Punisher : To All Good Night
Chapter 1 : Becky Van Dutch as Scroogess
Frank Castle otherwise known as the Punisher sat at the table waiting for his coffee while looking at the playbill for " Scroogess", a gender swopping tale of "A Christmas Carol". What makes this play stick out to the Punisher is, the entire cast is made up with low life criminals. The waiter showed up with Frank's black non sugared coffee. " Here you go Hun" the waiter said. Punisher didn't make a motion. He picked up a pencil off the floor and circled the name Becky Van Dutch, the star of the show, Scroogess. Punisher met up with her long ago.
Two Hours ago
Punisher War Journal entry January 2, 8:15 Am
I entered the torn down apartment complex that I first ran into Becky Van Dutch. Even though I rid this place of the drug addicts and scum, it still has the same smell of filth as it did 5 years go. It still feels stained by sins and wrong doing. It still has the bullet holes I left the day I came here to put an end to this crack house. I went up stairs, into the room I found Becky, so young, innocent, and misdirected by a pimped named Drake Jones. I remember the day I let him and his gang taste my fury.
Five years ago-
Punisher drinks a glass of Vodka on the rocks in the "Chestnut Tavern". An old man with a scar on his face, and torn up Military jacket sits next to Frank. He orders a whiskey sour. "You look like someone who served when did you tour?". Frank sips his drink "Nam". "Me too, lost my whole platoon, I made it out, in a way, come back thinking home would be safer. We got The Drake Jones gang here, worst then the Vietcong. His guys sell drugs, take school girls and turn them into prostitutes, it downright pisses me off".
"Where?" Frank asks. "Two blocks from here, they mainly operated out of the Red Brick hotel, more like a crackhouse now. I wouldn't go that way, and now that its dark out, it would be suicide."
Punisher was low on funds. He lost his money and weapons when Jigsaw bombed his hideout. His other safe houses where far out of reach. He needed weapons, and fast if he was going to stop this Drake Jones gang. "Names Frank" he shook the veterans hand, who said his name was Joe . The two drank and exchanged war stories till 10pm. That's when Joe fell out of his chair.
"Let me help you up soldier" Frank helps Joe up and then carried him out the bar with an arm over his shoulder. "Where do you live, I can't leave you on your own like this". Joe manages to guide Frank to his apartment. The two go in and drink more. Frank finally ask Joe the question he's be wanting to ask " you got any guns Joe?".
" You damn right I do, you'd be a fool not to have a gun in this urban jungle" Joe goes into his closet and drags out a chest. The chest was beaten up, looked like it went through World War 2. Joe opens it up. First gun Joe takes out is a 45 "this one was on my hip all through Nam, saved my ass many times". The next weapon he took out was a Bowie knife " I had this made for me by one of the Philippine rangers, gave it to me as a gift, mainly used it to chop down those pesky bamboo traps". The last weapon was a relic. It was Thompson "Tommy Gun" , same one the Capone gangs used in the streets of Chicago. "This was my Uncles, he was a big shot in the 30's, Mafia, he died young, It was handed down over to my father, he passed it to me".
" Think it still works" Frank ask checking the edges of the Bowie Knife, seeing how sharp it was. "Honestly I don't know, it's got a full clip, but may jam up and blow up." Joe put the weapons back in the chest and goes to bed "well that's it for the gun show; you're welcome to sleep on the couch for the night". "Thanks"
Frank waits till Joe is out for good. He goes in the closet and puts the 45 in the back of his pants. He fit the Bowie knife in a latch in his jack. And Hides the Tommy gun under his arm, closes his jacket shut. Then made his way to the Red Brick hotel
Frank arrives to the crackhouse. All the windows are boarded up. The sign "Red Brick Hotel" is broken, looks as if it spelled D-ick hotel in light green neon lettering. Frank knocks on the door. An eye level slide opens up revealing a blood shot eyed thug. "Whats the password" the thug says. Nothing could prepare this crackhouse for what carnage was about to go down.