A/N: Here we are. The finale chapter before the ending. Gotta say, this has been one fun ride. I didn't even mind having to sit through the film twice in order to follow the story as close as I did.
Oh, I more or less changed Gelson's motivations. His original character was so cartoonishly sexist in the film to the point I couldn't take him seriously. So I changed it in a way so that he wants a twisted version of equality, and in a way that ties to the larger narrative of the past two fics I've written.
Anyway, have fun reading this!
Music: "Suffer The Consequences" from Black Christmas 2019 OST
"Fraternitas Fratrum."
Riley and Millie woke up to the sound of Brian Huntley's voice, opening their eyes to see him dip his finger into the Dead Fluids pouring from the bust of Calvin Hawthorne, with a rather large mirror hanging on the wall to the right. Right next to him was Landon, standing still as a statue. Millie was the first to try to move, but found she couldn't, as both she and Riley were tied to chairs. To make it worse, she lost the ka-bar… again
"The spirit of the founder compels you. Fraternitas Fratrum."
Millie and Riley watched in horror, as Brian drew a Delta symbol onto Landon's forehead, to the chanting of the other Dekes.
"Fraternitas Fratrum." Brian repeated, as Helena draped a red cloaked hood around his shoulders. "Imagine a world where you're no longer in a corner. You're sitting on a throne."
Millie snorted to herself. Knowing the Sisters of Death, it would most likely be a throne of bodies and death.
"Hey." Millie whispered to Riley. "Do you have the time?"
Riley looked at her, at first confused, but then it dawned on her. Nevertheless, she shook her head. Kessler sighed in frustration, as they looked around, seeing the Dekes chanting all around them. In front of them all was Landon, staring down at them impassively, while Helena stood with her hands folded, smiling up at Phil and Brian. At the back was Hawthorne's bust, still leaking Dead Fluids, with a golden platter placed next to it. On that platter were items that Millie and Riley instantly recognized, as they belonged to members of their frat. Kris' mitten. Jesse's crystal. Fran's diva cup. There was also a vibrator there, most likely from Delta Sigma, and even Riley's comb was placed next to the mitten. Right next to all that was a golden cup, fashioned as a goblet.
Millie and Riley's eyes stopped searching, once a tall man in a dark purple robe approached the bust, removing his hood to reveal the blonde haired Professor Gelson. Millie grimaced, already knowing that Gelson was behind all this, while Riley looked up at him in horror.
"What the fuck is going on?" Riley asked, looking over to see the Delta symbol still on Landon's forehead. "What have you done to Landon?"
"He is who he was always meant to be: a fighter. I believe the same would have happened to your friend, Miss Waterson, were she still alive." Gelson shrugged. "See, that is what the Dead Fluids do: they unleash one's more… tribal nature, before transforming them completely. When your friend had the statue moved here, the fraternity discovered something magical inside. Legend was, toward the end of his life, Hawthorne was visited by spirits, who wished to help him continue his work."
"The Sisters of Death." Millie muttered.
"Correct, Miss Kessler." Gelson smirked. "They helped him take precautions against those who opposed him, to ensure he would remain in power. They taught him the dark arts, assisted him in leaving instructions to create his own army beyond death, and take his power back."
"You're all fucking insane." Riley gasped out loud, causing Gelson to chuckle.
"Perhaps." the professor cruelly smiled. "Or perhaps we are tired of witnessing these pointless squabbles. Most of the time it is from unruly women, such as your friend, but some misguided men as well. You see, we will set the Earth on the correct path, and destroy anyone in our way. Upon graduation, our army will venture forth into courtrooms, boardrooms, and the halls of Congress, to set the world right.
"It was all so simple, really. A hazing ritual, if you will. We read the incantation from the bust, the spirit of Calvin Hawthorne filled the pledges, whispering in their ears, possessing them with supernatural strength and drive. All we had to do was first name the women who stepped out of line, and these boys would take care of the rest."
Riley's eyes widened, remembering what Marty said the day before.
"Like, say we're conscientious objectors like Lindsay and the Delta Sig girls."
"But don't worry, we're not exclusive." Gelson smirked mockingly, as he pulled out a ritualistic styled dagger from his robes. "Once we go forth, we will take care of anyone that is a threat to our plans. The ones who are willing to side with us, like your friend Helena here, will be spared. Those who refuse, will suffer the consequences. But soon, Hawthorne's law will become world law."
Gelson smirked, and began to walk away, when Millie suddenly spoke up.
"And what law is that, huh?"
Lawrence turned back to her, wearing a shit eating grin.
"A simple law, really…" Gelson chuckled. "One where the crime is life, and the sentence is death."
Riley's eyes widened in horror, while Millie suddenly began laughing.
"You fucking idiot." Kessler sneered. "Hawthorne hasn't been speaking to you or the boys at all. It's been the Sisters this whole time."
Gelson narrowed his eyes, as he stepped forward.
"That's not true." Lawrence denied. "Yes, they helped some, but these boys have heard the spirit of Calvin Hawthorne in their heads-"
"Ah, bullshit." Millie rolled her eyes. "Maybe the Sisters changed to look like him, but it wasn't him. You think you can trust them? Willing to work with them?"
"We have mutual interests, Miss Kessler." Gelson reasoned, stepping closer and closer. "They want power, we want an army. What benefits us also benefits them."
"Yeah, and what happens once it doesn't, asshole?" Millie asked, straining against the ties holding her wrists in place. "Nah, you're gonna end up a loose end to them. Once they get what they want, they'll throw you away like a broken toy-"
"Enough!" Gelson snapped, backhanding Millie across her face. Kessler grunted in pain, turning her head to the side and spat out blood. Damn. She forgot about their enhanced strength. As Professor Gelson walked away, Helena knelt down in front of them, smiling madly.
"Aren't you tired of fighting against your true nature, Ry? Or you, Mill?" she asked. "Just because we're serving powers greater than us doesn't mean we aren't needed. After all, they needed me to collect the objects from the girls so the pledges would know who to go after. It was just typically women because Hawthorne instructed to go after them first. Thanks for the comb, by the way."
Riley looked at her in horror, realizing she was the one who had taken all the sisters' items.
"How could you do that to your sisters?" Riley asked, mortified.
"I'm helping women- and men." Helena insisted. "Don't you see? Death doesn't discriminate. Death is fair, just, equal… isn't that what we're all striving for?"
Millie looked at Helena in disgust. The Sisters truly had warped all their minds. They had to be free-
Millie suddenly heard a high pitched noise in her head, and she keeled over from what felt like a headache.
"Millie, what's wrong?" Riley asked in concern.
"That's just the founder, drawing out her own true nature." Gelson announced, grinning evilly. "I wonder, will she be like your friend, Miss Waterson?"
Kessler looked back up, glaring at Helena.
"You… you traitorus, fucking cunt." Millie sneered, as she continued straining against whatever had her hands tied. She didn't want herself to say that, no matter how much she believed it, but she couldn't help herself. Helena turned towards her, inhaling deeply, before standing up.
"Oh, one small thing…" Gelson called out, picking up a cell phone and walking toward Millie. It only took her a moment for her to realize it was her phone, left unlocked. On the screen was a timer, her timer, counting down from thirty two minutes.
"Why don't you tell us what happens when this timer reaches zero?" Gelson asked. Millie looked up at him, and giggled.
"Oh, all kinds of good shit." Millie smirked. "All kinds of good shit."
Gelson narrowed his eyes, clearly unamused, before dropping the phone in Millie's lap. Not like she could do anything with it at the moment.
"If you are expecting Mister Castle, he will not be joining us." Lawrence told her in mock politeness.
"What?" Millie gasped, while Gelson smirked smugly.
"Right now as we speak, our contact in New York and the founder's descendant, Maxwell, has sent hired mercenaries after him. Suffice to say, he will not be coming to your rescue, Miss Kessler."
Music: The Punisher's Main Theme
Snellville
Frank Castle continued speeding down the backroads of Georgia, when he suddenly looked in his rearview mirror, seeing a car steadily following him.
"Christ." Frank muttered, pressing down on the gas pedal. The van increased its speed, but so did the car, until another vehicle barreled straight towards Castle. Frank was forced to break, as the car swerved to the side, taking up the entire road and blocking him from passing. The Punisher grit his teeth, rolling down the window, and grabbed one of the many weapons in the back of the van. His fingers wrapped around an MP5 machine gun, and Frank stuck it out the window, spraying bullets into the car in front of him. Whoever had been in the vehicle was most likely peppered with red hot lead, and Frank got out, turning around and firing at the car driving towards him. Due to the windshield being bombarded with bullet holes, the car chasing him swerved out of control, crashing into a tree and killing the driver and passengers on impact.
Frank grunted in annoyance, tossing the MP5 back into the Battle Van, and drove straight toward the car blocking his way. As he got closer and closer, Castle steered toward the front end, and the van smashed into the vehicle, knocking it to the side and clearing a path.
Whatever assassination attempt had failed, but cost him at least five minutes. As Frank drove even faster now, he just hoped he wasn't too late.
Ivy University
"This is your last chance, Ry. You too, Mill." Helena offered. "Join us. We can help the Dekes achieve true equality. Or-"
"Or we will bring you to your knees, and force you to beg for mercy." Brian Huntley declared, emerging from behind a curtain. "Still creating problems, huh Ry?"
"Fuck you." Riley glared.
"See, I knew you wanted it." Brian wore a shark's smile. "But you see, you were given a chance, but now…"
Brian stopped speaking, as heavy footsteps echoed towards them, followed by the opening of doors. Millie struggled to look over her shoulder, just barely catching a glimpse of Billy's yellow skin, before she was forced to look straight ahead. Meanwhile, Phil stepped behind Riley, cutting through her bonds with Millie's ka-bar, and two other Dekes grabbed her arms and forced her up.
"Now it's time to decide." Brian declared. "Are you going to bow to us and join our cause? Or are we going to make you?"
Riley's entire body shook, but she held her head up high.
"Fuck you." Stone repeated.
"You need a reminder of our power?" Brian cocked an eyebrow. "Okay, bitch. Fine."
Huntley nudged his head in Riley's direction, and Billy walked towards her.
"Billy, you… you don't have to do this." Riley pleaded. Lenz didn't seem to listen, as he walked past her, right towards Helena.
"What?" Helena gasped, stepping back in surprise, as she looked toward Phil. "Baby?"
She looked over her shoulder, just now noticing that the necklace with her name was resting on the platter.
"Who put that there?" Helena asked in horror. Phil simply shrugged, smirking at her surprise.
"It's for the cause."
"But… but…" Helena stammered. "But I did everything I was supposed to-"
Billy suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Helena by her face and twisting her head to the side, instantly snapping her neck. Riley gasped, as her former friend's body fell to the floor in a muffled thud.
"He'll do worse than that to you." Brian told her. "Your body, your choice. Isn't that what your bitch friend Kris always said?"
Riley shuddered, looking around the room. If she could find something that could help her fight back-
There. Riley's eyesight focused on the comb she gave to Helena, which was now on the platter. If the Dekes could just let go…
"I'll do it." Riley suddenly said.
"Riley, don't-" Millie began to say, but stopped talking, once Stone shot her a glare.
"I'll do it! I'll bow!" Riley repeated, louder this time. "I'll join you!"
"Yeah. That's right, bitch!" Brian gloated, as Riley was forced to her knees. "But before you join us, know this: you dragged my name through the mud. You lied about what happened, and tried to destroy me."
As Huntley talked, Riley looked around frantically, her eyes noticing Billy's fingers twitch. Was he twitching… because of what Brian said? What he claimed she did?
Brian suddenly began pacing around the room, raising his hands into the air.
"See, I told you I could get her to do it!" Brian bragged, walking around the chamber as the other Dekes thumped paddle boards on the ground. "Who's the king, huh? Who's the king?"
Riley suddenly got up, dashing over to the platter. Before anyone could stop her, she grabbed her comb, whirling around and slashing Brian in the face, creating a gash on his cheek.
"That's it, Riley!" Millie cheered.
"You took everything from me, you twisted fuck!" Riley yelled, as two of the Dekes restrained her again. "And one day, someone will tell everyone what you did, and prove to the world what you really are!"
Brian growled in annoyance, touching the small cut on his face. No doubt that would leave a mark.
"It appears you have some fight in you after all." Gelson mused, as he picked up the goblet, and dipped it into the bust's well full of Dead Fluids. "But, you were not the one we had high hopes for."
Music: "Frank's Choice" from Punisher Season 1 OST
Riley's eyes widened, as the professor slowly walked towards Millie. Kessler squirmed, struggling against the bonds faster, until Phil placed a hand on her shoulder, using his supernaturally enhanced strength to keep her from moving. Once Gelson was a few inches away from her, Phil forced her mouth open, and the professor began pouring the Dead Fluids into her mouth. Millie retched, as the fluids tasted foul, like rotten flesh mixed with the metallic taste of blood.
"Unfortunately, the hazing ritual will not do." Gelson murmured. "Since you are a female, the Dead Fluids have to be distributed through your mouth, in order to counteract a woman's natural belly magic-"
Millie suddenly spat out the thick, black substance, coating Gelson's purple robe with the fluids. Lawrence stepped back, blinking in surprise, before looking over to Billy. The yellow skinned killer strode over to Riley, wrestling her away from the other Dekes, and wrapped his hand around her throat, but didn't squeeze.
"You will not do that again." Gelson said authoritatively. "Because if you do, your friend will die."
"Hey, hey, wait!" Millie exclaimed, seeing Billy prepare to snap Riley's neck just like he did to Helena. "Okay, you win. I'll do what you want, just… don't hurt her. Please."
Gelson grinned, as Phil forced Kessler's mouth open again, and he poured the rest of the Dead Fluids down her throat.
"Soon, our time will come to spread Hawthorne's law." Gelson declared, as Millie's vision began to be shrouded in darkness. "When we reclaim our power, all other religions will be cast down and forgotten. And then, the world will see the truth, that all life is a crime!"
Millie coughed from the disgusting taste of the Dead Fluids, looking around in the empty void to see nothing but darkness. Great, now her body will be used as a puppet by the Sisters of Death. Sometimes, she woke up at night, wondering if this was how Dredd's clone, Judge Kraken felt. Then again, he specifically said that he was fully conscious, as was Booker. Oh God, Booker…
Millie suddenly looked up, seeing a man with wavy brown hair, wearing a black suit and bow tie walking towards her. Given she had already seen his portrait, and his bust, she already knew who it was. Or at least, who it looked like.
"Greetings, Miss Kessler-" the ghostly image of Calvin Hawthorne was about to say, but was interrupted.
"Cut the shit." Millie snarled. "I know it's you, Sisters."
Hawthorne narrowed his eyes, before he hissed in displeasure.
"Very welllll…"
The man in front of her suddenly morphed, splitting in half and changing into the forms of two sickly diseased women. Unfortunately for Millie, she knew them well. How could she not, when it was her who had released them from their prison in the first place?
"Greeeeetingssssss!" Phobia, the Sister with shrunken heads for earrings, cackled. "It issssss goooood to ssssseeee you again, Milllllieeee!"
"Yesssss…" Nausea, the one with maggots and worms crawling all over her face, grinned. "Ssssssuchhhh fun we willlll havvve!"
"No… you're not here." Millie stammered. "You're still on Deadworld…"
"Whhenn I touch you, do you not burnnn?" Phobia asked, stepping forward and extending her fingernails into claws. "Whhhenn I cut you, do you not bleeeed?"
"No. I don't." Millie said adamantly. "Your Dead Fluids might be here, but you aren't. You're just an illusion, a nightmare."
"Liesssss!" Phobia screeched, raking her nails across Millie's face. Kessler didn't even flinch, and the Sisters looked on, seeing that the girl didn't suffer a scratch.
"You cut me, but I'm not bleeding, assholes." Millie grinned triumphantly. "Your power is strong enough to hurt me- even kill me- but only if I surrender to it! Now fuck off!"
"Nooooo!" the Sisters screamed, as their spirits faded away, and the black shroud covering Millie's vision was slowly lifted...
Riley, Gelson, Billy, and the Dekes watched in earnest, as Millie suddenly woke up, loudly retching and throwing up the Dead Fluids.
"Impossible." Gelson furrowed his brow, seeing the inky black substance pour from Kessler's mouth and onto the floor. Once the Dead Fluids were done leaking, Millie looked up at the professor, and smirked.
"You're so fucking weak." Millie taunted. "For letting the Sisters manipulate you that easily."
"You believe they manipulated me?" Gelson asked, smiling in amusement. "I joined them willingly. You, however, leave us no choice."
Again, the professor looked towards Billy, who threw Riley to the floor and advanced towards Kessler.
"Billy, don't-" Riley tried to say, but Brian clamped his hand over her mouth.
"You think you will be able to reach him, Ry?" Brian asked mockingly. "After what happened to him as a child, Billy's hatred and distrust for women came naturally. We barely had to ask for his help in killing the girls from your sorority."
"We really have Mister Castle to thank for this gift." Gelson added, smiling down at Millie. "If it wasn't for him and his… colorful team, Vought would not have been exposed, and their facilities shut down. Because of that, we would not have been able to collect Mister Lenz from Clark Sanitarium."
Meanwhile, Billy knelt down to Millie's eye level, pulling out a large kitchen knife from his robe, and pointing it right at her eyeball.
"You really are quite something, Miss Kessler." Gelson complimented. "But we all knew it would come down to this. You're a dead woman, your heart just doesn't know it yet."
Suddenly, something inside Millie snapped, as she felt a rush of adrenaline, and she pulled her arms away one last time, hearing her bonds finally snap. Just as Billy went in for the kill, her arm shot out, catching his wrist, before she slammed her forehead into his in a brutal headbutt. Despite not feeling any pain, Billy stumbled back slightly, while Millie stood up from the chair, her phone clattering to the floor. A few of the Dekes began to step forward, but Gelson held up a hand, forcing them to stop.
Billy quickly recovered, taking the knife and stabbing it into Millie's side, but she didn't seem to notice. Kessler kicked the back of Lenz's leg out from under him, tripping him to the ground, before painfully pulling the knife out of her side, and tossing it to the floor.
"You're wrong." Millie declared towards Gelson, as she bent down and grabbed Billy by his collar. "I'm a reminder-"
Millie swung her fist into Billy's face, forcing his head to jerk to the side, as she remembered what Gelson said to her the day prior.
"THAT EVERY-"
She punched Lenz again, this time causing blood to spurt out of his mouth.
"ONE-"
Millie pounded her fist into Billy, hearing a crunching sound. Most likely, she broke his nose.
"DIES-"
Millie suddenly stopped, staring at the blood on her knuckles. She slowly looked up, seeing Gelson standing next to the bust, smiling. Kessler suddenly felt weak in her knees, realizing this is what he wanted, and stood up.
"I'm sorry-"
Billy reached out, grabbing Millie's ankle and pulling her back down to the floor. Before she knew it, Lenz had gotten on top of her, wrapping his hands around her neck and strangling her. Across the chamber, Riley's eyes widened, and she bit down on Brian's hand, hard. Huntley hissed in pain, as Riley elbowed him in the gut and ran full speed towards Billy, body slamming into him. Because she used her full body weight, both she and Lenz were thrown to the floor, but Billy quickly got back up, grabbing Riley by the throat and began to squeeze tightly. As this happened, Gelson placed his hand on Brian's shoulder, turning him around so his back facing Riley and Billy.
"See no evil, boys."
The other cloaked figures turned around, placing their hoods over their heads, while two of the Dekes grabbed onto Millie and held her in place. As this happened, Landon's hands began to shake, and his eyes flickered open and closed.
"You alright, bro?" Phil asked, noticing his shaking. Landon suddenly relaxed, looking straight forward.
"Absolutely."
"Billy, please…" Riley gasped out. The yellow skinned killer tilted his head, almost in acknowledgement, but continued to choke her. Riley was about to plead for him to let her go, when Brian's words echoed in her mind:
"After what happened to him as a child, Billy's hatred and distrust for women came naturally."
Riley opened her mouth to speak, struggling against the sea of black trying to overwhelm her sight. Even if Billy killed her, she had to say this. She needed to.
"Billy… I understand."
Amidst her own struggling against the Dekes, Millie suddenly looked up, shocked at what her friend was saying.
"I understand… why you don't trust women…" Riley wheezed, as she felt Billy's grip loosen. "After what… your mother did to you… I get it… but not all women are like that… just like not all men are rapists…"
Billy furrowed his brow, and loosened his hold around her throat even more.
"I know your mother hurt you… in a way a mother should never do…" Riley continued, feeling her vision begin to return. "But I understand… because the same thing happened to me."
Billy lifted his head, looking past Riley to stare at Brian, his back turned. What she just said, coupled with what Huntley had boasted about just moments ago…
Riley felt Lenz's hands completely let go of her, and she looked up, seeing him slowly step away.
"I'm sorry." Riley whispered, rubbing her neck and looking at Lenz in sadness. "I'm so, so sorry for what happened to you… as a child…"
Riley suddenly heard the distinct sound of an arrow being fired, and with all her might, grabbed Billy and pulled him to the side. Out of the corner of her eye, Riley saw the arrow fly by, and she followed its path, seeing it stick itself in the back of Brian's leg. The hooded Dekes suddenly turned around in surprise, and Millie, Riley, and Billy followed their gaze. At the entrance to the chamber stood Booker, Oona, and the girls from Delta Sigma. In Booker's hands was a bow and arrow, while the sorority sisters held onto various Christmas decorations as makeshift weapons.
Music: "You Messed With The Wrong Sisters" from Black Christmas 2019 OST
"Hey Mill. Looks like we got here just in time." Booker quipped, lowering the bow. He and the sisters charged at the Dekes, fighting them with the weapons they had. Booker used his bow like a club, bashing any fraternity member that close. Oona used a Hanukkah menorah, stabbing it like a knife, while another girl used a sled as both a shield and battering ram. Among the chaos, Millie stepped on the foot of one of the Dekes restraining her, elbowed the other, and scrambled to the floor, scooping up both her phone and knife.
As the chamber erupted in chaos, Riley turned around, looking right at the Calvin Hawthorne bust… which was right behind Brian Huntley. At the same time, Billy scanned the area, focusing on Gelson, who approached one of the women and stabbed her in the jugular with his ceremonial dagger.
"You…" Billy rasped out, striding towards Gelson. Lawrence turned toward Lenz, only for Billy to wrap his hands around his throat and squeeze, forcing him onto his knees.
Riley charged at Brian, letting loose a scream of rage, but Huntley grabbed her by the waist and slammed her to the floor. Stone wrestled against Brian's grip, as he forced her wrists to her side. Her eyes widened, suddenly feeling flashbacks to the time Huntley took advantage of her, and her breathing quickened. She turned her head to the side, seeing Millie, Booker, and the girls fighting against the Dekes… and losing. One of them, wearing all black and a distorted mask, had Oona forced against the wall and choking the life out of her. Another had Booker placed in a headlock, forcing him to drop his bow. Even Millie, who was doing her best to fight off three Dekes at once with her ka-bar, was slowly being beat down, until she was forced onto one knee. And Billy… he was too busy strangling Professor Gelson for what he did to him to see what was going on around him. Or did he even care?
While Riley saw all this, the feeling of hopelessness creeping into her, Millie looked over toward her. Despite the Dekes wailing on her, Kessler's eyes still held the same fire of determination she saw when they first met.
"Keep fighting!" Millie called out, before one of the frat boys punched her in the face. "No matter what you do, never stop fighting!"
That was all the motivation Riley needed, as she found the strength to jerk her wrists up and shove Brian off of her. Huntley fell to the ground, and Riley grabbed him by his shoulders, slamming his head into the steps leading to the bust. Blood trickled down his robe, signaling that she had cracked his skull, and Riley stood back up on shaking legs. She looked up at the bust, seeing it was still leaking the black fluid. The Dead Fluids, as Millie called it. Without hesitation, Riley ran up towards the statue, digging her fingers underneath the shoulders, and lifted up. Or rather, she tried to lift the bust, but found it was too heavy. Perhaps it was from the Dead Fluids inside, or the material that the bust was made of, but it would not move an inch. Still, Riley continued trying to lift it up, yelling from the strain, as Millie's order to keep fighting echoed in her head.
Amid all the fighting, Billy overheard Riley shout, and he turned his head, seeing her struggle to lift the Hawthorne bust. Like all the other Dekes, he had been fully conscious, but someone else was controlling his movements. He knew why she was trying to lift the bust, and with one final glare at Gelson, threw him roughly on the ground, and lumbered toward Stone.
Riley continued yelling, straining herself to lift the bust, when she suddenly felt it finally begin to move. Did it just get lighter? Or was she imagining it? Stone looked slightly to her left, seeing Billy was right next to her. The yellow skinned man gave her a short nod, and working together, they lifted the bust high above their heads.
"Wait!" Gelson called out, struggling to get up. "Wait, wait! If you do this, the Sisters will be lost forever!"
Riley looked around, seeing the chaos unfold. Booker was still trapped in that headlock. Millie was still being kicked on the ground, despite trying to get back up multiple times. Riley looked over to Billy, as the same thought crossed their mind.
"That was always the plan." Riley grinned, and with a final shove, she and Billy threw the Calvin Hawthorne bust onto the floor, watching it shatter.
"NOOOO!" Gelson yelled, as the inky black Dead Fluids splattered everywhere. Ghastly voices joined Gelson's scream of rage, as smokey mist rose from the Dead Fluids, before dissipating. In an instant, all the Dekes stopped attacking, holding their heads and stumbling back.
"What… the fuck?" Phil asked, looking around.
Booker felt the grip around his throat loosen, and he quickly wrestled himself out of his attacker's grasp, running toward Millie and helping her up.
"You're all free." Millie realized, picking up her phone and ka-bar, and looking over to Riley and smiling.
"NO!" Gelson suddenly roared, grabbing his ritual dagger off the floor and stabbing Phil in the chest. Blood spurted out, as well as leaked from the boy's mouth, as Lawrence yanked the knife out and flung it across the room, embedding it in Oona's eye.
"Damn you!" Gelson yelled. "Damn you all-"
"HEY!"
Lawrence turned around, seeing Millie was the one who barked at him. In her hands was a glass lamp, which had been lit and placed on a corner pedestal just moments ago.
"You know the difference between justice, and punishment?" Millie asked, right before she threw the lamp at his feet. The glass shattered, erupting into flames along the floor, and began spreading. The fire licked at Gelson's robes, as it traveled along the floor, the walls, and even the ceiling.
"We gotta get out of here!" Booker announced, leading everyone, the sorority girls and the now freed Dekes, out of the chamber. Riley ran up to Millie, hugging her, and grinned.
"Thank you for always having my back!" Stone cried out.
"Always." Millie smiled. "Now let's go!"
"Not without Billy!" Riley exclaimed, reaching out to grab Billy's arm. She, Millie, and Lenz all made their way towards the chamber's entrance, but Billy suddenly stopped, looking back into the fiery room. Was it his imagination, or… was Gelson still moving?
"Billy, what are you doing?" Riley asked, trying to pull on his arm. Lenz ignored her, as he squinted through the fire to see Professor Gelson removing his hood and robes. So he was still alive.
"Billy, come on!" Riley said frantically. Billy looked back to her and Kessler, shaking his head.
"Go."
Riley stopped for a minute, confused, as Millie began to understand what he was doing.
"Wha- what?" Riley asked.
"Go." Billy repeated, pushing the girls through the entrance.
"But-" Riley was about to say, but Millie interrupted her.
"He's going to make sure Gelson dies." Millie spoke up. Billy looked over to her, and nodded.
"Billy, if you do this, you'll die with him." Riley pleaded. "Please. Come with us. We can help you. Millie's friend, Michael Myers-"
Billy shook his head, as he pulled Riley in for a hug. Forty seven years he hated all women, because of what his mother had done to him during childhood. He had Riley Stone to thank for making him realize he was wrong, but unlike Michael Myers, it was too late for him. Michael only butchered people, while Billy… Billy had done far worse. He mutilated his sister, twisted her mind into becoming a monstrosity like him. He cannibalized his mother, as well as many innocents in his life span. There was no going back for him, he was too far gone. But… maybe he could do this one good thing, before he died.
"I'm your family now." Billy murmured, before shoving Riley and Millie out of the chamber doors. The moment after, two of the beams holding up the ceiling crashed down, right where Millie and Riley were seconds ago.
"TRAITOR!"
Billy turned around, seeing Gelson panting, as his hand closed around the dagger embedded in Oona's skull. With a heavy yank, the knife was torn out, and Gelson glared at Lenz.
"You betrayed us." Lawrence growled, as Billy lumbered towards him. "You betrayed the Sisters!"
Gelson swung the knife wildly, giving Billy the opening he needed. Lenz reached out, grabbing the professor's wrist, and brought his other arm up, breaking Gelson's limb like it was a frail stick. Lawrence screamed in pain, as Billy shoved him into the wall mirror, where his face smashed against the glass. The mirror cracked, spider webbing over the entire surface, and Billy quickly grabbed Gelson by the hair, pulling him down and scraping his face across the mirror.
Gelson screamed, feeling pieces of his face get torn off, and Billy began to smash his face into the glass, again and again. Blood gushed out, as Gelson's skin kept getting ripped off, until he finally reached out and grabbed a sizable shard of the destroyed mirror. Billy pulled his arm back, and Lawrence quickly turned his good arm around, stabbing the mirror shard into his neck. Thanks to Vought experimenting on him at Clark Sanitarium, Billy could no longer feel pain, though he still stumbled back in surprise, letting go of Gelson in the process. A second later, a beam from the ceiling came crashing down, landing on Billy's back and trapping him on the floor.
Professor Gelson panted heavily, reaching down and grabbing his knife. He stared over at Billy, contemplating if he should kill him, before deciding to turn around and leave the chamber. Billy watched him go, wishing he could do more, but knew he couldn't. The Compound V made it so he could no longer feel pain, but unfortunately, it didn't also grant him superhuman strength to lift the beam off him. At least… in his final moments, he did something good...
Millie, Riley, and Booker ran through the burning fraternity, making it outside to find the Dekes and the sorority girls already out there, panting heavily.
"Riley!"
Stone looked up, seeing Landon approach her.
"I am so sorry." Landon apologized. "They did this magic voodoo shit-"
"It's okay." Riley panted out. "I know."
Landon smiled, as he and Riley embraced in a hug. Millie grinned at her friend and sister, before she and Booker also hugged.
"You took your time." Millie joked.
"Had to round them all up." Booker replied, causing Kessler to laugh softly. Suddenly, Millie heard her phone beep, and she checked the display screen. The numbers 0:00 were flashing, signaling the end of the timer.
"Huh." Millie frowned, shutting off her phone. She looked back towards the burning frat house, just in time to see a figure stumble out the front door.
"Billy?" Riley asked aloud, letting go of Landon and stepping forward. She was stopped, however, when Millie placed a hand on her shoulder, and got a good view of the person coming towards them. His right arm was twisted in the complete opposite direction, his face was heavily scarred with bits of glass sticking out, and upon his head was blonde hair, which was singed and flaking off.
"You gotta be fucking kidding me." Millie muttered.
Gelson growled like a wild beast, raising his good arm to reveal the ritual dagger.
"You… fucking… bitch-"
Bang!
Music: Punisher End Titles
A gunshot echoed in the night, as a bullet pierced Professor Gelson's forehead. The leader of the frat cult swayed a bit, before falling onto the ground, with his blood pooling around him and dying the snow a dark crimson. Millie, Booker, and Riley turned around in surprise, seeing a tall man standing a ways behind all the college students. The man in question, wearing an armored vest and jacket with a painted white skull, held onto a pistol, which was now smoking. Millie and Booker grinned, knowing exactly who it was, while even Riley cracked a small smile in gratitude.
"Hey kid." Frank Castle spoke softly, as Millie ran over and hugged him. "Good to see you too."
"You're late." Millie chided, not caring that everyone else was staring at them in awe.
"Yeah. Sorry." Frank murmured, staring up at the burning fraternity house. "Got caught up by some assholes on the way here."
Millie's eyes widened, as she stared at Gelson's corpse. So he wasn't lying about sending men after the Punisher. God, now she wanted to have been the one to pull the trigger-
"Who was the girl you needed help looking for? Rittenhouse?" Frank asked.
"Yeah. She's dead." Millie said bitterly. "She was working with the cult this whole time."
"The Dead Fluids?" Castle pressed.
"Destroyed." Millie smiled. "Riley shattered the bust, but she had help from Billy."
"Lenz?" Frank furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Yeah." Millie nodded. "He… he became good, in the end."
"Do you think he got out?" Riley suddenly asked, looking at the burning building. Millie looked up at Frank, shaking her head as if to beg him not to say anything, before she addressed her friend and sister.
"Riley, I… I don't think so."
"But Gelson got out." Riley reasoned. "Maybe Billy-"
"Riley, he's gone." Millie told her sadly, as she still hugged Frank. "Either Gelson killed him, or he was burned to death."
Riley wore a pained expression, tears threatening to pour out, but she reluctantly nodded.
"Hey, Ry." Millie said softly, causing her friend to turn to look at her. "What he said... I think- I think that was his way of showing his love."
Riley smiled in sadness, feeling a tear roll down her cheek, as she turned back towards the fraternity, seeing its Greek letters on the front burn, and felt her lips curve up in a hopeful smile. Riley smiled, because she knew that she had reached Billy in his final moments. He helped her destroy Hawthorne's bust, stopping Gelson and the Sisters. That's how she knew, in her heart…
Billy Lenz died a hero.
A/N: So, I remember watching through the ending and deciding to change a couple things. For one, like I said above, Gelson was so comical in the movie, I didn't take him as a serious threat. That's where I decided to have him partner with the Sisters of Death, which tied back to Justice and Judgement.
As for Billy, I wanted to give him some type of redemption arc. I kinda felt bad for the remake version, being abused and raped by his mother. But I also decided that I wasn't going to have him survive and run around with Riley like Allyson and Michael do. It's like I wrote earlier, Billy cannibalized people in the remake, and in my opinion, there's no coming back from that. So I had him go out on a heroic note, similar to Darth Vader.
All that's left is the epilogue. It should be up later tonight. If not, then tomorrow.
Stay safe out there folks.