Villain

‘HEREMES. THE GREEK god Hermes stood in front of me. He had blond hair that fell till his shoulders. He wore a green dress and green pants with a brown boot whose edge curled up. He had a belt where many rolled papers were kept. 

I don’t know where I am. All I know is I was walking down the street eating hamburger when I saw an old lady trying to cross the road. I went and helped her cross it. I continued walking as I ate my hamburger. No sooner had I turned a corner and entered an isolated area, that a yellow light, from the sky, fell on me. Then a flash and I vanished.

Another flash and I’m standing in a place where white and yellow are the only colours. A minute later, another flash occurred in front of me and this guy, who said his name was Hermes and he was a Greek god, stood before me.

“Why am I here?” I asked

“Umm...Have you been watching the news lately? About the different attacks?”

I nod. The attacks have been terrible. Many lives have been taken away. Nobody knows what or who did it.

“Well...me and Zeus are the cause of that.”

“WHAT?” asks a flabbergasted me

“Zeus told me to find a person who was very helpful to others and give him some superpowers so that he or she could help the people more. So I went down to Earth, disguised as one of you. I started searching for the right person and finally found him. He was a 21 year old billionaire and I brought him here, told him everything. He was very happy. I asked him which powers do he want. He answered, ‘Vulture, Sandman, and Electro’. I gave him the powers. A few days later I found out that even though he was helping people in front of others, he was killing people off behind them. And then the attacks began.”

“And who is that person?”

“Charles.” Replies Hermes

“Couldn’t you stop him? I mean, couldn’t you take his powers back?”

“Umm...The power can only be taken back if he is standing on that.” Hermes says pointing to a metal plate lying on the floor beside him. “And, we gods are very busy. So we decided to give the work of capturing him and taking his powers back to another mortal. And this time, we have checked completely to make sure that this person is not a mistake, like the previous one.”

“And who is that person? And why are you telling me all of this, anyway?”

“Because that person we found to stop him is you.”

I turn back to see of there’s anyone behind me. But no. It’s just me.

“Wha-why me?” I ask

“Because you’re the best in helping others.”

“But-”

“If you were a superhero, who would you be?” asks Hermes

“What? I can’t-”

“If you were a superhero, who would you be.” He repeats

I take a deep breathe and answer, “Venom.”

+++

I see a flash as I open my eyes. I’m lying in my bed. It was a dream, I thought. I smile and get up for my bed. I notice something on the table and walk towards it. It’s a blue letter. I pick it up and open it. It reads-

Hello Kris,

I suppose you must have thought that all of that was a dream. But it was not. Whatever I have said to you is real. You will become Venom once you stand on the golden plate I have send with this (it's inside). All the best. May you win. Don't make us regret our choice.

Regards,

Hermes (the god you spoke to)

I stood frozen there for a moment. I wasn’t a dream, after all. Atleast I get to be a superhero, I thought. I put my hand inside and found a golden plate, about the size of an ant. Howwill I stand on this?

It fell from my hand. As soon a sit touched the ground, it grew in size and became the same size as I saw it earlier. I gulp a large amount of air and stand on it. The drawing on the plate begins to glow. Then the glow diminishes.

A black substance rises from the drawings. It climbs up my leg. Stomach. Chest. Then vanishes inside. I keep the plate under my bed. I go and stand in front of the mirror. I will it to come out. The black stuff comes out quick and wraps around me like a cloth. And I have become who I asked to be. I have become Venom!

+++

I jump out of my window. Venom goes away. The wind passes over my body. And I keep falling.  

“No!”

What are you so scared of? Why arw you screaming? Spoke a voice inside me.

“Who are you?”

Venom.

“So you can talk?”

Course. Now, let's have some fun.

Black shoots out from my backside. They look like arms. One grabs hold of a light pole and swings us(me and Venom) upward. We land on a building. Venom uses his hand to climb up. Me, not knowing anything that’s happening to me, just stares in wonder. And confusion.

The black pulls us up and we are high above the building. In the sky. 

Oh, so beautiful. Time for going down.

And we fall. The wind is hard against my body. My body began vibrating. The gap between me and the road was decreasing. 5 meter. 4 meter. 3 meter.

“VENOM!”

Black leaps out of my body and acts like a parachute. As we get closer to the ground, it vanishes. Then appears again. From my chest. It flies towards my flat’s window. Then pulls me. Towards my window. Then it vanishes. I fly through the window and safely land inside my room.

That was fun, wasn't it.

I nod. 

+++

Night. The moon is a bit less shinier than usual. A building. A man, wearing a suite is standing. Watching the outside view of the city through the glass. Another man walks inside the room.

“You called me?” asks the man who just entered.

The other man turns around. “There’s this guy I need you to, you know, finish off.”

“Who? Is it a rival?”

“Kind of. Someone who stand in my path. Someone who is gonna cause me a lot of trouble. Someone I don’t want to live.”

The man wearing the suite takes a picture from his pocket. He flips it around and shows it. Then flips it toward him. 

“I’ll do it, Charles.”

Charles smiles as he looks at the picture. The picture of....Kris.

+++

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I wake up from sleep to see who’s knocking so hard on my door. I see through the peep hole, 3 men, armed with guns. T‘HEREMES. THE GREEK god Hermes stood in front of me. He had blond hair that fell till his shoulders. He wore a green dress and green pants with a brown boot whose edge curled up. He had a belt where many rolled papers were kept. 

I don’t know where I am. All I know is I was walking down the street eating hamburger when I saw an old lady trying to cross the road. I went and helped her cross it. I continued walking as I ate my hamburger. No sooner had I turned a corner and entered an isolated area, that a yellow light, from the sky, fell on me. Then a flash and I vanished.

Another flash and I’m standing in a place where white and yellow are the only colours. A minute later, another flash occurred in front of me and this guy, who said his name was Hermes and he was a Greek god, stood before me.

“Why am I here?” I asked

“Umm...Have you been watching the news lately? About the different attacks?”

I nod. The attacks have been terrible. Many lives have been taken away. Nobody knows what or who did it.

“Well...me and Zeus are the cause of that.”

“WHAT?” asks a flabbergasted me

“Zeus told me to find a person who was very helpful to others and give him some superpowers so that he or she could help the people more. So I went down to Earth, disguised as one of you. I started searching for the right person and finally found him. He was a 21 year old billionaire and I brought him here, told him everything. He was very happy. I asked him which powers do he want. He answered, ‘Vulture, Sandman, and Electro’. I gave him the powers. A few days later I found out that even though he was helping people in front of others, he was killing people off behind them. And then the attacks began.”

“And who is that person?”

“Charles.” Replies Hermes

“Couldn’t you stop him? I mean, couldn’t you take his powers back?”

“Umm...The power can only be taken back if he is standing on that.” Hermes says pointing to a metal plate lying on the floor beside him. “And, we gods are very busy. So we decided to give the work of capturing him and taking his powers back to another mortal. And this time, we have checked completely to make sure that this person is not a mistake, like the previous one.”

“And who is that person? And why are you telling me all of this, anyway?”

“Because that person we found to stop him is you.”

I turn back to see of there’s anyone behind me. But no. It’s just me.

“Wha-why me?” I ask

“Because you’re the best in helping others.”

“But-”

“If you were a superhero, who would you be?” asks Hermes

“What? I can’t-”

“If you were a superhero, who would you be.” He repeats

I take a deep breathe and answer, “Venom.”

+++

I see a flash as I open my eyes. I’m lying in my bed. It was a dream, I thought. I smile and get up for my bed. I notice something on the table and walk towards it. It’s a blue letter. I pick it up and open it. It reads-

"Hello Kris,

I suppose you must have thought that all of that was a dream. But it was not. Whatever I have said to you is real. You will become Venom once you stand on the golden plate I have sent with this(it’s inside). All the best. May you win. Don’t make us regret our choice.

Regards,

Hermes (the God you spoke to)"

I stood frozen there for a moment. I wasn’t a dream, after all. Atleast I get to be a superhero, I thought. I put my hand inside and found a golden plate, about the size of an ant. How will I stand on this?

It fell from my hand. As soon a sit touched the ground, it grew in size and became the same size as I saw it earlier. I gulp a large amount of air and stand on it. The drawing on the plate begins to glow. Then the glow diminishes.

A black substance rises from the drawings. It climbs up my leg. Stomach. Chest. Then vanishes inside. I keep the plate under my bed. I go and stand in front of the mirror. I will it to come out. The black stuff comes out quick and wraps around me like a cloth. And I have become who I asked to be. I have become Venom!

+++

I jump out of my window. Venom goes away. The wind passes over my body. And I keep falling.  

“No!”

What are you so scared of? Why are you screaming? Spoke a voice inside me.

“Who are you?”

Venom.

“So you can talk?”

Course now, let's have some fun..

Black shoots out from my backside. They look like arms. One grabs hold of a light pole and swings us (me and Venom) upward. We land on a building. Venom uses his hand to climb up. Me, not knowing anything that’s happening to me, just stares in wonder. And confusion.

The black pulls us up and we are high above the building. In the sky. 

Oh, so beautiful. Time for going down.

And we fall. The wind is hard against my body. My body began vibrating. The gap between me and the road was decreasing. 5 meter. 4 meter. 3 meter.

“VENOM!”

Black leaps out of my body and acts like a parachute. As we get closer to the ground, it vanishes. Then appears again. From my chest. It flies towards my flat’s window. Then pulls me. Towards my window. Then it vanishes. I fly through the window and safely land inside my room.

That was fun, wasn't it.

I nod. 

+++

Night. The moon is a bit less shinier than usual. A building. A man, wearing a suite is standing. Watching the outside view of the city through the glass. Another man walks inside the room.

“You called me?” asks the man who just entered.

The other man turns around. “There’s this guy I need you to, you know, finish off.”

“Who? Is it a rival?”

“Kind of. Someone who stand in my path. Someone who is gonna cause me a lot of trouble. Someone I don’t want to live.”

The man wearing the suite takes a picture from his pocket. He flips it around and shows it. Then flips it toward him. 

“I’ll do it, Charles.”

Charles smiles as he looks at the picture. The picture of....Kris.

+++

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I wake up from sleep to see who’s knocking so hard on my door. I see through the peep hole, 3 men, armed with guns. This means danger, Kris. Venom spoke. I close my eyes, take a deep breath and open the door.

“Yes?” I ask

The first person raises his gun and I close the door and lock it.

Jump.

“No.”

Jump. 

“NO.”

JUMP.

I jump. Out. The glass shatters. And I hear the sound of my room’s door breaking. I turn around to see three people watching me fall through the broken glass. They have a smile. Until-

Black leaps out of my body. I swing from building to building. The three exit my room and leave the building and chase me along with some others. I drop down. Seven cars, full of people after me, are coming fast. 

A truck come from the opposite direction. I land on it’s side, Venom holding onto the trailer tightly. Black stretches out from my body. It grabs hold of the steering wheel and turns it. We jump off.

The truck turns to the side. The trailer breaks apart and rotates. It goes and collides with four of the cars chasing me. Either crushing them or sending them flying or both.

I jump inside a Lamborghini. My feet presses hard against the accelerator. It goes even down when black presses it. I take a peek out and sure enough they are still behind me.

A truck is crossing from the road to the left, a bit ahead of the road I’m on, to the right. It’s in my way. Black leaks from my and outside the car. I see it go under the car. 

Suddenly the car leaps upward. To the sky. I goes over the truck. One of the cars collide with truck, while other two take different roads.

Ha Ha Ha Ha. Venom laughs. You think you can outsmart me? The game has just begun, my friends. 

We land and drive off. The people chasing me must have left. Because I don’t see them now. Suddenly, the two cars come from either side. I shriek. Black goes out and grabs tightly on two pole, behind me, on either side of the road. The car gets pulled back. Those two cars somehow manage to not collide with each other and come after me.

How long till they quit?

“I’ve been thinking the same thing, Bro.”

I think we should stop chasing and start fighting.  

He grabs the wheels and we lurched to the right. We turn left, right, right, left, left, left, right, right, right, right, left and finally reach an empty godown. Venom drives into it. So does the bad guys. Venom drifts 180° and we are facing them. They get out of the car. So do I. Another car comes in.

Charles gets out of it.

“Oh, so you ordered this, huh?” I ask

“Yes. I didn’t want you to be in my way.”

Who's that? Bad guy?

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry. What?” asks Charles 

Should we kill him?

“No.”

“What are- who are you talking to?”

Capture?

“Yes.”

“Oh, I’m sick of this. GET HIM.” Says Charles 

And the fight begins-’

“I think that’s sufficient.” Says somebody.  

+++

A room with many posters. 

Roy asks, “You didn’t like the story sir?”

The man sitting in the chair opposite to him speaks, “I liked the story alright. Who will not? It’s a pretty good story, ya know. What was that things name?”

“Venom.”

“Yes, Venom. Kris, Charles, his goons, Hermes and Venom. Nice.” He doesn’t speak for a while. Then, “Okay.”

“What, Tom sir? ” asks Roy

“I’m ready to publish this story.”

“Seriously?” Roy spoke in an overjoyed fashion.

The man nods.

“Bring a copy of the story tomorrow.”

Roy thanks him and leaves. 

“Hey, Roy?” Tom calls out

Roy turns around. 

“What happens in the end? ”

Roy smiles. 

+++

Roy continues the story-‘And the fight begins. There are almost 10 people, excluding Charles. They encircle me. The first person threw a hammer at me. Black comes out of my leg and I start rotating. Black grabs the hammers and, as I rotate, threw it back at he guy’s face.

His head snapped backward and he fell. My rotation stopped. Black caught a guy’s leg and pulled him up. Venom hit him on the ceiling and floor, then threw him away. Then Venom completely covered me.

He slaps a guy. He goes cartwheeling and his head hits the wall, which breaks. 

“Three down. Seven to go.” Spoke Venom

A guy raises his gun and began to fire. Venom raised his hand. An enormous black shield appeared. The bullets hits it, having no effect. Venom places the shield on the ground and kicked it. The shield flew, taking that guy with him.

Then it wrapped around him . Its size slowly became small. And then the black fell to the ground, returning back to its original size, leaving no sign of the man. Another guy punched Venom. Venom leaped forward and grabbed the guy by the neck. Venom’s hand didn’t move, but his wrist rotated 180° and they guy lay upside down.

“Don’t you mess with me.” He spoke and dug the guy into the ground.

“Whoa. That’s...um...that’s....that’s too much. Too disgusting. Don’t ever do that.” Said I

“But he punched me.” Venom replied.

“Don’t ever do that.” I repeat

“Okay.” Venom sighs. 

Venom caught two legs of another guy. Then pulled it to either sides as he banged the guy on the head. The guy howled with pain. But to his luck, the pain didn’t last for long, as Venom finished him off.

Venom stretched his hands out and they began rotating. They collided with the remaining people’s body and they were thrown away, colliding with different parts of the godown and dying.

Now the only person remaining was Charles. Venom went inside. 

“Charles, let’s talk-”

The ground below me broke and I rose. I looked around to see a hand that looked like it was made of sand holding me. Charles rose up. He pointed his hand at me.

Electricity flew through my body. It was so much, that I was howling loudly with pain. Another huge sand hand came at me. It punched me and I fell to the ground. Blood had come from my face.

Charles pointed his hand at me and shot an electric ball at me. Black pulled me to my side. Another ball. Black pulled me upward. I lay upside down. Charles kept throwing electric balls at me, as I lay there, swinging left and right to dodge them. 

Then I dropped. Black grabbed Charles and pulled me towards him, I punched him in the face. Charles slid backward. A sand hand, breaking the wall to my side, came toward me. Black pulled me left. When the hand changed direction to face me, black pulled me right. Again it changed course. 

I can’t stand this anymore. Let’s finish this off, shall we.

I smile. And I am engulfed by Venom.

The hand comes at me with great force. Venom stretched his both arms forward, then holds them together. Black stuff starts to intervene and slowly a huge hand bigger than the sand hand.

Venom punched it. It punched back. Venom caught the hand and twisted it. Then jumped on it. The sand spread all over the godown. Venom gets up and starts hitting all the walls of the godown. Cracks start appearing. Charles is still stuck in the huge pile of sand. And then a wall breaks. Venom leaps out as the building collapses and falls on the Charles. And-’

“Roy, that’s enough. I know what happens next. It’s obvious. I’ll read it tomorrow.” Says Tom

Roy bids farewell and leaves.

+++

1 year later.....

The book that Roy wrote, titled ‘If I were a Superhero!’, became a hit and everyone, around the world, purchased and read it. Roy had bought a huge bungalow and costly cars of different companies. 

One day while driving, he received a call from Tom, “Hey! Roy. I called you to ask something that one of our readers asked.”

“What is it?” asks Roy

“You have told many times in different interviews that this story is actually something that really happened.”

“Yes. So?” 

“And obviously you will be Kris. The reader asked what happened in real life and who is the real Charles.”

“Oh, that’s simple. In real life, Kris gets killed by Charles, in the same way Charles was killed in the story.”

“What? Wait....If Kris is dead.....” Tom is confused. “So who’s Charles?”

A moment’s silence. Then Roy answers.

“I am.”