Chapter 5: A Villain in the Mist

 

The following day, Lori arrived at work, eager to dive into an article about the superheroes and vigilantes patrolling the streets. She pondered, “Should I title it ‘Superheroes or Vigilantes’ or perhaps ‘Angels Watching Over Us’?” After some deliberation, she decided to go with the first option.

“Hey Lori, check out this picture!” Marla said, handing it to her. Lori gasped, clearly taken aback.

“Uh, no way,” she said, returning the picture to Marla.

Marla raised an eyebrow and asked, “What’s wrong with using this picture?” She looked a bit confused. Lori sighed heavily and replied, “You can’t see her face clearly,” while nervously playing with the stuff on her desk, trying to mask her growing discomfort.

The picture showed Electra Woman, but it was a bit blurry and snapped from a weird angle, so it was tough for anyone to really tell who she was.  Still, she’d rather people not look too closely and figure out her real identity as Electra Woman. 

"We'll go with a different picture," she mentioned. Marla just shrugged and agreed. Once she finished the article, her boss complimented her work.

 "Lori, do you really think these so-called superheroes or vigilantes, as the police refer to them, are actually looking out for the public?"  the editor asked.

"Absolutely, I believe they’re here to assist, not to obstruct the efforts of law enforcement. I believe these superheroes are going to have a real impact.”  The editor nodded, “Sounds good to me, it’s well done and it’s going to print,” he took a moment and then asked, “Are you planning to attend the company Christmas party?”

Lori looked over at him and replied, “Possibly.” 

 “Alright, then I’ll catch you there.”  Mr. Jones had a crush on Lori for a while, but after everything she went through, he hesitated to ask her out. Lori headed home and prepped for her martial arts class. When she got there, Kris was already waiting.

"Hey Lori, how was your day at work?" Kris paused for a second and added, “Mine was super boring. Dealing with customers is,” she sighed and rolled her eyes, “you get what I’m saying.”

Lori gave a nod.  “Is your brother planning to visit you?” she asked. Kris's eyes sparkled with excitement.  “I knew it! You two are just meant to be. I could feel the chemistry when I introduced you at the park.” Kris is completely off base, but Lori kept quiet about it.

The idea of her being drawn to Tim sent a shiver down her spine, causing her to frown and grimace.  Later, while Kris was rehearsing with fellow students, Tim made an appearance. He observed the practice session closely.  Lori was paired with Kris, and Tim focused intently on Lori’s movements. 

“Heroes need a nemesis,” he mused, with a sly grin. Lori noticed Tim’s intense gaze but decided to brush it off.  Once class wrapped up, Kris and Tim headed out, and Lori gathered her stuff and followed suit.  When she got home, Frank excitedly revealed some new gadgets for her to use in her crime-fighting adventures.

“This device launches a net from this metal casing,” he explained while demonstrating its use.  “You can attach this nifty gadget to your belt.”

“Wow, Uncle Frank, you’ve really been working hard.”

“Yep, but what about you?” Lori took a moment to think, then replied, “I’m doing well.” Frank shook his head, a look of concern on his face.

“Lori, you need to turn him in.” Frank felt a wave of relief wash over him when she acknowledged his concerns, but deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that her words were merely a way to placate him. The following day, Lori showed up at the office Christmas party. It’s the day before Christmas and it was chilly outside. Tim, who had previously stalked her before the assault, recalled where she worked as he sat parked across the street. He made a daring choice and crashed the party. Nobody questioned his presence; they just figured he was a buddy or family member of one of their coworkers. He kept to the sidelines, trying to stay under Lori's radar. From his spot, he observed her chatting with another female coworker. His stare was intense, like a predator lurking in the dark, just biding his time.

As the party started to wrap up, folks began to head out, and Lori was no exception. On her way to the parking garage, she spotted Marla’s car with the hood popped open. Curious, she went over to check it out.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

Marla let out a sigh and replied, “Looks like there’s an issue with my car; it just won’t start.”

Lori said, "I can drive you home if you want."

"Sounds good," Marla replied, quickly grabbing her things from her car and jumping into Lori's. Lori softly chuckled to herself, thinking about how Marla would react if she had given her a lift in the Electra Car. Tim chose to wait for Lori at her home, eager to see how well she is in combat.  "Every hero needs a villain, Electra Woman,” he mused as he drove.

While Lori was driving Marla back home, she realized they were heading towards the street where Kris and her brother live. She let out a quiet sigh. They passed the apartment complex to a duplex community a few blocks away. Lori parked in the parking space at the back of the duplex, and both walked to Marla’s duplex home. 

Lori didn’t have to walk her coworker all the way to her apartment; she could’ve just told her she was heading home. But out of habit, Lori felt the need to keep an eye on her and make sure she got inside safely.

“Thanks for helping me out, Lori,” Marla said, taking a moment and added, “With that serial rapist on the loose, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Lori gave a nod.  “How about some coffee?” Marla offered while she heated up the water.

“Actually, no thanks, Marla. I really need to head back home,” Lori replied with a smile as she turned to leave. Drive safely, and I really appreciate your help! Lori gave a nod and replied, “Merry Christmas, Marla.” They shared a hug before Lori headed out. With Christmas just around the corner, Lori was super excited to see her uncle's reaction when he unwraps his presents tomorrow.  As Lori drove into the driveway, she caught sight of something shifting behind the bushes next to the front porch. Exercising caution, she stepped out of the car. The moonlight shimmered across the lawn. Lori hurriedly approached the front door, her senses on high alert, when out of nowhere, she was knocked to the ground! Her purse flew through the air, accompanied by her Electra-com, which she should have used to alert her uncle about the intruder on the property.

Tim caught her off guard, leaving her breathless.  “The first rule is to always stay alert to your surroundings,” Tim remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Lori swiftly regained her composure and leaped to her feet, taking on a defensive stance, her body ready for whatever might come next. Tim wore a snug black long-sleeved shirt that highlighted his toned body, paired with matching black sweatpants and sleek black sneakers.

Even with a black mask covering his eyes, Lori was still able to recognize his voice.  A sly grin played on his lips as his gaze beneath the mask, locked onto her with fierce intensity. Lori felt slightly disoriented but steadied herself with a deep breath, removing her heels and lifting her fists in readiness.

Lori's voice was strained as she replied, "You're making a big mistake."

"Every hero needs a nemesis, Electra Woman," Tim shot back.

Lori's eyes widened, and her jaw clenched in response.

Tim continued, "I know exactly who you are. You ought to be grateful," he said, taking a moment.  

"Why do you say that?" she asked, a wave of fear washing over her, urging her to flee. Yet deep down, she understood that confronting him was her only option.

“If I hadn't raped you, you would have never embraced the life of a vigilante,” he paused, then finger quoted, “A superhero.”  He lunged at her, and they plunged into a fierce battle. Their fighting skills were evenly matched, but Tim had a few tricks up his sleeve that left Lori momentarily stunned. She got knocked down a few times, but each time she sprang back up, her fury evident, and Tim found it exhilarating.

Lori gasped for air, each strike against her body, felt like being pounded by rocks. Tim showed no signs of relenting, and Lori knew it all too well.  Out of the blue, a mysterious figure emerged and launched an attack on Tim. Despite being on the brink of exhaustion, Lori summoned her remaining strength to confront him, joining forces with another superhero to take on the assailant.  He knew he could handle both, but feeling outnumbered, he chose to withdraw, sprinting into the shadowy embrace of the trees. 

The mysterious figure who came to Lori's aid was about to chase after him, but Lori cried out, “No!” She collapsed onto her knees, and the enigmatic woman quickly assisted her back up, guiding her into the safety of her home. Lori’s uncle is taken aback and furious. “Lori, you have to report this attack immediately!” he said. The woman assisting Lori nodded in agreement. Lori glanced at her and asked, "Who are you?" The mysterious figure wore a stylish black and gold snug bodysuit, paired with matching boots and a black mask.

As she took off the mask, her captivating emerald eyes shone through. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She settled beside Lori, softly placing her hand over Lori’s to provide reassurance.  “I used to go by Lightning Gen, but now I’m Lady Lightning,” she said with a playful grin and a roll of her eyes.  “I’ve been watching your superhero activities, and I actually came here to chat with you when I spotted a man hanging out in the shadows,” she paused for a moment.  “It looked like you could use some help.”  Her smile was warm and full of kindness.  Lori attempted to sound courageous as she said with a nod, “I’ll report the attack, even though I’m not entirely sure who he is,” she lied, fully aware of his identity.  Her uncle exhaled in relief and passed her the phone.  She dialed the police, and they arrived at their home shortly after.  However, by that time, Lady Lightning had vanished, leaving behind a business card with a number scrawled on the back for Lori.

Lori shared the incident with great detail, yet she chose to keep her suspicions about who the attacker really was, to herself. The thought of Kris discovering the truth about her brother filled her with anxiety, as it could completely turn her life upside down. She did not want to be the one to destroy Kris’s life, however eventually she will tell her about her brother and fears that day will be coming soon.

Determined to lighten her own load, Lori firmly decided against being the one to expose Kris’s brother’s secret, not yet.  After the cops left, her uncle was deeply engrossed in his inventions down at the Electra Base, tirelessly crafting new gadgets for Lori to utilize in her crime-fighting adventures.  He knows that she will ultimately catch Tim and hold him accountable, so it's crucial for her to be well-prepared and ready for the confrontation. 

He is unaware that the man who attacked Lori, was in fact, Tim. It would not sit well with him if he found out that Lori left that out of the report.  Meanwhile, Lori settled into the soothing warmth of the tub, her tired body throbbing with fatigue. With her eyes closed, she pondered, “Tim, payback's coming.”

(Pictures used are for the readers entertainment)