You Inspired A Fire

“Call me Frank.”

Karen sighed. What the hell happened? When did her life get so off track? She unlocked her door to her shoe box apartment. She dumped her bag onto the small table and her keys into the grey plastic bowl on top of it. She turned and locked the door, giving her a small sense of safety, well, as much as she could while living in New York. She flicked on her light and dropped into the lone chair next to the table and held her head in her hands.

Frank Castle.

Karen wasn’t stupid. She knew what that name implied. Did she believe it when he said it? She hummed as she pulled up her hair into a messy ponytail. Before she could answer her own damn question, a shrill sound pierced the air. Karen jumped slightly at the jarring noise. Her phone. She dug around and withdrew it. Foggy’s name flashed up at her and Karen sighed once again. This night is never going to end, she thought.

She pressed the answer button and started to speak, “Hey, Foggy-”

“OH MY GOD! Karen are you okay? I was so worried when I got home and turned on the news and heard about what happened and you could have been hurt are you sure-?” Foggy rambled on.

“Foggy! I’m fine. What are you talking about? The news?” Karen cut in. Foggy was a good friend, but was a worrier at heart. She couldn’t blame him, considering how they first met. Karen had just moved to Hell’s Kitchen two weeks before meeting them. She had a job as a secretary at some nice construction business uptown. One day she had worked up with a bloody knife and body next to her. She was soon arrested and had virtually no chance to escape a prison sentence. Then walked in Foggy and Matt. They were brilliant defense attorneys, who had taken her case pro bono. To this day she doesn’t know who set her up for that murder. Thankfully, Foggy and Matt had efficiently ruled Karen out as a suspect soon after their first meeting. Karen would forever be grateful to them and they were kind enough to set her up to work at one of their favorite bars, Josie’s. Since then, Foggy, had been as strong presence in her life and their friendship was something she cherished.

But, sometimes his worry and mothering felt smothering. Karen wasn’t a child and she knew how to take care of herself. Foggy was known to check up on her at work, like tonight. She was just glad he didn’t have to witness the bloodshed soon after he left. The man could only take so much before he had a heart attack.

“Yeah, Karen, the news where they report crimes that have taken place. Like the fact that six bikers were murdered at Josie’s an hour or so ago!” Foggy yelled. Karen winced and rubbed her head. She didn’t think it would get around that fast. She really didn’t need this right now.

“Yes, I know Foggy. I was there, but I’m fine. Really. Nothing to worry about.” Karen mumbled. It wasn’t like she could explain that yes she had seen the violence take place and oh I think The Punisher walked me home after, no worries. That shit wasn’t going to fly and she was just DONE with today. She glanced at the wall clock, 5:30 am. Shit, she had to get to the dance studio in a couple hours.

“Don’t worry, you telling me that really, Karen? Well, too late I am very worried! Are you still there? Do you need a ride home?” Foggy continued.

“No, no I’m home. One of my friends walked me home. I really should get some sleep before I head out to the studio.” Karen paused. “Thanks for caring so much Foggy, but really I’m fine and you need to get some sleep, you have work soon too.” She smiled thinking about Foggy and Matt’s office. It was a cramped place, but warm and inviting as the people working there. The two just wanted to help better the world any way they could.

“Alright, fine, I will let you go for now, but I want a text a day to make sure you are still alive, got it? You know they said it was The Punisher’s work. That crazy psychopath is on a streak.” said Foggy. He wasn’t wrong. The Punisher had been on everyone’s mind the last month or so. He had a reputation of killing slowly and painfully, but only those that deserved it. Karen and Foggy had been divided on the matter. They didn’t see eye to eye on it, but Foggy was right. Frank Castle aka The Punisher was a dangerous man. She had witnessed it herself after all.

“Well, I didn’t see anything, so don’t worry about it. Good night Foggy.” Karen ended the call on that note. She dropped her phone onto the table and stood. She was exhausted and had to get up in about four hours. She stripped as she walked to her bed, falling into it’s comforting embrace. She closed her eyes and for a moment saw Frank. Just Frank, standing at the base of her shitty apartment steps, waiting for her to enter her building. His tall frame covered by his long dark coat and topped with a damn baseball hat. Karen smiled to herself. For such a scary man, he seemed to care a lot about people. Or maybe, whispered a part of her brain, it’s just for you. She sighed once more and shoved that thought to the back of her mind, she would think about it later.

Sunlight streamed onto Karen’s face, when her alarm clock sounded. She slapped the annoying thing till it eventually shut up. Karen lifted her face to look at the time, 9:30 am. Karen groaned as she sat up feeling all the aches and a pounding headache. Had last night really happened? Was it all just a dream. She reached up to push her hair out of her face. She caught sight of a faint bruise on her forearm. So it was real, she thought to herself as she traced the light blue handprint. There was no way any makeup was going to cover that. Karen crawled out of her bed and stumbled into her bathroom. She turned on the water to let it heat up as she took stock of herself. She had the bruise and a couple cuts on her hands and knees from the glass bottle. She grinned thinking about the satisfying crash of the bottle against the asshole’s head. She wished there wasn’t a reason for it, but she was satisfied to know she could stand up for herself

Steam filled the bathroom as Karen hopped into the shower. It was just under scalding hot and she hurriedly washed herself for her day. She stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her as she rushed to her closet. She dug around till she found a soft pink long sleeve shirt and a pair of semi-clean black leggings. She dressed, then quickly brushed her blond hair out and braided it. She stuffed her feet into some sneakers, grabbed her bag and a granola bar, and locked the door on her way out. Before she forgot, she sent a quick text to Foggy letting him know she was heading out.

Karen jogged down her apartment building steps while a flash of the night before entered her mind. She flushed as she thought about the man. Frank. How he had been patient for her after the gunfire and how he had stepped in the first place. When he had walked her home, she was beyond thankful and felt safer than she had for a long time. Karen dodged other pedestrians as she headed to her dance studio.

Dancing was why Karen was here in the first place. She had moved from her tiny ass hometown in Vermont to pursue her dreams of dancing with the pros in New York. When she had arrived she had realized how unlikely her dreams were to be true. Door after door slammed in her face. She was too tall, too bony, or too blonde, whatever that meant. It was crushing for her and a necessary reality check. Karen still loved to dance and went to a dance studio Monday through Thursday to train with others who wished to make it in the city. Her classes varied from ballet to jazz. If anything, dancing brought clarity to her mind. Sometimes she would only be able to think if her body was moving, fluid to a song. It was in her soul, imprinted on her spirit.

The bartending gig was to pay for rent and give her something to do. After having a nice secretary job and seeing how that turned out, she didn’t mind the slightly seedier employment. Josie was a hard ass, but watched out for Karen. She taught her how to rack in the tips while staying safe. Most people that walked through the doors wanted a quiet night and maybe some companionship. Maybe that’s was he was looking for, her traitorous mind supplied. Karen shook her head. Karen knew these thoughts would plague her till she started moving.

She turned the corner and saw the brick building that felt like a second home to Karen. Downtown Dance Factory was an old building, the kind people said had ‘character’. She smiled as she pulled open the heavy wooden door. She slipped into the dark building. Her class was the first of the day so most of the lights were off till later in the afternoon. She strode into studio A1 and greeted the other twenty or so girls. Each was in a state of warming up. The room was spacious, with mirrors lining each wall and a bar on the left and right side of the room. The sound system was opposite the door and two girls were arguing over which song to play. Karen breathed in the sweat and smell of wax that permeated the air.

She dropped her bag by the others that lined the back wall and started to stretch on one of the bars. Her friend Suzy nodded back at her when Karen started stretching next to her. They both had shown up at the studio that same week and became fast friends, and one of the first things Karen learned was that Suzy was a bear in the mornings and patience was necessary. Karen touched her toes, letting her muscles relax and loosen with each movement. She felt a clam settle over her as she waited for her class to begin. She had something thoughts to work through today.

Karen pushed open the wooden door and stepped out into the early afternoon light. She felt a strong breeze pull some strands of her hair free. She swiped them behind her ear and started her trek home. Class had felt odd today. Karen had danced better than she had in days and felt relaxed beyond belief, but something felt different. A few of the regular the girls didn’t show for class. No one had know why they didn’t and hadn’t heard from them in a few days. It was entirely possible they were home nursing a hangover, but most times they would text their friends so they wouldn’t worry.

Karen paused. She felt eyes on her. She swear she could feel them searing a hole in her back. She hitched her backpack higher onto her back. It was probably nothing, she was just skittish since last night. She continuously scanned her surroundings and grasped her keys. If only he was here. What the hell? No, she didn’t need him. Frank. No, she could handle this like the adult she was. She walked past an alley and a hand grasped her arm and yanked her into the alley. Karen felt her lungs fill with air, about to scream when the person slapped their hand over her mouth.

“Hey, hey it’s okay.” The voice called. Karen looked and realized who she was talking to. The hand over her mouth was actually covered with a glove, a red glove. The glove matched the rest of the spandex suit and the helmet which sported actual little devil horns. It was Daredevil. I am losing it, she thought, I am imagining this right? As if to prove herself wrong he spoke again. “I just wanted to ask about last night. Josie’s. You were there and so was The Punisher.” He didn’t pose this information as a question, but as statement. He knew. “Tell me about what happened and I can help make sure you stay safe.” He removed his hand from her mouth but kept a firm grip on her arm.

Karen scoffed at him. Wanting information on The Punisher? She wishes she had any. “Look, I’m sure you have a good reason for asking, but I honestly don’t know anything.” She shook her head at him with a slight frown. “Why are you asking anyway?” she asked.

“He is a bad man. He killed six men last night and no one is sure why. He is off the deep end and needs to be brought to justice.” Daredevil pulled himself to his full height. Karen wasn’t impressed.

“Look, you want to know what happened?” she asked. He nodded, waiting for her to continue. “I was being roughed up by one of the guys and I started the fight. The Punisher just finished it his way.” Karen looked away, memories of gunshots and blood pooling on the floor next to her pulled at her. “I know it’s crazy, but I don’t think he’s that bad of a guy.”

Immediately, he grabbed her shoulders and shook her, trying to make a point. “That man is a trained killer and dangerous to himself and every citizen in this city. He murders people because he feels like it. He has no right to do what he does. Do you understand?” She numbingly nodded back. In her mind, she started yelling obscenities and questions at him, but in all honestly she can’t handle this right now. She only slept four hours last night and needs some real food and her bed before heading to work again. Shit do I even have a place to work now?

Suddenly, the devil cocked his head to the side, looking like he's intensely listening to something. Karen pushed away from him and his arms fall back onto his sides. He turns back to her, “I have to go. Stay safe and stay away from The Punisher.” With that he runs deeper into the alley. Karen steps back onto the sidewalk and continues home. She needed to know what was going on. Who was The Punisher? What was he doing that pissed of Daredevil so much?

Karen reached the steps to her apartment and walked up slowly. Each step felt heavier than the last. At last she was at her door, she pulled it open and stepped inside. She dumped everything onto her table. She took a step and realized something. There was a package on her table next to where she put her backpack. The yellow package had her name scribbled on it in neat chicken scratch. She opened it and pulled out a note and a can of pepper spray.

Stay safe would ya? And for the love of God get a real lock.
- F

Karen smiled down at the note. He probably broke into her place to leave it there, but the thought filled her will warmth. She had someone looking out for her.