I awoke to the sterile, white glow of fluorescent lights overhead. The sharp, antiseptic scent filled my nose as my eyes adjusted to the bright surroundings. I realized I was lying on a cold, metal examination table, various machines beeping softly around me. Dr. Connors himself was pacing nearby, scribbling notes on a clipboard, occasionally glancing at me with a calculating expression.

I sighed, trying to sit up, my body heavy and sluggish. As soon as I gathered my strength, I reached out mentally, calling to Venom. Buddy, you there? My voice echoed in the empty corridors of my mind, but there was no answer.

A cold pit opened up in my stomach. Panic began to creep in as I tried again, focusing harder this time. Venom! Answer me! Still, nothing. It was as if the connection I'd always felt—an intrinsic part of me—was severed.

I gritted my teeth, willing Venom to manifest, to coat me in his protective armor, but nothing happened. My hands remained bare, trembling slightly as the fear took root.

Dr. Connors noticed my struggle and approached, his face a mix of sympathy and regret. He placed the clipboard down and gave me a small, almost fatherly smile, though it did little to ease the sinking feeling in my chest.

"I think..." he began, hesitating as though choosing his words carefully. "I think you've lost him, L/N. Venom. I'm sorry."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I froze, staring at him in disbelief. Lost him? That couldn't be true. Venom was always with me. We were a team. A bond deeper than words.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. My voice wavered, but my resolve hardened. "You're wrong. He's still here. I'll find him."

Dr. Connors frowned, concern flickering in his eyes. "I understand this is hard to process. But whatever happened during the incident... it seems the symbiote is gone."

I clenched my fists, refusing to believe it. Venom couldn't just disappear. Something had happened—something that wasn't natural. And I wasn't about to sit here and let this be the end of us.

Just then, the doors to the lab slid open with a quiet hiss, and I turned my head just in time to see Spider-Man, Nova, White Tiger, and the whole crew filing in. Relief washed over their faces as they spotted me, smiles breaking out despite the tension that still hung in the air.

"There you are!" Nova called out, striding over with his usual confidence, though there was an edge of concern in his voice. He reached my side quickly, his trademark grin softening into something more genuine. "You need to stop scaring us like that. We thought you were gone for good."

As he spoke, he pulled something from behind his back—a single, perfectly bloomed rose. His golden helmet caught the light as he extended it toward me, his smile playful yet sincere. "Here," he added, his tone lighter, teasing but warm.

I blinked, caught off guard by the gesture, and for a moment, all the worry about Venom faded into the background. I took the rose hesitantly, its soft petals brushing against my fingers as Nova continued smirking, clearly enjoying the moment.

Spider-Man stepped up behind him, crossing his arms with a mock-stern look. "Seriously, though, Shadow. You gave us all a heart attack. What happened out there?"

White Tiger and Iron Fist hovered in the background, their expressions a mix of curiosity and relief. I glanced down at the rose in my hand, then back up at Nova, who was still grinning like he'd just saved the world single-handedly.

"I..." My voice wavered for a second, and I cleared my throat, trying to compose myself. "I don't know yet. But whatever it is, I'm going to fix it."

Spider-Man gave a reassuring nod. "Well, you've got us. We're not letting you handle this alone."

Nova threw an arm over my shoulder with a cocky laugh. "Yeah, what he said. But next time, give us a heads-up before pulling a disappearing act, will ya?"

I managed a small smile despite the weight still pressing on me. Whatever was happening, I wasn't alone—and that gave me a spark of hope.

SCENEBREAK

I was dozing off, my body still weak from everything that had happened, when that familiar, feminine voice echoed in my mind again. It was smooth, yet laced with an edge of power that made my muscles tense instinctively.

I growled, my hands curling into fists. "What the hell do you want now?" I spat, my voice low but full of restrained anger.

The voice only chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. I could almost picture her smirking, enjoying my frustration.

"I want to be the one you can truly trust," she said simply, her tone dripping with confidence. "Symbiotes... they're no good, and deep down, you know it."

I felt my jaw tighten as I sat up straighter, glaring into the empty space of the room as though she were standing right in front of me. "You don't know a damn thing about me, or Venom," I snapped. "So why don't you crawl back to wherever you came from and stay out of my head?"

Her laugh came again, soft and mocking. "Oh, but I do know you, Y/N," she purred, her voice dipping lower. "I see your doubts. Your fears. You rely on that parasite, but you've felt it, haven't you? How much he holds you back? How much easier it would be without him?"

"Shut up," I hissed, shaking my head as if I could shake her voice loose. But her words dug in, planting seeds of uncertainty I couldn't ignore.

"You don't have to admit it now," she continued, her tone almost gentle. "But when you're ready to see the truth, I'll be here. Waiting."

And just like that, her presence vanished, leaving me alone in the quiet room. My heart was pounding, and my mind was racing. Her words lingered, like poison in my veins.

Venom might not have been there to reassure me, but I clung to the bond we shared. She's wrong, I thought, trying to convince myself as much as her. Venom isn't holding me back—he's saved me. And I'm going to save him.