Chapter 28
It felt like an eternity, waiting for Billy to bring them here. He knew that was the endgame- to sit them in front of Frank and make him beg Billy not to kill the girls. He also knew this was gonna be bad, haunting for himself but terrifying for Soph and Karen.
And he couldn’t do anything- just sit here and watch Billy take the girls out of the apartment one by one, and wait for the nightmare that was his life to continue.
“Honey, I’m home!!” Billy making light of the situation only had Frank seething, but at the same time he knew he had to restrain himself or Bill would punish the girls. And Frank could only pray that Billy wasn’t too far gone to actually hurt a kid- as fucked up as it sounded he knew Karen could take a beating. He also knew if Karen had to choose who would get that beating between herself and Soph- she would take it every time. Karen loved Sophie, and she would do anything to protect her. Just like Frank- he would do anything, take any type of torture, endure everything he had to throw at him if it meant he could protect his girls.
“You piece of shit- what’ve you done?” His shoulders burned and felt like he was close to pulling them from the sockets with all the pulling he was doing.
“What have I done? I brought them to you- I thought this would be more along the lines of what you’d want. Here with you- rather than in some secondary location where you can’t see with your own eyes how they are… Or am I wrong?” Billy wasn’t wrong, if they had been taken and brought anywhere else- somewhere he didn’t know, he might have died.
Billy let Karen fall to the ground in what sounded like a painful thud, before putting Soph in the chair beside Frank- putting zip ties around her little wrists in front of her. Frank almost burst a blood vessel- how could he do anything to that perfect little girl, how dare he put those zip ties anywhere near her small body.
Then he walked back over to Karen and picked her up and put her body over his shoulder.
“Ahhhhhhhh….” Frank yanked and pulled at his restraints- she wasn’t wearing any panties. He could only assume Billy had taken them off of her, and Frank seethed at the fact that he could have done something- violated her in some unknown way.
Billy grabbed a chair and put it a few feet in front of Frank before dropping her down onto it- he grabbed her arms and mirrored Frank’s position with her arms tied behind her back.
“Now we wait……”
Frank looked Karen over, her legs on display in that short silk nightie, a small trickle of blood from the lamp he had smashed over her head had dried in her hair- yet she looked peaceful. Like she was sleeping- completely unaware of the nightmare she would be waking up too. And he couldn’t help but blame himself.
“Wait? Wait for what?”
Billy pulled up a chair in front of the computers and answered him without glancing in Frank’s direction. “We wait for Karen to wake up- that’s when the real fun starts….”
“Why don't you just kill me already? It's what you were planning to do anyway.”
Billy started laughing with this crazy unsettling look in his eyes- the only part of him he recognized anymore were his unforgettably soulless eyes, “Kill you? I will admit that's all I thought about while I was in the hospital, the many ways I was going to pull the very soul out of you. Then after I got out I came to a realization….”
Realization?
What could he have come up with in that insane mind of his?
“I don't want to kill you. I can't- kill you, I mean. Just as much as you can't kill me. I need you, just as much as you need me- Don't fool yourself into thinking you not killing me that day on the carousel was just some coincidence. You can't kill me, and I can't kill you- a vicious cycle.”
What?
“I really must have messed with your head, Bill. For christ's sake- if you think I ain't gonna kill you cause once upon a time we were friends, then you're delusional. I hate to burst your bubble- but that aint us anymore. You and me- we're not friends, and the first chance I get I'M gonna kill you.”
Billy shot up and got in his face, “That's it. We’re not friends- we’re not enemies. We’re- we’re brothers….”
“Brothers? You think were brothers? Yeah, you were my brother-but you lost that privilege a long time ago. What kind of brother would have done the things you have to me? Huh? None that I know of.”
It was ridiculous what Billy was saying- he was talking about things like he really believed them- and that's what scared Frank the most, this was the definition of batshit.
“The kind of brother people like you and me need- you think you ever would have gotten to the place you're at today if it weren't for me? You should be thanking me! The whole goddamn city of New York should be thanking me!”
“Thanking you? Jesus Christ, Bill- what have you ever done for me? For this city?”
“The big bad punisher that keeps the scumbags of this city off the streets- I created that! I've given you purpose- If it weren't for me this city would have been stuck with people like the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, whose too chicken shit to take a life! No! You keep the criminals off the streets- they're gone! And I made that happen- you never would have been shit if it weren't for me!”
He's insane- this wasn't the man he knew in Kandahar. And maybe he never knew the real Billy Russo- but this couldn't be it- this couldn't be the real man hidden behind that pretty face.
“And you don't think you're a criminal- not one of those scumbags?”
Billy stood up and moved behind Karen- making Frank nervous for what he might do to her, “I am a necessary evil, Frank. You might not think so- but we are a package. There is no one without the other…. You're the peanut butter, I'm the jelly. You're the spaghetti, I'm the meatballs. You're the machine, I'm the operator. You're the AK, I'm the triggerfinger. There is no you- without me.”
“You're crazy- shit I thought I was insane, but you make me look like the picture of mental health.”
“Soon you'll realize, just like me- And frankly I'm disappointed….. You don't think I noticed how after you got involved with Karen Page and this Sophie girl, you've had less and less outings as the punisher? What I'm doing right now is necessary- it's destiny. You'll see that. Once theyre gone you'll know what I am…”
Gone? He couldn't let either of his girls be gone, “And what are you?”
“Motivation and I-” Billy was ready to keep talking, continue on this insane tirade when they heard it. The groan of someone in pain- she was waking up. God dammit! Karen was in for a world of hurt at the hands of a person who thought this was his destiny? Jesus Christ….
“Look she's waking up!! Wakey, wakey…..”
Her big blue eyes slowly opened- slowly like a person who might have a concussion. And in all his time he saw the signs, he knew it was all coming back to her. She was panicking, pulling at her restraints, looking at the new outfit she was wearing, realizing it wasn't herself who put her in it-
“Shhh Karen, c’mon look at me- it's gonna be okay….” Her eyes shot up to his and the tears that brimmed her eyes broke his heart- he got her here, this was on him. Then her eyes flickered over to Sophie, and the tears she had been trying to hold back fell as a frustrated shout came flying out of her.
“I'm sorry Karen, i'm so sorry….”
That's when her eyes left his and moved to the psycho who stood beside her- the gasp that flew out of her mouth was an understatement for the horrifying sight of Billy Russo’s face.
“Hey Karen, good to see you again….” Her brow furrowed in obvious confusion- if she had seen this face before she would have remembered, it's not an easy sight to forget. But the voice, the voice was familiar.
“You don't remember me? We only met once but I will admit I looked quite a bit different before. It's me, Billy.” The name didn't trigger anything- but a small part of her brain had an idea-
“Russo. Billy Russo- Has Frank never mentioned me? I must say i'm disappointed, I hold a special place in Frank's life…” She remembered the day- Mr Russo, the one who was protecting the Senator. Frank had mentioned him before, the things he had done- the evil things. But she never imagined this would happen, that he would come back.
“Don't say anything Karen, it's what he wants.” She figured Frank knew better- knew what he wanted. She could only guess this wasn't going to go well. But if anyone could fix this- it would be Frank.
Billy circled her and put his hands on her shoulders in a way that made her shiver, “I must say when I found out about you two- I was surprised. She looks nothing like Maria…”
Both Frank and Karen bristled at the mention of Franks previous wife, Frank in anger, and Karen with worry at being compared to a dead person- worried he was insinuating that was what she would soon be. Dead.
“But… I'm not gonna lie, I took a peek when I was changing you-” Her heartrate picked up in both anger and fear, “And Frank I gotta say, you made a fine choice.”
He looked at the angry face of Frank Castle, “Shes beautiful,” Billy turned his head to look down the front of Karen’s dress, “Youre beautiful. No need to be ashamed, sweetheart. Aww c’mon that was a compliment- you're not gonna say thank you? That's rude-”
Fed up- Karen shot her head back and got him straight in the nose, blood rushed out with the force of her head.
And he laughed. Not the desired effect she was going for, Billy moved in front of her to look her straight in the eyes- then backhanded her across the face.
“Bitch…” She tasted the blood before she realized her lip had split,
And before she could help herself, she spit the blood back at him- “Fuck you!”
Franks heart was bursting with pride- happy she wasn't cowering, but fighting back. No matter how pointless it might be right now.
“Oooh I can see why you like her Frankie- she's got spirit! I gotta admit- I'm hard as hell...”
Disgusted she shook her head, “What do you want?”
“What do I want? A lot of things… but probably most of all I want to see Frank suffer- that's why you're here, Karen.” Frank knew it was true- he was the reason his girls were here. He was the reason this psycho was gonna do these terrible things, thinking back to that day he wished- god did he wish he had killed him. But he couldn't change it now- and now he was living with the consequences of that decision. And Frank would have been fine paying for that mistake, if it didn't involve Karen or Soph- this was his punishment for caring, for thinking it was okay to be happy.
Billy pulled out the glock that he had behind his back, pulling it out from his jeans he took it out and waved it, making both Karen and Frank nervous. Frank because he knew the man behind the gun was completely insane- and Karen because she knew the power of the weapon in his hands- and the power it held over her when pointed at the two people sitting in front of her.
“I want a lot of things-” He moved behind her yet again, and she knew- she knew what he was gonna say, what he was suggesting, ”And I think with the right…. Motivation we could come up with a little something.”
The gun pointed at Frank who fumed at the suggestive tone in Billy’s voice, before landing on Sophie- and Karen’s lip started to tremble. He put the gun back in his pants- the threat already being said was enough to keep her from fighting, and his hands returned to the tops of her shoulders.
Rubbing them.
Her eyes closed.
Stroking up and down.
This was only heading one way.
“It might surprise you but not a lot of ladies are linin’ up to fuck me now. In case you havent noticed Frank- you turned my face into a fucking Pablo Picasso painting.”
His hands slid lower.
Frank shook.
Under the her top.
Karen whimpered.
He was touching her.
“Ahhhhhh…” Frank screamed.
Groping her.
Frank was pulling against his ties- almost ripping his shoulders out of the sockets.
“Ah ah ah ah… Don't try anything Frank- think of little Soph.”
Karen took a deep breath, knowing if she didn't stop him Frank would explode, “Don't Frank…”
His eyebrows furrowed in confusion at Karens words.
“I can take it. Frank, I can take it.” Frank was almost crying- she shouldn't have to take it.
“She says she can take it, Frank. I mean personally I'm hoping she can- but that's not the real question now is it? The real question is can you?”
That was the real question, because Frank wasn't sure he could.
“Can you take it?” Billy was looking him straight in the eye. But Karen shook her head, telling him not to put Soph in danger. And the logical part of himself told him to suck it up, but his emotions were running rampant.
“It's funny how after everything, I'm still able to make it to second base before you are- eh, Frank? Besides I think Karen and I are gonna need a little alone time to negotiate certain things, right Karen?” At this point tears were trailing down her cheeks- knowing this would end badly for her. But Karen knew she would do anything to protect the ones she loved- and that's what they were. The two people in front of her were her whole life.
Pathetic, but true.
“And don't worry, Frank. I know how you are about wanting to watch- to make sure she's safe. So I do have a camera in there- for my benefit of course…. And I was thinking of making you watch it as well- but I've come up with something even better….”
Frank wanted to do every horrible thing possible- kill, torture, burn, rip limb from limb- but here he was… Helpless.
“You're not gonna watch- you're gonna listen. It's gonna be loud and impossible to tune out. You're gonna hear every thrust- every cry… Everything.” Karen was struggling at this point- the grip he had on her breasts extremely painful. A small preview on what was to come.
“Stop moving! You're gettin’ me get excited!”
Karen pulled at him and struggled against his hold and Frank did the same- neither of them ready to accept their fate.
That's when she heard it- a small little moan her ears were so accustomed too. A voice she would always protect. And all she could think of was her waking up while Karen was with Billy, and the speakers were turned up. Soph would hear her cries and the little girl would be so confused at being tied up.
She couldn't let that happen.
“Ahhh looks like the little lady is waking up from the chloroform nap, I was-”
“You piece of garbage of you touch either of them I will-”
Karen was bawling at this point, angry loud tears that she couldn't hold back- that stopped both Frank and Billy from saying anything further.
“Stop! Stop…. Billy I- if you put her back to sleep… make her not see or hear this-” She looked over at Frank, knowing he wouldn't approve of her giving herself up.
“If you make sure she doesn't know about this, I wo- I won't fight you….”
Billy smiled in a way that would haunt her dreams for the rest of her life- however short that life might be, and he nodded. “I can make that happen- if you promise to play nice.”
She nodded her head and Frank screamed-
“Ahhhhhh… NO! NO! Don't do this… Please Bill- I'll do anything… I'll be whoever you want me to be, okay? Just don't- don't fucking do this!!”
Billy didn't respond only went into the bedroom and was in there turning on what could only be the audio for Frank to listen to, and came out with the bottle and cloth form before- wetting it and putting Soph back to sleep.
And it was the only consolation Karen could think of- if they were both gonna die tonight, at least Sophie could have some semblance of peace.
“Alright let’s go…” Billy got pliers out and snipped the zip ties from around her wrists- a temporary relief from the burning pain in her shoulders that would be nothing compared to what was bound to happen in the room he was leading her into.
“Oh and Frank I have a giant group of men outside all working for me that will come in here and shoot the little girl if you try anything- so don't…” He had no way of knowing if it was true or not, but he wouldn't take the risk- for Sophie's sake. Karen shook her head at Frank who had tears running down his face- angry and yelling.
“No, no, no, no, no…..” Frank was frantic- and it broke her heart seeing him like this.
She whispered knowing he would hear it, “I can take it.”
The door closed.
Karen was alone.
With him.
Alone with a monster.
Frank was alone.
And helpless.
And Karen was behind that door.