Jacob knelt in the grass examining the strange markings in the dirt. The busy footpath of the park could be seen not too far away from where he was. There were mostly students in sight, taking a short cut home like he had been. But something had drawn him from the path and to this secluded spot. Everything had seemed normal on this day, except for what Jacob was about to find.

He moved past the strange marking that looked like scuff marks from a boot, and further into the bushes. Jacob pushed back a pile of fallen leaves that looked like they had been deliberately collected together to hide something. He ran his fingers along the earth as he noticed something that glinted. Jacob brushed the dirt away with the back of his hand, gripping the object protruding from the vegetation he lifted it up, marvelling at it.

It seemed to be a staff of some kind. It was short and silver in colour, with wings that curved around a sort of dome at its head.

‘What the hell…is this?’

He turned it over. It was engraved with an inscription which ran along its side.

Where I fight I live

‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’

Jacob turned it over to examine it again, when a sudden and sinister voice caught him off-guard.

‘I see you’ve found my weapon.’

Jacob spun round in alarm; startled that he had been snuck up on like that, so engrossed he had been in his find.

He hesitated. His heart began to pace as he drew a deep breath. The man that stood before him was unlike any he had seen before. A normal human, but dressed in the most peculiar fashion.

He was dressed only in three long strips of cloth. One yellow, one orange and one red. They wound over his whole body, tied in knots here and there. The ends trailed loosely from his arms and knees. His eyes were both milky white.

‘Who are you?’

‘Who am I you ask?’ the stranger replied.

He stepped towards Jacob, brushing back strands of hair delicately with a nail. They were six inches long and coloured a deep dark purple. From beneath his black fringe Jacob saw that there was an unusual sort of metallic plate that ran across the stranger’s forehead, like a sort of bandana. From one side of the plate hanging down in three separate chains were a line of metallic stars.

The stranger moved closer, uncomfortably so. But shock and uncertainty had frozen Jacob to the spot. The man brushed Jacob’s cheek with a nail, caressing him almost lovingly. Like a mother would to her son. Jacob felt a twinge in his stomach, a feeling of unease, was he safe here?

‘War brings out my spirit’ the stranger said. ‘It’s who I really am. It is who you will become.’

He smiled, but Jacob could read nothing into it. Was it kind? Was it cruel?

‘My name is Venom. I have been watching you closely for many weeks now, and I think you are the one.’

‘The one?’ Jacob stammered, breaking his silence. He snapped back to himself, slapping the strangers hand away and stepping back.

‘Don’t touch me.’

Venom faltered for a moment, then regained his original demeanour. He smiled again, this time almost seductively.

‘My dear boy, I bestow upon you a great gift. I think you will like it. You will see.’

Venom moved closer again. He embraced Jacob like a brother, holding him close.

‘Now your eyes will truly be open.’

Jacob felt a surge of energy shooting through his body like an electric shock. He was enveloped in a great pain that ceased as fast as it had begun. His body felt alive, powerful, he felt liberation. Jacob suddenly saw an image then, a world he had never known. It was vast, with miles and miles of open plains and woodland, and near the coast was a great city made of stone. And at its heart, a mighty palace.

Jacob let out a gasp, stumbling back and away from Venom as he was released.

‘I’ Venom spoke, ‘am a guardian, and I pass my powers onto you now.’

Jacob collapsed, weak and shaking.

‘Farewell’ the man said to him turning away. ‘We will not meet again.’