Chapter 8: Blood is Thicker Than Water

 

Tim collected a few of his things and stuffed them into cardboard boxes. He made the decision to leave his janitorial position at the nearby school, opting to take a more spontaneous approach to job hunting once he and Kris are settled into a city.

Kris was anything but thrilled about the upcoming move; in fact, she outright refused to pack.

“I don’t understand why we have to leave,” she complained. Tim began to respond but paused, choosing his words carefully. “Kris, it’s time for a change.” 

In a fit of rage, Kris snatched a plate and hurled it to the ground, where it shattered into countless fragments. Though Kris had a fiery temper, Tim was well aware of how to soothe her. 

He gestured her to join him on the sofa. At first, she hesitated then with a huff she sat down. 

“Kris, you need to hear me out. Electra Woman is going to come after me; it’s just a matter of time.”

Kris stared at him, bewildered. “What do you mean?” she asked. Taking a deep breath, he prepared to explain why he believed Electra Woman would be on his tail but left out that Lori is Electra Woman. He averted his gaze, shame washing over him as he confessed, “I was the one who assaulted those women. I regret it, but if they find me, I’ll end up in prison.” Kris had a nagging suspicion that he was the mysterious figure behind the attacks, particularly after discovering his disturbing collection. Taking a deep breath, she felt her frustration mounting.

“Do you really believe that escaping will keep them from tracking you down?" She shot him a piercing glance.

“Alright, so what’s your solution?” he said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Kris thought it over for a moment.  

“Fine, we can relocate, but let’s head to the other side of town, switch jobs and…” 

“Honestly, let’s just head to Garden Grove and change jobs,” he interrupted, signaling that the conversation was over.  

Kris scoffed, got up, and stormed to her room, slamming the door behind her.  Tim sighed in frustration and kept packing.

Kris was at work later that evening when Lori swung by. "Hey Kris, got a sec?" Kris grinned and nodded. She let her coworker know she was taking a break, then grabbed her stuff and headed out with Lori to the mall's food court.

Lori settled into a chair across from Kris and asked, “I missed you in class yesterday. What happened?” Kris masked her feelings, not wanting Lori to see the sadness about her upcoming move and fresh start. “I was busy packing,” she answered, discontented look briefly shadowed her face, making her eyebrows knit together. Lori's expression turned puzzled. “Wait, are you moving?”

Kris looked over at her and remarked, “My brother just landed a new job, so we’re relocating to Garden Grove. I might still make it to class if he doesn’t need his car.” She forced a smile, putting in a valiant effort to mask her true emotions at that moment. Lori asked, “Did your brother mention when you’re moving?”

 Kris turned to her with a smile, “If you like my brother, you should tell him.” She hesitated before adding softly, “Maybe having a serious girlfriend could change how he treats women.” 

Lori’s eyes widened and she mused, “Oh my God, she knows about his secret.” She briefly looked away. When she turned back to Kris, she asked, “So, would you like something to drink? I can grab it for you,” Lori suggested.  

“Sure,” Kris answered. After their chat, they parted ways, with Lori heading home.

“Uncle Frank, I have a feeling Kris knows of her brother’s extracurricular activities.”

“What makes you say that?” he replied, taking a sip of his coffee.  

“It was something she mentioned during our chat,” Lori explained what Kris had said.  

“Hmm, yeah, I think she might have figured it out, and now they’re both unsure about how to handle it,” he paused and added, “Do you think you could persuade her to report her brother to the authorities?”

“I don’t think so,” she paused, “unless there is some kind of proof of his assaults on those women.”

 Lori got to her feet, saying, “I’ll change into my costume and then I’ll be on my way.” Uncle Frank let out a sigh, his forehead creased with concern.

“You know my thoughts on your late-night superhero adventures.” Lori acknowledged him with a nod, flashed a smile, and headed upstairs.

The following day, Kris showed up for her martial arts class, but Lori was absent. This left her feeling a bit let down, knowing it would be the final chance to see her. After class, Kris took the bus home, hoping to keep her brother in the dark about her attendance. The bus let her off a block from their apartment complex. 

It was around seven in the evening, and she really wasn’t eager to return home. As she wandered through her thoughts, a man suddenly seized her from behind.  She fought to break free, but he overpowered her and forced her into a car. 

He tossed her into the back seat and delivered a sharp slap, leaving her momentarily stunned. He had failed to tie her hands and feet and that was his demise. 

As she collected herself, she feigned unconsciousness. When the man parked the car, he stepped out and moved to the back to drag Kris out. With her eyes narrowing, she seized the moment; as he reached for her, she unleashed a swift karate jab to his throat.  She had the chance to flee, and she knew it, but instead, she chose to stand her ground.

As he lay curled up on the ground, struggling to rise, she delivered a fierce kick to his stomach and seized his arm.  

“Asshole, I’m not that type of girl,” she declared, twisting his arm until it snapped out of place. His scream pierced the air, drawing the attention of other men lurking in the building where he had taken Kris. With a quick look around, she dashed behind a large dumpster to conceal herself. 

She was puzzled about the reasons behind her abduction and the motives of the man who had taken her there, but she felt a fire within her that was far from extinguished. The men hurried towards their companion. “What’s going on, man?” one of the men inquired while assisting the kidnapper to stand.  

“That woman did this to me,” he shot back.  One of the men sighed and rolled his eyes, “Get him inside; the other two girls are tied up in there,” he added after a moment. “I’ll take care of this one.”  Kris scanned the area and spotted a metal pipe almost the size of a bat. It wasn’t too heavy; she could manage it.

 "It's just like swinging a baseball bat," she thought to herself. Her brother had been showing her the ropes with nunchakus and shuriken, but unfortunately, she didn’t have them on hand at the moment. As the man drew closer, she carefully shifted to the opposite side of the trash bin. "Listen, girl, I’m not gonna hurt you. You’re cornered, so why not just come out?" he called out.

She glanced at the building and spotted a man in a superhero outfit perched on the roof. Turning her gaze to the opposite side, she noticed two women, also clad in superhero attire, cautiously approaching the entrance.

Kris was indifferent to the chaos unfolding within; her sole focus was on the imminent threat to her well-being. Standing directly in front of her was a medium-built Caucasian man, sporting brown hair that fell to his shoulders, striking blue eyes, and a five o'clock shadow. He sported a denim jacket paired with brown corduroy trousers. She caught sight of gloves on his hands, one gripping a pistol. She readied herself.  

“Hey, there’s no reason for this to end with you dead,” he remarked.  

A sly smile appeared on her face as she charged at him with all her might, striking him fiercely with the pipe. The strength with which she swung was unlike anything anyone had ever seen; her brother had trained her well. Caught off guard, the pistol slipped from his grasp as he fell to the ground. Undeterred, she relentlessly pounded him, leaving him battered and bleeding. Seizing the opportunity, she snatched up the gun that had been flung away. She glared at him, her voice dripping with disdain. 

"You're a piece of shit,” she declared, pulling the trigger and hitting him squarely in the stomach without a hint of guilt. 

Kris hurled the gun away and sprinted toward the car that had brought her there. The keys were still in the ignition, and with the headlights dark, she sped away from the chaos but just as she was about to disappear, a woman in a deep orange and yellow outfit glanced back, catching Kris's eye. To her astonishment, it was Lori.

Her eyes flew open, but there was no time to pause or ponder the situation. She realized she had just shot someone, and the man could be on the brink of death. Upon reaching the gas station, she quickly made a call home from a payphone.

“Kris, where are you?” Tim's voice trembled with concern and fear. She recounted the events to him. "What the hell," he exclaimed, taking a moment to steady himself. "I’ll come get you. Just tell me your location."

 "I think I'm on the other side of the city," she replied.

"Describe your surroundings to me," Tim encouraged. She glanced around, taking in her environment. After a moment, she shared her observations with him.

 "Got it, I think I can figure out your location. Don't move; I'll be there shortly." Tim quickly snatched his keys and rushed out the door.

Meanwhile, Kris was inside the gas station's liquor store, and as soon as she spotted Tim, she stepped outside to meet him. He hurried out of the car, making a beeline for her. Wrapping his arms around his sister, he quickly shifted to a reprimand. 

“Not now, Tim. We need to get home. I have something important to tell you.” she replied, her voice weary and her body marked with bruises. Once they were inside, Kris recounted the events that had unfolded. A thick silence enveloped the room until Tim broke it, asking, “Are you absolutely sure you killed that man?” 

She shrugged, “I can’t say for sure, but I wasn’t going to investigate.” He nodded thoughtfully and asked if she recalled where they had taken her. She replied that it seemed like an old office building. Suddenly, she gasped, “I noticed one of the vigilantes see me drive off. She was wearing a deep orange and yellow costume,” she paused. “I think it might’ve been Electra Woman.” 

A thick silence enveloped the room. Tim took a deep breath and chose that moment to reveal the truth about Electra Woman to Kris. She furrowed her brow in confusion. 

“Wow,” Kris exclaimed, her emotions swirling. She stood up and began to pace, her frustration palpable. Finally, she halted in front of him, arms crossed, her expression a mix of anger and disappointment.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Would it have made it easier to learn about her?” he replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Kris shook her head, lost in thought. 

After a moment, she took a deep breath and settled back down beside him.  

“So, you’re thinking of moving because you think she might come after you?” He nodded.

They both reflected deeply. He grasped her hand firmly and said, "Blood is thicker than water." She understood his meaning and resolved that relocating was the best choice. She'd be right there with him, ready to take on anyone, even the vigilantes, including Electra Woman. 

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