Chapter 27
It was strange how being happy made you do stupid things, make dumb decisions- things you never would have done had you been miserable. Being happy made you oblivious about noticing things that should have been obvious- and yet here he was.
Frank, wake up…. C’mon get up- Frank.
Karen tried to wake him up, it had been a long night- with her and Soph. Couldn't she let him sleep a little longer?
Frank-
“Frank-”
Get up, Frank.
“Get up FRANK!”
Karen?
“Get your ass up, Frank!!” Blinking his eyes, Frank felt an unnatural heaviness in his head- where was he? The last thing he could remember was walking- he was on his way to Karen's place for friday movie night. Why couldn't he remember getting there? His head was killing him, his arms felt like they were pulled out of the sockets, and his mouth felt dry- like he hadn't spoken in a long long time.
Forcing himself to open his eyes, he looked down at his body- tied to a chair, his hands zip tied behind his back- Frank knew something was wrong. He finally looked up and his jaw dropped in shock.
“Recognize me, Frank? Get a good look at what you did to my face?” Franks vision was blurry at first, but he knew that voice- it took him a minute to focus on the man in front of him, then all he could do was laugh.
“Shit Bill- look at ya! Your face looks like it went through a meat grinder….”
His old friend smiled at him- if the thing his face was doing could even be called a smile, before a fist shot his head to the side. A familiar ringing could be heard that felt far off but he knew from experience would soon lead to a headache, it was strange after so many weeks trying to keep his face free of bruises for the girls Frank would've thought he would almost forget this kind of feeling- but it was the same as it had always been.
Thinking back he wondered how he got here, then the moment flooded back to him like a confused hangover after a regrettable night of drinking- Frank had been walking back to Karen's place. That's what he had been doing- now he remembered.
He had been smiling like an idiot thinking back to new years the week before when the Liebermans came over to Karen’s place to watch the ball drop on tv. It had been a bit cramped, but Frank was proud. He was happy he could bring David over and show him his life- that he wasn't stuck in one category- Frank was a man of many sides. He was the Punisher, he was a marine, he was husband of Maria, he was Dad to Lisa and Frank Jr.- but that's not all he was. He was the man who created this life with Karen and Sophie- he wasn't sure he could define his role so clearly with his girls as he could with Maria and the kids- but this was who he was, who he could be.
Frank was thinking about the kiss between him and Karen, how sweet and beautiful it had been- walking through the crowds of New York City when he felt a prick in his shoulder. He couldn't have told you who stuck him with the needle, only look down and know he was in the shits.
Looking around he took in his surroundings and was confused, it looked like a studio with a bunch of computers sitting not too far away from him, behind Billy who sat right in front of him. There was a few doors to the left of the room, one he could only assume was the exit he would inevitably use after he finally killed this man.
“Well when the hell did you get out?” Frank spit the blood that was filling his mouth from his probably broken nose on the floor, before looking up at the man in question.
“Ehh like a few months ago….”
He started laughing- knowing it would set off Billy to hear anyone make fun of him, “Took you all this time to grow the balls to come and see me?”
“No, actually Frank it might surprise you to know I found you two days after I got out- and this is the part your gonna love,” The look in his eyes felt a bit unsettling, after waking up in an unknown place, tied up with Billy ficking Russo- this was the part that was worrying him.
“Here I was thinking you'd be holed up in some ditch, when what do you know my men tell me they found Frank Castle walking the streets like he has every right too- after everything you did to me you were acting like some regular ducking joe. So I tell myself the only way this is gonna be any fun is if I just torture the shit out of you, then you walk out of some building with a dog. And i'm like ‘Yes! Another thing to use to torture Frank with!’ Isn't that nice?”
All Frank could do was pray this wasn't gonna go the way he thought- the thing he had nightmares about most nights.
“Then even better, who do I see but Karen fucking Page- you and Karen Page? I had no clue- but that was fine with me, another way to torture you…. That's when I saw her-” Billy circled him before rubbing his shoulders, letting him know he was fucked- and it made Frank worry he might throw up.
No.
He knew.
God dammit.
“You? With Karen Page and some little girl? I never have any family- nothing. But you? You get two…. Whats her name? Sophia?”
Sophie.
“Nah, nah- it's Sophie. I remember, I saw the things you've done with them. Halloween, pictures with Santa- you love them.” It wasn't a question. It was a statement. A true one- but something he couldn't confirm.
“Bullshit I could never- not after Maria. I feel… I feel responsible for them, I found Sophie but I don't love them!” God he hoped Billy would at least buy this, and leave them the hell alone.
“You might think I'm stupid Frank- but I'm not. I know you, I know what you look like when you love something. I've seen it. Why do you think I waited so long to come and get you?”
It was a question that had occurred to Frank the minute Billy mentioned his girls but was too busy trying to throw him off their scent to care to ask. Frank knew it was best to stay silent, better than saying something and giving away how much he really cared.
“Okay, don't ask- I'll tell you anyway. I know you, Frank- you might not think I do, but I do- I know you so well it's insane. I know after everything you went through with Maria and the kids, you'd be crazily overprotective.” Not a stretch- it wouldn't be so hard to understand that he was worried something might happen. Billy would know- he was responsible for what had happened.
“Maybe with cameras? I thought that might be something you would do- and at first you surprised me when you didn't have them. But eventually you did what I expected, and I took advantage of that.”
Where was this going? Frank was worried this whole speech of his was leading up to something awful, it could only be awful when it came to Billy.
“It took a few weeks, and a few hackers to get into the camera networks, but I knew what type of gentleman you thought yourself to be would only let you put them in the common areas- nothing to creepy or stalkery. But then I spent a while watching, learning routines- I must say Christmas sure was sweet, Frankie Boy.”
“Where you goin with this Bill?” His patience was thinning, Frank needed to know what he was walking into.
“Where am I going with this? I want you to watch, Frank.” Billy walked towards the computers and started to turn them on before logging in.
Franks brow furrowed in confusion. “Watch?”
Then the apartment popped up, empty and familiar- and oh so terrifying.
“I'm gonna let you watch me go get them- you're gonna be here and watch me being them to you….” It was silent for a while, neither of them speaking.
Billy silently laughing.
A deafening silence.
Frank silently fuming.
A silence that spoke volumes.
Frank yanked and pulled at his restraints, “You don't fucking touch them! I don't give a shit if you want to threaten them to get to me- don't touch them! Please….”
His old friend laughed, the smile stretching his new scars horrifyingly- “That's what I thought I might do- threaten them. But then I thought better, I don't want to just kill you Frank- I want you to suffer. I want you to know it was your fault I found them, your fault they're dead.” Everything was coming back.
This whole nightmare was killing him- everything flashed before his eyes. Everything he'd been through- he was so panicked he didn't even notice Billy leave the room. It wasn't until he noticed the light in Karen's apartment grow darker that he noticed it had been a while since Billy left.
That's when he saw him- the scumbag…..
Sneaking through the window in the kitchen Billy looked up at the hidden camera and sent him a kiss. And Frank wanted to murder him. Bill walked off camera and Frank could only assume to hide in wait for his girls to come home.
The only thing he could hope for was Duck- he prayed that the dog would sniff out the shit and send him packing.
His nightmare was starting- he could hear the keys turning. It was about to start…..
Can you hold the mail for a sec, Soph?
The little girl on the screen nodded her head while Karen locked the door- what she didn't know was the danger wasn't out there. It was already inside.
I miss Duck.
Yeah, where the hell was he?
I know I miss him too, but he really needed to go to the groomers sweetie. He was starting to smell- besides think of it like a dog spa. He's going to get pampered then we’ll go pick him up when he's nice and fresh.
Sophie handed the mail back to Karen while they walked into the kitchen. I guess.
Karen took out a letter opener and ripped open the big manila envelope before letting out a squeal. Yesssss, Soph! Go grab the menus and pick out what you want, when Frank gets home tonight we are going to celebrate!
Too bad she didn't know Frank wouldn't be home tonight- wouldn't be there to celebrate whatever it was she was excited about.
What are we celebrating?
Karen walked over on the little screen and kissed her on the head before walking out of frame.
It's a surprise, silly! Let me get changed and we’ll decide what to order.
NO! Don't leave her alone! God dammit- that's when Bill popped up out of nowhere and slip a cloth over Sophs mouth- what he could only assume was chloroform.
“NO!! Jesus Christ let me out!” It was useless- pointless but he couldn't help but let out a scream of frustration.
He watched as Bill put her down near the kitchen island and hid yet again, waiting for Karen to come out of her bedroom. And he prayed Karen would know something was wrong. And would grab her gun.
She walked out of the bedroom in her pajama pants and one of his t-shirts he had left behind, and it hurt his heart.
So Soph I was thinking we could go with… Soph?
Please grab something to defend yourself with, it was all he could hope for.
Soph? He saw her look at the kitchen and see the little girls feet sticking out from behind the island. Karen ran over to her- that's when he saw Billy move. He was creeping up behind Karen, and the tiny screen made his heart almost burst from his chest when Karen turned around and fought back.
They were all over the room, things flying- lamps being pushed over as Karen tried to run to her purse.
I know what you got in that purse Karen- you ain't getting over there.
Billy pulled her to the ground and Karen fought back- pulling, kicking, screaming. But she couldn't do anything when Billy grabbed the lamp that had fallen over and smashed it over her head.
Frank was fuming with anger and fear- especially when Billy picked her up ad flung her over his shoulder. It wouldn't have been so worrying if Billy hadn't turned towards the camera and smirked, before taking her into the bedroom. Where there were no cameras.
He had no idea what he was doing.
To Karen.
In a room where he couldn't see.
To an unconscious Karen.
Frank almost dislocated both his shoulders from jumping out of the chair when he saw Billy come out of the room, with Karen over his shoulders. In a different outfit.
She wasn't in the pajama pants.
He had changed her.
Into a nightie.
He had seen her naked.
Into lingerie.
Frank wanted to kill him.