“Pull yourself together Nelson. You can do this.”
Foggy tugs his jacket a bit, shivering in the fall wind. Passersby on the quiet Brooklyn Street ignore him, attention drawn toward the festive display of jack- ‘o-lanterns in front of a nearby coffee shop.
He looks across the street at the old brick building, cursing himself for not remembering the significance of Karen’s new address.
“I finished moving in last week! All our stuff is unpacked. I even have a home office. No more covering the coffee table with case notes!”
He understands why Karen chose to move. After being targeted by Bullseye and that psychopath Muse, it was time for a change of address. Hell, she stuck it out longer than him. Foggy and Marci were in a penthouse on the West side a day after he discharged from the hospital. (Of course that was partly Marci’s doing. She’d wanted to hold a “Welcome-back-Foggy-and -happy-Fourth-of-July” party in their new place the minute she walked into the spacious living room.”)
“But why the old Beacon Asylum Karen? Why?”
Logically, he knows the building is no longer an asylum. It was an abandoned pile of brick 30 years before he was even born. Still, his brother and the older kids used to spread stories that ghosts of long-ago patients haunted the building. They’d scare him anytime they walked past the Beacon, especially at night. Remodeling, a fresh coat of paint, and new windows do little to blot out those core childhood memories.
Foggy sighs, thinking of how disappointed Marci will be if he fails to deliver the agreed upon apartment-warming gift.
Besides, Karen’s been so busy the last two months. Matt’s finally on vacation in LA. Now is a good time to catch up outside of the office.
Foggy makes his way across the street, holding two coffees and the gift bag with a deathlike grip.
The Beacon Asylum – er no The Beacon Village - doesn’t look like the house of horrors from his brother’s stories. It’s all soft blues and purples in the entryway and a surprising amount of security to get to the elevators. Foggy starts to relax, laugh at himself even.
Then he arrives at Karen’s apartment.
She lives in unit.
On the 13th floor.
Is that a bad omen or what?
He pauses at her door, ignoring the glittery fall wreath and cozy welcome mat. Is it his imagination…or is there a scratching sound coming from the wall?
“Take a deep breath Nelson,” he murmurs before knocking on the door.
The scratching stops. Silence. Then there’s the patter of footsteps.
“Hello?”
The door opens slightly, and he can see Karen’s ocean blue eyes widen in surprise. He holds up the tray of two coffees in one hand and the orange gift bag in the other
“Surprise Karen! Thought we should christen your coffee table with something other than legal files.”
“Oh!” She opens the door, her face bright red. “Oh that’s so kind…I…you’re up early for a Saturday!”
Foggy feels his eyebrows arch in surprise. Karen hasn’t actually let him in the apartment.
“I dropped Matt off at the airport. Is…is now a bad time?”
Karen blinks, shaking her head in that way she does when flustered.
“That’s right. He’s going to visit Jennifer. No, no, we…I just wasn’t expecting anyone.” She gives him a big hug. “Come on in.”
Foggy steps into the entryway, scanning Karen’s place. There’s a large reading nook with a teal love seat. A wooden bookshelf full of pictures and books. The famed coffee table with some plastic coasters that say Coney Island in bright red letters and a pumpkin-shaped vase filled with white roses. An assortment of spider plants and ferns hang in various corners. No creepy cobwebs or blood splattered walls.
“The place looks great,” he murmurs. Then he notices two coffee cups. One blue, one black, resting beside the coffee pot that sits prominently on the kitchen island. “Oh…you already made coffee?”
“Oh…um…I was just …”
Creak…
Foggy starts at the sound. “What was that!?!”
“Must be the draft. Let me close that window…” Karen rushes down the hall to what Foggy supposes is her bedroom.
He turns, trying to ease his nerves, and takes a closer look at the bookshelf. A familiar picture in a silver frame sits in between a row of paperback novels. There he is – in the middle of a group hug with Matt and Karen at Josie’s.
Then…suddenly…the picture changes. Familiar faces melt into a black and white image. A smiling woman with two children.
“What -the-”
“You okay?”
Karen is by the kitchen island, looking at him with trepidation.
“Ummm…yeah…” Foggy glances back at the bookshelf. His own face stairs back at him.
“Let’s, let’s try that coffee before it gets cold!” Karen chirps brightly, gesturing to her glass-topped coffee table.
“But your cups of-”
Foggy motions to the kitchen island but stops short. The two coffee cups are gone.
This is getting very weird.
Scritch…scratch…thump…THUMP!
And there’s definitely a noise coming from the wall behind the kitchen.
“God damnit…”
The gravely, snarling voice is the last straw.
“I’ve got to go!” Foggy yelps, practically tossing the coffees and orange gift bag on the floor.
“Wait! Foggy! I can explain-”
He’s out the door, down the elevator, and in the cold autumn air before Karen can say another word.
*
“I’m telling you,” Foggy protests, adjusting his rabbit ears. “Karen’s new apartment building is haunted.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Foggy-Bear.” Marci toys with the heart-shaped necklace around her collar. “The old Beacon building is not haunted.”
“But the coffee cups. The creepy noises. The picture.”
Marci gives a withering look, fitting for her Queen of Hearts attire. “Maybe Karen has a new roommate she doesn’t want you to meet yet.”
Foggy sighs. “Marci that is ridiculous. Karen has no social life. She lives at the office.”
“Sure. If you say so,” his fiancé retorts, taking a sip of her beer.
Foggy frowns, looking down at the pocket watch in his hand then up at the crowded bar. Josie’s is packed with ghoulish figures for the Halloween costume contest. He scans the crowd…anxiously searching for…
“Well hello Karen!”
Marci smiled victoriously as Karen approaches their table in her blue and white Alice in Wonderland costume.
Behind her trails a Cheshire Cat…that is none other than…
“Frank…er Pete?”
Foggy spits out the name. Frank Castle – the gun-wielding Punisher – is dressed in a black and purple striped sweater. Wearing cat ears.
And holding Karen’s hand.
He looks both self-conscious and relieved to see Foggy.
“Counselor,” he murmurs – shaking Foggy’s hand. “It’s been a while.”
“I…” Foggy blinks. “I haven’t seen you since the hospital.”
“Yeah, been busy working with an old Navy buddy of mine. Job training workshops for vets.” Frank pauses, smiling. “You make recovering from a gunshot wound look easy. Also I like the costume. My little girl used to love the White Rabbit.”
“I…thanks…but…” Foggy wags his head back and forth. “Why are you here…helping us with this costume contest…did Matt put you up to this?”
“Red wishes,” Frank rolled his eyes, then exchanges a meaningful glance with Karen.
“Actually Foggy,” Karen grins sheepishly. “We’ve been…seeing each other for a few months. I…we…we moved in together.”
Foggy opens and closes his mouth. Marci just chuckles, taking another swig of beer.
“When you stopped by this morning…well…I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while…”
“Well, we’re glad you finally did!” Marci tugs Karen’s hand. “Come on, let’s go grab another drink. I want to here all about your handsome roommate.” She winks at Frank.
The two women head towards the bar, leaving Foggy and Frank alone.
Frank tugs his cat ears off, thumbing them anxiously. “Look Counselor…I know Karen’s important to you…so I want you to know…this thing between us. I…she…I almost lost her again and it…” He swallows. “It nearly killed me. I…I’ll do anything to show her how much I care. Even wear a stupid costume. Hunt for mice in a storage room.”
“That was you making the scratching sound earlier?” Foggy feels his face redden.
“Yeah. Damn mouse is going to drive me insane.”
“And the picture frame…”
“Oh, I’ve gotta a tech buddy. Gave us some digital picture frame shit as a gift.”
Foggy laughs. “I’m an idiot. Between the scratching noise and the disappearing coffee cup, I thought your place was - ”
“Coffee cup?” Frank raises an eyebrow. “We didn’t make any coffee this morning. At least not before you arrived.”
“But I saw…”
But Frank turns to welcome back a beaming Karen. Marci squeezes Foggy’s arm.
“Happy Halloween Foggy-bear.”
Foggy grins.
“Happy Halloween.”