CHAPTER 4

SOME CRUMMY SOAP OPERA'S WRAP PARTY, 8:02pm

"It's starting to annoy me now," said Peter, turning to guys looking at his 'doll' and glaring at them 'till they looked away, "every single guy at this party keeps looking at your, your…you!"

"Don't worry, I want them to look; one might be a casting director, remember? I've already been offered a part in some crappy hero flick; The Amazing Lobster-man, or something like that. Besides, you're my man, I'm your girl; I won't forget!"

MJ's words only comforted Peter a little. For some reason, his spider-sense was tingling slightly as if there was a present danger but not an immediate danger. It's probably just the security guards guns or that guy's deodorant, thought Peter. But I can't help but wonder…Nah! Attacks on parties are usually on famous people; hardly anyone even watches this soap anyway. Note to self: do not mention that last part to MJ. She'll kill me!

Mary Jane turned to Peter and smiled that smile. "You look cool", she said to her hubby. "It's a shame that you're wearing tights under that tux!"

"Keep it down, people might hear and think I'm wearing suspenders and a corset, too!" MJ giggled and gave Peter a quick kiss. He wasn't really paying attention, he was still thinking about the 'possible danger', but MJ didn't notice. She was too excited.

"Anyway", she said, "gotta mingle!" And off she went, her green dress a beacon in a sea of black and blue suits.

"Great, now I've got to stand here for a few hours, looking at talent less actors, waiting for MJ to get back", Peter murmured to himself. "Where's a bad guy when you need one?"

MEANWHILE

Venom looked down upon the crowd comprised of B list celebrities and daytime TV presenters and wondered how an alien life form could hide among them. Sure, they weren't pretty themselves, with their toupees and their pumped up pouty lips and plastic breasts, but the alien was at least seven foot tall and possibly covered in armour.

The symbiote and its sidekick knew the creature was still there; their spider-sense was a buzzin'. But where…

Then Eddie spotted her; Mary Jane Parker was in the crowd wearing the tightest little dress. It showed off her spectacular figure, er…spectacularly, from her slender curves to her heaving bosom…sorry, I got lost there! And so did Venom. They stared at her in deep thought.

"I can get Parker's help in finding this thing. MJ's here so he must be too. All I need to do is get his attention and let him change into Spider-man…but how?"

Then it hit him; good ol' fashioned kidnap.

BACK WE GO…

Mary Jane was sick of putting on a smile. Tedious story after tedious story, the cast were so dull that she was glad that she had not signed up to be a recurring character. But, trying not to be rude, she listened and nodded and laughed and drank, the latter more than the formers. She only wished something interesting would happen.

Something interesting was about to happen and MJ would wish she hadn't wished for the wish to…whatever.

She moved over to the wall and was about to lean against it when several black tentacles appeared out of thin air and ensnared her, completely wrapping around her upper body in less than a second. They tightened quickly, knocking the breath out of her, leaving just enough for a scream.

Everyone in the room turned around to see Mary Jane being lifted from the ground and the veil camaflaging the rest of the attacker's body begin to lift. The chameleonic form changed to its usual black colour and everyone could see that the tentacles were the symbiotic skin of Venom, each of the tendrils protruding from Its back.

The tentacles now extended, coiling around MJ's hips and legs, completely trapping her. Increased danger, increased attention; just what Venom wanted.

Mary Jane wriggled and struggled to stop the tendrils from wrapping around her completely, but it made no difference; all that happened was that her shoes fell off. Why does that always happen? thought MJ.

Peter almost jumped at Venom when he saw what he was doing, but then he realised that the room was full of people. If I act all heroic and get into a fight with Venom, people may recognise the fighting style I use as Spider-man's. What do I do!

MJ was now encased in a living cocoon, from her ankles up to her shoulders. Venom brought her closer to their face. "If you want to see this pretty little girly-girl again, you will all do your best to get Spider-man here and meet me on the rooftop within the next five minutes. Or-"Venom wrapped several thick tentacles around MJ's shoulders and neck and began to constrict, choking her menacingly, "-the babe dies!"

Venom bounded up the wall carrying the terrified Mary Jane in the symbiote's wriggly grasp. They left through the skylight and out of the sight of the partygoers.

Peter ran to the restrooms. De ja vu.

THE ROOFTOP, 8:12 pm

It seemed unusual for someone to be shivering on such a warm a night as that night. But MJ was shivering for a complete different reason.

Still bound by Venom's tendrils, she was shaking with pure fright; Venom was the first one of Spider-man's enemies to attack MJ to get his attention. Ever since the two first met, MJ still feared for the day that Venom would use her to get to Peter again.

That day was today.

Venom turned to his prisoner. "Well my dear, looks like your man's not gonna show up." A sinister grin spread across Its large, toothy mouth, all large and pointy. "Maybe we should force him to hurry!"

Venom loosened the tentacle around her mouth and repositioned it around her neck, tightening it again. The guys big, long tongue extended from his mouth and licked Mary Jane's cheek. She whimpered in fear as the pink gooey whatsit covered her mush in saliva.

"Scream for me…"

"No need" a voice cut in. Venom spun around to see Spidey stood there, fists clenched and ready to beat the crap out of his fearsome foe. "Besides, hasn't another guy used that line?"

"Probably a mutant."

"Oh. Well, time to fight methinks. You should never kiss on a first date, by the way; it's not good for the relationship. Now let go of MJ before I beat the crap outta ya with these clenched fists o' mine!"

"Not until I get what I'm after, meat!"

"Which is?"

Venom looked past Spidey at something and their face lit up. "That" he said.

Spidey spun around to see a tall, armour-clad figure behind him. It had dreadlock-like hairs coming down from its wide head and its huge, muscular body was only just visible behind layers of metal netting and chest plates. A huge double blade suddenly extended from its right wrist and shined in the moonlight.

It raised them high and let out an awesome roar, the likes of which New York City had never heard before.

Spider-man stared in awe. "Holy…"

"…crap" Venom finished.

The alien's head jumped down to look at its prey. The hunter had arrived.

"Er, little help?" whispered MJ.