The Roar of the Night

5

A few days had passed since the fight with Doctor Octopus, and although things had calmed down a bit, the tension was still present in Alex's mother's house. **Tom still didn't trust me completely**, but at least he let me sleep on the couch in the living room, as long as I wasn't wearing the mask. It was a strange arrangement, but I accepted it.

The couch had become my usual place to rest. **I lay down with my head on my hands**, my body felt heavier than normal, and exhaustion dragged me into a deep sleep.In the dream, **he wasn't wearing the Venom suit**, although something was different. **My body was still humanoid**, taller, stronger, but I no longer had the fur I had before. **It was completely smooth**, and although he walked on two legs, he felt that something was missing. I looked at my hands, my feet... everything seemed strange.

-What is this...? —I asked myself, without recognizing myself.

Suddenly, **a dark spot appeared in the distance**, gliding towards me like a living shadow. In a matter of seconds, the blur took shape and, in front of me, the figure of **Venom** appeared.

"Rex," Venom said, his voice deep and resonant. **We are one, and we will be forever**.

I stood still, staring at the dark figure. I knew who he was, and although I had always felt his presence in my body, I had never seen him like this, in front of me, speaking directly to me.

—Why... are you still with me? —I asked him, a lump in my throat—. Why didn't you leave me when you merged with me?

**Venom let out a soft laugh**, almost mocking, but without malice.

—Because you are compatible with me, Rex. Your body is strong, your mind is faithful. **You are what I needed** —he responded, slowly advancing towards me—. And now, this form you have... is the one you will have forever.

My eyes widened in surprise. **Forever?**. I looked at my hands and my body again.

—Won't I be a dog again...? —I whispered, fear in my voice.

Venom shook his head.

-**No. Not anymore. I have altered your body** to make it useful to me and you. You will be a bipedal being, a humanoid. You will age like a human, at a normal rate. You will no longer be an ordinary dog. **Your form has changed forever**.

Venom's words hit my chest hard. I felt a deep sadness upon hearing that I would never be what I was, but also a kind of acceptance, as if something in me already knew.

"Your age now corresponds to that of a 35-year-old man," Venom continued. You have lived five years as a dog, but your life will now be like that of a human. You will grow old like one of them.

**Five years**. I was surprised to hear the number. **I thought I had lived longer with Alex**.

—Only five years...? —I asked him, hesitating—. I felt like it had been more.

Venom nodded slowly.

—You have lived five dog years with Alex. **A short time, but full of important moments**, isn't it?

Remembering those moments made me feel a wave of nostalgia. I thought about Alex, how he rescued me when I was just a puppy. **He saved me from being run over on that road**. From that day on, I knew I would do anything for him. He was not only my owner, he was my best friend."Alex saved me..." I said with a broken voice, looking at Venom. He rescued me when I was little, and gave me a life I would never have had. **I met his ex-wife, and saw how he left with his daughter**. I have seen how he has suffered, but he was always with me. I couldn't leave him alone.

Venom remained silent, listening to my words carefully.

—And why are you still with him now? Venom asked, with cold curiosity. After all, **Alex was scared the first time he saw you in the suit**. The humans at the hotel also rejected you. And Tom, here, has never fully accepted you. **Why didn't you leave when you could?**.I knew the answer, but saying it out loud made **my heart beat harder**.

—Because... I love him. **I love Alex**. It's not just my owner, it's my family. Dogs are loyal, aren't we? But this... this is more than loyalty. **It's love**. I don't care if they get scared, or if they don't accept me. **I accept Alex**, and I will always be by his side, no matter what happens.

Venom was silent for a moment, watching me with his glowing eyes.

"That's the kind of devotion that makes us work so well together, Rex," he said finally. **Your love, your loyalty... they make me stronger too**. And as long as you're with Alex, I'll be with you.

The dream began to fade, and as it did, **I felt a warmth in my chest**. My words, my devotion, had been heard. I knew that **no matter what happened**, I would always be by Alex's side.When I opened my eyes, I **felt something over me**. My body was covered with a warm blanket, and I realized that someone was next to me.

It was Tom.

**The man looked at me silently**, his expression softer than usual.

"Thank you, Rex," she said softly, carefully placing the blanket over my shoulders.

Good night.

I nodded, surprised by the gesture, and watched him walk away. For the first time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, **things between us would start to change**.