Chapter 24 Cory felted ashamed of herself as she stood in the long line at the Methodist Church soup kitchen. Even though Cory found the flowery dress that she was wearing in a church donation box it still looked much nicer than most clothes that was wore by people that stood in the line and she happened to learn about the soup kitchen from a flyer that hang on a bulletin board in the church that she slept at last night. There was a old man that stood in line ahead of her that smelled like he hasn’t taken a bath in weeks and there was woman behind her that has two small children that kept crying to there mother how hungry they were. The Worst was having Jason Grey stand next to her in line and nag about all the lawless skills that he had. Cory understood that Jason knew much easier ways to get food, money and a number of other things but she doesn’t want to reduce herself down to being a dishonest person anymore than she had to. After Cory grabbed her tray she sit quietly at a table by herself where she could keep an eye on the front doors and most of her surroundings. Cory begin eating the food on the tray that was made up from a dinner roll, dry eggs, a pint of milk and a box of dry cereal. About halfway through her meal Cory noticed Preacher walking through the front doors and she told herself in a joking voice that it could be a coincidence with him being a helpful man of God but Cory knew she was only fooling herself because she didn’t believe in coincidences and the church pastor had kind of been obsessed with her since he told her that Jason Grey was a demon. Cory tries to that he’s there and continues on with eating her meal till Preacher comes over and takes a seat across the table. “we need to talk” said Preacher with a serious look in his eyes. “ok, talk” said Cory. Even though Preacher spoke to her in a soft gentle tone Cory still noticed the bulking lump in Preacher’s coat that suggested he was carrying some kind of gun. Cory could understand that the holy man was taking some precautions with her. After all Cory could imagine that Preacher didn’t appreciate being thrown off the third story of a parking garage. “somewhere a little more private” said Preacher pointing over at the back door. Cory quickly scarfs down the few remaining bites of food before gets up from her seat and making her way to the back door. “I smell a trap” said Jason Grey from inside her head. The moment Cory steps out of the church she notices that Preacher’s car was parked in the back alley behind the church only confirming that Jason Grey was right and this was a trap. Before Cory could get a good look at the passenger in Preacher’s car she quickly notice out of the corner of her eye that Preacher was pulling the strange gun from his coat pocket. Cory without much thought kicks the tranquilizer gun out of Preacher’s hand. “I guess we have to do this the hard way” said Preacher putting his fists up and taking a boxing stand. “love it when you talk dirty” said Cory taking her own fighting stands. Preacher steps toward Cory and throws a combination of punches. Cory manages to block the first two punches but the third punch skillfully manages to connects with her mouth. Cory steps back a step or two feeling a little surprised, she wipes the back of her fist across her sore lower lip to find that it was bleeding. “I think we have a contender” said Cory then she charges in with her own combination of punches and kicks. Preacher much like Cory is able to block and duck most of the attacks but Cory does manage to plant a painful back spinning kick to Preacher’s face. Timmy sit inside Preacher’s compact car and watched from a far as Cory and Preacher when at it like two skilled warriors. Timmy’s mind flashed back to many weeks ago when Cory beat up Jeff Hall a school bully in the middle of the high cafeteria to save him, since then she had graduated to killed a family of psychopaths and a whole street gang of MS-13 members. Timmy come to realizes at that moment that there was no way that he could ever love something so savage as this monstrous version of Cory Potts that slowly seems to be picking apart the man called Preacher. But then again Preacher was far more smarter then Timmy expected him to be. Preacher had figured things would go down like this so him and Timmy had come up with a plan to turn the tide. Timmy longed for the old Cory Potts that he grow up with and he desperately hoped this ideal works. Preacher out of desperation tries to throw a wild haymaker punch but the girl side steps him and counters with a knee. Timmy gets out of the car and he slowly makes his way to Cory tightly holding the stun gun in one of his hand trying to keep it hidden behind his back. Preacher was barely conscious as he rest on both his hands and knees a beaten man. He knew there only hope now was for the boy Timmy to pull off his part of the plan. Cory stood over top of Preacher as she pulls back her fist about to deliver a final blow when she suddenly hears a familiar voice call out to her. A voice she never expected to hear from again. Cory looks back to see her love Timmy has come for her and Preacher’s challenging her no longer seem that important. Cory runs over to Timmy and they tightly embrace as she begin crying tears of joy. Cory knew for some reason that she couldn’t explain that Timmy would be that Beacon of light that could always pull her out of the darkness. Timmy realized that the only chance he had getting back his old Cory was by betray this one. He found himself remembering how this Cory lifted him off the ground in a choke hold back at the parking garage. Timmy tries to remain brave as he pulls Cory back and he gives her a reassuring smile. Then Timmy quickly zaps Cory in the neck with the full force of the stun gun.  

Next Chapter: Chapter 25