Chapter 6

Earlier...

Drake Durham was confused.

He had no idea who this man was, or what that black needle was in his hand, or how it was going to help him kill that spider-guy. All he knew was, he didn't trust this Dr. Lance guy.

"Who are you?" Drake asked.

"I told you," Dr. Lance said impatiently. "I'm Dr. Lance. I'm the one who's going to help you kill the Spider-man."

"What's your first name?" Drake asked.

"Why do you...," Dr. Lance started.

"Because if we're going to be working together, I want to know your name."

"You're hardly in a bargaining position, Mr. Durham," Dr. Lance said.

Drake just looked at him seriously. Dr. Lance sighed.

"Curtis," Dr. Lance said. "My first name is Curtis."

"Like 50 Cent?" Drake asked.

"Yes," Curtis Lance said annoyed. "Now can we please..."

"And what is that you're going to inject me with?" Drake interrupted.

"This," Dr. Lance said obviously proud. "Is a blood sample from the Spider-man. I reengineered it so there's more spider DNA and less human. I also added an exoskeleton made by an...associate of mine for another person. This will give you all the abilities of the Spider-man, except stronger."

"And," Drake asked. "Why should I trust you, man?"

"Oh Mr. Durham," Dr. Lance said. "Do you really have anything else to lose?"

Drake sat there for a moment then stuck his arm through the bars. He didn't tell Dr. Lance that there was something for him to lose. The only thing that mattered to him.

His brother.

...

Spider-man didn't know what to do.

On one hand, he thought to take off the mask of his exoskeleton and show Drake who he was. But what if Drake was still angry? Still wanted to kill him even after he found out he was his brother? Kendrick didn't think he could handle that.

Unless he already knows...

"Drake," Spider-man said. "Listen to me..."

"I'm not Drake any longer!" Venom said, forming his exoskeleton over his face. "I'm Venom!"

"Drake, Venom, Honey Boo Boo, whatever!" Spider-man said. "We don't have to fight..."

Spider-man screamed as Venom dug his claws into Spider-man's shoulder.

"We're not fighting," Venom said smiling. "I'm killing you."

Spider-man pulled against the webs holding his arms to the building. No go. Venom dug his claws in him again, causing him to scream.

Then Kendrick saw what appeared to be lightning coming from his hands, disintegrating the webs, and traveling down the building to the webs holding his torso, while also hitting Dea...er...Venom.

"NYYEAAAHHHHH!" Venom screamed in agony.

Kendrick hated hurting his brother, but he didn't have any other option. He reeled back and hit Venom with his right hook, sending him back off the building.

"Drake!" Spider-man called as Venom released a web that attached to a nearby building, saving himself.

I need to make a plan, Kendrick thought. Reason with him. Get him to see what he's doing is wrong.

As Spider-man swung away, Venom recovered enough to look up at him leaving.

"That was...new," he said under his breath, referring to the electric blast.

...

Marshall was freakin' out.

He and Jen were watching the fight between Kendrick and some monster being covered on the news. Jen had just got a call from her parents, telling her that they were on their way back from England to take care of her.

"I can't get Ken," Jen said as Marshall continued to just look at the Tv. "Marshall?"

"Huh?" Marshall snapped to reality. "Yeah, that's okay. Whatever you have to do."

"You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?"

"You have to use the bathroom?"

"Why do you say that like it's a question?"

"Is that what you said?"

"No," Jen sighed. "I said I can't reach Ken. He's not answering his cell."

"I'm sure he's...fine," he said as his attention was drawn back to the Tv.

"You're some kinda help Marshall," Jen said. "Thanks."

"No problem."

...

Venom swung through the city, looking for Spider-man.

By the time he had started chasing him, he was already long gone. He could be anywhere in all of Manhattan.

Just then, Venom felt himself swing into something. He looked forward and found himself stuck to a large web between two buildings.

Okay, Venom thought. How the hell did I not notice that?

"Okay," Venom heard someone say. "How the hell did you not notice that?"

Venom could barely turn his head and see Spider-man crawling down towards him, webs covering the cuts Venom had cut in him. Venom smiled. He could tell the cuts were causing him discomfort.

"Like seriously," Spider-man said. "It's a giant spider web."

"I just want you to know that I'll get outta here," Venom said menacingly. "And I will kill you."

"Oh I know that," Spider-man said. "Well, not the killing part. But my webs dissolve in half an hour. I just wanna talk."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"'We have nothing to talk about.' Dude, you have got to be the most cliché bad guy ever. I mean, at least make up your own lines."

Spider-man crawled closer to him.

"But real talk," Spider-man said. "What's with the whole 'killing me' thing? That's not like you. Well, neither was shooting up a school, but we'll get to that later."

"You know nothing about me."

"You're wrong," Spider-man said shaking his head. "Problem is, I do know you. And that why I'm giving you this one chance: don't make me fight you."

Just then, Venom ripped from the web and grabbed Spider-man's throat.

"I'll get back to you on that."

Spider-man sprayed two weblines from his hands, hitting Venom in the face, causing him to instinctively reach for it. With that, Spider-man kicked him in the stomach, but failing to move him. Venom took a swipe at Spider-man with his claws, with Spider-man dodging it.

Venom might be stronger, but the spider had him in speed.

...

This is insane!

Spider-man crawled up his web and jumped up onto the nearby skyscraper.

I can't win this fight, Kendrick thought as Venom landed behind him.

Spider-man turned and faced Venom.

"Lovely day for a picnic," Spider-man said.

"Lovely day for your death," Venom said.

"See, that's what I'm talking about," Spider-man said. "The Drake I knew...the Drake I know, doesn't talk like that. Whatever or whoever did this to you, messed with your mind, man. You gotta break free."

"I...am free," Venom said as he lunged. "Now."

Spider-man rolled out of the way, making Venom hit the roof with a crack. Spider-man jumped at Venom and delivered one of those electric shocks to Venom's neck.

"Boink!" Spider-man said.

Venom just looked at him and smiled.

"I guess it only works...," he started as the electricity hit him, making him scream and fall to the ground. Spider-man walked until he stood over him.

"Drake?" he asked. "Drake, are you o...glakkk!"

Kendrick stopped as Venom put his large hand on his neck.

"I told you...," Venom said, then slammed Spider-man into the roof. "I'm VENOM!"

With that, Venom started furiously punching Spider-man in the face until he heard a crack. He looked down and there was a large crack in Kendrick's exoskeleton.

"Ah...," Venom said smiling. "Let's see who you really are."

"Drake...no..."

But it was too late. Venom took off the exoskeleton mask of Spider-man, showing his brother Kendrick.

"Ke -Ken?" Drake said as he backed away from him, his horrific face peeling away to show Kendrick's big brother. "It can't be..."

Kendrick got up in a spider-like crouching position.

"It's me Drake," he said. "It's all gonna be okay. Just keep calm."

"It can't be you," Drake said, tears forming in his eyes. "I...I tried to kill you..."

"That doesn't matter Drake," Kendrick said. "We can get you some help. We can get you through this. Together."

"No...no, there's no help for me," Drake said as he put his middle finger up, forming a black bone claw, bigger than Kendrick's and put it to his neck. "No help..."

"Drake, NOOO!" Kendrick said as he ran for him, fearing for what he might do.

But it was too late. Before Kendrick could even reach him, Drake cut off his own head. Right in front of Kendrick.

"NOOOOOOOO!" Kendrick said as he kneeled on his knees, mot wanting to get any closer to the body.

The body.

Kendrick wanted to puke. He wanted to close his eyes and turn away. But he didn't. He just sat there and looked...

And cried.

Drake Durham was dead.

...

Normally I'm against posting a new chapter the day after the last one came out, but I made an exception since I'd been gone from this fanfiction for a while.

Thanks to Son of Whitebeard for the review. And guys, for Drake's death, please don't spoil it in the reviews. You can say something like "aw...that's rough..." or something like that, but please don't outright say he dies. Spoilers suck.

And now you know...(picture the rainbow...)

-Brad.