are you facing jail time?"

The questions came thick and fast, the crowd buzzing with anticipation. Drake raised his hand for silence, stepping up to the podium with a calm, collected expression.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Life Foundation has always been dedicated to curing the most pressing diseases of our time," he said smoothly. "We've developed groundbreaking treatments, including new drugs for pancreatic cancer. Although I'm facing false accusations, I assure you, my conscience is clear. I am committed to saving lives."

Back in New York, Anton and Jameson exchanged a glance as they watched Drake's speech.

"Think he'll admit anything?" Anton asked.

"Not a chance," Jameson replied with a scoff. "But we have the upper hand. Let's see how long he can keep up this act."

In the Life Foundation laboratory, Eddie's body was fully enveloped by the symbiote, which had now merged with him completely. He felt its presence within him, a foreign, insistent voice whispering in his mind.

We are Venom.

….

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