Mrs. Chen, in her rather experienced lifetime, had encountered more bullshit than most residents of San Francisco. For outsiders the city seemed to be one made of bustling streets flowing with people and lined with shops to quell anyone's needs. All in all, a very impressive one. Though to those who had lost their blissful naivety, such as herself, it was a city full of unexpected happenings. Oh, you've got your common high speed chases throughout the city, frequent robberies, and apparently one of the most bizarre things that had just so happened to enter her shop at just the right moment.

~x~

Now the middle aged women wasn't too sure herself what had taken place in her little shop. One moment there had been a gun pointed towards her head, held there by one of the many barbaric men that dropped by frequently in search for easy cash to steal. Ever since she had opened her shop give or take around 16 years ago it seemed to attract the common criminals from all around. As it was the police always came too late and of course there were other more important emergencies that toppled hers. Who would waste time dealing with a simple robbery when there was a murderer on the loose three blocks away? Besides, Mrs. Chen had become accustomed to these nighttime affairs, there'd be no peace in trying to put one criminal behind bars. After all, what was the point when there would always be another one to take the previous one's place.

~x~

It seemed as if the universe had finally taken notice of her and if that was the case then she was clearly shit out of luck. The memory was like a dream sequence, hazy and at some parts unfocused. Despite herself she had been terrified, you'd think an individual such as herself would've been used to being robbed. Though she supposed that's just one of the many situations in which a person could not have controlled their emotions. Her hands had been shaking as she quickly tried to grab all the cash from the register. Thoughts were swiftly going through her head as she tried to come to terms that with this current money being taken her shop would either have to be sold or forcefully closed down. The rack of debt that these loons had imposed were going to be the end of her!

~x~

The loud clang of the gun clattering to the floor captured her attention and of course she looked up to see what was happening. That's when she had first seen it, a massive humanoid form covered in smooth black silk. It looked like one of those stories her parents had told her when she was a young child.

~x~

"He sees everything and wants the hands of those who are brothers and sisters to mischief. Tread carefully and treat others as kindly as you do to those of your family. Remember, no pesky little mouse can escape the choking strangle of that of the black serpent. For he's always mingled among us, taking human shape and flipping through our innermost thoughts, memories, and sins. As the saying goes, what you've bought will always come home to you."

~x~

Mrs. Chen had been in a state of shock, those words her father had spoken to her all those years ago came back and she couldn't help but to think that this...thing looked very much like a black serpent. The eyes in which were a milky blue and a mouth which stretched into an unnerving grin. Showing off the piercing white teeth, so thin and sharp that she had little doubt that those would have trouble gliding through human skin.

~x~

She was standing there, stunned, it was as if she was in a movie theatre. The serpent was talking in a low, gruff, and unbelievably threatening voice. Holding her weekly tormenter by the scruff of his jacket. The words flew in one ear and out the other, until she eventually caught herself and fought out of the initial surprise stage.

~x~

The robber had uttered in a transfixed and frightened tone, "what are you?"

~x~

Half of the serpent's face retracted, revealing one of her most frequent and beloved customers, Eddie. The faces grinned down at the terrified robber.

~x~

"We are Venom!"

~x~

Mrs. Chen's hands covered her mouth as the serpent once again covered the man's face. Her mind swam in confusion as those jaws clamped down over the criminal's thick neck and then went down to devour the entire body. It was a clean act, two bites, no blood. The serpent quickly retracted until only Eddie was standing there and the middle aged women found that her curiously overwhelmed her fear.

~x~

"Eddie, what the Hell was that?"

~x~

The response she received did little to calm down her nerves. His parasite? Parasite her ass! She had always known Eddie to be one to get into trouble from time to time, but wow. She would have to keep an eye on him, ask more questions, perhaps try to get him to partake in more mediational arts. Overall, she should be grateful. After all, Eddie and his little parasite had taken care of one of her many problems. That in itself was a miracle to the women who took it upon herself to be open to others she saw battling their inner demons, she had always tried to be as honest and visibly open to these people who wandered into her shop of knickknacks and essential goods. Eddie himself seemed to be one of those people struggling against themselves. Well, whatever mess Eddie had managed to throw himself into headfirst and most likely willingly so rest assured Mrs. Chen would be there for him. Maybe that parasite of his could use some tapes on meditation. Only Heaven knows.

~x~

Strangely enough Mrs. Chen pondered, she could recall a time or two that still outranked the scene she had witnessed tonight. Oh, there was that one occasion when that young Brazilian man had wandered in, wearing only a toy fireman hat and a pair of red boxers exclaiming that his crotch was on fire and needed to be put out. Then there was a time when she found two very drunk teenagers at the far corner of her shop cuddling with the broom and dustpan. Alas, those were memories to muse upon at a more appropriate time, now she had other matters to think upon.