So my main inspiration for the MC is from the game Prototype (highly recommend). I just use Venom because I guess people will be more familiar with that. But the power of Venom and Prototype are different. Venom is more like a parasite which needs a host, while Prototype is an "absorb/eat/assimilate" situation. Both can shapeshift, but the one from Prototype consume its victims to gain their physical forms and memories. I'm not going to go into details, because it will spoil the end of Prototype 1 for you. And no, at the moment the women have no ideas their lovers/friends have been replaced by another entity. Hope that clear up the confusion