Jarvis Light:, Nick Venom [most read books in the world of all time txt] 📗

helped me with my ex. If you weren’t there for me, listening to my rants for hours, I would’ve committed suicide.”

Andy’s jaw came loose. “You were contemplating?”

Jarvis nodded. “I was getting close to it. I even scheduled the day I wanted to die and how I was going to do it. I managed to buy some rope and even tied the noose; it should still be in my room, somewhere in my closet. As for the chair, I chose my favorite chair - a green plastic chair with the fewest cracks in it. I had every detail planned and the day was approaching fast, but…”

“But what?” Andy asked. “I know you didn’t go through with it, but… how was I involved in this? I don’t remember ever seeing you in that state before.”

Jarvis nodded. “Remember that week where I stopped talking with you?” Andy nodded, a lightbulb going off in his brain. “I did it because I didn’t want you swaying me out of my decision. I wanted to make sure I actually went through with my plan. I also needed that time to prepare myself and the tools.” He chuckled softly, hiding his cracking voice. “I nearly went through it but, before I could, you appeared. You brought a pizza and asked if you did anything to make me hate you. I tried to kick you out, but you refused. You forced your way in and we talked for hours.”

“I remember that… but I didn’t see a noose anywhere,” Andy added.

Jarvis nodded. “I hid it before I opened the door. It was in the cabinet under the sink. I didn’t want you to see it.”

Andy nodded, biting his lip. He reflected on Jarvis’s words, feeling as if a bombshell had been dropped on him. He knew that Jarvis was going through a lot with his parents dying and his girlfriend dumping him, but he never suspected that he was contemplating suicide. It was a lot for Andy to understand. 

“You don’t have to think too hard about it, Andy,” Jarvis said, recognizing Andy’s expression - furrowed eyebrows, slanted lips, and a piercing gaze. “It’s all in the past. I haven’t had those thoughts in a long while now. I feel… better.”

Andy nodded, still hung over Jarvis’s earlier words. “Well… if they reappear, please talk to me. I’m here for you.”

Jarvis nodded softly before stopping. “You never answered my question at the restaurant. Why are you helping me? Why are you risking yourself for me? Am I really that special in your life that I deserve this treatment?”

Andy smiled a sad smile. “Jarvis? You-” He was interrupted by his gut. He shoved Jarvis away from the middle of the bench before pushing him farther from it. His gut was quickly proved correct as a chain pierced the portion of the bench in between them, nearly hitting them. Both men turned to watch as the chain was retrieved by its owner, Ironix. He stood behind them, wearing a half-burnt pair of jeans and his black boots. His shirt and leather jacket were gone, exposing his bare skin. His chest was burdened with several tens of scars ranging from small ones to large ones.

“You!” He growled. “I’m out of time. I need to kill you!” His words sounded more pathetic and desperate than his earlier words, which were filled with confidence and conviction. 

Jarvis shakingly stood up. He pointed his palms towards Ironix, threatening him with his raw power. Andy stood up as well, his mind racing to come up with a plan. They had, unknowingly, allowed Ironix to sneak up on them and launch the first attack. He was in range to hit them and they weren’t fast enough to run away from him. They were at a big disadvantage and they realized it.

Ironix also realized it, smirking. “Your time is up.”

***

“What do you mean he escaped?” Eddie Hall shouted into Ironix’s ear from his phone “I want you to bring him back alive if you can or eliminate him and erase any evidence of his existence. I contacted you for this job, yet you can’t do it? Do I have to send Dom to do your job?”

“Sir, I can do it. You don’t have to send DT to do my job.”

“You better… I can’t allow the public to get a whiff of what we’re doing here. Project HOUSE will collapse if he isn’t captured or killed. Do remember why you're taking this task.”

Ironix gritted his teeth before barking “Yeah” into the phone. 

“Drop the attitude, Henry. It won’t take me long to meet with your daughter.”

Henry, usually known by his alias of Ironix, slammed his fist into a nearby tree. He had escaped the explosion and fire because of his armor. However, his clothes, aside from his jeans and boots, were burnt to crisp.

“... Got it.”

“Good… Remember to be wary of his skills. His powers are unstable and unpredictable. He could be the strongest in his batch, even surpassing the genius. Do not underestimate him.”

“Or else I fail like DT?”

Eddie didn’t respond instantly, waiting several long-drawn-out moments before continuing. “I want him dead. Make sure you get it done.”

“Got it… as long as you keep your hands off my daughter.”

“If Jarvis dies. If he doesn’t then I wouldn’t mind speaking with Helen.”

Henry balled his free fingers into a ball, squeezing them. “Got it… sir.” He hung up on Eddie before turning towards a tree on the side of the street and punching it with his throbbing fist. “Damn it!” He growled. “If I was paying more attention to her… this wouldn't have happened. I wouldn’t have been so quick to sell her off… Damn it!” He slammed both fists into the tree, cracking it. It fell, landing on the roof of a car with great force. The car’s alarm blared, alerting the owner. By the time the owner appeared, Henry was gone. He went to deal with Jarvis, the only thing standing between him and a healed family.

***

Henry whipped his chain at Jarvis. Jarvis, fortunately, avoided the first few strikes but the ones following them connected. They added new wounds while re-opening older ones. He had blood dripping down his torso, landing at his feet or descending his legs. 

Henry had no time to make remarks, charging towards him. He acted impatiently, giving up his range voluntarily. She’ll be killed if he doesn’t die. I need to save her. To fix my family. He thought to himself as he slashed and pierced him.

Meanwhile, Andy watched from afar as Ironix slashed Jarvis to bits. He quickly became a fountain of blood. Without control over his powers or even a basic understanding of them, he lost the strength advantage. And with his body, mind, and mana drained, he couldn’t fight back. He was a punching bag for Henry to relieve his stress on.

Damn, get up Jarvis! He’s going to kill you if you don’t fight back! He shouted internally. His mouth refused to open, bouncing his words back into his mind. He couldn’t move, frozen stiff. He was forced to watch as his best friend was being killed in front of him. He heard all of the squishy sounds of flesh being torn off and blood squirting out of him. The sounds were joined with the shrieks of passersby and park attendees. Everybody’s attention was drawn to the massacre in front of them. They fled from it, but Andy wasn’t given that option. He could only watch with traumatic eyes.

Meanwhile, Henry continued to pierce Jarvis’s skin. With a few more strikes, he would be dead. Henry was salivating for it. He’ll be dead and I’ll be free. My daughter will be safe and I’ll get to see her again. I’ll fix everything. I will, I’m sure of it. He thought to himself, his tunnel vision rearing its ugly head again. He could only focus on Jarvis and nobody else. In his mind only two people existed; Jarvis and Helen.

This quickly proved to be his downfall as his intimidating aura was shifted from being dispersed everywhere to focusing on Jarvis. This allowed Andy to move. He took several steps forward, hesitating to go any further. Why am I helping him? I could leave and nothing would happen. I could go and see my aunt, maybe live a peaceful life. I could settle down with a wife, kids, a house, cars, and everything that I ever wanted to buy. But… why don’t I see that future in the cards? Why? He thought to himself. He took several more steps, stopping when he was five steps from Henry. I would be giving up my future here if I go any further. All so Jarvis could live? Why does he deserve life and I deserve death? It can’t be because… No… No, that’s why I’m so adamant about doing this. That is the reason I'm helping him. Because he’s my-

Henry continued to beat Jarvis, stopping to deliver the last blow. Jarvis’s skin was tormented by Henry’s chain and he would quickly bleed out if not given medical attention soon. All it would take was one more blow to the head and everything would end. That last blow, however, was swiftly extended to two blows.

Jarvis, who had given up, felt the blood of Andy spray onto him. He looked up, his eyes widening as he noticed what happened. Andy jumped in the way of the final blow, taking the full damage. 

“W-What?” Jarvis muttered as his mind was trying to wrap itself around what was happening. Andy had thrown himself into harm’s way for Jarvis… and that thought frustrated him. Why him? Why did that idiot jump into the way? He has a future waiting for him. I don’t. I either die here or later. There’s no reason to save me… so why? Why did he give up everything for me? Am I really that special to him? Why? God damn it, WHY? He felt something surging through his body, unsure of what this energy was. However, it felt reassuring as if he was being hugged by his parents. He could feel the touch of his parents, who hugged him tightly as if to say, Don’t worry about what’s in front of you, we’re behind you. 

The strong emotions of his parents carried over to him, filling him with temporary energy. He struggled but rose to his feet. He faced Henry who wore an expression of confusion.

“How the hell-?” He started, furrowing his brows. “How are you standing?”

Jarvis didn’t respond to him, pointing his palms at Henry. His rage overtook him as a video played in his mind - replaying how Andy’s body sprayed blood everywhere and slumped to the ground. It continued to replay, fueling his anger and speeding up the energy surging throughout his body. The energy suddenly, however, stopped and bottled up at his palms. The energy filled his palms to the brim, now waiting for the fuze to be lit. And Jarvis quickly lit it.

“Go… Go to hell, you bastard!” He shouted, firing off the energy at point-blank range. The blast was a shade lighter than his earlier ones and he felt that he had more control over it. It didn’t feel unnatural to him, instead, being as comfortable to him as an old friend would be. 

Meanwhile, Andy struggled to breathe. He was pierced through his chest and his heart was damaged. He wouldn’t die instantly, but it was a matter of minutes. 

I did it. He thought to himself as he tried to angle himself to see the fighting. I gave up my future… so he could have it. I want him to have it, because… he deserves it. He looked up at the fighting, witnessing as Jarvis poured all of the energy towards Henry. The concentrated energy blast was enough to kill Henry, burning a circular hole through his torso. Henry’s armor and thick skin weren’t enough to protect him from the attacks, falling over to his side with wide-open eyes. His eyes displayed the fear