Jack Murdock had hoped that after his death, Matt wouldn’t experience such horrible pain.
He was wrong.
Besides him, Matt had lost two other close people: Elektra Natchios and Karen Page. Ironically, both women he had loved with all his heart were taken by the same maniac — Bullseye.
Of the three, only Elektra came back. But she was a different woman now. Despite that, Matt remained faithful to her.
But things became difficult now. Elektra had found out that Matt had a twin brother — Mike. This revelation made her realize she had never truly known who she was dating. Or who she had fallen in love with.
Because Mike had been covering for Matt. He had lived as Matt, while everyone believed Mike was dead.
Mike was tired of living a lie and wanted to break free from Matt’s shadow.
None of them knew that Bullseye was watching them.
He had been observing them from a distance, careful not to let Matt hear his heartbeat or catch the scent of his cigarettes. He used spy gadgets he’d kept since his days in the FBI. That’s how he found out about Matt and Mike.
For several days, Bullseye witnessed their little fights. He watched as their brotherly bond was falling apart. Listening to their desperate and furious voices, Bullseye imagined how he would kill Matt right in front of Mike.
But he quickly discarded that idea when he remembered Elektra.
He built a different scenario in his mind — one where, after Matt’s death, Mike and Elektra would become couple.
Bullseye didn’t want to give them chance for a better future.
They had to suffer.
_________
Standing on the rooftop of a high-rise in Hell’s Kitchen, Bullseye watched the Murdock brothers through the scope of his rifle.
Through the window, he saw two nearly identical silhouettes. One of them wore dark glasses. Between them sat Foggy — Matt’s best friend. He looked confused and raised his hand several times as if trying to say something.
The absurdity of the scene amused Bullseye. He could pull the trigger right now, and the bullet would pierce Foggy’s forehead.
But not today.
The Murdock brothers and Foggy turned toward someone. Elektra’s silhouette appeared in Bullseye’s view. She was shouting something. Her face looked tired and desperate.
The rumors were true. Elektra had grown weak.
Bullseye had heard in a bar that she’d started losing fights. He hadn’t believed it — Elektra had always been the best, a ruthless killer.
Now, before him stood a weary, pale woman. For the first time, he saw despair and disappointment in her eyes.
Bullseye grinned wide.
Today was the perfect day to kill Elektra.
Her death would be such a disgrace that no one would even want to bring her back to life.
__________
Elektra ran onto the rooftop, hugging her shoulders and lowering her head. She covered her face with one hand, letting out a trembling sigh.
The bullet shot out from the silenced rifle.
Elektra jerked to the side, spun around, and hurled her sai. But Bullseye caught it mid-air with perfect precision — as if he’d been doing it for years.
“Nice throw, baby!” he shouted, flashing a predatory grin as he hurled the sai back at her.
Elektra caught it and screamed. The cold, sharp metal had pierced through her palm.
With effort, she pulled the weapon out and immediately took a direct hit from Bullseye.
He attacked her from all sides. The blinding pain wouldn’t let her focus on the maniac. She tried to fight back, but her arms were too weak. Everything felt like it was wrapped in fog.
Elektra fell to her hands and knees and coughed up blood.
“You’ve lost your edge,” Bullseye sneered. “That’s why I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“G-go… to hell…” Elektra hissed through her teeth.
With a sudden movement, she leapt to her feet and drove the sai into Bullseye’s throat.
But he instantly grabbed the sharp end and yanked it from her hand.
“Familiar, isn’t it?” he smirked.
Bullseye sliced Elektra’s neck with the sai. A thin stream of blood trickled from the crimson line.
Clutching the wound, Elektra felt her legs trembling, and everything around her began to darken.
Bullseye grabbed her dark hair and yanked her head back. Her eyes were rolling back, and her face was becoming serene.
“And now, my favorite trick,” Bullseye whispered.
Suddenly, something heavy slammed into him, knocking him off his feet.
Freed, Elektra rose onto her hands and knees and coughed up blood. She turned her head and saw Mike towering over Bullseye, pounding his fists into his face again and again.
“M-Mike!” Elektra rasped loudly. “R-run…!”
“I won’t let him kill you again!” Mike shouted, tightening his grip around Bullseye’s throat.
Bullseye quickly clapped both palms over Mike’s ears. The sharp burst of pain made Mike scream and stagger back, clutching his burning ears.
Bullseye sprang up and grabbed Mike’s head.
Elektra tried with all her strength to rise, but her vision was going black, and her limbs had gone weak.
A nunchaku flew toward Bullseye’s temple, but he caught it mid-air, without letting go of Mike with his other hand.
“At last,” Bullseye’s lips stretched into a grin, baring his teeth like a predator.
Behind him stood Daredevil.
The blind ninja had heard the frantic pounding of Mike’s heart. Elektra’s ragged coughing echoed out, followed by the splash of blood.
“Make your choice, Devil!” Bullseye shouted furiously. “Your brother or your girl. Who will you save?”
Daredevil heard Elektra’s heartbeat slowing.
“Looks like the choice has already been made for you,” Bullseye sneered.
There was a dull sound. Bullseye cried out like a wounded beast and hurled someone aside with a crash - two bodies, their hearts barely beating.
Footsteps echoed quickly. A heartbeat grew stronger. Daredevil caught the scene: Mike lifting the weakened Elektra and running.
Meanwhile, Bullseye ripped a sai out of his own leg.
Daredevil lunged forward with outstretched arms. His fingers clamped tightly around Bullseye’s throat. The villain let out a raspy gasp.
Bullseye immediately punched Daredevil in the cheek. His enemy let go and staggered back.
Bullseye grabbed a sai lying nearby, spun around, and threw it at the fleeing Mike and Elektra.
Daredevil heard the blade pierce straight into a back.
The heartbeat grew slower and slower. When the sound vanished, the whole world went silent.
“Mike!” Elektra’s voice rang out.
Daredevil could hear her heartbeat and breathing.
He somehow managed to get to his feet, took a few steps forward, dropped to his knees, reached out, felt the familiar features of a face and wrapped Mike in a tight embrace.
___________
Before the funeral, Matt told his mother about Mike’s murder. Sister Maggie burst into tears and begged God for forgiveness.
Although Bullseye had vanished, Foggy carefully stepped into the office and saw a letter on the desk with title “Elektra.”
Foggy looked around, approached the desk, and opened the letter.
He read it quickly, clenched it in his hand, and threw it into the trash.
Let Matt stay in the dark. It would be better for him that way.