@Static Shock said:
Five Guys.
Don't make this weird.
desperado_'s forum posts
The Punisher
This story was written by me 6 months ago for a an alt universe called Marvel Genesis. I never got around to publishing it, so here it is. My first story. Enjoy.
THE CHARACTER PUNISHER AND SETTINGS ARE THE PROPERTY OF MARVEL INC. AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, I THOUGHT OF THE STORY BUT THESE AREN'T MY PEOPLE.
|It's funny how things work out in the end.|
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(The room is dark. the only light penetrating the small shadowy warehouse is the gunfire from two automatic machine guns focused on a single tipped steel table in the middle of the room. Bodies are littered around the forsaken building. All presumably mobsters from the expensive suits they once wore and cared for and the guns in their lifeless hands. A shadowy mass is seen crouched behind the small table in the center of the room. It is none other than Frank Castle.)
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I use to believe that there was something inside of our souls that would give us that extra push when we truly needed it; that it would reveal itself to us when we needed it the most. Something that would possess us in our darkest of hours. Something that took over our minds, body, and spirit and accomplish what we otherwise couldn't do on our own.
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Silly me, huh? Here I am, bleeding, broken, bruised and taking cover behind a damn table while Bonny and Clyde over there are pumping lead at me like I was The Hulk or something and I have the actual delusion that maybe, just maybe something like hope will save me.
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This isn't a movie. This isn't the part where I use that last bit of momentum to roll out from behind my defeated fortress and use my last bullet to somehow kill both the bad guys with one shot at the exact moment they decide to reload at the same time. Hell, if it wasn't for me regulating my heart beat, I would have probably bled to death by now.
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*THE GUNFIRE CEASES*
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"You still alive Pun, baby?" Joy grasps, as she takes a heavy breath, exhausted and excited from the gun battle.
"If I answer no, will you stop shooting at me?" I reply loudly and angrily, trying to sound as strong and convincing as possible.
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*THE GUNFIRE CONTINUES*
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Can't let her know i'm defeated. If....when I die, I want it to be on my terms or at least on my own time. If she really knew what my condition was, if she really knew I have been bleeding to death for the past five minutes from taking two bullets to the chest and that I have 3 broken ribs from my fist fight earlier with tall, dark and ugly...
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*He turns to look at the tall dead corpse right next to him*
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...she would just send her little mobster body guard over here to finish me off like a wounded dog.... like I was some nobody. I can't let that happen. I WONT let that happen. I'm not just some crazy guy who came kicking down doors, gun blazing with a skull on his chest. No... i'm the guy who has a score to settle. I'm the guy whose entire family was murdered just because some mafia princess wanted to revive her families name and legacy. Someone has to answer for what happened to them. Someone has to pay for what happened to me. And that somebody is Joy "JoyKill" Gnucci.
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*The gunfire suddenly stops*
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This is it Frank. Now or never.
I spring to life at the very moment they both decide to reload at the exact same time. I point my gun at pretty little Joy and fire.
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*KAPOW!.. The gunshot echoes throughout the entire building.*
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I can't believe it... The damn bodyguard actually took a bullet for the wench.
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*Frank Castle continues to fire the empty gun at Joy in disbelief, but all this is produced is an empty click from the empty chamber in his empty gun and a smile on the face he came to hate so very much.*
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"Is that it? Is that all you have to throw at me?" Joy shouts as she pushes the limp body of the man that just saved her life off of her.
"You've been a pain, i'll give you that..... Slowly, but surely knocking off my clients, killing my buyers and sellers, and even taking out my big guns..."
"They were murderers!" Punisher shouts, defeated.
"And what exactly are you? You think these men you just emptied bullets into, didn't have lives or families? You think that just because you wear a skull on your chest and call yourself Punisher, that you have the right to f*@%k with me and my business?!" She snarles.
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She's getting angry. Angry is always good. Angry means acting on your instincts, and that can only lead to....
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*She points her machine gun at Punisher who is helpless.*
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"I don't know what I did to you to make you hate me so much, but I regret nothing. I want you to know I truly mean that. I want you to know before you die, that all you were to me was a small insignificant thorn in my side!"
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...long annoying rants that have no effect, but to waste time. And that's all I really needed.
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I build my last bit of strength to charge at her with the steel table. Shes surprised. I must have really looked like hell for her to let her own guard down down like that.
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"Nooooo!" She screams in anger and horror as I smash into her with the table.
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I'm bleeding out too fast. I can feel myself losing a battle that can't be won.
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We struggle for her machine gun that she dropped during the dispute. I grasp the side of her hair and slam her head into the ground twice to buy me a little more time.
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It doesn't work.
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I crawl to reach the gun, but she quickly recovers and dives over me to retrieve it.
The b**ch is faster than she looks. It's over. I lost.
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NOOOOOOOO!
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I quickly dive over the upside down table and adjust it be my fortress again. I cower behind it as she sprays it with mercilessness. Not wanting another mishap she continues to open fire without a second thought.
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As the firing continues I notice that the grazing sound of bullets being fired at me are slowly drifting away. The firing hasn't stopped, but the noise has. This is it. I'm dying. Maybe it's for the best. Maybe there is a place up in the clouds where I can be with my family again. And even if there isn't, I know death would truly be less torturous than this. Maybe being dead is the only redemption I need, maybe it's the only way I can truly find peace.
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*KAAAABBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!*
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What the hell? Sounds like... like fireworks.
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*The sound of fireworks whistling and crackling are heard somewhere far, somewhere distant.*
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Fireworks? It's raining outside. Why the hell am I hearing fireworks? No. Not outside. In my head.
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Oh god...
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No... I can't do this.
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*Frank's vision blurs. The sound of birds chirping and kids laughing began to fill his thoughts.
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I can't... I won't.
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*The sounds overwhelm him. He plunges into darkness and is awoken by the sound of his past.*
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2 YEARS AGO
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Crisp, dry leaves gently truffle down from the Autumn trees above. They decorate the floor with the mood and liveliness of Central Park. The sun begins to drift behind the distant tall massive buildings that give New York City its primitive name. Down below on the paved floor, a breeze gently carries the front page of the latest Daily Bugle paper. "Gnucci Family In Shambles!" it states in big black bold letters. The paper rapidly spins and glides until it meets the bottom of a rugged boot.
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"Hey, look at this." Frank whispers as he forcefully takes the paper from underneath his shoe.
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"Belle Gnucci and fraternal twin brother Antonio Gnucci were found dead in their high-rise apartment late last night along with several others. Sources reveal that both of the siblings had been at war for some time after their father, Louie Gnucci, leader of the infamous Gnucci Crime Family, died earlier this year. Apparently both siblings wanted to be the next head of the family and they definitely paid the price for it. Crime is expected to fall as well as the Gnucci name without a proper leader, sources say." Frank reads out loud.
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"Can you believe this?" Frank smirks.
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"Not in front of the kids, Frank... and yes. I can believe it. It's election year again.. If crime is "falling" then the mayor must be doing something right. God help us all, if he is reelected." Chuckles Maria, Frank's beautiful wife.
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"Now can we please hurry Frank? It's getting dark already and the firework show is going to start any minute now. There's no way we're going to get a good spot if you keep holding us back." Pleads Maria as she gently plucks Frank's cheek with a soft kiss and hurries him toward the park's entrance by the hand.
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"Not so fast guys." Frank smiles as he slowly studies his wife, his son Frank Jr., and his daughter Christie.
"I think I might need a bathroom break." Frank says jokingly.
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"C'mon dad, we're going to be late!" Cries Frank Jr. eagerly dragging his parents by the hand.
"Yeah dad, you always make us late!" Follows Christie as she pushes her parents from behind.
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The small family rushes inside the packed park as many others do around them.
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*KAAAABBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!*
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Frank is sitting impatiently on a small blanket with his small happy family, watching the bright fireworks fill the sky. The entire park is crowded with families just like his.
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"Dad?"
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The voice interrupts Frank's day dreaming.
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"Yes, buddy?" Replies Frank, smiling at his young son.
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"If I ask you a question ...would you get mad me?" hesitantly replies Frank Jr who his rapidly shaking his leg.
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"Of course not!... but let me ask you a question first" Frank replies quickly.
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"Would you go with me to the restroom?" Asks Frank, who smiles at Maria who notices.
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"Yes Dad, but only because I love you. But pretty soon you have to be a big boy and go on your own" The small boy mocks Frank with the rant he hears almost everyday from his father. Frank and Maria chuckle as Frank grabs the young boy's hand to leave.
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As they walk to the nearby public restroom they notice the long line. Both Frank and Frank Jr. frown.
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"Daaad... I need to go noooow." whines the young boy.
"C'mon.. I guess your gunna have to go all natural'.." Frank grabs his son's hand and rushes away from site. Maria notices and begins to worry, but turns to pay attention to her daughter and the firework show.
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"Are you done yet? Jesus, kid you're like the Tiger Woods of peeing." Frank laughs as he checks his watch.
"All done! Now lets go back before we miss anything!" Frank Jr. hurriedly runs in front of Frank.
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"Frank! Frank! hold up!" Frank jogs to catch up to his son. As the young boy turns the corner he runs into a large man dressed in a black suit. He falls to the ground from the impact.
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"Frank!" Frank catches up to the scene to notice what happened.
"I'm sorry buddy... He's took off before I could catch him. Kids... what can I say?" Frank chuckles. The man doesn't look happy, but lets out a big smile after seeing the worry in Frank's face. Three other man dressed like the man surround Frank and his son. Frank grabs his son by the arm and leads him to stand behind him.
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"Look pal. We don't want any trouble. He was just excited to get back to the show... now if you don't mind.." Frank motions to walk past the man, but the man walks in front of Frank. He's still smiling.
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The man looks at the men next to him then back at Frank. "What do you say boys? Should we start with them? Joy said to target as many kids as we could. Why not start with junior here?" The man pulls out a small machine gun from the inside pocket of his suit and aims it at the pair. This startles Frank. He holds his son even tighter from behind to make sure he's in front, protecting him no matter what.
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Maria turns around, worried. She doesn't understand whats taking so long.
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"P..P..Please. Have my watch.. my wallet.. just let me and my son go" Pleads Frank, eager to guard his son. Frank Jr, sobs as he cowers his head behind his father.
"What makes you think I want your watch or your money, mister? Don't I look nice enough to support myself without stealing like some junkie? Are you calling me and my boys here a couple of damn junkies?" The man jokingly laughs as he toys with the gun, still aimed at Frank.
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"Just let my son go.. please. Do whatever you want to me just let my boy go. He's not apart of this... Please, i'm begging you." Cries Frank. He looks frightened and determined to get his son out of the conflict alive.
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"I'll tell you what... if you can guess what my name is... i'll let the boy go. But if you can't.. well.. let's just say no more junior.." Whispers the man. His eyes glow with eagerness and excitement. He's a true predator. Frank has seen many like him before.
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"Your ...name?" Frank can't believe the impossible predicament.
"Your name is... " He noticed the man's necklace. It's shortly engraved, but Frank's trained eyes could see it.
"Your name is... Melvin." Quietly answers Frank. He is holding on to his son tighter than ever.
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The man looks at his necklace than back at Frank.
"Well played sir... your son may go..." The man puts his gun down and motions his arm towards the trail. Unsure, Frank turns to his son.
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"Hey kiddo... I need you to be strong for daddy... Can you be strong for daddy?" Frank begins to sob as tears stream from Frank Jr.'s face. The boy nods as Frank comforts him.
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"I want you to run.. run as fast as you can to mommy, ok?... Go." Frank turns his son around and nods his head to approve. The Firework Finale begins as enormous fireworks fill the sky without a break. Frank Jr. leaves Frank's arms and runs past the men. As he is running the man in front of Frank pulls out his machine gun and open fires on Frank Jr. The young boy falls to the ground, now motionless.
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The gunshots startle Maria. Nobody else can hear them because of the loud, distracting fireworks, but she is sure something is wrong. She grabs her daughters hand and leads her to the trail.
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"NOOOO! ... YOU SON OF A B*TCH!!!" Frank rushes to attack the man, but is smacked in the face with a gun by one of the men guarding their leader.
"The names Pete... not Melvin. I stole this from a guy named Melvin.." The man lifts his chain in the air, grinning.
"Unfortunately for you... me and my boys here ARE a couple of desperate junkies..." the man laughs as looks down to face Frank. Frank tries to stand up, only to be kicked in the face by one of the guarding men."
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"Frank?" Maria turns the corner to see Frank on the floor, wounded and bleeding with men armed with guns surrounding him. The men aim there guns at her and her daughter.
"What do we have here?" Pete teases.
"Is this... the wifey?" He giggles with enthusiasm. Maria sees her son on the other side of the men and quickly abandons her instincts.
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"Frank? Frank...? Frank?!" She screams and cries as she clutches the young lifeless boy in her arms.
"Maria!.. Go!!" Frank screams as the same man from before kicks him in his ribs with full force.
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Seeing the danger she quickly turns around to retrieve her daughter and run, but to her horror Pete is blocking her.
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"Say goodbye Frank!" Screams the maniac as he open fires on the woman and her child.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Yells Frank as he stands up to the maniac and his friends. The instant he runs towards Pete he is shot in the back. He slowly crawls to his family on the floor. He hold his dead son and daughter in his arms as tears and blood stream down his face. He turns to face his beautiful wife Maria, who is no longer breathing. He gently kisses her on the cheek as Pete slowly walks up to Frank.
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"From Joy Gnucci.. with love!" yells the man as he shoots multiple bullets into franks back and torso. Pete and his group run away from view.
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*Screams from other families can be heard as the men with guns open fire at the nearby crowd."
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Iv'e come to far to just die like this... to just give up when my target is so close.
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Iv'e been through too much to just lay down like some weak coward...
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My names Punisher... and tonight this B*TCH is dead!
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*Punisher springs from the table. He is shot multiple times as he rises from behind it, but flings his empty gun at full force towards Joy.*
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*The gun twists and turns in the air before it smacks her right in the center of her face, breaking her nose. She drops the gun, then falls to the floor clutching her face while screaming.*
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I did it... No.. not yet.
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*Punisher rises from the ground. He is holding his left arm as it gushes out fresh blood. He walks to the young woman on the floor without much effort. He picks up the machine gun from the floor and aims it at Joy "JoyKill" Gnucci. It's time to claim his prize.*
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"Wait!... you want money? Is that what's this is about? You can have it... All of it. Just let me go..." begs the woman as she stares down the iron site of her own gun.
"You know.. I said something similar to the men you hired who gunned down my family. Of course it was for the life of my son, instead of myself, but still.. pretty similar concept." says Punisher as he nods his head.
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"I never hired--" Joy gasps as she is interrupted.
"Central Park... 4 years ago. Four men open fire at a Fourth of July gathering, killing 28 people. Before the men left, they burned the word "Gnucci" into the ground with gasoline. With this came the fear and respect that you and your family desperately worked so hard to hold onto again. It was a success. The Gnucci name remained at the top of the food chain... until now, of course." Smiles Punisher as he stands above Joy.
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"I'm so sorry.. I--"
"Nope. It's too late for sorrys. Goodbye Joy" Spews Punishers as he is about to press down on the trigger.
"EEEEEEIIKKKKK!" She screams before he could shoot.
"Oh I almost forgot" He lifts the gun up, turning his aim to the sky.
"They gave me a chance... they didn't just shoot my son. They gave me a chance to save him. Would you like a chance Ms. JoyKill?" remarks Punisher as he stairs down the defenseless woman.
"Y...Yes." She whispers as she sees a small glimpse of hope.
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"Ok... If you could guess my name... you are free to go. I'll never bother you again, and the city is yours. But if you guess it wrong.. you're dead." Playfully responds Punisher.
"Your name is Frank Castle." The woman confidently replies.
"You are the man who paid for the shipment tonight. Fake names are impossible to get by my men and you knew that so you used your real name, sure that by the end of the night it wouldn't matter. Frank Castle never showed... but you did."
"Hmmm.... ok... go" Punisher motions the gun to the opening of the warehouse. Satisfied, she turns to leave.
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*Rzzzzzz!!!*
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*Punisher shoots the woman from behind with the machine gun, then walks up to her. He then turns her around with his foot and empties the rest of the clip on her face.*
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I'm not a man...
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I'm an empty vessel focused on the only thing that truly matters anymore....
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To punish the wicked...
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The man slowly walks in the rain clutching his arm. As he walks he looks up to the sky and lets the rain wash him of his blood and his sin.
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My name isn't Frank Castle...
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My name is...
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THE PUNISHER.
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