Chapter 10.
The room is eerily dark; water drips from the damp ceiling into a puddle that has been forming for quite a while. In the corner of the room is a single camp bed, shabbily covered with a thick, woollen blanket and a pillow. A single square of sunlight lights up the room through a window high up on the wall, below it is a thin blanket covering a cube like shape, a little light floods underneath it. A shadow moves towards a trunk sat at the end of the bed. It creaks open and the shadow picks up a t shirt, black jeans, a hoody and the mask. He places them on top of the bed. A hiss comes from the same side of the room as the window.
"Ssh," a voice whispers, "don't worry, sweetheart, it is nearly over."
The man pulls off his shirt, revealing pink skin with healed scars etched across both of his sides. He sets down the shirt and puts on a black v neck t-shirt that is in the pile. He does the same with his trousers, similar wounds appear on his legs; all having been made a few years ago by his father. Next, he uncovers the large vivarium hidden under the black cloth; the bright light illuminates the room further, exposing the damp and years of graffiti on the walls. The creature inside reveals itself, a smooth sandy coloured head appears at the glass, her tongue flickers, sniffing for her owner and any potential prey nearby.
"Are you hungry, sweetheart?" he asks.
As if she has telepathically told him, he pulls out a live mouse that he trapped a few hours ago, and waves it in front of the snake, ignoring the squeaks of terror from the mouse. He opens a small compartment on the top of the tank and drops the 'meal' into the shallow box; he then closes the lid and pulls a lever across to drop the mouse in with the snake. Instinctively, she strikes the mouse, injecting her venom into its system, before devouring it whole. Her owner smiles, as like his snake, he too has prey to kill tonight. But first, he needs something special from his pet.
As soon as she has finished her food, he finds his snake hook and expertly removes her from the cage. It is significantly cooler than inside her enclosure and this temperature drop slows her reflexes a little, but not enough to make her completely immobile. Keeping her head away from him, he's safe, and holding her tail, he uses the end of the hook to delicately pin her head to the dusty floor, before picking her up.
"Come with me, baby," he kisses the top of her head, "time to go to work."
Nearby is a jar with a thin piece of paper tied to the top, he gently prises her fangs onto the jar's rim, piercing the paper. Yellow venom begins to drip down the side of the jar, collecting at the bottom. He waits for a few minutes before returning his prize possession to her bed; her work complete.
And now, he will pay, he will be the last to die…
The streets are pretty crowded this afternoon, as the sun is out and there is not a cloud in the sky. He walks by pedestrians who have no idea as to what he is planning. From observation, Marcus Zachary, his third victim, has lunch at the same coffee shop that he was at last night; in his line of work, it is pretty easy to keep watch on someone without arousing suspicion. He doesn't have long, especially since Grace Van Pelt has been sniffing around; she's an immovable object, he would never hurt her, but he could not bribe her into keeping his secret, she's not that kind of woman. But she has forced his hand, before he is taken in, before he confesses everything, he has one more duty; even though he has to do it in public, it is time. Marcus is sitting in the sunshine, sipping an ice tea, making googly eyes at every young woman as they pass by. It makes him feel sick. How am I going to go about this? How can I lure him out?
"Mr Zachary!" He shouts from the opposite side of the street.
He manages to grab his attention; great.
"Can I have a word?"
Marcus beckons him over and he crosses the road warily.
"How can I help you, young man?" Zachary asks.
"Sir, it's about your wife," the young man replies, "I'm afraid you need to come with me."
"Oh no, what has happened?" Zachary replies, seemingly concerned for the welfare of his other half.
But the man can see through his façade, "it's a long story, I'll explain on the way sir, please come with me."
"Sorry, I didn't catch your name," Zachary tells the young man, following him across the street.
"This way sir," the young man quickly changes the subject, not wanting Zachary to back off.
He leads his unassuming victim down an alley, close to the two other crime scenes.
"Why? What's going on?"
Marcus keeps close, constantly on the lookout, sweeping his head forwards, then backwards, not even noticing that his companion is pulling on a mask.
"Why are you taking me down here? Have you not heard about these murders lately?"
"Of course I have," the young man replies, his voice a lot deeper.
He quickly turns back on himself and knocks Zachary into the wall, keeping him there with his arm and simultaneously pulling the syringe of venom from his hoody pocket.
"What are you doing?" Zachary's eyes widen in fear, "please, please…"
"I am Venom," he interjects, "and I'm punishing you for your crimes," the mask creases slightly as Venom smiles.
"I've not done anything!" he argues, but his plea is ignored.
The syringe plunges into Marcus's neck; he screams, but they are too far down the alley for anyone to hear him. As the venom takes hold, Venom releases his body and it collapses to the ground. Finally his task is done, and he pulls off the mask revealing the face of the young officer, James Carter.