Lori and her uncle
got busy decorating the Christmas tree and hanging up lights both inside and
outside the house. Almost every room has been remodeled, except for the
library. Frank found a secret passage that leads straight to the basement. He
chose to hold onto it rather than demolish and seal it off. The library requires
some TLC, but the construction team will be working on it in the next few
months. Lori headed downtown to pick up some things for dinner before she went
to the gym. After preparing the meal and enjoying it with her uncle, she
made her way to the gym.
While working out, she spotted a man who looked oddly familiar. He had a clean-shaven face, and his hazel eyes glimmered as he surveyed the area. He observed several women as they exercised, his gaze reminiscent of a predator surveying its target. A shiver traveled down her spine as she caught sight of him. He hoisted a 50-pound dumbbell, his muscles tensing as droplets of sweat formed on his brow. Unbeknownst to him, Lori was watching him with a wary gaze, determined to keep her distance. Just then, a young woman, roughly Lori's age, approached him. Lori instantly identified her as the woman from the martial arts class. She quietly made her way toward the restrooms but couldn't resist glancing around the corner to observe their conversation.
“Tim, I had no
idea you came here,” Kris remarked. Tim set the dumbbell aside and took a seat
on the chair situated against the wall. Kris looked down at him, a playful
smile dancing on her lips as she crossed her arms.
“So, what brings
you here?” he asked. “My martial arts instructor recommended this gym to me,”
she replied. He exhaled deeply, “So, are you all set to head home?”
Kris shrugged and
replied, "I'm not sure, but I thought I spotted my instructor around here
earlier. I wanted to have a chat with her." Tim looked confused and asked,
"Her?"
Kris nodded,
"Yeah, she's amazing and really courageous." Then, Kris plopped down
next to her brother. She dropped her duffel bag beside her. “What makes you say
that?” he asked.
“She mentioned
that she went through a sexual assault, and it really motivated her to start
taking self-defense and martial arts classes, so she’d be ready if it ever
happened again.”
Tim thought for a
moment and then asked, “What’s she like?”
“She’s around my age, maybe a year older, with sandy blonde hair, brown eyes, and a great figure,” Kris paused, giving him a playful look, “I could totally set you two up; you might really click.” He chuckled while shaking his head, saying, “Listen, kid, marriage isn’t really my thing.” He got up, grabbed his duffel bag, and she followed suit. They both headed for the exit and walked out together. Lori let out a sigh and emerged from her hiding spot behind the wall.
“Kris is his sister," she whispered under her breath. "I recognize him now and I’m determined to discover where they live,” she mused and contemplated her next move. When she got home, she filled her uncle in on Kris and her brother. “Lori, just be super cautious when you're around her. If she finds out who you are, she could give him a heads-up about you.” He took a sip from his hot chocolate. “She might not be aware of the troubling things her brother is up to,” he said, taking a moment before adding, “Also, figure out where she lives and let the police know. They can take care of it, sweetheart. Just report it as yourself, Lori, not as Electra Woman. Think about it, okay?” She understands that he is right, yet within her, a smoldering flame ignited—a flame that fueled her desire to pursue her own brand of justice. On Christmas Eve, Lori and her uncle hit the town to check out the holiday festivities and check out the large, decorated tree at the center of the quad. Lori had absolutely no clue that she'd run into Kris and her brother today. She strolled over to one of the stalls selling those heavenly fresh-baked cookies everyone raves about, while her uncle took in the sweet sound of a little group belting out Christmas tunes. Just as she handed over the cash for her cookie goodies, she swung around to get back to her uncle and she bumped right into Kris.
"Wow, Lori, I
didn't think I'd run into you here," Kris exclaimed.
Lori took a
nervous gulp and replied, "You know what they say, it's a tiny
world." She couldn't help but give her a warm embrace. "Merry
Christmas!" she added with a smile.
"Hey, Lori,
this is Tim, my brother," Kris introduced him casually.
Lori's expression
grew stormy as she stared at him, a tight smile plastered on her lips. A
powerful surge of disgust rose within her, but Kris seemed completely unaware.
Meanwhile, Tim could practically feel the tension thickening in the air.
As the realization hit him that Lori was one of those the women he had hurt, his posture stiffened up unnaturally. Anxiety took over, making him feel really nervous and jittery. He couldn't help but fidget, his eyes darting away from hers as if he was trying to escape her gaze.
Tim had this intense feeling like he needed to bolt out of there as fast as he could, but Lori's gaze was like a spotlight that wouldn't let him go anywhere. Then, Kris took charge and tugged on Tim's hand, which was buried deep in his pocket, making him bring it out and offer it to Lori. As they shared a handshake, Lori remained poised.
"Nice to meet you," she said, taking a quick second to then add, "Tim." Kris glanced at them and noticed Tim's nervous demeanor. She figured he was just feeling a bit shy. “Right back atcha, Lori," he said with a smile, turning to Kris, he said, “I'm gonna go try my luck at one of those games and grab you a prize." He patted her shoulder. He glanced over at Lori and awkwardly mumbled, “Great to meet ya,” with a bit of a nervous smile as he stuck out his hand for a handshake. Lori took his hand with a firm grip and looked him right in the eye, saying, “No, the pleasure's all mine, really,” in a way that made it clear she knows who he is. Her smug smile made him feel uneasy. He spun around and started walking off from Kris and Lori, making a point not to look back. "That bitch,” he thought to himself, "she knows who I am."
“I’m sorry Lori, I have no idea what's going on with him today," she said with a bewildered smile. "He's typically the one to make the first move with the ladies. Maybe you've just got him flustered," she added, letting out a little laugh. Lori playfully rolled her eyes, "Don't worry, I get that a lot. I guess I have a knack for making most guys feel a bit nervous," she joked.
Kris asked, "Did you come here alone?"
Lori replied, "No, I'm with my uncle." As she scanned the area, she spotted him enjoying the Christmas carolers performing on stage. "There he is," she said, gesturing toward him. "I should check in on him. Catch you later," she added to Kris before heading off.
"Hold on, I want to meet him," she said. Lori smiled and replied, "Of course, let’s go." She took Kris's hand, leading her over. "Uncle Frank, this is Kris, the woman I mentioned." He turned to face her, extending his hand. "Pleasure to meet you," he said warmly. "If only my brother hadn’t disappeared, I could have introduced you to him," Kris remarked. Frank exchanged a knowing glance with Lori, a silent understanding passing between them. Lori hesitated for a moment before saying, “Well, my uncle and I will be heading back home now.” Kris nodded in understanding, replying, “Alright, I’ll catch you in class next week.” She watched as they walked away. Suddenly, Kris’s brother appeared out of nowhere, startling his sister. She chuckled, shaking her head. “You really startled me, you know,” she said with a playful grin. “How about we make our way back home, Kris?” With a sigh, she agreed. Once they arrived home, Kris took a shower and went to bed. Meanwhile, Tim chose to venture out again, keeping his plans a secret from Kris.
(chapter 4 will be posted in a few weeks)
That Tim is hot 🔥
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