This dives into reader’s past leading up to when she meets Billy and everyone else. This takes place about 4 years before current events, and dabbles with events from season 1 of the Punisher.
It’s darker because it’s going to eventually lead up to something I’ve been writing for a while now. Basically I’ll dig into explaining everything with Billy and Rawlins and Frank. For now, here’s some shit.
Trigger Warning: stalking, assault, kidnapping - I don’t dive into too much detail, though, I promise.
Tagging those who requested to be in my taglist. I know y’all wanted to be tagged for Billy so I promise it leads up to him!!
Taglist: @suchatinyinfinity @something-tofightfor @holamor @editboutique @sssilverssserpent @thoughtcrime-101 @tartelette-aux-fraises @ashkuuuu @geeksareunique @thebutterflyxx @obscurilicious
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There was a lot you hadn’t told Billy - or anybody for that matter.
Sure, a big reason why you moved to the city was to get away from your father. He had stepped out on your mother more than once and would only try to come back to control you and make you see him as the good guy.
But there was someone else. The real reason you moved and changed your last name. It started when you were younger. You were on a school field trip at a theme park with your class and were in line for the Go-Karts. You were chatting with your best friend since elementary school, Akasia, about how you two were going to spend your summer break. This was the last field trip in your 8th grade year, and you two were anxious to start high school.
“I dunno, my family wants to go on a cruise but I want to spend time with my friends! I can’t believe we’re going to be placed in separate high schools!” She pouted crossing her arms.
You giggled glancing around at the slowly moving line. “I know, but it’ll be fun! We’ll finally be high schoolers!”
Akasia grinned then and resisted jumping up and down. “Can you imagine? Do you think we’ll get invited to any parties?”
You two were daydreaming about what being freshman would be like when you noticed him. A kid who looked to be no older than about 17 with curly blonde hair and piercing green eyes. He wasn’t your taste, he was a lot older than you anyway. You were different than most of the girls in your grade and preferred guys your age. He was staring at you though. He would look at you and smile and then continue doing what he was doing. He worked the Go-Kart line it looked like. He was making sure everyone was strapped in to their cart and told everyone to “Go!” when ready.
Getting an uneasy feeling about him, you were anxious to get to the front of the line now. You wanted to finally race your friends, but you didn’t want to be near him. He grinned at you as it was your turn to step into a cart. “Hey,” he breathed as you stepped in. You nodded at him as you sat down, adjusting your legs to the pedals before buckling in.
He went down the row and made sure everyone was strapped in, but stopped with you, actually placing his hand on the buckle and giving the strap a pull. “All good?” He asked and you made a sour face, not liking him that close.
He gave the mark and you all went on, racing each other to the finish line. You finished second with Robert in first. He was your crush that year but you two were always just friends.
When you stopped the cart at the exit, you unbuckled your seat belt and stood up. The guy was there in a flash extending his hand out for you to take it. “Thanks,” you mumbled jumping out and running over to your friends.
That was the first time you’d met him. You were 13 then, and things got weird after that. It wasn’t just you continuing to go through puberty and having to adjust to being a high schooler. It was more than that.
You began to get notes sent to you. First at your new school, then sent to your house. You figured it was Akasia messing with you but when you finally confronted her about it, she told you she had no idea what you were talking about. In sophomore year you began dating a girl in your class. Your mom was taken by surprise that you also liked those of the same sex, but your dad pretended to be accepting. It was shortly after the first time he’d had an affair, so he wanted to at least be on your good side.
When you and your girlfriend went to the school’s football game, though, you kept noticing someone following you two around. You guys weren’t staying in one set of bleachers. You were both fairly social people so you two continued to walk around and mingle with other classmates. When you went inside to use the bathroom, you got an uneasy feeling again. You looked to be the only one inside since it was the last portion of the game and everyone was outside. You walked fast to head back outside, and that was when you saw him. The guy from the Go-Karts. He was blocking the doors and approached you slowly. “Hey, remember me?”
You were frozen in fear and that was when it hit you. He’d been the one sending you letters. Every time you had a feeling you were being followed...it was him.
“You been getting my letters? I guess I should introduce myself by the way. I’m Vince.” He smiled still taking slow steps toward you.
“What do you want from me?” You stuttered, taking a step back toward the bathroom.
He shook his head with a frown. “No-nothing. Nothing from you. I just want to say hi. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since that day I saw you.”
“That was like three years ago you freak!” You shouted and turned to run but he caught up to you, taking your arm in his.
“That’s not very nice. I just wanted to take you out-”
You screamed then-a blood curdling scream. Praying to anything that someone would hear you. He was trying to pull you away by your arm but you kept screaming. A custodian heard you then and poked his head out into the hallway.
“Hey! Let her go!” He shouted running towards you two. Vince immediately let go and ran out the doors. “Get back here!” The custodian continued to run after him as you fell on your knees still shaken up. When he returned he was panting and shaking his head. “Hey, you alright? Did you know that kid?”
You shook your head vigorously. “No, no idea...”
The custodian suggested you call your parents then and you stood up to walk outside. You weren’t going to let your parents know about this. They have enough on their plates already.
Things like this continued for several years. Eventually you’d graduated and moved out into a dorm room to start college. Your mom was upset you were leaving but so happy for you to start school again.
You hadn’t had a run in with Vince for a few months now. The last time being at the store where he appeared to be working as a fitting room attendant. You were grateful to be with two of your friends then, Jeph and Morgan, who ended up beating the shit out of Vince when he tried to approach you. You’d tried to explain the situation to the manager at the store, but they said they’d never even seen him before. He had ran off before the cops could come.
You hadn’t received a letter and you figured he was trying to figure out where you’d moved to. You did eventually come clean to your mom that you had a stalker, worried he would try to come into the house with her there alone. But there was never enough to go off for the police to help. The letters left no trace of DNA and you’d only had his first name and the description of an every-day looking white guy. You always shrugged it off as someone who was just completely psycho and figured as long as he didn’t try to get near you again, you’d be fine.
But you weren’t. He eventually found your college, your dorm room, obtained your schedule. You didn’t realize this until it was too late, of course. You’d woken up in the trunk of a car only to be dumped into some shithole apartment where he held you hostage for nearly a week. It was without a doubt the worst time in your life to say the least. There wasn’t enough counselling sessions/therapy in the world to help you move past that. When they finally found you, he’d managed to get away and you were placed into protective custody until they were convinced you were safe again. You never finished school-too afraid to try to get back there only to be kidnapped again...or worse.
So you moved. You weren’t one to make just any place your home anyway. You changed your last name, not wanting to be found by him in any way. You traveled a bit along the west coast picking up different jobs and staying with random people. Once you were in your mid twenties, you decided to venture back to the east coast where you were from. You didn’t grow up far from the Big Apple and had some friends who had moved there after school so you had people you could stay with. Eventually you got a job that was stable enough to pay bills and afford to rent out your own space. New York City isn’t the cheapest place, so you found yourself volunteering at places to meet new people. Most of your friends had families of their own now and you didn’t want to intrude.
That’s how you met Curtis. You volunteered at a soup kitchen one night where he was helping a vet come inside. He was friendly and began talking to you, seeing that you’d never been there before. You two hit it off right away and learned he was looking to move out of his place.
“Need a roommate?” You joked but you were still hopeful.
“I do, actually! You aren’t planning on ditching after just a months are you?” He smiled as he handed a plate to someone.
“Nah, I think I’m ready to just settle in one place for a while. You can count on me.”
Things with Curtis were great. You’d never had a stable place to live besides growing up at home with your parents. So to have your own room again and split bills with someone who seemed fairly reliable was a blessing. You eventually made new friends by meeting Curtis’ own friends. You’d met Billy and this oh-so-secretive Frank guy. You were also meeting new people at your job and even got promoted to a higher position with a guaranteed pay raise. You’d also been seeing a guy for a few months now (Y/E/N). Finally, you felt like you were getting on to your own two feet and doing well.
Not even two years into moving to the city, and continuing to move up in your company, you felt your heart drop. You’d received a strange letter one day at your job when the front door attendant said someone had dropped something off for you. You figured it was something your mom had sent to you, not remembering your apartment number. Grabbing the envelope, though, you immediately felt sick. You recognized the handwriting as Vince’s. You’ll never forget how he wrote your name. You told your manager you weren’t feeling well and grabbed your belongings before opening the letter in your car.
You went into hysterics. Shaking uncontrollably and unable to get a hold of your breathing. You were sobbing and unable to blink the tears away enough to see anything. You were worried you were going to pass out. You stood outside of your car trying to catch your breath before attempting to drive. You’d gotten a strange text then from your friend Scott. You knew him through work but he was telling you to meet him and that it was an emergency. You tried calling him but it went straight to voicemail. You tried to see if his location was on and if you could find him but there was nothing. You knew this had something to do with Vince. You couldn’t prove it but you had a good feeling-well, a bad feeling. Unsure of what to do, you found yourself driving to Billy Russo’s.
