…CARNAGE!
"I'm hungry," muttered Eddie Brock walking away from the gang war they had just dealt with.
Well I am quite satisfied, said Venom. That was feast fit for a symbiote any day.
"Yeah but I need some real food." He stopped as a certain scent struck his nose. "I know just the place," he continued with a smile.
Olive Garden? What's so special about that? More importantly, what is it?
"It's a place to eat. And since I received a little gift over Christmas, I am going to treat myself pretty darn heavily."
I think you're thinking some rather bad thoughts. Why do this?
"Because life is good, and sometimes it's good to take a chance when you have an opportunity. You knew that without realizing it with me."
Hmm, I like the sound of that. Well, Olive Garden here we come. It will be interesting tasting human food that isn't meat. But that would be the sad thing if this place went away. Everything is so very interesting.
It's to go? Why do that…? Oh. You mean to take it home and enjoy it there. Because you fear when you're done you will not be able to walk home. Heh. Smart move.
"Well, there are times where my eyes get bigger than my stomach. So…"
Like that jalapeno-eating contest in middle school.
"Eh, please don't—"
Or that time you decided to do the gallon challenge. Rather stupid if you ask me.
"Don't remind me. Those are painful memories."
With good reason.
"Yeah, yeah. Think I'm gonna sleep in. Nothing's really come up since that serial killer story; and I am bushed."
Hmm. And I'm not going to be hungry any time soon, so I have no objections.
. . . . .
The rat was finally sated, though due to its ravenous appetite, it had overfed itself and now was not going to move any time soon. It was almost a temptation to leave it and go for the target, but that was too dangerous right now. Patience.
. . . . .
"Oh…"
And how are we feeling? A little sick?
"Think I got carried away. But I could have done far worse."
Yes. Eddie, Venom continued as Brock watched the Weather channel, I don't know why but…I have a nagging feeling. Call it a premonition.
"An expensive word for you. I'm impressed. Listen, what's bugging you?"
I don't know. And that's the problem.
"Hmm. It's nothing, more than likely."
I hope so.
. . . . .
The rat finally began to stir from its twelve hours of undisturbed slumber. Now was the time. Its eyes turned pure solid red. No more waiting.
The rat was strengthened by its sustenance and rest, so it moved swiftly along pipes and through grates. The location was known with perfect recollection.
The human was in his cage muttering and rambling to himself. The smell of fresh blood was intoxicating. Yes; more, more. So delicious that smell. No more waiting. He was the one.
He was muttering and spreading blood on the cell. The word "Carnage" was on one of the flat portions of the metal. He kept using any opportunities he had to refresh it. The smell was so ripe to the rat and what was inside it.
Closer and closer…
. . . . .
EDDIE!
He collapsed from the pain of the mental scream, his eyes dilated and his mouth open in a silent howl of agony. Then Eddie fell limply on the floor twitching slightly.
As for Venom, he too fell silent, unable to stand the sensation of what he had just sensed.
. . . . .
The whole prison seemed to reverberate and shake from the howling cry of joy in its bowels. "Nothing like a little bit of…CARNAGE!"
Then there was screaming and yelling, gunfire, and the sound of violence as a terrible figure began slaughtering left and right. Inmates and guards were united in their desire to kill this thing whatever it was. Bullets, clubs, concealed knives, furniture; anything that was within reach was a weapon as they fought for their lives. Many died, several had nasty wounds, and few escaped untouched, while every last soul inside the prison was terrified beyond belief.
A large gaping hole marked the path through the bodies, outside the prison, to the unwary masses of people in San Francisco.
. . . . .
"Hello and good evening unto you all. I am Mark Swain and this is Channel 16 San Francisco News. This just in: a prison breakout turned violent slaughter."
"It has to be one of the most disturbing and violent mysteries to date in prison history. Frankly…I am not able to properly commentate since I have just arrived, but a prison inmate was permitted to speak to me along with a guard. They were counted amongst the few living and least injured inside."
"It was absolutely just disgusting whatever it was. It was…it was red and black, yeah?"
"Yes, it was," agreed the guard. "It was just ugly. It had these teeth I think, and claws, but the worst part was that it kept - I don't know the proper word - uh, 'shifting' around. It just seemed to never be able to stand still."
"Excuse me sir," said Swain, "you said 'shifting' as if it were…changing shape or something?"
"I don't know how else to describe the gruesome thing," the guard said sadly his voice trembling.
"I got a look at it," quietly whispered the prisoner. He straightened and continued, seeming to gather himself. "It was constantly pulsing and moving - the body - of this thing. It had tendrils, and tentacles kept appearing and disappearing back into it. It had these ugly solid whites for eyes, teeth like some sort of deformed shark, claws for fingers, and it seemed more intent on killing us than trying to avoid getting hit by weapons or getting out of the prison." He sunk to the ground, tears streaming down his face now, his hands clinging to his head. "It was a walking nightmare. It was just…oh dear heavens…all those guys…"
"Forgive us, but I am going to cut this short ladies and gentleman. Please sir," continued Swain to the guard, "take care of this man." He turned back to the camera, "We shall continue to do our best to cover this event and anything possibly connected to it as time passes." He pressed a hand to his earpiece. "Excuse me for a moment…to all watching I have just been informed that notorious serial killer Cletus Kasady is missing."
. . . . .
"Oh, my head," groaned Eddie. He began to stir but found himself trapped on his hands and knees for that alone was an effort. His head was swimming and his limbs were shaky. His head was beaded with cold sweat. What happened? Then he remembered a scream from Venom. He could not ever recall the symbiote screaming. And Eddie could swear he had felt pain from him.
He was on the floor with his head down, just trying to concentrate on his breath, for about ten minutes. Just as he finally began to stand, his cell rang. "H'llo?"
"Eddie? Where are you?"
"Anne? I, uh, I'm," he looked wearily around, "I'm inside my apartment. Why?"
"Turn on the television."
Click. "Terrible incident…many dead…massive destruction…Cletus Kasady is at large in San Francisco."
He quietly clicked it off. Eddie sat on a stool before realizing Anne was talking again. "Weren't you just there a few days ago?"
"Yeah Anne, baby, I-I was. What does this have to do with me?"
"Because," she continued somewhat shakily, "there was an inmate who described something rather creepy and - for some reason, I don't know what - it made me think of Venom. It just brought him to mind. Do you actually think he could have survived?"
"I really cannot answer that unless I see that place for myself. I mean, the thing that concerns me is that guy on the loose. I just interviewed him a few days back to help the authorities find the victims of some of the killings in years past. I was just getting ready to start looking and then…I don't know I just went on a really long nap."
"Well get your butt down there now before I have to come down to that trashy place of yours and drag you there. Something's up and we need to know what it is right now, you hear me?"
"Yes ma'am." He clicked off his cell. Since when was she so concerned about something like this?
Eddie.
"Where you been man? I just realized in the middle of the phone call that you hadn't said anything to me. And what's with the screaming in my brain?"
HE. IS. HERE. …Here on Earth.
"Who?"
The last one that you could ever trust or feel safe around.
"Who man? Who?"
Carnage.