CHAPTER 43

No Colors Anymore I Want Them to Turn Black

Peter Parker

Morning comes too soon.

Pulling the pillow off of your head, the alarm blares loudly as you squint in the morning light. You… Don't like the light. You feel weaker, hungry.

Always hungry.

But, that's no point in sitting around, doing nothing. You should get dres- you look down to see that you seem to be dressed now, in a normal looking attire- the faintest hints of black ooze turning into a blue shirt. It's the day after Christmas, so that means you don't have school until after the new year resumes.

A part of you, like a second brain, just wants to close the curtains and sleep until night, upon which you should go eat. You try to ignore it.

Calling up Felicia's number, you are sent to her voicemail. After the beep, you leave her a message that your other phone, along with costume was destroyed and a lot of bad things were happening, so if she could spare a moment to call you back, that's be great.

Calling Sue Storm's number, along with Johnny's, all you get is immediate notice that their number is currently unavailable and that their voicemails have been disabled.

More than slightly worried, you grab a bowl, box of cereal and some milk as you head down to the basement and try to get some news. Your clothes are still suit-ooze because when you tried to put on another shirt, it ate it.

Flipping through the news, it seems like Johnny and Sue are fine, they're apparently doing some talks with Reed Richards and Ben Grimm later today on live television, especially concerning the whole 'superpowers are real' thing. Which is, while good for them, bad for you. The military is likely to be crawling around them now.

Maybe Doctor Spyral? Regardless, the idea of people with superpowers has an interesting reaction from both political and scientific groups. There was a note about a fire that destroyed the R&D wing of Oscorp, but it seems like nobody was harmed. Seems like they covered up the break in.

Finishing up the box of cereal, you find yourself still hungry.

Locking up the basement, you make sure your hands are cleans before you start to fiddle with the hard drive. Except you feel distinctly uncomfortable while you do so, for some reason. Eventually, you get it all put together properly and start up the hard drive, as you look for all traces of your father's work on the suit.

You sit down and start searching for notes, details, ANYTHING you can find on the suit. For the most part, it's little more than what you've already seen. Just digital copies of his notes on the process of early parts of the suit- they'd be useful if you actually understood how all of this worked.

And then you find one last file, all but deleted as you work on restoring it. A video- it seems set around the same time as the last one you saw from your father, perhaps.

He's sitting alone as he shakes his head. "I met up with Norman, I found a way to destroy the suit, like we both wanted. That thing's all but destroyed our lives, but I couldn't tell him. Not with what I saw Emily do to herself to try to save this project. The way I have to destroy the suit would kill any normal person who has it on them."

Your father looks horrified.

"We've gotten her cryogenically frozen for the time being. But, the way I found to destroy that thing would kill her, so Norman and I have decided to put all of our efforts into saving her. I've called Ben to come over and watch Peter for the time being, until we're done. This project's ruined my marriage, my friendship with Carl, but I'm not letting it take Emily's life, too."

Richard Parker sits as he looks at the camera. "Peter, if you're watching this, then something terrible has happened to me and you're staying with Ben and May in our old house, like my will states. Your mother won't get custody of you, I've already seen to that. Not after…"

He holds up some files, revealing the briefcase from earlier. "That means you've already found this. Don't touch the security measures I've put into it, they'll ruin the files for sure. And Peter, I have one last thing to ask of you."

Your father leans in, smiling sadly. "If you find any part of my cursed project, please destroy it. Don't let anyone else suffer from this monster we've bottled. You need a lot of electricity to destroy it, if my math's right. Unlike Frankenstein whose monster was born of lighting, my monster's life ends with it."

The date on the video is the day before your father's death.

You're not sure how to deal with this, but you keep a lid on your emotions. There's a lot in that video and you're not entirely sure how to deal with it. And trying to deal with it, here and now is not a good idea.

Not at all.

But, you know of a solution, if you desperately need one.

Unhooking and hiding the hard drive again, you keep yourself focused. You need to do something, get you mind off of things.

You should go for a walk. Clear your head. It's the best thing to do- keep a clear head and keep calm.

Heading upstairs, you look around for Stella and find her in her room. Knocking, you can hear her get up and unlock the door- when she see's its you, she looks at you passively.

"Hey, I was going to go for a walk. You want to come along?"

There's a pause before she eventually nods. "Sure. Give me a minute."

A few moments later, the two of you are walking down the street as Stella gives you an appraising stare like she wants to talk.

You give her a nod as the two of you find somewhere out of the way to talk- the park nearby is filled with kids, so the two of you walk until you find a small, quiet isolated area and sit on a bench.

Sitting down, Stella looks over at you. "Have you managed to find out anything?"

You tell her what you managed to learn of the suit and what your father's cure was. Stella nods her head sadly. "…I feared as much. From what I know, CARNAGE was weak to electricity once, too. I'm not sure if it overcame it or its choice of a host, but it adapted and changed. Your father's suit was probably what was the basis of that monster."

She glances over at you before resting her hand on yours. You feel disgusted as you can feel it urging you on to devour, consume. Always hungry.

"I… can't stop it, not without hurting or killing you, Peter. That means I literally can't do anything- I'll become helpless if I try to hurt it because doing so would harm you."

She looks away as her hand tightens on yours, shaking. "…I could take it. I'm tougher, I might survive its destruction, Peter. And if you don't survive…"

She's cut off as you hear screams in the distance and see a large, armored SUV clip a corner and almost hit people as it swerves down the road, pursued by cops. You feel a hand push you as Stella gives you a sad smile. "It can wait. People need you help."

You squeeze her hand back as you give her a smile. "Yeah, I guess they do need our help, huh?"

Stella stares at you surprised before a soft smile spreads across her face as she lets you pull her up. "Yeah, I suppose so."

The two of you run out of sight and into an alley as you feel the suit act- forming the Black Spider-man outfit as you extend a tendril with a thought as the two of you are on a rooftop. Stella looks over at you before looking down- the car's still a distance away, but it seems like they have the sunroof open as you notice a masked man raise his head and fire before ducking back in.

Stella looks at you. "I could take out a tire, but civilians could be hurt. What do you want to do?"

Looking around- even though most are out of the way, it's not impossible. The armored SUV is heading down the road in your direction, it'll be a matter of moments before they pass by.

Looking at Stella, you nod over at her. "Make an illusion to stop them, I'll jump in and take them down."

Stella gives you an uncertain look but eventually nods as you watch the car screech to a halt, but you're already in motion- down into the sunroof, as you land on the floor of the spacious armored SUV. A masked man looks surprised as he raised his gun.

"Looks like a spider fell into our vehicle. Let's squash it."

As they let fire into you. It hurts- as four Uzis let loose into at short range into your body. It hurts badly as you feel the suit react, trying to patch you up.

hurts hunger

You feel it impose its hunger upon you.

No. Oh, god. No.

Please, no.

Hurts. Hunger.

You hold at your chest as you try to suppress it. No. . You hear the man lean forward. "Still alive, are we? Impressive. Let's fix that, shall we?"

The man's voice is casual and amused as you feel the gun barrel against your head. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm the Crime Master. Any last words, Spider-man?"

HUNGER!

"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUNGER!"

OO

Flash Thompson

Walking down the street with your younger sister, Jesse. She's just turned twelve earlier this year, and after yesterday, there has to be something you can do to help cheer her up.

You're her older brother, after all.

Walking down the street you pull her to the side, far from the road, as you hear police sirens as you see them chase after an armored SUV that screeches to a stop a little ways down the road from the both of you. You smile as you point to a figure, in a different costume but familiar nevertheless, drops down into the vehicle.

"Don't worry, Jesse. Spider-man's got this."

Your confident smile slips seconds later when you hear the sound of gunfire and then a loud bestial roar. The men in the vehicle pile out, scared as the door opens as one of them jumped out of is torn off the hinges- the four men screaming as they run. A form collapses out of the door, facing away as you feel… uneasy.

Before you can stop her, your sister called out. "Way to go Spider-man! You got the bad guys!"

Terror takes you as the form turns. That thing….

It isn't Spider-man at all. Covered in teeth with an inhuman jaw, it snarls at the both of you as it cries out with a monstrous voice.

"HUNGER! FEEEEEEEEED!"

Its white eyes narrow as you instinctually step forward, shielding Jesse from view.

You will die here.

"Run."

Your voice is firm even in the face of this monster, which mocks your hero- tarnishes his good name. You'll buy her as much time as possible.

It will consume you and keep consuming without end. It is an abomination.

"RUN, Jesse"

You don't look back, your eyes locked onto this… monster.

"But… Eugene… y-your shadow."

You spare a glance as you see it- Black and White- Spider-man, but not, as you hear a voice inside your head.

"Your life is forfeit, but if you share it with me, I can save you. Your life forever changed."

A cloaked figure lands in front, not looking back. "Run you two! RUN!"

It sounds like a girl, about to cry. Jesse's eyes are locked onto the flowing darkness around your legs.

"We shall be the Hero to this abomination. A Venom that strikes it down. But, be warned, you might not even survive the attempt."

Song: [Kill la Kill]:Before My Body Is Dry (Dont Lose Your Way)

'I…'

Your foot hesitates…

'I want to be a hero.'

But you step forward anyway. Into the darkness that wraps you. Darkness overtakes you as you're overwhelmed by everything terrible.

Your father. the beatings, disappointment. Why couldn't you please him? Why was nothing EVER good enough for him?! The anger, the memory of his bad habits. They'll haunt your forever.

Your mother- always favoring your sister. Blaming you for your father. Looking at you like she looks at him. All you ever wanted was for her to love you…

The darkness is crushing you down, your anger, sorrow tearing you apart. All the things you've done.. How you've made people terrified of you, Flash Thompson. Why would someone like you ever be considered a hero?

"EUGENE?!"

You feel someone grab at your arm- distant and yet nearby. A familiar hand. Jesse… she never feared you. Never judged you. You were her shield. Her protector.

She believes in you.

And.. She wasn't the only one, either.

'You know, Flash, you might not think it, but if you put your mind to it, you can be whatever you want. Army, Football, so long as you don't give up, I'm sure you can do it if you try.'

Parker… no, Peter. Even after so much, he gave you another chance. Believed in you.

You eyes narrow as you take a step forward. And another. There's a figure on the horizon- red and blue. You'll never be him. But… you can do your best to make him, all of them proud!

The darkness fades as you feel a small hand in yours. There's another presence there, supporting you. Protecting you.

Giving you strength in return for a home, a place to belong. It was lost, alone. Just like you. But now, neither of you will ever be alone, ever again.

Jesse stares up at you, in awe. "…Eugene?!"

You give her a nod- it warns you as the girl ahead goes flying past as the abomination.

"Yeah, you should go, Jesse. I'll take care of this."

Your voice is filled with strength, confidence as she scampers off to safety.

The monster roars at you as it readies itself to charge, its muscles bulging with unbridled strength that intends to come bearing down upon you.

"HHHHHHHUNNNGER! FEEED!"

"…Yeah, you said that already."

It's coming to crash down upon you, so naturally, you're going to have to strike back first! Out of the corner of your eyes, you see something by the girl's side- a large, ornate looking revolver- quickly extending a portion of your partner, it brings it to your hand as your arm brings it up to fire- no time to hesitate. No time to doubt.

Your partner fill your arm with strength as you fire off the powerful rounds one after another- all six right into its charging maw, the powerful rounds hitting and penetrating its flesh and knocking it back onto its knees, roaring in agony as it clutches at its face.

One angry eyes stares at you, almost bewildered as its eye narrows. It starts to move, carefully, as dozens of tentacles extend from its back, pointed towards your body, each and every swaying like a rattlesnake about to bite as it lets out a low growl.

You tense, taking a defensive posture as dozens and dozens of tentacles shoot out to strike at you. Each and every one as deadly as the bullets you fired at it, and more than likely with a worse bite. Dodging out of the way of one, which becomes two, which becomes five, you pull yourself out of the way of the others as your partner extends webbing from your wrist- the superfluous material breaking off to decay as you land.

Grabbing a retreating tentacle, you pull on it, exerting force, the ground cracking under your feet as the beast is pulled up into the air above you before you pull down sharply and uppercut its jaw with not only all of your strength, but that off gravity's assistance as well! Twice the force!

Teeth shatter as you send the thing flying as it groans and collapses into a pile of limbs. Letting out a sigh, your partner warns you to be careful. Turning back, you see it roar- a new mouth and head forming. Man, and just when you'd though that you made the winning touchdown, it seems like you're back in for overtime!

The thing gets to its feet and rampages for a bit- as the street's torn apart- as a power line falls down, you see it move away, watching you carefully with the calculating eyes of a beast- its tentacles called back as it paces, growling even though it looks like it's got indigestion.

It watches you carefully, tentacles twitched, but you know what time it is. That thing's afraid of the power line, so its time to give it the thunder! Readying yourself in a classic pose you've used a thousand times to make an aggressive charge, you let out a roar like you would on the field as your partner listens to your plan silently, approvingly.

As you pass the power line, you extend back an arm as you web and pull the power line to you as you prepare to make one hell of a tackle! Slamming your shoulder and the live end of the power line you can see it glow with electricity as it screeches in agony.

Behind you, you can hear someone cry out- turning back, you see the cloaked figure rush past you- towards the melting monster- before you can see who, or what it was they're both gone as the black ooze slides away. Your eyes narrow as it suddenly surges and sinks into the nearby storm drain. Your eyes narrow as you feel your partner's fury, but with a calming thought, it relaxes into you.

Looking towards the side of the street- you can see Jesse watching in the distance, looking excited as the police come in- you lend a hand by webbing up the nearby terrified thugs before they can get away and recover from being paralyzed with fear, including their boss- the so called 'Crime Master.'

You slip away before any cops or reporters can get nearby, and with your partner's help, it isn't long until you're walking up to Jesse's side. She looks excited and in awe as you lean in. "Hey, let's just keep this a secret between us, alright?"

Extending a pinky, she takes it and offers an oath solemnly before she looks at you. "This means I'm getting cocoa, right?"

Letting out a groan, she runs off ahead of you as you hear the amused murmurs of your partner. Your life's never going to be the same, but for just a little bit longer… it can't hurt to pretend.

END

To Be Continued…

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