4|Punisher found out
Emily had developed a disliking to alcohol; not because of the hangovers after a long night of drinking, no not that. She disliked the way it influenced a person's mind; thoughts, and actions. One alcohol influenced person could be a happy
drunk, sad, or rude. The one intoxicated not so gentlemen she had to be around for years happened to be aggressive, loud, and was plain out scary.
"Alright, Lisa, I want you to take your brother and hide." A barely twenty-eight year old Emily, tells a golden haired girl. Not even hiding the fear in her eyes. Emily was watching the two kids, while Frank and Maria were out.
It was around eight o'clock in the evening, and the two were getting ready for bed. When the sounds of pounding come from the door, startling the three. After hearing the familiar drunken roar, Emily knew that she had to hide the children. Not let the man that could possibly barge through that door, lay a finger on them. Lisa looks at Emily with her body shaking; scared of what was happening.
"I don't want to leave you!" Lisa cries, holding her little brother in her arms. Emily looks at her with frantic eyes.
"Lisa, listen to me. If anything was to happen to you. I couldn't live with myself. You're not leaving me, you're just going upstairs. Keep Francis with you." Emily informs the small child, flinching when apound was heard followed by another angry howl.
Lisa gives Emily one last tearful glance before being the mature oldest sister takes her brother in her arms and climbs the stairs.
"Emily I know you're here!" A slurred voice calls. But, Emily doesn't make a single sound. It then falls silent, just for a few seconds.
"Em, I love you. You know I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm trying to change." The man says, his demeanor changing suddenly.
This is what he wanted; for her to fall for the trick like she had thousands of times. He would get angry throw a few things at her. He'd even hit her, and throw her around. Emily would run into the bedroom they shared and lock herself in, until either Jacob calmed down. Or find a way in sweet talking her to open the door.
But, she had enough.
The woman was about to run for the cell phone; to possibly get a hold of Frank or even the police, when it happened. Jacob had seen her the whole time through the door window. And seeing her make a run for the phone riled him up. Emily hears glass shatter, and the click of the door being unlocked as she grabs the house phone.
The door then swings open, the sound of shattered glass, crunching under his shoes, as he drunkenly charges at her. Emily had finally dialed the last number of the man she wanted to call. Before a strong hand grabbed her by the shoulder. She screams as he thrusts her into a wall. The phone falling from her grip.
The sound of her cry was heard by the children upstairs because she heard them shout for her. The cruel man heard them as well. As he grabs her by the throat and pulls her up and pins her to the wall. He whispers in her ear, his hot breath fanning her ear. The smell of whisky hinted in his breath.
"Oh so you're babysitting his kids now? You seem to do everything with dear old Frank Castle."
She sends a brace glare at him, then does something she never thought she'd have the guts to do. She kicked him hard; catching him off guard. His grip disappearing, she takes the chance to run for the phone that lay discarded under the piano bench. She's nearly there, when a hand wraps around her ankle, knocking her off her feet.
The sounds of a voice shout from the phone; probably hearing the struggle and screams. Which means he knows who broke into his house. He just doesn't know if Emily is okay.
'Frank you better hurry.' The young woman thought.
"You're useless! You never do anything right! All I ask is for you to do as I say. Not run off with precious little Frank. You follow him like you're a damn dog!" He yells, and then throws her near the front doorway. Where glass laid around. The stinging caused her to hiss; vision blurring with tears as the glass dug into her thighs through her worn out cotton pajama pants.
"Yeah, that's what you are! A damn bitch!"
She didn't see it coming, but she felt it. A swift hard kick was sent to her side. Knocking the air right out of her lungs. She hears steps coming from the stairs. Then looks towards them; seeing Lisa traumatized watching as Emily gets thrown around like a ragged doll.
"Don't watch," She forces out, her voice hoarse and scratchysounding. But, then Frank Jr. appears behind her.
"Emmy!" The younger boy cries for the woman.
By this time Jacob has taken his pleasure into crushing Emily's throat with his bare hands. She chokes, gasping for air, but it's no use. She by mistake locks her blue eyes with Jacob's green ones. That she once thought she had fallen in love with. Instead of the warm and love filled eyes she saw desire; the desire to watch her as the life drains from her eyes.
Dots begin to form in her vision; signaling the lack of oxygen. With that last bit of strength she claws her hands at his. In a last attempt of getting free. But, she hears a humorless chuckle from the man.
"It's no use. You can't do anything as I crush the life out of you. This wouldn't have happened if you had listened." He tells her, he sounded like he was scolding a child. For one second she thought he was right; that she wasn't getting away this time. That no matter how much she tried Frank's children were going to have to watch her get murdered.
That was until a leather jacketed threw himself into Jacob. The two tumbling to the wooden floor. Air filled her lungs as she took a huge gulp of it. Her neck hurt as she moved, including her side when she breathed heavily.
She felt the presence of someone kneeling beside her. A head of blonde an kind face.
"Maria." She croaked, the woman's name barely heard; as if Emily's voice had disappeared. She couldn't move her neck without pain shooting though it. Emily could already feel the brusies forming. She still tried to form the words, until Frank's wife instructed her not to speak and that she knew that she was protecting her children. Her fingers ran through Emily's brown locks in a comforting way.
The sound of the struggle between Frank and Jacob came to a stop, as the sound of an ambulance and police sirens were heard. Everything was a blur after that; the last thing she saw of Jacob was his murdurous glare as he was shoved into a police car. While she was escorted in a gurney into an ambulance.
Emily awakes from unconsciousness, blinking repeatedly until her vision clears. She hears the sound of a dog whimpering.
Max
She goes to move towards the Pitt bull, but she feels herself wrenched backwards, knocking her onto her butt. Her back colliding with the brick wall, head hitting it as well. She lets out a shout. Emily takes in her surroundings; rusted shackles
were locked around her tiny wrists. One man on either side of her holding the chain. They had done the same to Max, except his chain was around his neck.
The blogger jerks when she hears the sound that had brought her back to consciousness. Deep shouts; yelling, taunting for them to come at the person. She then realized whose voice it belonged to.
Frank.
Frank was here; except he wasn't here to save them. He was in a bit of trouble.
Emily starts to pull at her restraints when hears the shouts from her best friend; sounding as if he were in agony. She begged for the men to stop. They ignored her pleads; and continued at keeping the woman still.
"Bring 'emin." A familiar Irish accent commands. She deduced that this was the leader of the men. Because as soon as he called out orders the men obeyed. Dragging max, who whimpered, and Emily cried out when they pulled at the chains that
caused the cuffs to rub against her skin.
She found herself on front of Frank, who looked at the two with worried glances.
"Hey." His voice sounded hoarse. Emily's eyes watered at the sight of him. He was worse than she had ever seen him. His nose looked to be broken; blood stained his lips, it dribbling from his mouth.
"It seems you've taken a liken to this mutt," The man states, his hands on his hips. "Let's not forget this lovely lady here."
Emily tried moving forward again like she had with Max. Unfortunately can she wasn't even able to walk more than one step. She felt the Irish man's stare and she wanted to hide herself; but her waitress uniform that she was still in wasn't going
to help her in concealing her body.
The man suddenly kneeled in front of Emily, clicking his tongue to get the attention of Max. Petting the dog as he looked at the ex-soldier.
"If I don't get my money, everything I've done to you. I'm doing double to poor Fido here, huh?" He instructs Frank. Then sends a glance at Emily making a chill run up her spine. "And my men will have a little fun with this fresh piece of meat."
The blogger started to feel her stomach roll at the sickening words that fell out of the man's mouth. As the man picked up what looked like a electric screwdriver to Emily. She knew exactly what the vile man had done with it after she caught a glance
at Frank's foot. It took everything she had to keep the bile down at the horrible sight.
"Wait, wait, wait." Frank started, his eyes not leaving Emily or his dog. The sound of the tool being turned on caused Emily and Frank to panic. Emily started to pull at the chains; not caring about the glares she was getting from the gang members.
The Irish man started to tauntingly bring it in front of Emily then the dog.
"Hey, let them go, just let them go asshole." Frank shouted anger evident in his voice. "I'll tell you where your money is okay? I'll tell you. Your money's in a van, okay? It's in a van." He finally tells them panting.
Emily had just noticed through her panic that the Irish man just wanted his money back. But, how the hell did Frank get his money? Why was he messing around with gangs?
"It's on 48th and 10th," He admits to the men. "Just let them go, let them go you asshole."
"He's an animal lover. And a lady's man how sweet." The Irish man emotionlessly says. "Take him out. Keep the girl here just in case he's lying."
Emily is forced to watch as he talks to Frank in an threatening manner, dragging the tip of the screwdriver down the side of his bloodied face. But, what she hears next from the leader makes her eyes bulge from their sockets.
"I'll keep you alive until the cash is safe at hand."
They were going to kill Frank?
"Wait, no please don't kill him!" Emily shouts, tears rimming her eyes. But she finds herself being ignored once again. The man suddenly slams the electrical tool down and pulls out a flip phone. Instructing his men to watch their
backs as they enter the said place that his money was said to be.
Emily started to wonder how Frank could possiblyact socalm in a situation like this one. The man then walked out leaving just two guards who held Emily; and Frank who stayed quiet.
"Frank?" The blogger whispered, voice shaking as she spoke. "What's going on? Is there something you're keeping from me? Because now I know this is much more serious."
He only answered with six words, "Everything is going to be alright."
Emily didn't know if she had enough faith to believe that.
"Does this have anything to do with them?" She asked hestiantly, she knew she was driving into an no safe zone it was why she was so hesitant.
But, this time Frank didn't say a word. She thought maybe he just didn't want to talk. That changed after she distinguished a concentrated look on his face. Then it hit her.
He's trying to get out.
Not even five minutes later, the leader came in, a scowl on his face. One of the men let go of her and held a gun to Frank's head.
"No!" She screamed loudly, now that there was only one man restraining her it might be a bit easier to move. She then sucked in a breath at what she witnessed next; as if it were magic Frank was free from his restraints. The ex-soldier grabbed the
oppenent's hand that held the gun, and aimed it towards the ceiling just at the moment the man presses the trigger.
The gunshot echoes off the walls causing Emily to flinch. Her guard distracted by Frank's actions, gives her an opportunity, she takes a deep breath knowing that she might get killed. Using both hands she shoves his chest with all her might sending
him crashing into a wall. The chains clang to the dirty ground.
Her attention goes back to Frank and is shocked at what he does next. As the ginger haired leader turns to escape, Frank doesn't hesitate to run the man through with two bullets through the back with the gun he had grabbed.
The man who had tried shooting Frank was kneeling on the ground clutching his neck, seeming to be choking. Emily was to scared and overwhelmed to pay attention.
The leader who was now crawling away on his stomach was calling for his men. Frank was pushing himself from his seat grunting as he did. But what he did next made her scream in terror. He turned to the man who was still clutching at his throat,
pressing the gun to the man's temple and pulled the trigger without second thoughts.
Emily wasn't terrified of him; she wasterrified of how he didn't even flinch as he killed a human being like it was an everyday thing. The answer to her thoughts came to her just as she watched Frank snatch up a long narrow looking gun, it
makes a sound as he loads a bullet into its chamber.
It was him! No no! It can't be!
Just as she mentally protested in her mind, Frank pointed the gun towards the doorway and pulled the trigger, a bullet embedding itself into the chest of an gang member. Then continued to stalk towards the withering leader.
"You wanted this," the man tells him.
"No, I counted on it," Frank says shaking his head.
"Frank don't do this! Please this isn't you!" Emily shouts at him; no matter how cruel the man was, she didn't believe anyone had the right to decide who lived and died.
Frank acted as if she weren't there, and proceeded to talk to the man, "Now I can ask you face to face. Who was there that day? Who killed my family?" Frank raised the gun up to the ginger's head.
Emily realized her earlier question was answered; this was about his family. He was looking for the killers who murdered his family. The family that she felt was hers too. Frank fitted the profile of the man people called The Punisher. But, she
was still in denial.
When the leader didn't give Frank any answers, he pulled the trigger creating a hole the size of a fist in the middle of the man's face. Emily covered her face with her still chained hands. She didn't bother holding it back as she keeled over, letting
it out.
"Emily!" Frank shouted, as bullets soared through the air, one grazing his arm if she saw correctly. She just relieved herself of the bile just moments before the bullets came. Emily looked over at him, angered at the same moment; betrayal seeping
in. But she still cared no matter what he did she always would.
Emily fell to the ground, cowering in a corner away from the entrance to avoid bullets.
That's when she heard it; even over the gunshots she did. The familiar rhyme that was oh so familiar to them both.
"One batch, two batch, penny and dime." He whispered.
Emily realized he wa going to do something. Which could possibly get him more damaged then he already is.
But that didn't happen, because the guns stopped and so did the yelling. A man clothed in red, in a mask with horns that covered his face emerged through the doorway. She knew who this was everyone talked about the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.
The vigilante closes the door, as Emily finds the courage to get up and stalk cautiously towards the two men.
"They're gonna pay. Every single god damn one of 'em." Frank told the hero, Emily then came into view. Her chains still trailing behind her. The masked man noticed this and broke her restraints earning a quiet thank you. The sudden change in his
posture after hearing her voice, made her furrow her eyebrows. She then turned to Frank.
"Your family was my family too, Frank. I'm slowly putting this together. You were the one doing the killings. The ones all over the news? They even named you The Punisher. You were the guy who almost shot me." She questioned him. The look in Frank's
eyes told her everything; that there was no reason to be in denial.
Because, everything she put together fit.
"They will." The masked man said. "But not tonight. Move."
Emily couldn't help but agree more. No matter how hurt she felt about the ex-soldier keeping this from her. She stumbled towards his side, grabbing onto his bicep as they followed the vigilante. Frank and her hid behind a wall, the masked man doing
the same.
As the gang members entered the room, the two fighters jumped from the hiding places and fought against them all. Emily staying where she was, not liking the feeling as she didn't do anything to help. She didn't know how to.
Frank threw a man across the room, crashing into a wooden object. The ex-soldier went to shoot the man but the masked man stopped him by throwing a stick like weapon, knocking the gun from his hand.
Emily noticed that Frank wasn't looking very well, and no matter how mad she was at him, she couldn't help but make way to him as Devil knocked the last man out. Well she thought he did.
They missed one.
It all went by in slow motion, a gun was fired aimed at a specific target. Emily was about to call out to Frank when she felt it. White hot pain erupted from her right side, above her waist. A substance staining her uniform as it flowed from the
area. Blood.
Her hands fly to her injury as she lets out a pained scream. Feeling sweat drip down her face as she scrunched her eyes closed. Both of her hands were applied to the wound. The sticky substance seeping thorough her digits.
Frank noticed this and his anger refueled grabs a hammer and goes to bash in the shooter's head who was now laying unconscious after the ordeal.
"Frank don't," Emily pleaded through pained tears as she was fighting to stay on both feet. As the two finally took care of all the men, the masked man grabbed Frank. Emily opened her eyes and started walking; adrenaline pumping in her lungs suddenly.
"Alright let's get out of here."
The masked man notices this; and encourages her to keep going. Emily hopes that they all get out of this alive.
They were in a graveyard, and the pain from Emily's gunshot wound was coming back as the adrenaline wore off. Frank was being supported by the masked vigilante, the three panting from exhaustion. They finally settled, Emily collapses against the
same gravestone beside Frank, she lets out a pained groan. Catching the attention of the two men.
"Hold on in there, ma'am." The vigilante tells her encouragingly.
"You're making me sound old," She chuckles through gasps.
"Hey," Frank panted, "Not bad."
The hero chuckles, "Thanks."
"I guess, I uh...I guess I was wrong," Frank admitted.
"About?"
Emily was curious what he was admitting about too, even as she was cursing under her breath. Another shot of pain appears causing her to wail, and grabbing onto the first thing she comes in contact with.
Frank's hand.
Which he surprisingly, doesn't push her away but grips her hand. Knowing the pain she was having. The blood was still rapidly flowing, and from the hole in the front of her uniform and back showed that the bullet went clean through.
"About you being a pussy."
As those words fell from Frank's lips, Emily couldn't help but laugh, only to keel to the side in pain. Frank pulled her back, sitting her back up against the gravestone.
"Don't get all sweet on me now, Frank."
After hearing what the vigilante said Emily couldn't help but mumble, "You should see what he does when he apologizes to me. So sweet."
She countined to mumble, probably due to theof blood she's losing. She rest her head on Frank's shoulder as he chuckles but then falls into a coughing fit.
"Helps on the way," the hero instructs the two.
"Nah, you should go," Frank tells him, looking at Emily worriedly. "I'm past saving but she isn't."
Emily starts protesting and saying not to talk like that. But he continues, "At least I'd have company, right? I think I might cash out."
The vigilante drops in front of the two best friends; he can't help but see how the girl understands how he feels, probably because she was connected to his life before all this happened.
"You'd have made an hell of a Marine, Red." Frank tells Red as Emily hears and decides to call him the same.
"That rhyme."
The mention of where Red was going alerted Emily as to where this was going.
"What's it mean?"
"What'd you say?" Frank mumbles.
"You heard him say that?" Emily asks quietly, astonished.
Red nods,"Right before you pulled the trigger."
Frank questioned the same way Emily did, surprised that he had heard that. Red confirming that he heard it.
"What the..." The ex-soldier sighs, "I gotta say sometimes, sometimes I think you just might be the devil."
Emily and Red both smile in amusement, Emily doing it through the pain trying not to doze off.
"Sometimes I think I might be, too."
"It's, uh...one batch, two batch, penny and dime, you know." Frank tells him, Emily grips his hand tighter.
"It was her favorite book." Emily says, "She loved it."
"You know, you...you gotta cross the ocean...and go fight." Frank tells Red after a few deep breaths. The two just listened to him as he talked. Emily focusing on his voice.
"Whole time you're thinking you're gonna be scared, right? But then you're not." Frank states, "See, that part of it was always easy for me."
"Killing."
Emily slightly flinches at the word, but doesn't move away from Frank.
The ex-soldier continued, "Even watching my buddies die, it just...it didn't mean nothing. The first time I got scared...was on a plane on the way home."
Emily listened closely to this.
"Kept thinking God was gonna pull the rug from under us, you know? Shit, that's his kind of funny, you know. But the plane landed safe and we were home."
"I remember," Emily starts, biting her bottom lip, flinching, "When he came home, everyone was so happy. Especially me, I pretty much attached myself to him in high school." She chuckled, at the good memories.
"I practically lived with his family, I actually did."
The three continue to talk about it, tears stinging her eyes as she remembers who she lost. Who she and Frank lost.
"I get to her classroom, right? She's in there...but she's got no idea." Frank says, Emily smiles, through her tears.
She looks to Red again, "She's got no idea daddy's home."
"I walk in, these kids, they're not even studying, they're...doing some kind of yoga. Yeah." Frank chuckles.
Emily does too, remembering the memory like it was yesterday, her and his wife Maria had video taped it. Frank continues the story, Emily feels herself slipping into unconsciousness, but doesn't loosen her grip on Frank's hand.
As she fell asleep; she was sure that she might not wake up again.
Sorry about the long wait. I just started my sophomore year in high school. So my updating won't be everyday more like on weekend or when I have spare time.
Till next time
-Amber
