Darkness Lives
Chapter Four: Doubts and Introductions
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Power Rangers in Space, and I'm not making any money from this fic. Oh, and much of the interior of the house comes from the game Fatal Frame/Project Zero; and the house's history comes from various horror films and the like – so don't own anything from The Grudge, Ringu, or any other horror film that might come into play
Summary: While he's frozen, Zhane's spirit detaches itself from his body and enters a haunted house on Earth, where he has to fight for higher stakes than his life
Warning(s): Violence; spoilers; some swearing; spanking in later chapters
"I'm not going to die," Zhane replied. "Why? Do you kill people who come into this house?" He should be scared, but he wasn't. He was feeling an eerie sense of calm. Maybe it came from having a pretty good idea that he wasn't likely to die.
"The spirits in this house kill the people who come here. Don't know why they've left me alive... Sometimes I wonder if I'm actually dead, and if I just think I'm alive."
Zhane still didn't believe that there were ghosts in this house, but he had to react to the obvious fear in the girl's voice. "You're not going through anything, so I'm sure you're not a ghost." Of course, he wasn't walking through anything either, and he was supposed to be astral projecting or something. Or maybe he really was dead, and this was the afterlife.
The girl glanced at him. "You don't believe me."
Zhane chose his words carefully, unwilling to upset this unstable girl even further. "I believe that you believe there are ghosts here. If there's danger, I'll get through it."
"What makes you think you're so special?"
Zhane had to remind himself that his identity as a Power Ranger was supposed to remain a closely guarded secret; and besides, he had no idea where he was. This girl probably hadn't even heard of the Power Rangers. "Doesn't matter. I'm kinda used to no-win situations." Of course, his last no-win situation had landed him frozen, and his spirit now separated from his body.
Huh. Maybe that was what made him special right now.
"This isn't a situation where you can win or lose. It's a situation where you die."
"Or become crazy," Zhane muttered, too quietly for the girl to hear. "So do you have a name?" he asked.
For a moment, the girl looked like she wasn't going to answer at all. Then, finally, she spoke. "My name's Katra."
"I'm Zhane." The silver ranger would have offered his hand, but he wasn't sure if Katra would bite it or scream. To be honest, it looked like she'd be willing to do either. Zhane figured he'd better watch his step around her, just as he would around a wild or rabid animal.
"Well, Zhane, you're going to be sorry you can't get out of here."
Zhane started to ask Katra for further information; but then the sound of a child's laughter drew his attention to the corner of the room.
