The Roar of the Night

28

The pink cotton candy Alex had given us seemed like a perfect distraction to calm my nerves, but as we climbed toward the Ferris wheel, I could feel my stomach churning with nerves. And it wasn't exactly because of the heights.

As we approached the entrance to the wheel, I was surprised by how much my hands were shaking. I wasn't afraid of heights, but just being alone with Lucy had me on edge. Alex handed us the pair of cotton candy, and with a playful smile in his eyes, he watched us go up.

We sat down, and the employee locked the seat. I felt like I was being strapped into an emotional roller coaster.

"Is this your first time on a Ferris wheel?" Lucy asked, taking her cotton candy in one hand.

"Yes," I responded, trying to stay calm, although my mind was focused on something much more complicated than the simple experience of being at such a height.

Lucy smiled at me. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

It wasn't fear of heights that had me like this, but rather what I should tell him. The words caught in my throat, and as the wheel slowly began to turn, I tried to focus on the landscape. We could see the entire park from above: the bright lights, the people walking back and forth, the excited screams coming from the faster rides.

Lucy excitedly pointed out everything around her, while I simply stayed silent, looking out of the corner of my eye. The first lap passed without a hitch, but right after, the wheel stopped abruptly, leaving us suspended high above.

"It's okay," Lucy told me, noticing my discomfort. "It only stops so people can get on or off. We still have three more laps to go."

"Ah... okay," I murmured, feeling my heart beat rapidly.

While we were suspended, I tried to change the subject. "Do you like cotton candy?"

Lucy looked at hers, which was almost finished. "Yes, it's delicious. Do you want some of mine?"

The offer took me by surprise. I wanted to accept, but if I took off my hood to eat, he would see my snout. So I reached out my hand to take some carefully, keeping the hood pulled tightly over my head. "Just a little," I said, taking a piece with my fingers. When Lucy saw my black hand covered by the suit, she looked at me curiously.

"Is it a glove? You must be very allergic, right?" he commented sympathetically, thinking my "disguise" was more for medical reasons.

Before I could respond, I heard Venom's voice in my mind. *Tell him yes, it was because of a childhood illness.* So I improvised a quick story.

"Yes, I am," I said. "When I was a child, I had a rare disease, and since then, I have to always protect myself."

Lucy looked at me with some compassion. "It must have been difficult growing up like that."I shook my head, although I still felt uncomfortable with the whole lie. "No, it wasn't that hard, although... it's uncomfortable having to wear this when it's really hot."

The wheel stopped again, this time with us right in the center, at the highest point. Lucy looked down, but I noticed her expression change. She remained silent, with a look that did not seem to be one of emotion.

"Are you OK?" I asked him, worried.

Lucy nodded, but with a sad tone in her voice. "Yeah, just... thinking about some things."

I wanted to ask her more, but she quickly changed the subject, smiling a little. "Let's talk about something else. You know, Venomheart is amazing."

That took me by surprise, and my ears moved under the hood.

"Really?" I asked, hoping to hear more.

"Yes, the first time I saw him it was... terrifying and exciting at the same time," he began. "It was during a robbery. I was in a store and someone pointed a gun at me. And suddenly, he appeared, like out of nowhere. He was wearing a mask that looked like... a dog skull, but with Spiderman eyes and fangs like those of a werewolf."

My breathing became heavier as I heard his precise description. Lucy continued, "When I first saw him, I thought he wanted to... I don't know, eat me or something. But instead, he saved me. And although at first I was very afraid, after taking a good look at him... I felt As if there was something about him that seemed familiar."

My heart started pounding.

"It was strange, because I had never felt anything like that before," he said, lowering his voice. "A connection... unique."

I swallowed nervously, and with a small voice, I asked him: "With whom?"

Lucy looked up at me, her eyes shining under the lights of the fair.

"With Rex," he finally said.