Chapter 6
A bit of a dark chapter guys. Sorry it's been so long, I've been trying to get into Uni! I am very happy to say I will be doing a creative writing degree in September! I'm actually doing it, which is utter madness. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one. As always, feedback means so much and I take on board all criticism and praise. Also, if anyone had any idea's for what I can add to this story going forward, I could use some input! Thanks everyone. Next chapter will be out soon. Frank is not happy after this chapter. - Red
I hesitated a moment before opening my apartment door. Frank was on edge, poised and waiting for someone to be lurking. The people coming after us in the woods, combined with the still fresh nightmare set in my apartment must both be contributing. I opened the door and Frank nudged me out of the way, so he could go first. There was no point arguing- he would never stop trying to protect me. The small space looked- unsettlingly- the same. Everything that had happened since I'd been home was overwhelming. I'd found out I had mind-reading/projecting superpowers from an experiment I'd been kidnapped into. I'd uncovered an organisation that performed these experiments and got a lead to go on to find them. I'd been shot at in the woods after Frank had murdered another person in his creepy kill cabin. Then he'd taken me to the extremely excluded hidden base of his for the night where we'd did everything from cry on the floor in each other's arms to…. other things. It all left me dazed. Too many emotions flooded my system right now and I needed to sort through them.
When someone stepped out of the kitchen, Frank pulled his gun in one fluid movement. Foggy squealed, covering his face in horror. "Foggy! What are you doing here?" I asked. Frank had put his weapon back. Foggy tried to steady his breath, his messy hair was framing his face and his slightly mismatched suit now suffered from coffee stains. I stepped to his side, trying my best to get soak the coffee up with kitchen towels.
"What am I…. .Karen, you were in bad shape. Shit hit the fan in the hospital, I had no idea if you were alright and you ask what I'm doing here?" His voice came out strained. I sighed.
"I'm sorry. I'm cranky. We were being chased by the kidnappers last night, looks like there are a large group of them but we have to dig into some leads to find them" I explained, searching for anything ready to eat in the kitchen. I found some cereal bars which I devoured before brewing some coffee. The smell of it now on Foggy's shirt had made me desperate.
"Well, I've taken the day off to help" Foggy said, eyeing Frank out the corner of his eye.
"Foggy, it's best not to be involved if you don't have to be. These people come in numbers, which means they are dangerous" I said.
"How long has it been since we have worked together Karen? I've missed you, let me help" He said. I looked over to Frank and saw that he wasn't happy in the slightest about company but that was no surprise. I groaned.
"Fine. Fine… but shower and food is needed before anything else" I said.
"I will go grab some food, it will give you time to get presentable….. you look like you've been rolling around in some bushes" Foggy said. I didn't dare meet Frank's eyes, I was already blushing profusely. Foggy stepped towards the door and pulled my arm with him, until we lingered at the doorway.
"You and I can do the research, he doesn't have to be here" He said under his breath. I rolled my eyes, I was tired and a little sore over my body from everything.
"Foggy, I will say this once. Frank stays. Now go get some food. I'm ravenous" I kissed him on the cheek and pushed him on his way. He wasn't happy, but I didn't care right now- Frank was safety, Frank was meant to be at my side. Turning around I saw the man in question glaring out the window, on his paranoia watch. I wished he wasn't so far away, that he would look at me. A devilish thought came to mind just then and before I lost the nerve, I yanked my clothed off and into the wash basket. It took all of ten seconds for his head to do a double take on me, his eyes glued in my direction, scouting the perimeter was forgotten. I was beet red, I knew it, but I couldn't help enjoying the surprise on his face. "Since you'll probably want to shower as well, we should maybe, probably share- saving water and all" I said, spinning around and walking into the bathroom.
I turned the shower on, it was meant to be a sexy invitation and it had come out a stuttering mess. Before I could dwell on it, I felt Frank playfully pin me to the wall. His warm breath brushed my ear as he whispered into it.
"You shouldn't tempt a monster, Karen" He said, kissing his way down my throat.
I knew this wasn't forever, it could break like a glass floor under us. Given that, I couldn't stop myself from being immersed in how he made me feel. It felt good to feel good. Losing Matt still lingered over me, as it had for a long while. I missed him so much, even with him lying to me all the time and the sting of rejection he always handed me. The memories of him played out in my head over and over. First the ones of Matt Murdoch, then the ones of Daredevil that I hadn't known had been my friend when it was happening. He was far better than anyone I'd ever met- a catholic that punished himself for the way he saved people. He'd beat the crap out of bad guys, but he'd never killed anyone, unlike Frank…. and me. I often felt Matt and Frank were at the two ends of the scale and I floated up and down somewhere in between, never sure of what I was. I also knew that Frank was not the worst of the worst. He had a purpose, no matter how mangled it may be.
Frank had been playful in shower, smiling as he kissed me, teasing nibbles to my skin. It was such a normal moment, that it was as if it belonged to someone else. Non-the-less, I'd take each minute of this Frank I could get because I didn't know how long I'd have him. I was finally cleaned and dressed, my hair twisted into a splayed bun. When I stepped out of my room, Foggy had returned, Frank was cleaning his gun on my desk. He'd brought clothes and weapons with him from the water tower, so he now wore a grey t-shirt, blue jeans and his normal boots. Foggy said something but I didn't catch it, Frank was filling my every thought. I ate the food Foggy had passed me while switching on the computer. Frank handed me a coffee. Not something he has ever done before but I smiled, wondering what other things he would do after our time together. It all seemed so new and temperamental, but I would go along with it for as long as he could. Did I have a choice? I don't think I did anymore. That night in the water tower was unforgettable, it changed me, and I knew with perfect clarity what Frank Castle was- not even he could change that now.
The flames singed the skin on my arm as I held it up to the roaring fire. It had all happened so quickly. Foggy found the doctor at the medical centre I'd seen. Frank had geared up quite quickly and I had blacked out, only to wake up with an apologetic Foggy smiling down at me. Frank had done it of course, to keep me out the way for all the reasons he thought were logical, were right. They weren't. I was too deep in now, in the case and in Frank to let go of this. He should have known that, maybe he did and just wanted to get a head start before I tracked him down. Foggy was pleading with me not to go and that's when I'd snapped and told him where to shove it. When I got to the medical centre it was ablaze. The reason I stormed in was because in the top window I saw a familiar face. Screaming inside a cloud of smoke was Toby. He could heal I knew that but would be survive being burned alive? Or would he be trapped in the smoke, forced to choke over and over? My legs sped away with me, I couldn't leave him. Only now, I'd rushed in and now I was submerged into thick smoke, losing my footing and sense of direction in the confusion. When I finally saw Frank's face it was a million miles away from the man who reminded me that I could love.
The sight of him didn't bring me ease as it did when I was in trouble or excitement when I hadn't seen him for weeks. With patterns of splattered blood across his face, nothing needed to be said. I felt dread. His clothes were stained and blackened from the smoke and as I looked down I was in time to see him shoot a man point blank in the temple. Suddenly I was nauseated to the point where I had to put my hand over my mouth and pray I held it together. Tears stung my eyes as I looked at him. This was the man I loved and yet he turned my stomach this much with what he does. His eyes met mine. I didn't have time to argue, to comprehend what he'd done now. I carried on in the opposite direction, hoping to find Toby.
Screw Frank. He spiked my coffee and left me in my apartment like a useless damsel. I could find Toby and get him out, I had to. Regardless of the punisher being on my tail. When I hit the fourth floor, I was lost and panicking. The smoke was thickening around me and I thought I'd even lost Frank.
"Help!" I heard shouted in through the corridor. I ran toward the voice, moving out of the way of a falling beam that only missed me narrowly. I saw him being dragged a few paces away and I bounded forward. The two men picked up their pace and Toby was crying out anguish. I followed until I burst through the exit door leading to the roof. A helicopter's blades were already readying as Toby was pulled raggedly across the gravel. I took out the gun from my bag, took the safety off and aimed. A shot rang out and the men noticed me. Two men already in the helicopter, the pilot and the two holding Toby became aware of me. My bullet had hit one of the men, he had crashed to the ground as he bled from his leg.
"Let him go now and will I let you leave without a bullet in each of your asses" I yelled. It was so loud up here with the flames below and the blades atop. A man stepped out, I recognised him. It was the doctor. Dr Vance, the one I'd seen in his lacky's head. I held the gun steady. The mans dark eyes and dirty blond cropped hair stepped towards me.
"Take her" The Doctor ordered. I spun around when I felt someone behind me. Three others closed in. I shot one, I didn't know where, but I heard him cry out. The other two restrained me, knocking the gun across the rooftop as I screamed. I hadn't seen them, hadn't heard them over the deafening sound. I saw a fist aim towards my face then nothing.
"Yes, her blood is catalogued. Yes, I'm sure she was in the most recent batch. Correct, yes, yes. She's alive and well. It looks promising sir"
I let my eyes stay closed while I listened. He was talking on the phone to someone. I was cold, and ties cut into my wrists, but I was determined to keep my breathing steady and my mind calm. I was taken in a helicopter, there would be no Frank to come and save me now. If I got out of this I really needed to take a vacation and maybe retire all together. Quit while I still had my life and stop being so bloody nosy. Why couldn't I work at a post office? Or in a movie theatre? Or one of those people that sit at home and answer surveys while still I their pyjamas? No, I had to be the cat that was curious. I had to search for answers and dig and dig until I found myself in situations like this. I knew it was my fault, this hadn't happened once or twice but over and over.
What was wrong with me that I felt the need to chase down danger like it was some sort of treasure trove that would sate my fractured heart? It never did- I would always be looking for something. I wondered if I would ever feel content, if I ever would find absolution, or a good sense of when could stop searching for something. Maybe I would never get the chance now, maybe this was my last life and my luck had run out. Frank would be livid, he would never forgive me, and he would hurt….and he'd already hurt so much in his life. No, I would fight. I would claw my way out of this mess at any cost, even if I had to summon my inner punisher to survive this.
I creaked my lids open and saw a bare room with dirty yellow walls and faded brown carpets. I was slung on the sofa, only my hands tied. I tried to scope the room best I could. There must be some way out. The door was behind me and it was creaked open. I couldn't see anyone, neither could I hear anything at all, so I sat up. I made my way to the door and just as I was about to step through I gasped at the sight of a man. He wasn't the creepy doctor, just muscle by the looks of it. I staggered back. He waved his finger at me in disapproval and tutted. He grabbed me forcefully by the throat and I felt hard brick hit my spine.
"Ambitious little bitch, aren't you?" He smirked. He squeezed my throat harder and I gasped for air while clawing at him frantically. "I heard that you took out one of my men and blew another's leg off" He hissed. My nails dug into his face and with all my strength I yanked at his flesh. I dropped to the ground, only to be kicked roughly in the ribs. I could feel the snap, the croak my body signalled, the pain darting through my body. I gasped for air, everything hurt. So stupid Karen, so stupid. He's not coming for you now, not again. All he does is chase after you. I stifled my tears, I would not give this asshole that. His meaty face glared down at me, blood smeared from his temple down to his jaw from me.
"Hey, she's wanted in the lab. Vance wants her alive, so stop your shit and get her there" A voice said. He groaned at the order but dragged me up by my hair. I screamed, I screamed so loud I felt like my lungs stung more then the fresh break of my rib.
"Get the fuck off me" I shouted as he dragged me by my arms out of the door. The hallway outside was grim but got tidier and cleaner the closer we got two rustic, blue double doors ahead. I thrashed wildly, pushing down the pain in my chest. Once in the lab, the white walls and metallic tables and instruments scattered around registered with me. Oh god, no. The doctor came into view. He had on a lab coat and his drawn in, beady eyes focussed on me.
"You are very special" He said, grinning sadistically. When I didn't answer he nodded his head to the heavy-handed idiot manhandling me. When I felt the cold table beneath me again I remembered the last time it made me snap. I put all my energy into fighting him. I struggled wildly, managing to get a hold of a bone saw from the metal trolley and slashing the man's torso. He hissed, and the devil flared in his eyes. Not my devil, my devil was kinder then anyone I'd ever known. No this was a vile creature void of any humanity. He backhanded me forcefully, until I was knocked off my feet. My rib seared with pain again. I felt his sweaty hand grip the back of my neck, violently forcing me into restraints.
I stared at the lights overhead that were blinding and tugged against the restraints, never stopping. Once I stopped, I really was helpless. The taste of blood lingered in my mouth from the blow to the face and black spots sotted my vision. The asshole raised his fist once more.
"Enough Roach. Leave us" the doctor ordered.
He leant over me, so he could whisper something. "Maybe the good doctor will give you to me when he's finished" He put a hand on my face and my stomach twisted in disgust.
His horrid breath was smothering me. I turned my head and closed my eyes. I didn't want to see him. I wanted this to be another nightmare that I would see in Frank's head- that I would wake up from just as I did the last one. Frank would be so upset, and I would have to wrap my arms around him and tell him that it wasn't real, that I was with him and he didn't have to be afraid. I clung to the feel of Frank's arms around me, of how I'd never felt so safe in my life when he was there. Tears streamed down my face and I shook like a leaf in a storm.
"Leave Roach. She's a subject" The doctor said. He left, and I was alone with the doctor. His black eyes leered at me.
"Why are you doing this to people?" I demanded, unable to wipe the tears off my face. He pulled a stool over and set next to me. He smelled like disinfectant.
"A great man once said, 'Science requires experimentation'" he said, a smirk on his lips. "You, you are special. The formula has taken to you extraordinarily well. Normally there are side affects that frankly sabotage the desired result. Physical deformities, haemorrhaging in the brain, seizures, blindness, uncontrollable fits of rage and of course… some people's bodies just give in"
Bile was brought up in my throat. I shook savagely, and it wasn't from the cold. "Why…. What for? Tell me what this is for" I whispered.
"What it's for? It's for power, like all things" He said. He stood, taking a syringe from the tray. I screamed at the top of my lungs, screamed 'help', screamed 'stop', screamed for Frank. He didn't come.
My mind found a memory from this morning to hide in, protecting itself from reality. I was covered in the warmth of the water and Frank's body. For one moment, no matter how cruel the world had been to both of us... I was warm, safe, adored, loved. For one moment.