It was in the library that Jacob revised now, free from his lectures, he sat now with his friends Josh and Alex.

‘Macro. Computer science. A set of instructions that is represented in an abbreviated format. In short’ Jacob said.

‘Say whaaaa…?’ Josh raised an eyebrow.

‘It’s a pattern that specifies how a certain input sequence should be mapped to a replacement input sequence according to a defined procedure.’

‘In English?’

‘It carries out a sequence of operations intended by the user….you record a set of actions on the computer’ Jacob sighed patiently.

‘Oh I see.’

Jacob closed his book, frowning at his friend across the table.

‘I'm sure glad at least one of us understands this stuff’ Josh huffed. ‘I just can’t get my head around macros. They’re so confusing.’

‘Well you’d probably understand it better if you actually listened to the lecturer’ Jacob replied.

‘I can’t help it’ Josh argued. ‘I just switch off. As soon as anyone mentions the M word I zone out.’

Jacob shook his head.

And you know our lecturer has the most boring voice’ Josh went on. ‘It’s enough to put anyone to sleep.’

‘Well at least you're doing better than me’ Alex chipped in looking up from his books. It was the first time he had spoken in a while. ‘I'm doing ancient history. I can’t even remember what we’re supposed be doing. Something about the Catiline Conspiracy and a man called Superbus.’

‘The Catiline Conspiracy?’ Josh said. ‘Nothing actually happened. It was a supposed attempt’ Josh stressed these words as he spoke. ‘To overthrow the roman republic.’

‘Wait didn’t Superbus live in a different time to Catiline?’ Alex asked.

‘You should know dumbass’ Josh returned, ‘you're in my class.’

‘So who was this Catiline guy anyway?’ Jacob cut in before an argument began.

‘He was a roman politician.’

‘Wait, did you say Superbus…?’ Jacob asked, realising what a strange name it was. He hesitated then, noticing three figures standing just outside the doors of the library watching him, he didn’t even hear his friend’s response. The three figures moved away.

‘Jacob? Are you alright?’ Alex glanced around to see what Jacob was looking at, but the three had already gone. ‘What are you looking at?’

‘What is it?’ Josh asked. ‘You look…nervous.’

‘I'm fine’ Jacob lied. He shifted, trying to get back to his work, but found that he could not. ‘I've got to go’ he said shortly after, rising to his feet.

‘Why? Hey wait a minute!’

But Jacob ignored the both of them, heading out of the library and into the beautiful sun. The car park was in view from outside the library, and Jacob could see the three figures waiting for him there.

Lucas, Reuben and Drake. They were all leaning against the wall at the back of the car park; in formation, they all eyed him like hawks.

Jacob felt a great weight descend upon him. The air suddenly felt heavy and his chest tightened. He took a deep breath, taking a step towards them, he began to walk.

Their eyes never left him as he approached them. Behind him standing just outside the library, Josh and Alex now watched. Jacob paused to glance back at them; then turned to face the three again. Lucas pushed himself off the wall and straightening up.

‘Welcome aboard’ Lucas said seriously.

‘Things are going to change for me from now on’ Jacob said. ‘Aren’t they?’

Lucas cocked his head in response, his eyes gleaming.

‘You’ve past the point of no return my friend’ Lucas told him.

‘I still haven’t been able to use magic…but…I feel different since that day.’

‘The day you met Venom?’ Reuben asked.

Jacob thought of Alex and Josh, wondering how he was going to explain to them what was happening. But he decided then that it didn’t matter. He didn’t need to explain anything; he couldn’t, even if he wanted.

‘Your magic will come to you’ Lucas assured him. ‘When you are ready.’

‘How long will it take?’

Lucas shrugged. ‘Everyone is different.’

He extended a hand towards Jacob.

Magic Jacob thought. Will this be a gift, or a curse?

Jacob looked down at Lucas’ hand, and extended his own. Lucas grasped his forearm tightly, either side of him, Reuben and Drake smiled.

Jacob was led away by the three, as his friends no more, watched.

They headed out of the town, and towards the abandoned hotel where the brothers and Drake so often practiced their magic. But on this day they saw something strange. Something not even the brothers had seen before. All four of them slowed to a stop, staring in disbelief.

It was a black creature, large in size with an entire head that welded into one colossal horn. Its mouth held a neat row of splintered teeth, and it walked on all fours.

They all watched as it walked casually past; its only acknowledgment of them was a brief glance as it continued on its way.

Lucas gasped as he recognised it, suddenly realising what it was. He uttered one word.

‘Aberrant.’