You're sitting with Peter at his school during lunch, the cafeteria buzzing with chatter and the clinking of trays. The two of you are tucked away in a quieter corner, Peter's textbook open between you as he explains some concept from his physics class that, frankly, you're only half listening to. Venom hums softly in your mind, a comforting presence as you absentmindedly poke at your sandwich.

But then, a shadow looms over your table, casting a dark presence that even Venom stiffens at.

"Well, well, well," a smug voice cuts through the noise. "If it isn't the new girl."

You glance up to see a broad-shouldered guy standing there, his letterman jacket slung casually over his shoulder, a cocky grin plastered across his face. His posture screams arrogance, and you don't need Peter's muttered, "Oh no," to realize exactly who this is.

"I'm Flash Thompson," he announces, as if he expects you to swoon at the introduction. "And you are?"

You raise an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Not interested."

Peter shoots you a nervous glance, silently begging you not to provoke him. Flash, however, doesn't take the hint. He leans in, bracing both hands on the table as he gets uncomfortably close, his grin widening.

"Oh, feisty," he sneers, eyes narrowing as he looks you over. "I like that. But see, here's the thing—you're sitting with Parker. And I make it my mission to make Parker's life miserable."

Venom growls softly in your mind, his voice dripping with disdain. "This one is weak. Pathetic. Let me deal with him."

You resist the urge to smirk, keeping your expression neutral. "Is that so?" you say coolly, leaning back in your chair. "Seems like a pretty sad mission to me."

Flash's grin falters for a split second before he recovers. "You've got guts, I'll give you that." He straightens up, crossing his arms over his chest. "But you don't know how things work around here, new girl. Stick with Parker, and you're gonna have a rough time."

Peter's face flushes red with embarrassment and anger. "Flash, leave her alone."

Flash ignores him, his attention locked on you. "So, what's it gonna be?" he asks, his tone mocking. "You wanna hang with the losers, or you wanna run with the big dogs?"

You stand slowly, locking eyes with him. There's a flicker of something in your gaze—something dangerous, something ancient. Venom pulses beneath your skin, eager to be let loose. But you keep him in check, for now.

"I'm not interested in running with dogs," you say, your voice low and even. "But if you come at me again, Flash... you'll see that some things bite back."

There's a beat of silence as your words hang in the air. Flash shifts uncomfortably, suddenly unsure.

Peter stands beside you, his hand brushing yours in quiet solidarity. "Come on," he says softly. "Let's go."

As you walk away, Venom chuckles in your mind. "You should have let me at him."

"Not yet," you reply silently, a small smirk playing at your lips. "But if he tries anything again... he's all yours."

SCENEBREAK

The afternoon sunlight filters through the windows as you and Peter walk down the school hallway, the sound of your footsteps echoing softly. Peter is nervously rambling about his homework, trying to make conversation, but your mind is elsewhere. Venom is unusually quiet, lurking just beneath your skin, ever watchful.

Then, without warning, a deafening crash shatters the calm.

Glass explodes inward as something massive bursts through the school window, sending shards raining down. Students scream and scatter, their footsteps thundering down the hall in a chaotic stampede. You instinctively grab Peter and pull him behind a row of lockers for cover.

When the dust settles, your eyes widen at the sight before you.

Standing in the wreckage is The Beetle. His dark metallic armor gleams under the fluorescent lights, insect-like mandibles twitching as he scans the hallway. His mechanical wings hum with energy, the sharp edges glinting menacingly. He looks like something straight out of a nightmare—a predator ready to strike.

"Y/N L/N," Beetle hisses, his voice distorted through the modulator in his helmet. "We have unfinished business."

Venom stirs immediately, surging to the surface. "He's here for us. Let me out."

Peter tugs at your arm, panic in his eyes. "Y/N, run!"

But you don't move. Instead, you take a step forward, standing your ground. "Venom," you murmur, your voice calm but commanding. "Now."

Black tendrils ripple across your skin as Venom bursts forth, his form wrapping protectively around you. His sharp teeth glint as he grins, his voice a low, menacing growl.

"You want her?" Venom snarls. "You'll have to go through us."

Without hesitation, Beetle charges, his armored body slamming into Venom with a metallic clang. The force of the impact sends you both skidding backward, but Venom digs his claws into the floor, anchoring himself.

Beetle's arm cannons whir to life, firing bolts of energy in rapid succession. Venom dodges each blast with inhuman agility, flipping over lockers and vaulting off walls. He lashes out with a tendril, wrapping around Beetle's arm and yanking him off balance.

But Beetle is fast. Too fast. He twists midair, his wings slicing through Venom's tendril like a hot knife through butter.

Venom roars in frustration. "This armor is strong. Too strong."

"Then let's break it," you say through gritted teeth.

Venom lunges again, this time targeting the joints in Beetle's armor. His claws screech against the metal, sparks flying as he tears at the weak points. Beetle stumbles, his armor cracking under the assault.

"ENOUGH!" Beetle roars, unfurling his wings and taking to the air. He hovers above the hallway, his cannons aimed directly at you.

Peter, who has been watching from behind cover, finally springs into action. He webs Beetle's wings, yanking him back down to the ground. "You're not wrecking my school, pal!"

The three of you converge in a whirlwind of chaos. Venom's claws slash, Peter's webs tangle, and Beetle's armor chips away piece by piece.

Finally, Venom lands a decisive blow—a powerful punch that shatters Beetle's chest plate, sending the villain crashing to the floor.

Beetle groans, trying to push himself up, but Venom looms over him, teeth bared. "Leave. Her. Alone."

Beetle's glowing eyes flicker, his systems clearly damaged. "This isn't over," he spits before activating his emergency thrusters and blasting out through the ruined window.

As the dust settles, Venom retreats back into your skin, leaving you standing there, panting and covered in scratches.

Peter approaches cautiously, his wide eyes filled with awe. "That... was insane."

You give him a tired smile, wiping a trickle of blood from your temple. "Welcome to my life."

Venom chuckles darkly in your mind. "He'll be back."

"I know," you reply silently. "But so will we."

You feel it first—a ripple of wrongness in the air, something off that makes your skin prickle with unease. Venom coils protectively around your shoulders, his tendrils twitching in agitation.

"Something else is here..." Venom murmurs, his voice low and wary.

Your gaze darts toward the wreckage left behind by the Beetle's attack, and that's when you see it. The door to a janitor's closet creaks open, and a figure stumbles out—Flash Thompson.

But something is wrong.

Flash is hunched over, his movements jerky and unnatural. His varsity jacket is torn, and there's something spreading across his body, slithering up his arms and neck like oil slick tendrils. The substance gleams in the dim light, dark and viscous, with streaks of blood-red cutting through it like veins.

Your heart skips a beat as you realize what it is.

Another symbiote.

"F-Flash?" Peter stammers, his voice shaking with disbelief. He takes a cautious step forward, but you grab his arm to stop him. Venom growls softly near your ear, sensing the danger.

Flash straightens slowly, and when he turns toward you, your blood runs cold.

His face is barely recognizable, twisted with rage and something far more primal. His eyes glow a sinister red, his mouth stretching into a jagged grin filled with too many teeth. A long, serpent-like tongue lashes out, flicking the air hungrily.

"We are... TOXIN!"

The voice is guttural and layered, a monstrous chorus that sends shivers down your spine. Toxin's chest heaves with each breath, the symbiote's rage palpable in the air.

Peter stumbles backward, eyes wide with horror. "Flash? Is that... you?"

But Flash—or rather, Toxin—doesn't answer.

Instead, he snarls, his claws flexing, and his gaze locks onto you. For a moment, you see something in his expression—recognition, perhaps? Or maybe just instinct.

Venom bristles, his tendrils flaring defensively. "He's not the same anymore. He's one of us now. But... different. Stronger."

Toxin's grin widens, his teeth glinting menacingly. "We're stronger than you think."

Without warning, Toxin lunges toward the shattered window, his massive frame moving with terrifying speed. He crashes through the broken glass, his tendrils whipping out behind him as he disappears into the night.

You and Peter rush to the window, watching in stunned silence as Toxin leaps from rooftop to rooftop, following the trail left by the Beetle.

Peter exhales shakily, his voice trembling. "What just happened? Flash... He's... He's got a symbiote too?"

You nod slowly, your heart still racing. "Yeah. And it's not just any symbiote."

Venom's voice echoes in your mind, dark and foreboding. "It's Toxin—the spawn of Carnage. He's dangerous. More dangerous than us."

Peter glances at you, his expression filled with concern. "What do we do?"

You clench your fists, determination hardening your gaze. "We find him. And we stop him—before he loses himself completely."

Venom hums in agreement, his voice a quiet whisper in your mind. "The hunt begins."