The Symbiote Brothers

Chapter 7: Corruption

        The following morning, I woke up groggy. I never spent a night out of my own bed, so I wasn't used to sleeping on chair. My whole body ached as I stretched my limbs. I looked over at the bed and Naomi was gone, completely out of sight as the house seemed quiet and empty. I sighed, exiting the room, and a yawn escaped my mouth. The morning sun hit my eyes, which caused me to lift my hand up to block the light from my eyes.

        The events that happened the previous day were all a blur to me, but they quickly came rushing back to my head. Skipping school, Trent coming to my house, Naomi's father coming to beat on her in my house, all of it. Suddenly, I was hit with the aroma of food roaming the house. I made my way to the kitchen and looked to see what the source of the smell was. Naomi was by the stove, and Trent was sitting at the table. "Oh hey, you're awake." Trent picked his head up as I walked into the room.

        "Yeah, I'm awake now. When did you get here, Trent?" I looked at him as he chuckled, drinking a glass of juice. "Did you stay here all night or something?"

"Nah, I just got here about ten minutes ago. I came to check up on you two, after yesterday." Trent stood up, cracking his neck. "To my surprise, you were asleep beside Naomi's bed and Naomi was getting ready for the day. By the way, in case you didn't know from your drowsiness, today's Saturday." I rubbed my head as I nodded. "You were out like a light bulb, dude. Yesterday must've drained you."

        I agreed with Trent on that, a sudden itch on my wrist. I looked at my wrist as the new black tattoo shaped itself on my arm. I forgot the symbiote went right into my flesh, as if it had become a part of me. I pulled my sleeve over it and sat at the table. Naomi walked over with the food she had made and put it all on the table. She was really making herself at home already. Maybe she deserved to live in a quiet household. After all, she experienced nothing but hell throughout her life.

        The three of us ate in silence, Trent finally turning the TV on. A local broadcast showed Damian again, and I sighed. How many times was he gonna get beat up until he realized he wasn't a hero? Suddenly, a scientist was shown on screen as Damian followed him. This caused both Trent and I to raise suspicion. Who was that guy, and why did Damian follow him?

[The night before]

        Damian was thrown into a pile of trash as the thugs all laughed. "Good luck next time, ya faggot dressing punk!" Damian growled as he stood up. He didn't understand why he was losing to these pathetic thugs. Before, he, Trent, and Fang were able to stop them. But now he lost every fight he got in. Damian shook his head, slamming his fist into the wall, and turned to go home. He had enough, and he was ready to give up his pursuit of becoming a real hero.

        "You're tired of losing, aren't you?" A voice behind Damian caused him to stand still. Damian turned around a full 180 to look at the source of the voice. "Hey, you're that scientist who nearly killed my friend.

"I am truly sorry about that. I didn't mean to harm your friend, but merely get back what was mine. Those symbiotes you wear around your bodies belong to me."

"Wait, they belong to you?" Damian perked up. "Then maybe you can show me how to use it. You can train me in controlling the thing." The scientists shook his head and walked away. "Don't turn your back on me!"

        "Or what? What can you do?" Damian was silent as he hung his head. "You don't know how to control the symbiote around your skin." The scientist looked at Damian. "You barely know how to even get it around your body." Damian growled and kept his head down. The scientist grinned and looked at Damian.

        The scientist walked closer to Damian, extending his arm. "I can sense the will to fight in you. You want this symbiote so you can change the world, don't you?" Damian nodded, and looked at the man. "More than anything in this world."