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umbra-by-jacqui-natla · 2 months ago

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Chapter Thirty One

Drake sauntered past the glass containers where the lifeless symbiotes stood: on the floor, on the wall, everywhere his eyes could see. The containment cells, once buzzing with energy and purpose, now resembled cold, sterile graves, each one a silent testament to a dream that had withered before it could fully bloom. The sight of them—drained of life, their once pulsating forms now reduced to cold, inert masses—filled him with a mixture of frustration and resolve. His hands clenched into fists as he walked, the sterile white of the laboratory walls reflecting his grim determination.

The symbiotes had been so close to achieving their purpose, so close to becoming the harbingers of a new world. He had envisioned a future where humanity would rise above its limitations, merging with these alien entities to become something more—something superior. But they had failed him, each one more disappointing than the last. They had proven too fragile, too incompatible with their human hosts, crumbling under the pressure of their own potential.

Drake's eyes flicked to the lifeless bodies within the glass tubes, his mind racing with thoughts of what could have been. He had invested so much—time, resources, even parts of himself—into this project, all in the hope of creating a new breed of beings that could withstand the rigors of a harsh and unforgiving world. But the symbiotes, once brimming with promise, had withered, their potential squandered by hosts who were too weak to handle the transformation.

"Your friends, the others, I apologize," Drake said, his voice low and measured as he spoke into the empty air, his words carrying a weight of sincerity and regret. He wasn't sure who he was apologizing to—the remnants of the symbiotes, the human hosts who had failed them, or perhaps even to himself, for daring to believe that he could control forces so far beyond his understanding. "I tried to keep them alive." There was a flicker of genuine remorse in his tone, though it was quickly overshadowed by the cold pragmatism that had always driven him forward.

In response, Riot's head emerged from Drake's shoulder, the symbiote's eyes narrowing as it surveyed the same scene. Its alien face, a grotesque and powerful reflection of Drake's own ambitions, twisted with displeasure.

"There are more of us," Riot said, its voice a low, guttural growl that echoed in the otherwise silent laboratory. "Millions more. They will follow wherever I lead."

There was a confidence in its tone, an assurance born from the knowledge that its kind was legion, spread across the stars, waiting for the right moment to descend upon this world.

Drake turned his head slightly, meeting Riot's gaze with a resolute expression. "Where we lead," he corrected, his voice firm with conviction. It was more than just semantics to him—this was a partnership, a merging of two beings with a singular vision.

"Yes, 'we'," Riot agreed, though its tone was laced with a hint of annoyance, as if the concept of partnership was an irritant it had to tolerate. It had its own agenda, its own desires, but for now, it needed Drake as much as Drake needed it. "But first, we must retrieve them," Riot continued, its voice taking on a more urgent, commanding edge.

Drake nodded, already considering the logistics of such a task. "I can take care of that," he said confidently. His mind was already working through the details—how to track down the other symbiotes, how to secure them without drawing unwanted attention, how to integrate them into his broader plans. But first, there was another matter to attend to, one that had been weighing on his mind since they had last left the containment chamber.

"Let's check on Carrie first," Drake suggested, his voice softening slightly as he thought of the girl.

Riot's eyes narrowed, the symbiote sensing the shift in Drake's demeanor. It knew there was more to this decision than simple concern. Still, it remained silent, receding back into Drake's body, content to let him lead—for now.

Drake continued down the dimly lit corridor, his thoughts turning inward. Carrie had always been different, even before Umbra. Stories about the Black Prom were major ever since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Many eyewitness accounts of seeing a girl covered in blood destroying the town without touching anything whatsoever. He then thought about his former colleague, Estelle Horan, when she had asked for time off due to a family matter in Chamberlain.

The memory of Estelle Horan gnawed at the edges of Drake's mind as he walked, her voice still clear in his thoughts even after all this time. She had been a brilliant researcher, driven and meticulous, always the first to arrive and the last to leave the lab. But something had changed in her after that trip to Chamberlain. She'd returned more reserved, almost haunted, her work suffering from a newfound hesitancy that Drake couldn't quite understand.

She had spoken of her family, of the tragic events in Chamberlain that had left deep scars in the small town. But it was the way she spoke of Carrie White that had piqued Drake's interest—how her eyes had darkened with a mixture of fear and reverence, how her voice had trembled as she recounted the stories, the rumors, the terrifying reality of what the girl had become.

Carrie White, the girl with unimaginable power, had been the subject of whispered conversations and half-believed myths ever since the day she had unleashed her fury on the town. The "Black Prom" had become a legend, a cautionary tale told by those who had witnessed the carnage firsthand. The accounts varied—some spoke of telekinesis, others of fire and blood, but all agreed on one thing: Carrie was no ordinary girl. She was something else, something more, a being capable of incredible destruction.

And after seeing Umbra first hand, Drake understood just how much more Carrie White could become. The events in Chamberlain had been no mere aberration. The power she had unleashed that night was but a fraction of what she could achieve with an entity like Umbra fused with her very essence. The potential was staggering, and the thought of harnessing that power—of perfecting it—sent a shiver of anticipation down his spine.

He had always been intrigued by stories of those who transcended the limits of human ability, but Carrie was different. She was a living embodiment of what Drake had been striving to create: a perfect fusion of human and something else, something beyond. She had the raw power, the rage, the potential to reshape the world—or to destroy it. And now, with Umbra inside her, that potential had only grown.

Drake's footsteps slowed as he reached the door to the containment chamber. The thick, reinforced steel was a stark reminder of the precautions they had been forced to take. Umbra was ancient, powerful, and fiercely independent, but it was also cunning. It had chosen Carrie for a reason, recognizing in her the same darkness, the same raw power that had once brought an entire town to its knees.

"They need to die," Riot's voice echoed in his head, a harsh whisper that resonated with an insistent urgency.

Drake paused, his hand hovering over the biometric scanner, his mind whirling with conflicting thoughts. He knew Riot was right in a way; if Carrie and Umbra lost control, the consequences could be catastrophic. But the very notion of eliminating them felt like abandoning everything he had worked for—the culmination of years of research, of sacrifice, of pushing the boundaries of what was possible.

"No," Drake said, his voice firm, though the uncertainty in his mind betrayed him. "We need her. Carrie is the key, Riot. She is our way forward."

"She is a liability," Riot hissed, its voice sharp and filled with disdain. "Umbra is too strong. The girl is unstable. They could ruin everything."

Drake clenched his jaw, struggling to maintain control over the alien presence within him. He could feel Riot's frustration, its simmering anger at his hesitation. But he couldn't shake the vision he had of what Carrie could become—a being of immense power, molded and directed by his guiding hand. It was too tantalizing a prospect to abandon.

"Then we make her stable," Drake replied, his voice cold with resolve. "We find a way to channel that power, to control it. We don't need to destroy her; we need to harness her."

There was a pause, a brief silence as Riot retreated into the recesses of Drake's mind, simmering but compliant—for now. Drake knew the symbiote was biding its time, waiting for an opportunity to assert its dominance. But Drake was determined to hold the reins, to steer the course according to his own design.

Carrie found herself sitting on the cold, hard floor, her body curled up into a protective ball. It felt all too familiar, reminiscent of the days when her mother would cruelly confine her to the suffocating darkness of the closet. Minutes would turn into hours, and Carrie would be left alone, abandoned and forgotten. The memories of her past torment flooded her mind, causing her heart to ache with a mixture of fear and sadness.

Lost in her thoughts, Carrie couldn't help but wonder about the whereabouts of Eddie and Venom. The last time she had seen them was at the hospital, amidst a heated argument that had triggered Venom's emergence. The deafening sound had unleashed the symbiote, but since then, they had vanished without a trace. Carrie felt a sense of isolation, trapped within the confines of the glass container in the Life Foundation, unaware of their fate.

"So, you have given up?" Umbra broke through the silence, echoing in her mind and jolting her out of her despair.

Carrie turned her head towards the glass, catching a glimpse of her own reflection. To her surprise, her eyes were no longer her own; they were consumed by darkness, a haunting reminder of Umbra's presence.

Confused, Carrie questioned Umbra's words, her voice filled with uncertainty. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Umbra's voice resonated within her, filled with a mix of concern and frustration. "You're surrendering, Carrie. Allowing Riot and Drake to continue their quest for world domination while you remain locked away."

Carrie shook her head, vehemently denying Umbra's accusation. "No, it's me who's trapped in here. I'm the one giving up. But you, Umbra, you're free," she replied, her voice laced with a tinge of bitterness.

Umbra's voice grew stronger, filled with determination. "Carrie, we are one. We share this body, this power. We cannot let them win."

Carrie felt the weight of Umbra's words sink in, the symbiote's presence wrapping around her consciousness like a shroud. She had always felt out of control, her powers more a curse than a gift, but now, with Umbra, the stakes were even higher. The thought of Drake and Riot continuing unchecked, of Eddie left alone somewhere in this godforsaken place, filled her with a deep, gnawing dread.

"How?" Carrie's voice wavered, her resolve faltering under the crushing pressure of her situation. "How can we fight them? I'm just... I'm just a girl, Umbra. I couldn't stop what happened at Prom. I... I..."

"You are more than what you were then," Umbra replied, its tone almost tender, as if coaxing her out of a dark corner. "You are stronger, more powerful than you realize. And with me, your potential is limitless."

Carrie shivered at the thought. She could feel the symbiote's power coursing through her, a dark and intoxicating force that promised vengeance, control, and an end to the constant fear that had plagued her life. But there was another part of her—a small, fragile part—that recoiled from it, that remembered the devastation she had already caused, the lives she had taken, and the irreversible damage she had done.

"I don't want to hurt anyone," Carrie whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled up in her eyes. "I just... I just want to be normal."

Umbra was silent for a moment, a strange, almost contemplative pause that made Carrie wonder if the entity truly understood her. When it spoke again, its voice was low, almost mournful. "Normal is not an option for us, Carrie. But we can choose how to wield our power. We can choose to protect—to prevent others from suffering as we have."

Carrie closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing, to calm the storm of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. She wanted to believe Umbra, wanted to think that she could be something more than the monster she had always feared she was. But the darkness, the power, it was so easy to lose herself in it, to become the very thing she hated.

Before she could respond, the door to the containment chamber creaked open. The sound was jarring, cutting through the silence like a knife. Carrie's eyes snapped open, and she pushed herself up from the floor, her body tense with fear and anticipation.

Drake stepped into the room, his presence commanding, exuding an air of calm authority. Behind him, Riot's presence loomed like a shadow, silent but menacing. Carrie could feel the weight of their combined gaze on her, assessing, calculating. It was as if they were measuring her worth, determining whether she was an asset or a threat.

"Carrie," Drake said, his voice smooth, almost soothing. "I've been thinking a lot about you, about what you can do. You're special, you know that? More special than you even realize."

Carrie remained silent, her eyes darting between Drake and the place where she knew Riot was lurking, just beneath the surface. The air in the room felt thick, oppressive, as if every molecule was charged with the tension between them.

Drake took a step closer, his expression softening as he continued, "You don't have to be afraid anymore, Carrie. I can help you. Together, we can learn to control your powers, to channel them for something greater. You can be a part of something extraordinary."

Carrie's mind raced. She knew this was a lie, a manipulation designed to bend her to his will. But at the same time, a part of her longed for the promise he was offering—the promise of control, of belonging, of finally being something other than a victim.

But Umbra's voice cut through the haze of her thoughts, sharp and urgent. "Don't trust him, Carrie. He wants to use you. Just like your mother, just like everyone else. You are a tool to him, nothing more."

Carrie clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. She could feel the darkness rising inside her, a boiling rage that threatened to consume her, to unleash itself on Drake and Riot without hesitation.

Drake noticed the change in her, the subtle shift in her demeanor, and he took another step forward, his hands held up in a gesture of peace. "I understand your anger, Carrie. I know what it feels like to be used, to be betrayed. But I'm not your enemy. We can work together. We can change the world."

"Change the world?" Carrie echoed, her voice trembling with barely restrained emotion. "You want to destroy it."

Drake's expression hardened slightly, but he quickly masked it with a calm, almost paternal smile. "Not destroy. Transform. Humanity is on a path to extinction, Carrie. We're running out of time. But with your power, with Umbra, we can create something new. Something better."

Carrie felt the words pulling at her, tempting her with the possibility of finally having a purpose, of being more than just a girl with too much power and too little control. But then she remembered the blood, the fire, the screams of terror as she had unleashed her fury on Prom Night. She remembered the look in Eddie's eyes the last time she saw him, the way he had tried to protect her despite everything.

"No," Carrie whispered, shaking her head as tears began to stream down her face. "I won't do it. I won't be your monster."

Drake's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, a flash of irritation broke through his calm facade. "You don't have a choice, Carrie," he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "If you don't help me willingly, then I'll make sure you have no other option."

He pressed a button and the sonic sound came, making her wince. The sudden high-pitched shriek from the sonic weapon hit Carrie like a physical blow. She crumpled to the floor, her hands flying to her ears as she tried to block out the deafening noise. The sound pierced through her skull, reverberating in every nerve, and she could feel Umbra writhing inside her, trying to hold on but faltering against the sonic onslaught.

"Stop it!" Carrie screamed, her voice barely audible over the screeching noise.

Drake stood there, unmoved, his expression cold and calculating. "This is just a fraction of the power I can wield, Carrie," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I don't want to hurt you. But I will if that's what it takes to make you see reason."

Riot began to surface, its hulking form starting to ripple across Drake's body, its own growl mixing with the sonic assault. The creature's silver eyes gleamed with malevolent glee, eager to enforce Drake's will.

Carrie's body was trembling, her muscles locked in pain. She could feel Umbra's grip on her weakening, the bond they shared struggling to remain intact under the pressure. A part of her wanted to give in, to make the pain stop, to surrender and let whatever Drake and Riot had planned happen.

Then, Drake pressed the button and the sonic sound stopped, silence returning to the room. Carrie remained on the floor, panting heavily as the silence enveloped her like a cold blanket. Her ears rang, her head pounding from the aftereffects of the sonic attack. Umbra's presence inside her was faint, distant, like a flickering flame barely holding on. For a moment, she wasn't sure if they could continue—if she could withstand much more of this.

Drake stepped closer, his calm demeanor returning. He looked down at her with an almost paternal gaze, though the coldness in his eyes betrayed his true intentions. "You see now, Carrie? Resistance is pointless. You're too fragile to handle this on your own. But with my guidance, with Riot by my side and Umbra by yours, we can build something far greater than either of us could imagine. Together, we could be unstoppable."

Riot's hulking figure loomed behind him, silent and menacing, ready to strike. Carrie could feel its hunger, its desire for chaos and domination seeping through the air like poison. She swallowed hard, her heart pounding, her mind racing. She knew Drake was dangerous, far more dangerous than she had first realized. He wasn't just trying to control her—he was trying to reshape the world, and he was willing to destroy anyone who stood in his way.

She thought of Eddie and Venom, of how they had fought back, how they had protected her. And now, with Umbra, she wasn't just the frightened girl she used to be. She had power—terrible power, yes, but power that could be used for more than destruction.

"You're wrong, Drake," she said, her voice low but steady. She slowly pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the way her body ached from the sonic attack. "I don't need you. I don't need Riot. You're the one who's afraid. You're afraid of what I can do."

Drake's expression darkened, his lips thinning into a tight line. "You're playing a dangerous game, Carrie. You're out of your depth."

Carrie shook her head, a spark of defiance flaring in her chest. "No. You don't control me."

Umbra stirred inside her, weak but present, its voice a soft murmur in her mind. "We are stronger than them..."

"Fine, have it your way then," Drake said and stormed away from her.

As Drake stormed out of the room, his footsteps echoed in the cold, sterile chamber. The heavy door slammed shut behind him, leaving Carrie in the suffocating quiet of her containment cell. She remained standing, her body trembling from exhaustion, but her resolve was solidifying like steel.

Umbra's voice was still faint but there, pulsing like a low hum within her mind. "We need time to recover, Carrie, but when we do, we must strike. He will return—more ruthless, more desperate."

Carrie sank back against the glass wall, sliding to the floor. She wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to steady her breathing. The pain from the sonic attack still lingered, like a jagged shard stuck in her mind, but her thoughts were clearing. Drake had shown her his hand. He wanted control, power, and domination. But now, she understood something he hadn't anticipated: she wasn't powerless anymore. She wasn't just the scared girl from Prom.

"I don't know if I'm ready for this," she muttered aloud, her voice shaking.

"You are," Umbra replied with surprising calm. "You are stronger than you think. You've survived worse than Drake."

Carrie closed her eyes and tried to focus on the connection she shared with Umbra. It wasn't easy. Every time she reached for the power, she felt the temptation to unleash it all, to burn everything down around her like she had done at Prom. That darkness was still inside her, coiled and ready, waiting to devour anyone who stood in its way. But now, she had Umbra, and with the symbiote, she had something else: control.

She could feel Umbra's strength returning, slowly but surely. And with it, she felt her own confidence grow. "We'll stop him, won't we?" Carrie whispered.

"Yes," Umbra's voice promised. "But we must be smart. Drake will return with more force. Riot will not be easily beaten."

Carrie nodded, forcing herself to stand once more. Her legs were weak, but she locked her knees and straightened her back. She thought of many things, but it all came to one point: why was she the one to keep Umbra inside her? Was she chosen for it?

"If I tell you, will you be able to handle it?" Umbra asked cautiously, as if she was reading her thoughts. "Are you willing to listen?"

Carrie nodded, her curiosity overpowering her fear. "Just tell me what happened to you. How did you end up in my head?"

There was a moment of silence before Umbra finally spoke. "You're familiar with Knull, my father?" she began, and Carrie nodded in response. "He was engaged in a war with the Celestials and various other life forms in space."

Carrie's eyes widened, thinking about this dream - or vision - of Umbra dying in a battlefield in Venom's arms. But they were running from Riot after he attacked them. Yet she couldn't figure out if it was Riot or something else entirely.

"I remember," Carrie whispered, recalling the fragmented visions she had seen—the chaotic war, the raw destruction, and the chilling presence of Knull, the god of symbiotes. "But why me? Why did you come to Earth, to me?"

Umbra's voice softened, as if she was navigating painful memories. "I didn't choose you specifically, Carrie. It's a lot more complex than this. There was a rebellion among the symbiotes, a war to break free from Knull's control. Riot... he stayed loyal, but I... I wanted freedom, like Venom. I wanted to escape the endless cycle of domination and destruction."

"But how does this got something to do with me?" Carrie asked, sounded a little frustrated. "That's what I don't understand."

"Now, this is where it gets complicated," Umbra said. "I was weakening rapidly, getting closer to death. It was around that time where a ritual took place on Earth, beneath the Black Moon. I don't remember the specifics, but somehow, your mother was chosen. She became entwined in the web of fate, unknowingly playing a part in our story."

Carrie's denial surged forth, her voice laced with disbelief. "No, that can't be true! My mother is religious, yes, but she would never willingly involve herself in something like that. She would denounce it as a cult!"

Silence filled the room. Umbra's voice was gentle but firm, unyielding in the face of Carrie's protest. "Carrie, your mother may not have known the full extent of what was happening. But your father..." Umbra continued, "Your father was a key figure in the ritual. He had a part to play in it, whether by choice or by fate. The ritual was intended to summon something powerful, something ancient. When it succeeded, I found my way to Earth, to you. The connection was made—my essence bound with your being."

Carrie's mind whirled with this new revelation. Her father, her mother, a ritual beneath the Black Moon—it all seemed like an intricate web of destiny and darkness she had never fully understood. It made sense in a way, though it was hard to accept.

"But why me?" Carrie asked, her voice cracking under the weight of the truth. "Why was I the one chosen to bond with you?"

"It wasn't about choice, Carrie," Umbra explained. "It was about necessity. The ritual sought a vessel, someone with the potential to contain the power of an entity and harness it. You were that vessel, whether by chance or design. You were strong, even if you didn't realize it. And now, together, we have a chance to reshape this world."

Carrie felt a mixture of fear and determination rise within her. The knowledge that she was a part of something so much larger than herself was overwhelming. But it also ignited a fire in her, a resolve to fight against Drake and Riot, to use her powers for something other than destruction.

Drake's earlier words echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the peril they faced. Yet, she could also see the potential for a different path—one where she could use her abilities to protect and to make a difference, rather than to fall under the influence of those who sought to control and destroy.

"I need to find Eddie and Venom," Carrie said firmly, rising to her feet with renewed purpose. "They can help us fight back. They'll understand. They can help me control this power."

Umbra's presence within her was a reassuring force, a reminder that she wasn't alone in this struggle. "Agreed. We need to regain our strength and locate them. They are key allies in this fight."

As Carrie began to plan her next move, she felt a new sense of clarity. With Umbra's power and the potential help of Eddie and Venom, she could take a stand against Drake and Riot.

The room was still, the silence a stark contrast to the chaos she had just endured. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Carrie looked at the glass walls of her containment cell, envisioning her escape. She would need to be smart, to use every ounce of her power and cunning. The road ahead was fraught with danger, but she was no longer just a frightened girl in a dark closet. She was something more—something that had the potential to change the world.

And with that resolve, she started to formulate her plan, her mind already racing with strategies to free herself, to reunite with Eddie and Venom, and to take the fight to Drake and Riot. The world was on the brink of chaos, but Carrie was ready to face it head-on, with every ounce of her newfound strength and determination.

But before she could do anything, the door opened and footsteps approached her.

Shock took over her as Carrie recognized who had just walked in. "Estelle...?"

The sky was pitched black with no signs of stars or the moon anywhere, a thick veil of darkness that seemed to swallow the forest whole. Eddie trudged through the dense underbrush, his boots crunching on the fallen leaves and twigs beneath him. The cool night air bit at his skin, but the tension kept him alert. He could hear the steady rhythm of footsteps behind him—Treece and the three Life Foundation guards, their weapons trained on his back. They walked in silence, save for the occasional rustle of the wind through the trees, but Eddie could feel their eyes on him, their fingers poised on the triggers.

It was the same forest he had once sprinted through, heart pounding, with Carrie by his side. Back then, they were running for their lives, trying to escape from the chaos Drake had unleashed. Now, here he was again, walking calmly through the same woods, no longer fleeing but still a prisoner in a different sense. The twisted irony wasn't lost on him.

"Yeah, what you gonna do?" Eddie muttered, breaking the silence with a low, sarcastic tone. "You gonna walk me to death?"

Treece, visibly irritated by the comment, snapped back immediately, his voice sharp and filled with frustration. "Shut up!" The harshness of his tone cut through the night, hanging in the air like a threat unspoken.

Eddie sighed heavily, the weight of his situation pressing down on him. He came to an abrupt stop, no longer willing to keep up the charade of cooperating. What was the point of pretending he had a chance here? He was outnumbered, unarmed, and—most importantly—without Venom. His symbiote, the one thing that made him more than an average man, was silent, cut off somewhere in the Life Foundation's lab, leaving Eddie vulnerable and exposed.

Treece saw his hesitation and couldn't resist taunting him. "Not so tough without your friend, are you?" His voice was laced with smug satisfaction, the click of pistols cocking behind him punctuating the remark. The sound of guns being readied made Eddie's muscles tighten instinctively, but he didn't flinch. They were waiting for an excuse to shoot, to end this game of cat and mouse once and for all.

Eddie slowly turned to face them, his hands still raised in surrender but his expression defiant, a crooked smile playing on his lips. He looked Treece dead in the eye, unafraid. "Did your mama not love you?" he asked, his voice dripping with mock sympathy.

Treece's face contorted with anger. The remark hit deeper than Eddie had expected, and for a brief second, Eddie could see a flicker of something raw in Treece's eyes—a buried rage, maybe even pain. Treece's lips tightened into a thin line, and he raised his gun a fraction higher, the tension in his body coiling like a spring about to snap.

Treece whacked Eddie's face with his gun, knocking him to the ground.

"Damn it!" Eddie grunted.

"You think you're funny, Brock?" Treece growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You think this is some kind of joke?"

Eddie's face winced at the pain, rubbing his nose. "No joke," he replied, rising from the ground. "You know, it doesn't matter if you kill me anyway, because there's something way bigger afoot in this world than you and me."

One of the guards shifted uneasily behind Treece, his eyes flicking between his boss and Eddie. The forest around them felt suffocating, the darkness pressing in from all sides, but Eddie's words hung in the air like a ticking bomb. Treece took a step closer, his gun now aimed directly at Eddie's chest.

Suddenly, one of the guards got pulled into the trees. Eddie spotted it and a little smirk was on his face, seemingly knowing what did it.

"Much bigger than me," he whispered as another guard disappeared into the trees in the same fashion. "And it's much, much bigger than you."

He chuckled as the third and last guard was gone, dragged into the tree. "Karma's a bitch."

"I don't believe in karma," Treece snarled, his grip on the gun tightening, but something spun him around.

A black creature threw its head forward and Treece's head completely disappeared into its mouth. It followed with a crunch and his headless body fell to the ground.

"Oh!" Eddie exclaimed, his eyes closing and opening and his body reacting. "Ooh!"

The creature stepped before Eddie, her form both familiar and alien. The glossy black skin rippled with the same oily fluidity as Venom's, but her body was leaner, more graceful. She moved with an unsettling elegance, her every step deliberate and predatory. The sleek curves of her body gave her an almost human shape, but her elongated limbs and sharp, menacing teeth reminded Eddie of just how far from human she truly was.

Eddie blinked, still trying to process what he was seeing. His brain scrambled to catch up with his instinctive reaction to the violence. "What the hell?" he muttered under his breath, eyes widening as he took in her appearance.

The creature smiled, revealing rows of jagged teeth that gleamed in the darkness. Her voice slithered out in a sultry, yet dangerous tone. "Hi, Eddie," she purred, her voice vibrating in the air like a low growl, both seductive and deadly.

"Whoa," Eddie exclaimed and the lady Venom picked him up from his top. "Whoa..."

The lady Venom crouched down and picked Eddie up, earning a "oh" from him. Then, the symbiote leaned her face forward and pressed her lips to his.

Eddie froze, his mind racing as the kiss caught him completely off guard. The slick, inky blackness of the symbiote was cold, almost electric, and he could feel it slithering against his skin. His initial shock began to wane, replaced by a strange, unsettling familiarity. This wasn't just any symbiote—there was something more here, something that felt both intimate and foreign at the same time.

Eddie hummed and moaned at the kiss as the sensation overwhelmed him. He could feel the symbiote's presence seeping into his thoughts, not like Venom's usual brash intrusion, but something more subtle, more enticing. The tendrils of the symbiote teased at the edges of his consciousness, whispering promises of power and connection that felt dangerously alluring. Eddie tried to pull back, but her grip on him tightened, the kiss deepening as the symbiote's influence coiled around his mind.

Then, he felt his body pushing away and his eyes fluttered open to see Anne standing there, taking in short breaths and looking at her surroundings. Seeing the headless body, she gasped softly.

"Oh, no," she whispered and looked at Eddie. "I just bit that guy's head off."

"I know, I know," Eddie replied, feeling the symbiote's presence inside him, an odd familiarity that he missed. "I've been there, too. It's not fun."

"The one with Drake is Riot," Venom's voice ringed in his head.

"I kinda figure that part out," Eddie said back, leaning forward, his hands resting on his knees.

"He's what you would call a team leader," Venom continued. "He has an arsenal of weapons."

"Drake's got his own symbiote. And he has Carrie too."

Anne's expression hardened at the mention of Carrie. She glanced at Eddie, a mixture of guilt and determination written across her face. "I know," she said, her voice tense. "But we're going to get her back. Estelle's already on it."

"Estelle?" Eddie straightened up, his brow furrowing. "The hell is she doing here?"

Anne nodded, catching her breath as the symbiote within her pulsed in tune with her rising emotions. "She's at the lab. She's trying to find Carrie while we deal with this."

"She doesn't know about Riot," Venom said. "He is unstoppable. He will tear her apart."

"Oh, great!" Eddie replied sarcastically.

"We have got to go!" the symbiote's voice roared.

"Where we going?" he muttered.

"Well, I'm coming with you," Anne said, joining in.

"No!" Venom's voice boomed. "It's going to get ugly."

"Well, she can fight ugly," Eddie argued back. "Trust me."

"Yeah, I can fight ugly," Anne agreed.

Venom emerged from Eddie's back, his height grew twice as large as his host, and his pupil-less white eyes stared down at Anne. "Not today," he said in his deep tone before running away from her.

"Oh, that's bullshit!" Anne shouted at them.

Venom bolted through the trees, his powerful legs propelling him forward in long, rapid strides. His sleek, black tendrils lashed out, cutting through the dense underbrush with ease as they sped deeper into the forest. Despite the intensity of the situation, Eddie couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. Having Venom back felt like putting on armor—familiar and empowering, even if he knew what awaited them was anything but simple.

"Carrie," Eddie muttered, his thoughts racing through him. "She better be okay."

"She will be... if we hurry," Venom replied in his guttural tone, moving a lot faster. "And besides, she has Umbra, but Riot is no joke. He is far more dangerous than the others. You must be prepared."

"Yeah, well, I've taken on worse," Eddie quipped, though he knew Venom was right. Riot wasn't just another symbiote; he was a leader, someone who knew how to wield power—and Drake, with all his resources and twisted ambition, was probably using that power to its fullest extent.

They charged through the woods, Eddie's mind flashing back to Anne's words. Estelle was out there, trying to find Carrie in the Life Foundation's lab. The thought of Estelle, unarmed and unaware of Riot's presence, gnawed at him. She had no idea what she was walking into. But there was one thing that he bothered him. "We just left Annie."

"It is not safe for her," the symbiote explained. "If we do not stop Riot, he will come back here with millions more of my kind."

"Millions? What, you were gonna take the rocket, and you were gonna come back here with an invasion force? Then what were you gonna do, you were gonna go feed on a whole planet?"

"Yes! But it is different now, Eddie. I have decided to stay," Venom jumped on a tree and held onto a branch. "On my planet, I am kind of a loser, like you. But here, we could be more."

"Excuse me?" Eddie was caught off guard.

"And I'm getting to like it here," the symbiote admitted.

"Oh, you like us now, do you, huh?" the host asked.

Venom jumped from trees to trees until they broke through the treeline, the massive Life Foundation building looming ahead. The complex looked even more imposing in the pitch-black night, only its stark white lights cutting through the darkness. "However, there will be nothing left to like if we do not stop that rocket," he resumed.

"Oh, I see," Eddie said. "Right. When it comes to being completely annihilated, then it's back to 'we'."

"It is 'we'. Like it or not, it is going to take both of us."

"Hey, come on, man. Cut the bullshit. What really made you change your mind?"

Venom paused for a moment, perched on the branch of a tall tree, the wind rustling through the leaves around them. The symbiote's massive form seemed to ripple in the moonlight, its usually blunt tone now carrying a note of sincerity that surprised Eddie.

"You," Venom rumbled his answer. "And Carrie. You both did."

"Me and Carrie?" Eddie asked, incredulous. "Really? That's what did it?"

Venom swung from the tree, landing heavily on the forest floor, the ground beneath them trembling slightly from the impact.

"Yes," the symbiote confirmed. "You care for her. I can feel it. She is... important to you, much like how Umbra is important to me. Like Anne."

"Yeah, she's important," Eddie admitted quietly. "I've gotta get her back. We've gotta stop Drake."

"We will," Venom growled. "But we must act quickly. Riot's plan is already in motion. The rocket launch is imminent."

Venom surged forward, his massive legs carrying them swiftly across the open ground toward the Life Foundation.

"Carrie," Estelle said softly, her eyes scanning the room before resting on Carrie. There was a mixture of concern and determination in her gaze, the same look she had whenever Carrie had needed her most in the past. "I'm here to get you out."

Carrie felt a lump form in her throat, her emotions swirling between hope and doubt. "How... How did you find me? How are you here?" Her voice wavered, as if she couldn't believe that salvation could have arrived so unexpectedly.

Estelle stepped forward, her boots echoing on the floor, but her movements were measured and cautious. "I managed to pic-pocketed a security pass to this room."

Carrie stared in disbelief, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion, relief, and suspicion. Estelle was supposed to be gone, far away from the chaos that had taken over her life, yet here she was, standing before her in the flesh. There had to be a catch.

"Estelle, this place... it's dangerous. Why would you come here? You're putting yourself at risk." Carrie's voice was barely above a whisper, still hoarse from the sonic assault and the overwhelming strain of the past few days.

Estelle crouched down beside Carrie, her eyes soft but resolute. "Because I couldn't leave you to face this alone. You've been through enough already. I had to make sure you were okay." She glanced toward the door, as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment. "We don't have much time, Carrie. Drake will be back soon, and I don't think he'll be as patient as before."

Carrie swallowed hard. Estelle's presence was like a balm, a reminder of a simpler time, before the darkness, before Prom, before Umbra and the symbiotes. But she also knew Estelle had no idea what she was walking into.

"Estelle... there's so much you don't know. I'm not the same person you think I am." Carrie's voice cracked, the weight of her guilt heavy on her chest. "I'm dangerous now. Drake—he's after me because of what's inside me. Because of Umbra."

Estelle's eyes flickered with understanding, but she didn't flinch. "I don't care what they've done to you, Carrie. We'll figure it out together. Just like always. You're still you. Whatever's inside you, we'll find a way to get through it."

Carrie hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. She wanted to believe Estelle, to believe that there was still a way out of this that didn't involve destruction. But the darkness inside her, the power that Umbra had given her, was always there, ready to lash out.

"She's right, Carrie," Umbra's voice whispered inside her, quiet but firm. "You don't have to be alone in this. With allies, we stand a chance."

Before Carrie could respond, a loud thud echoed from down the hall, followed by the sharp bark of voices.

"They're coming," Estelle said, standing quickly and reaching into her jacket. She pulled out a small, sleek device—some kind of security bypass tool. "I got this off one of the guards. It'll disable the alarms and get us out of this room, but we have to move fast."

Carrie's heart pounded in her chest. Her mind raced, torn between fear and determination. Estelle's plan was reckless, and yet... it was the first real chance she'd had at escape since Drake had imprisoned her.

"Okay," Carrie said, rising to her feet, her legs still shaky. She clenched her fists, feeling the faint pulse of Umbra's power thrumming through her veins. "Let's go."

With a nod, Estelle approached the door, her fingers working quickly over the keypad. Carrie stood behind her, tension coiling in her gut as the seconds ticked by. Each sound from the hallway seemed louder, more ominous, the threat of discovery looming closer with every breath.

Finally, the door hissed open with a soft click. Estelle glanced over her shoulder at Carrie. "Ready?"

Carrie nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she steeled herself for whatever was waiting beyond the door. Together, they stepped into the corridor, the sterile lights above casting long shadows on the floor. The hallway was eerily quiet, but Carrie knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. Drake and Riot were out there somewhere, and she had no doubt they were hunting her.

"Stay close," Estelle whispered, her voice barely audible. "We're not out of this yet."

They moved swiftly, keeping to the shadows, their footsteps light and deliberate. As they rounded a corner, Carrie's heart leaped into her throat—two security guards were standing near the next door, their backs turned to them.

"Now or never," Estelle muttered under her breath, glancing at Carrie for confirmation.

Carrie could feel Umbra stirring inside her, its strength returning, ready to act. She met Estelle's gaze and gave a short nod.

In an instant, Carrie felt Umbra's power flare to life within her. With a subtle gesture of her hand, the shadows around them seemed to shift, bending toward the guards like living tendrils. Before either of them could react, the shadows enveloped them, muffling their cries and pulling them into unconsciousness.

Estelle looked back at Carrie, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. "That was... I didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I," Carrie admitted, her voice trembling slightly. She could still feel the pull of the darkness, the seductive allure of her powers. It scared her, how easily she had used them, but there was no time to dwell on it now.

They continued down the hallway, moving faster now. The building seemed to stretch on endlessly, each turn leading them deeper into the labyrinth of sterile corridors and locked doors. Carrie's heart pounded in her chest, fear gnawing at her with every step. Would they make it out before Drake found them? Would Eddie and Venom even be able to help?

Just as they neared the next door, a voice echoed down the hall behind them—a low, menacing growl that sent chills racing down Carrie's spine.

"Going somewhere?"

Carrie froze, her blood turning to ice as she recognized the voice. Riot.

Estelle grabbed her arm, pulling her forward. "Carrie, we have to move!"

But it was too late. Riot's hulking form materialized at the far end of the hallway, his silver pupil-less eyes gleaming with malevolent amusement. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you? I warned you. You can't escape this. Not without paying the price."

Carrie's heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing for a way out. They were trapped, caught between Riot's monstrous form and the locked door in front of them.

"Umbra, now!" she thought, reaching for the entity's power with everything she had.

But before she could act, Estelle stepped in front of her, shielding Carrie with her own body.

"Go!" Estelle shouted, her voice filled with raw determination. "I'll hold him off. Get out of here, Carrie!"

"No!" Carrie cried, reaching for Estelle, but she was already moving, sprinting toward Drake and Riot with reckless abandon.

The sound of a metallic pierce echoed and a sudden burst of human flesh erupted. Carrie's breath caught in her throat, her mind screaming at her to move, to fight, to do something—anything—but she was frozen in place, terror and shock paralyzing her.

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