NOVEL NEXT Chapter 41: Aftermath
Chapter 41: Aftermath
The lab was eerily silent, save for the hum of the damaged speakers, now sparking intermittently. The battle was over—for now—but Peter couldn't shake the feeling that something far worse was coming. The remnants of the symbiote that had once consumed Norman Osborn were now nothing more than a puddle of black ooze, barely clinging to life. It was as if the darkness itself had been ripped apart, but Peter knew better than to think it was truly finished.
He slowly lowered himself onto a nearby steel chair, the weight of the battle and the burden of his responsibility sinking in. His suit was torn, bruises lining his body, and exhaustion was beginning to set in, but he forced himself to stay alert. The fight with Venom had drained him, but the true cost wasn't physical. It was the knowledge that he had barely scratched the surface of the larger threat that loomed over the city.
Harry was still standing near the door, his face pale and conflicted. His father, the man who had been a towering figure of influence in his life, lay unconscious on the floor, a shell of the man he had once known. Norman Osborn was free from the symbiote's grip, but Peter could see the anguish in Harry's eyes. He knew his friend had to be torn—on one hand, relieved that his father was no longer a danger, but on the other, heartbroken by what had happened to him. The Osborn legacy was a complicated one, filled with darkness and ambition, but this… this was different. This was something beyond them both.
"Pete…" Harry's voice was quiet, almost hoarse. "What… what just happened? What was that thing?"
Peter rubbed his temples, trying to collect his thoughts. He knew he couldn't explain everything to Harry right now. Not in a way that would make sense. "It's called a symbiote," Peter said quietly, choosing his words carefully. "An alien parasite that bonds with a host. When it finds the right person, it… amplifies their anger, their darker impulses. It feeds on aggression and fear. And when that happens, it turns the host into something… something monstrous."
Harry's eyes flitted over to his father, still unconscious on the ground. "And… that thing, it was controlling my dad?"
Peter nodded. "Yeah. But it wasn't just controlling him. It was making him more powerful. And more dangerous. That's what Venom was—a blend of Osborn's obsession with power and the symbiote's rage. Together, they were unstoppable."
Harry's gaze darkened, and Peter could see the weight of his father's actions bearing down on him. "What does this mean for him? Is he… gone?"
Peter hesitated. "I don't know. The symbiote's influence is gone, but Norman's still in there. I think he can be saved—maybe. But right now, we need to focus on keeping him contained, getting him help. It's not over yet."
Harry clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "I should've done something sooner. I should've stopped him before all this happened." His voice was tight with regret.
Peter walked over to Harry and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can't blame yourself for this. You didn't know. None of us did." He paused. "But I can't do this alone. I need your help, Harry. There's more at play here than just the symbiote. I'm not sure how far this goes, but I know it's connected to something bigger. We need to figure out what it is before more people get hurt."
Harry nodded, his eyes hardening with determination. "I don't know what I can do, but I'm in. I've seen what my father's legacy has done, and I won't let it destroy any more lives."
Peter gave a small, grateful smile before turning his attention back to the remains of Venom. The symbiote's substance was slowly dissolving, but something in Peter's gut told him this wasn't the end of Venom's story. If there was one thing he knew about the alien symbiote, it was that it didn't die easily. And if it had any shred of its former host's consciousness left, it would find a way to survive. That much was certain.
Peter's phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. He pulled it out, his brow furrowing as he saw the message.
"Spider-Man, we need to talk. Meet me at the docks. –MJ"
Peter felt a pang in his chest. Mary Jane. She had been quiet lately, and he hadn't seen her in days. She knew something was wrong—she had to. The constant strain on his life, the secrecy, the battles—it had been taking its toll on their relationship. But this… this was different. MJ was involved now. She had to know about the rising danger, about the Harbingers, and the shadow that was growing darker over New York City.
"I have to go," Peter said, looking back at Harry. "MJ… she knows something. I can't leave her in the dark any longer."
Harry nodded, his eyes scanning the lab. "I'll stay here with my dad. I'll make sure he's secured, Pete. You go. We'll figure out the next step together."
Peter gave Harry a quick nod before heading toward the exit. The weight of the city's problems hung heavy on him, but for the first time in days, he felt a small glimmer of hope. He wasn't alone in this fight anymore—not with Harry, not with MJ. The people closest to him were standing by him, even in the face of overwhelming darkness.
He swung into the night, the city lights blurring below him as he raced toward the docks. The cold air whipped at his face, but Peter barely felt it. His thoughts were consumed by one thing: What had MJ uncovered? What had she found that had her so desperate to talk?
When he arrived at the docks, he spotted her immediately. She was standing near the edge of the water, her red hair glowing under the streetlights. But there was something different about her. She wasn't just waiting for him. She was tense, looking around as if expecting someone—or something.
"MJ!" Peter called out, landing softly behind her. She spun around, her eyes wide, a mix of relief and worry crossing her face.
"Peter," she breathed, her voice shaky. "I'm so glad you're here. But you need to hear me out. Something's wrong—really wrong. I've been doing some digging, and I think I've found the connection between Oscorp, the Harbingers, and what's been going on with the symbiotes."
Peter's heart skipped a beat. "MJ, what did you find? What's going on?"
She looked around one more time, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It's bigger than we thought. There's someone else involved, someone powerful—someone who has been pulling the strings. And I think they've been using Oscorp to hide their tracks. But Peter, it's not just about the symbiotes anymore. This goes deeper. Much deeper."
Peter's gut twisted. Whoever this new player was, he had a feeling they weren't going to like it when they finally found out.
End of Chapter 41