Friday, April 10, 1995
ECW Arena

"Here we are" said Peter enthusiastically in front of the Arena.
Peter had seen an advertisement the day before while walking back home, a wrestling tournament in a place called the ECW Arena and with a 1000$ reward.
He needed to get a lot of money as soon as possible to help his family and this was probably the best way to earn it.
Thanks to the spider-bite his body looked now muscular enough to look like a eighteen years old guy and he clearly intended to use his new powers to win.
To hide his identity, he had decided to use an old ski mask he had found in the attic.

As Peter entered the Arena, it turned out that a lot of people were waiting in line their turn to fight.
Two people were already struggling against each other on the field, a big beefy guy in black nicknamed "Mister Bison" was fighting an equally powerfully built black guy.
The crowd was roaring with excitement as Mister Bison decided to finally crush his opponent into the dust.
Peter made his way to the sign up line and waited his turn, his hands shaking both with excitement and apprehension.
"Next" asked the man organizing the line, seeing Peter, he scoffed and shook his head.
"This is no playing game here kid, if you don't want to get hurt, I strongly advise you get the hell out of here".
"No, sign me up", he said, his voice muffled by the mask.
"As you wish, kid, your funerals, You do understand that the ECW Arena is not responsible for any injury you may and probably will sustain while participating in said event, and you are participating under your own free will?"
"Yes", Peter said signing his contract for the fight.

As Peter approached the entrance of the arena, He could hear the roar off the crowd increasing until he arrived.
"More blood and bones, folks ? asked the ring announcer.
"Yes! shouted the crowd.
As Peter was about to enter the ring, the ring announcer leaned towards Peter and whispered to him:
"Listen, if you can stand three minutes against Mister Bison there, you'll win the reward so what's your name kid"
"The Human Spider", answered Peter.
"Are you serious...?" Rolling his eyes, the ring announcer stepped in the middle of the arena.
Now folks, here comes the new challenger, for the 1000$ reward, let's welcome the next victim of Mister Bison, the spectacular, the amazing...Spider-man !
"It's the Human Spider, grumbled Peter while stepping into the Arena.
"Deal with it kid, that's show business" replied the ring announcer with a smirk.

Peter finally stepped on the Arena where Mister Bison was waiting for him, smirking.
"So, you are my new opponent, kid , this is a joke right ?" said Mr Bison, laughing
"Wait until you bite the dust, big guy" answered Pete angrily, his eyes turning black for a split second before returning to normal

"Ok, folks, you know the rules, no biting, no lethal strike.." warned the ring announcer before stepping away.

As the bell ringed and started the match, Mister Bison decided to end it quickly and threw an uppercut to Peter's head.
The punch seemed to slow down when it reached Peter so he had no difficulty ducking it, he, then, threw a punch in Mister Bison's back which sent the bigger man into the ropes.
"So that's all you've got, this is a joke right?" said Peter smirking.
"Now, you l'il bastard you've done it" screamed Mister Bison, rushing towards Peter.
Peter decided it was time to end the fight and grabbed Mister Bison's hands when he tried to hit him, picked him and threw him unto the ground, knocking him out.
"And the winner is THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN" said the ring announcer. The announcement was quickly followed by the cheers of the crowd chanting his name.

Backstage, after the fight.

"This is not what was agreed!" said Peter angrily, holding 400$ in his fist.
"This is not my problem, the contract you signed specified that the fight had to last at least 5 minutes and your fight lasted what two, three minutes so be happy to get that money and get the hell out of here" said the director of the arena
smoking his cigar. As Peter rushed into this stairs, fuming, he hardly paid attention to the weasel like guy climbing the stairs to the director's office until he heard the director screaming: "STOP THAT DAMN THIEF? HE TOOK MY MONEY!"
Peter saw the guy, rushing in the stairs and decided to step aside and let the thief run away.
"Thanks kid", said the man with a rough voice, as he ran away through the stairs
"Why didn't you stop him?" asked the director, breathing heavily.
Peter turned backwards "This is not my problem TOO" replied Peter showing the 400$.
"Tsssk" said the manager gritting his teeth but unable to do anything else as he returned to his office.
"An eye for an eye" thought Peter as took the elevator and went off the building.

As he was not very far from home and barely exhausted by his fight, Peter decided to walk, listening quietly to his Walkman until he arrived in front of his home. Once again Peter felt a buzzing signal in his head yet smaller than he had on the road earlier.
Something was wrong there, too quiet too. Peter opened the door and was about to enter the dining room when he heard his uncle Ben screamed: «Peter, run!"
"Stay here kid and com here slowly, or I'll shoot a bullet in this uncle of yours" said a rough voice he clearly recognized.
Peter had no choice but to come forward and stare at the face of the thief he helped earlier.
"You, scum" Peter said, his face red with anger.
"Oh it's you again kid, thanks for helping me out earlier" said the thief, his weasel face smirking.
"Now be a good boy, and give me all the valuables of your house before I shot down one or the other of your parents".
Peter was mortified, it was all his fault for letting this scum get away only to satisfy his measly revenge.
"I won't" replied Peter, "And you're going to have to shoot me first before I let you hurt my parents"
"As you wish kid" said the thief with a blank face.

As he was about to push the trigger, a bluish black tentacle surrounded the thief and forced him outside. Peter and his family quickly rushed into the garden outside and saw a bluish black humanoid figure holding the thief's neck by his hands
"I can't... breathe" barely managed to say the thief, before being released on the ground.
"What are we going to do with you?" said the hulking figure, his longue tongue wavering from his maw ."Maybe eat your brains?"
"Thanks for helping us, whoever you are, could you just bringing him to the Police?" said Uncle Ben, bowing to him.
"Less funny, but you are right, his brain wouldn't have tasted right anyway" said Venom with a fanged grin
"You are Venom, aren't you?" asked Peter to the muscular creature
"So you know of us, we are pleased" answered Venom, smiling with all his fangs
"Can I shake hands with you, I'm really thankful too "asked Peter.
"Of course you can, young man" answered Venom, presenting one of his clawed hand
As Peter shook his hand with Venom's thick black clawed hand, he couldn't help feeling an attachment to Venom without really knowing why.
"Thanks again for the help" said Peter releasing with regret his hand from Venom's, "I hope we'll meet again".
"We certainly will, Peter and sooner that you think" whispered to himself Venom as he swung away in the city.
Peter and his family returned inside and sit down when Uncle Ben looked sternly at Peter and asked him:
"Now, Young man don't you have something to tell us about this thief?"

Peter heaved a deep sigh, this was going to be a VERY long evening.