Chapter 3

(Later at night)

New York City thrummed with life under the cover of night, its streets alive with people unwinding after the grind of the day—bars buzzing, neon signs flickering, laughter mixing with the hum of traffic. But the darkness also beckoned those with shadier intentions, crawling out from their holes to prey on the unwary.

High atop a nondescript building, a group of four criminals huddled near a rooftop access door, their black balaclavas blending into the shadows. One scanned the area, eyes darting nervously across the skyline. "Clear," he muttered, giving a quick nod to his partner.

The second, gripping a crowbar, stepped forward and jammed it into the door's edge, grunting as he worked to pry it open, metal scraping against metal.

"How long do we have to wait?" the third asked, shifting restlessly, his balaclava muffling his voice slightly.

"A few minutes," the fourth replied, arms crossed, leaning against the wall. "He knows his way around locks. It's not his first time."

"I hope he gets it open before that freak shows up…" the first said, a shudder running through him as he glanced over his shoulder.

"You mean Venom?" the second said, pausing his work to shoot a skeptical look. "Yeah, I hear you. Some say that's Spider-Man, but I don't buy it."

"No kidding," the third chimed in, raising his arms for emphasis. "That freak looks like he ate an entire gym full of people and juiced himself."

"I hope he does come," the fourth growled, a burly, hulking man who cracked his knuckles into his palm with a meaty thwap. "I'll show that bug where his place is."

"Are you fuckin' crazy?" the second snapped, glaring at him like he'd lost his mind. "That guy's built like a tank. No way you're facing him. You'll only end up with broken bones—and that's at best."

The second shook his head, dragging a gloved hand across his masked face, wondering where this guy got his suicidal confidence from.

"He's right," the first thug said, nodding in agreement with the second. "The second Venom punches you, your jaw'll shatter into bits. Trust me."

"The boys from the other day weren't lucky. Their arms were snapped in half!" the third hissed, his voice rising with panic as he recalled the rumors about the three thugs who'd mugged a woman in the rain. He really hoped he wouldn't cross paths with Venom tonight.

"Yesh…" the first muttered, glancing back at them, his grip tightening on the crowbar. "I heard he's way more ruthless now, but I thought it was just a rumor to scare people." He grunted, shoving harder against the door, the metal creaking under pressure.

Suddenly, a thick, black web-line shot out, pinning the crowbar-wielding thug to the door with a wet thwap. He yelped, struggling as the others spun around, eyes wide with shock. A deep, rumbling voice cut through the night. "That… and we're not the same bug, you know!"

They craned their necks upward to see Venom perched on the edge of a high wall, his massive frame silhouetted against the city lights. His jagged white eyes gleamed, and his long, red tongue writhed in the air like a living thing, curling mockingly as he stared down at them.

"Holy shit, IT'S HIM!" the second thug screamed, pointing a trembling finger before Venom launched himself downward, landing on the third thug with a bone-jarring thud. The man gasped, a choked cry escaping as his ribs cracked under Venom's crushing weight, the pain overwhelming him as he blacked out instantly.

Venom rose, his maw splitting into a toothy grin as he flexed a clawed hand, beckoning the remaining two. "Does anyone want to take a bite?"

"Finally! I was hoping for some action!" the burly thug roared, charging forward with a wild punch aimed at Venom's head. But Venom sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid and predatory. He countered with a brutal fist to the thug's face, the impact sending the man flying backward into the wall. The brick cracked under the force, and the thug slid down, groaning in pain, barely conscious.

"And then there was one," Venom growled, turning to the last thug, who stood frozen, his balaclava doing little to hide his terror. Before the man could bolt, Venom zipped forward, his speed a blur, and drove a gut punch into the thug's stomach. The man gasped, saliva spraying as he doubled over, clutching his abdomen in agony before collapsing to the rooftop, wheezing.

Venom fired a mass of black webbing, cocooning the unconscious thugs together in a sticky, inky bundle against the rooftop door, leaving them for some late-night passerby to spot and call the cops. With a satisfied grunt, he leaped from the building, firing a tendril to swing through the city, the night air rushing past his hulking form.

He landed on the side of a towering building, claws sinking into the brick as his wall-crawling powers held him fast. Turning his jagged white eyes toward the streets below, he took in the neon glow and restless energy of New York. "Even at this time of night, the city's as lively as ever," Venom remarked, his tongue flicking out as he scanned the urban sprawl.

Mid-swing, as he fired another tendril, a sharp scream of pain cut through the night, echoing off the concrete. "What was that?" Venom growled, his head snapping toward the sound. Changing course mid-air, he swung toward the source, his tendrils pulling him effortlessly through the maze of buildings. As he neared, he saw a thug sail out of a back alley, crashing into a lamppost with a groan and slumping to the ground.

Venom landed near the downed man, his heavy footsteps crunching on the pavement as he strode into the alley. Inside, a group of thugs lay scattered, battered and groaning, their bodies bruised and broken. His eyes locked onto a figure in the center—an amethyst-eyed man with ash-grey hair, clad in spiked armor, holding a thug by the collar of his shirt and pinning him against the wall.

"P-Please! I'll tell you everything!" the thug begged, his voice cracking with desperation, before the man seized his head and slammed it into the wall with a dull thud, knocking him out cold.

The amethyst-eyed man released the thug, letting him crumple to the ground, and flexed his clawed hand, his expression calm and detached. "They only beg for mercy when they finally realize they're outmatched," he said coolly. "Arrogance and pride are really bad for you, my friend."

He turned his head, locking eyes with Venom, who stood at the alley's entrance, his massive frame filling the space. "Oh, you're here. Good. I was expecting you," the man said, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he crossed his arms behind his back and stepped forward, his gait unhurried and confident.

Venom's jagged white eyes narrowed as the amethyst-eyed man stopped in front of him, unfazed by the towering, muscular bulk that loomed over him. Despite the stark difference in size, the man's demeanor was calm, almost amused, his confidence unshaken. "You were expecting us?" Venom growled, his deep voice edged with suspicion.

The man nodded, his smile widening just enough to show a glint of teeth. "Of course! Who wouldn't want to meet you?" he said, his tone light but carrying an undercurrent of intent. He began to circle Venom slowly, his amethyst eyes roving over the symbiote's glossy, hulking form with unabashed curiosity. "That said, I'm quite a fan of your work. And that new look of yours certainly is something."

Venom's tongue flicked briefly, his arms crossing over his massive chest as he tracked the man's movements. "That's quite the praise. But we don't think you lured us here just to have a small talk," he rumbled, his words pointed, cutting through the man's charm.

The man paused, giving a slight nod, as if conceding the point. "You're right. I'm not one to beat around the bush, so allow me to introduce myself first." He stepped back, bowing his head with a theatrical flourish, extending his left arm to the side while his right hand tucked behind his back. "My name is Sokar. Pleasure to meet you, Venom," he said, straightening up, his smile returning—sharp, knowing, and just a touch too warm to be trusted.

Venom's white eyes narrowed further, his instincts—and the symbiote's—prickling with unease. Something about Sokar set off alarms in the back of his mind, a nagging warning that this man, despite the friendly smile and easy charm, was dangerous. The symbiote stirred within him, its senses sharpening, picking up on subtle cues that Peter's human intuition alone might've missed.

"Alright, we'll bite. What is it you want?" Venom growled, his voice low and guarded, his gaze locked on Sokar, not wavering for a second.

Sokar straightened, his smile unwavering, almost too polished. "How about we talk somewhere else? Don't want someone eavesdropping, am I right?" he said, his tone light but laced with purpose. Without waiting for a reply, he turned and leaped, clearing the alley with unnatural grace and landing atop the roof of the adjacent building.

Venom's tongue flicked in surprise, but he didn't hesitate. He sprang after Sokar, his claws digging into the brick as he scaled the wall in a blur of motion. Reaching the rooftop, he found Sokar perched casually on an air conditioning unit, legs crossed, hands clasped over his knees, looking as relaxed as if he were lounging in a café.

"Now that we have more privacy, how about you start?" Sokar said, gesturing toward Venom with his clasped hands, his amethyst eyes glinting with faint amusement.

"Why does someone like you want to talk with us? You don't look like someone who can be trusted," Venom said bluntly, crossing his massive arms, his tone heavy with skepticism as he towered over the smaller man.

Sokar shrugged, unfazed, his smile taking on a half-sarcastic, half-questioning edge. "Can't really blame you. I mean, if you saw someone wearing spiky armor with a waist cape, indigo eyes, and ash-grey hair, would you trust them with anything?" he asked, his voice dancing between mockery and genuine curiosity.

"You don't have to be sarcastic about it, you know," Venom growled, his massive arms crossing tighter over his chest, his jagged eyes locked on Sokar's too-smooth demeanor.

Sokar threw up his hands in mock surrender before letting them drop. "Sorry. Just stating the obvious. Seriously, though, that was kind of a silly question." He sighed, his amethyst eyes shifting to a sharper, more focused glint. "Now, the reason I brought you here is I wanted to talk about you, Spider-Man—since that was your old name. I've never seen a suit like yours. Is it organic? Nanotech? Or… something else?"

Venom's brow quirked, the symbiote's senses buzzing at the barrage of questions, like a kid hopped up on sugar interrogating him. "It found us, not the other way around. We've grown… attached to it, rather quickly," he said carefully, his tone guarded, giving nothing away.

"Okay…" Sokar murmured, narrowing his eyes as he propped a hand under his chin, studying Venom like a puzzle. "But why the name change? And you've gotten more merciless lately. Did something happen?"

"The reason's simple," Venom began, his voice low and deliberate. "If you were a nasty piece of work, you'd have two choices: go to jail, or break out and risk coming back with a few bruises and broken bones. Which would you pick?"

Sokar hummed, tilting his head as he mulled it over. "So you're saying criminals should think twice before going back to their old ways? Not bad. Quite effective, really." He paused, his smile fading into something colder. "Although… why not just end them? It's what they deserve for what they've done."

Venom's eyes narrowed, his tongue flicking briefly as a chill ran through him. "That sounds… extreme to us."

"I'm saying it because the villains you beat up and web for the cops always crawl back out the next day to keep at it," Sokar pressed, his voice steady but intense. "The current legal system's a joke—those with money and power bend it to their will, slip through the cracks, and it's all swept under the rug. It's an endless cycle, and if nothing changes, more innocents get hurt. If I were in your shoes, I'd end them without a second thought." His amethyst eyes hardened to stone, unyielding, as he finished, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

Venom stayed silent, his massive frame still as he processed Sokar's stance. The man's willingness to kill without hesitation didn't sit right with Peter. Deep down, he'd always believed everyone could be saved, redeemable with the right push. That belief had guided him as Spider-Man, and even now, as Venom, with his darker edge, he held onto it. Sokar's cold pragmatism clashed with that core, stirring unease in both him and the symbiote.

Sokar sighed, rubbing his eyelids with a faint air of exasperation. "I'm not saying you should change your ways right away. Killing leaves a permanent mark—one you don't wash off. But you should consider it when lives are at stake. That's all I'm asking."

Venom stayed quiet, his jagged white eyes hardening as he studied Sokar. The man's words lingered, but Peter's unease only deepened. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and pointed. "We get the feeling you didn't bring us here just for philosophical talk, did you?"

Sokar let out a soft chuckle, nodding as his smile took on a knowing edge. "You're a perceptive one. You're right—I wanted to talk about other things… Peter Parker."

Venom's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed dangerously, his massive arms uncrossing as his claws flexed, glinting in the dim light. "How do you know who we are?" His voice was a guttural growl, laced with a protective edge as the symbiote stirred, bristling at the breach.

Sokar raised his hands quickly, palms out in a placating gesture. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold your horses! I'm not here to fight you. If I wanted to hurt those around you, I'd have done it already. I just want to talk, that's all."

Venom's stance eased slightly, but his eyes remained slits of suspicion, never leaving Sokar. "How did you find out about us?"

Sokar smirked, holding up his left hand and ticking off points with his fingers. "One," he said, raising his index finger, "you should consider that someone could follow you when you're swinging back from your hero gigs. Two," he added his middle finger, "I dug deep. Found out about your life pretty easily—where you work, where your relatives live, who your friends are, all that jazz. And three," he raised his ring finger, his voice sharpening, "the fact that you didn't even think someone might tail you was sloppy on your part. Make sure that doesn't happen. Again." He emphasized the last word, his amethyst eyes locking onto Venom's with a mix of reprimand and challenge.

"What's your game here, Sokar? You didn't just dig up our identity to gloat to our face, so spit it out," Venom growled, his voice thick with impatience, claws twitching as he leaned slightly forward, his hulking frame casting a shadow over the rooftop.

Sokar's smirk softened, taking on a gentler, almost earnest curve. "Simple. I want to help you."

"…What?" Venom's eyes widened, his tongue flicking in disbelief, caught off guard by the unexpected answer.

"You heard me," Sokar said, his tone steady but warm, like he was offering a handshake. "I just wish to help you. And to prove I'm serious…" He snapped his fingers, and a small, shimmering purple rift tore open in the air beside him. With a casual flourish, he reached his left arm into it and pulled out a sleek black suitcase. Clicking it open, he revealed stacks of crisp cash—more money than Venom could process at a glance, the sight making his jagged eyes widen in shock.

"See?" Sokar said, arching an eyebrow, his smile teasing but confident.

"…How much did you steal?" Venom asked, his voice flat with suspicion, arms crossing tighter as he sized up the suitcase.

Sokar gasped dramatically, clutching his chest in mock offense, blowing a raspberry for effect. "Fuck no!" he exclaimed, waving a hand with theatrical flair. "This cash was earned through stocks and cryptocurrency. Jeez, no faith at all…" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as if wounded by the accusation.

"You invest in stocks?" Venom asked, his tone a mix of skepticism and curiosity as he eyed Sokar.

Sokar nodded, his smirk returning with a hint of pride. "I'm quite the business wizard. You can't even imagine how much I've pulled from those investments—not to mention the several legal ways I keep the cash flowing into my pockets." He gestured to the suitcase. "This? Just a small percentage of what I've got. And now, it's yours."

Venom's eyes widened further, shock rippling through him. "We… We can't—"

"Come on," Sokar interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "Has your hero gig ever paid you a dime? And that Daily Bugle job barely covers your bills. As a bonus, I'll make sure your apartment rent's covered—paid in full, no worries about coming up short ever again." He stood, stepping closer to Venom, his amethyst eyes steady as he faced the conflicted giant.

Peter, beneath the symbiote, felt a storm of emotions. No one had ever offered him something this generous—or this surreal. The idea of financial security, of not scraping by, was almost alien. He wanted to push back, to refuse, but Sokar's calm insistence made it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Venom sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "Fine. We accept. Just don't make us regret it…"

Sokar's smile sharpened, but his voice was firm. "I'm a man of my word and honor. I never break a promise once it's given." His eyes narrowed slightly, locking onto Venom's as if sealing an unspoken pact.

Venom took the suitcase, the symbiote absorbing it seamlessly into its mass, the weight vanishing into his form. "Is that all?"

"Yep. That's it," Sokar said with a casual nod. "Just don't spend it without thinking."

Venom gave a curt nod, his powerful legs coiling like springs. With a leap, he fired a tendril and swung off, his bulkier frame cutting through the night as he headed back to his apartment, the city's lights blurring below.

Sokar watched him vanish between the skyscrapers, a low chuckle escaping his lips. "I hope this helps you, kid. You'll need it."

"So that's Venom, huh?" a new voice said, low and rough. Sokar turned to see a figure stepping from the shadows—a shorter man, a few inches below Sokar's chest, wearing a blue hoodie with a grey hood pulled up, obscuring his face in darkness. Black shorts with white trim hung loosely, paired with grey slippers. His hands were tucked into his hoodie pockets, casual but deliberate.

"Did you and the others find the meteorite?" Sokar asked, his tone shifting to businesslike precision.

The hooded figure shook his head. "No, it was gone by the time we got there," he said, his voice flat, carrying a faint edge of frustration.

Sokar's gaze drifted to the skyline, his fingers brushing his chin thoughtfully. "I see… looks like someone else beat us to it."

"Should we track down who has it?" the figure asked, tilting his head slightly, red eyes glinting from the shadows of his hood—one blue, ringed by crimson, the other pure scarlet.

Sokar shook his head. "No. They've likely covered their tracks. They'll show themselves, eventually. In the meantime, are the other tasks done?"

"Already handled," the figure replied with a nod, his glowing eyes steady.

Sokar's smile returned, subtle but satisfied, as he gazed down at the bustling streets below. "Good. Keep at it. I'll contact you later." With that, he vanished in a burst of black flames, the air shimmering briefly where he'd stood.

The hooded figure lingered a moment, his red-blue gaze scanning the city, before he disappeared in a flash of red light, leaving the rooftop empty.

Something bigger was brewing, with Sokar at its heart.