Chapter 15: Changing the Lives of Others

Killing was always a heavy burden; even when it was part of his job, it began to feel tedious. Peter sat in the New York Public Library, searching for obscure words that could capture the essence of Frank's life. He had inadvertently turned Frank into a vengeful Punisher, and while Peter found this transformation reasonable, he hadn't anticipated receiving a reward for altering someone's life so drastically. Just days after becoming the Punisher, Frank had his hands severed by Peter, leaving him in a hospital, enduring painful treatment while being unable to avenge his wife and children. That kind of torment was something Peter could hardly fathom.

At this moment, Frank desperately needed someone to persuade him, and that person turned out to be Peter himself. The threat of summoning Frank's children's souls was perhaps the most terrifying prospect for him. His love had transformed into a deep-seated rage, but the act of killing would forever tarnish a person's soul. No father would want his children to witness him drenched in the blood and filth of his own violent actions.

It was at this point that Peter discovered Frank's family was devoutly Catholic. Yet, God, with His tendency to seem perpetually asleep and His cold indifference toward humanity, would not change because of Frank's piety. The guilty would not die, while the innocent would ascend to heaven. If given the chance, Peter would love to ask God, "Is heaven really filled only with good people? If you take all the good souls to paradise, what kind of blessing is that for humanity? Or do you intend to turn Earth into hell?"

"Bad people go to hell, bad people live on Earth, but bad people are notably absent from heaven. What then is the meaning of life on Earth? You might as well merge Earth with hell and simply select the souls of the good to take to heaven. Wouldn't that be simpler and more convenient? If you eliminate despair, then hope ceases to exist. Perhaps that aimless existence is what God truly desires." 

With a bemused shake of his head, Peter entered a bar, settling into a corner near the entrance. He ordered a cocktail, enjoying the sight of a pole dancer in the center of the room while occasionally glancing toward the door.