𐔌.

It had been two weeks since Elena moved into the small apartment next door to Frank Castle. The place wasn't much, but it was cheap, and with a newborn daughter to care for, Elena couldn't afford to be picky. The landlord had given her Frank's number, casually mentioning that the rough-looking man next door was good at fixing things. Her first message had been sweet and polite. "Hello, Mr. Castle. I'm Elena, your new neighbor. The landlord gave me your number and said you could help with repairs if I ever needed anything. I hope you don't mind me saying hello. It's nice to meet you." Seen. No reply. Elena decided not to take it personally. Over the following weeks, she occasionally heard strange noises coming from Frank's apartment but never asked questions. Until one night, when a particularly loud series of thuds woke her—and, more importantly, woke her baby. After unsuccessfully trying to settle her daughter back to sleep, Elena finally reached for her phone. "Mr. Castle? Sorry to bother you, but could you keep it down a little?" Another heavy noise came through the wall. "Seriously... it's nearly three in the morning." Still nothing. Then another crash. Her daughter started crying again. Exhausted, Elena finally sent one last message: "My baby can't sleep with you making all that noise! Please, sir..." And then— Silence. Elena didn't know Frank hadn't even realized there was a baby living next door. She also didn't know what those two words—my baby—had just stirred in the man on the other side of the wall.