The Voices Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers, it's characters, places, etc., they are owned by Saban. Robert Montry is mine, however, my sole creation.
"Breathe, Kim!"
Just breathe
I'm alive!
Feel it? That is the sound of air, the essence of life filling your lungs"
Slowly, those sleeping pills took effect. The lights gradually went out. For once in my life, I got a good rest, it allowed me to think. Well, here I am, Kimberly Ann Hart, suicide attempter extrodiaire! In two days I went from a gym, to the streets, to an unknown's house, to my apartment, and now a hospital. In those two days I went from a fighter, to a failure, to a near suicide victim. For now I was safe, Tommy, Trini, and Coach were there to see me, I didn't feel alone anymore.
When I awoke, a face was looking down at me, "Mother" escaped from my lips," Yes, Dear" she was there, stroking my hair. "How are you feeling" Mother was always looking out for me. As I looked around, Tommy was there, so was Trini sitting on the foot of my bed, Dad off next to the door, arms crossed, concerned.
"Hiya, guys!" I said groaning from the after effects of the pills. I sat up, mother went to the foot of my bed where a small bouquet of flowers were set up. "Oh, these doctors, you think for a hospital they keep this place clean once in a while" she muttered moving about. We all laughed. Now was a chance to apologize to Trini for my actions. I sat up and held out a hand that she held on to, "Listen, Trini, I'm sorry for yelling at you" I said watery eyed.
"Don't worry about it. You were upset" she replied back.
I began to choke, "You're my best friend"
"And you're mine" we both hugged.
Mother was joyful, "Oh, this is so sweet, you two. Is there anything I could get you, sweetie?"
For a moment I was baffled, "Umm...how about some health crunch ice cream?" In a flash, Mother was out the door, Father in tow.
With them gone, it gave me a chance to talk to Tommy and Trini. Tommy appeared to be deeply concerned. He stood near the window, peering out, pacing about with arms crossed, head low.
"What is it, Tommy?" I finally asked.
A moment passed, he turned and walked towards us, arms crossed, "Listen, Kim, your parents talked to the doctors and...um...they are going to take you to a mental hospital for observation" he grimly put it.
"Yes, And...?" I didn't know what was about to hit me.
"Kim, they are going to hold on to you for seventy-two hours. That's their priority," putting it bluntly.
"So.," still stupid.
"The tryouts are on Monday, today is Saturday"
That is where it finally hit home.
"Ooh..." I began to curse as Trini continued to hold on to my hand.
At that time, Mother and Father returned, her holding on to a half gallon of health crunch with a plastic spoon embedded. "Here you are, Dear" she handed it to me.
I smiled.
"That's it dear, now is there anything else I can...hey! nurse, come here..." she took off again with father going after her. Every time, Mother drove these people nuts trying to take care of me.
With ice cream in hand, I began to ask my friends about a bold plan. There was no way I was going to miss my second chance to rejoin the team.
Hearing of this, Tommy became enraged,
"Listen, all I need is some clothes...and" I began to whisper to Trini as a nurse walked by, then Tommy interjected, "Hold on! You mean you want to escape from a hospital in your condition?"
Nodded affirmatively.
"You know what happens if they catch you?" trying to scare me. For a moment, there was silence. "No" I replied back.
Tommy heard enough. He was never the same when he heard about this Robert character. Was he jealous? Maybe, but no one could replace Tommy, he knew that and so did I. Either way, he promised not tell of the plan nor have any part of it. Instead, he threw out his hands and walked out, leaving us two girls alone. Still, my I persisted. "Trini, listen to me. This is my dream, you know it, and I can't miss it."
"I know, Kim, but it's dangerous, who knows what will happen if they catch us."
"Relax, they won't. Just leave me some fresh clothes, I'll take it from there." I pleaded with her to help, but Trini acted subdued.
"I don't know, Kim, it's dangerous"
"Please?"
"OK, i'll get you some clothes before the end of the day. However, Tommy, your parents, and me are going to visit your coach to talk about you"
"What about?" I asked as she stood up.
"Kimberly, you are my best friend, but you are also sick, and I know that you are not telling me the entire story" we separated and before I could stop her, Trini was gone, leaving me in bed with a melting container of ice cream.
Mother came back in, "Where is Tommy and Trini?" she asked, fluffing my pillow.
"They had to go" I said.
"Oh, yes, we are going to speak to your coach about you. He is such a nice boy, you two were meant for one another" she teased, then glance at her watch. "We better get going, if we are going to catch that meeting" she grabbed her purse and marched out with father that never uttered a word, leaving me alone once again. For the rest of the day, I was alone. The ice cream was finished, and some more pills administered. I missed lunch because of them, but I did not miss anything.
Changes came that night, either by Mother's interference, or my improvement, but the heart monitor and plasma was disconnected. No straps or guard held me, still the food was bland. This nurse on night shift? The one that just entered, I found her before to be a nuisances and really didn't seem to care much about anyone, just looked at a chart while asking, "How are you feeling?"
"UGH! I'm going to hate it here!" in a restless fit.
"OK" she said checking the chart before going off to another room.
The food was also poor, the milk sour, the green Jell-O lacked taste.
A doctor, unprofessional like, made his last rounds. When he came in, I thought it was my chance to show how fit I was to return. No way was I going to miss my opportunity to return to the tryouts. Perky! Act perky. His face was unshaven, gown dirty, smirked like he just came out of surgery. Nevertheless, I tried to charm him with a fake smile and upbeat attitude. Careless he was, undignified, flirted with nurses, forgot my name and why I was there. How stupid! When regaining his composure, he told me that I lost a great deal of blood, but I should pull through. That blade did not cut deep enough, not enough blood was lost for death but significantly enough to render me out. He would transfer me to a mental hospital tomorrow no matter what.
GASP! It was true. I heard a lot of stories floating about those "loony bins." I cringed thinking about it. No way am I going to go there! People bouncing off the walls, killing themselves or each other. NO way was a princess like me going to stand a chance there. There was only one alternative, escape!
Doctors here did not care about me or my problems. Drugs would not help what I was going through. I slipped up, I admit it, and I tried to kill myself. In the end, though, I met a wonderful man that showed me a different light, no one is perfect and I should truck on with my mistakes. I just wanted my life back, that's all, and it did not rest here. Sure Coach gave me a chance to rejoin the team, but I think he doubted me. When I stopped ranting, I realized that I was talking to myself in a lonesome room. I loathe this place.
Two nurses were behind a circular desk outside, watching other monitors. It looked so easy to slip by. What should I wear though? This bib that they had me in already is not ideal for cold weather, and my exposed rear is not good for a night time stroll. Hmm. Think, Kim, did Trini come through for me? There was wooden cabinet on the other side of the room, next to a long window that showed the outside world, "Perhaps there" I concluded. There was no roommate so if there was anything in there, it was mine. Stealthy, I scooted off the bed, tip toed across the cold floor in bare feet which was excruciating. It was not locked! I opened it. The hinges squeak, bit my lip. Nothing.
Trini did come through for me! Hanging on coat hooks was that jacket, pants, some socks and shoes. "Oh, thank you, Trini" I prayed before grabbing them and hurriedly jumped into the bathroom.
Emerging some time later, fully covered. All the lights were out, save the nurses station. Go out the window? Thought about it, but I was three stories up! Forget it! Crawl out, on my belly. "Are you ready?" I asked my wound. Next thing I remember, I was crawling on my belly, the jacket unzipped to avoid unnecessary noise. Inch by inch, I slipped past. Once cleared, I got up and headed for the elevator. No one stopped me. Even the front desk was unguarded. What a set up! Outside, it was complete night time Florida. Far away was jiving music and lights. Must be a party, maybe the girls are there. Flagging down a taxi was next to impossible. It was a Saturday so most of the people were deep in town. It was chilly, rubbed my arms to keep warm. What should I do next? There I was, a young girl in a whole new world, a world that is very dangerous. Basically, I had two choices go back inside and sleep or find my way back to the apartment? Hmmm.
The tough of being back with Tommy made me warm all over. He would protect me.
"OK, I'll go!" Problem is...which way is it?
This part of town was unfamiliar to me, and the darkness and bright night lights did not help either. Could I make it by foot? Sure, maybe a mile or two that's all. "OK, Kim, one foot in front of the other, here we go."
Strolled down the driveway to a sidewalk, halted and looked every which way for a landmark. Nothing. Took a breathe, let it out, "All right, I should follow my instincts. Go right!" Spun that direction and started out. At the first intersection I would find a road sign with it's street name and go from there. The first sign, I glanced up to read it, "Sedgeway RD"
"Sedgeway Road? Hmmm, never heard of it" I cursed myself for not remembering all the directions to the city. The second road, the one I was on already read "Main Street" Great! That is the primary road for the town. The Pan-Global gym sat on Sycamore Street and Main that could not be far away. Checked the street, no movement, I crossed. The street was completely vacant, yet I did not feel right. It was as though someone was monitoring me from the get go. Every other step I turned to see someone behind me. Every turn my hair would flow, that would drive any man wild. "Move faster! Pick up a jog to the next street" I thought. It's not far away with bright lights and what looked light a gas station, there would some people to ask directions!
"Okay, Kim! Just a little further" reassuring myself. Past one alley after the other. "Don't look! Don't look!" If there was anything or anyone down there, I might regret seeing them.
Just a little further. Out of one of those dark places, an arm reached out, snatched me right off my feet "Hump!", dragged me into it's depths. With brute force, I was slammed against a brick wall wet with dew. A man with hooded jacket shadowing his face was in front of me, his forearm pressed against my neck that was against the wall. I was hanging at least an inch above the ground. When he spoke, steam escaped from his nostrils and mouth, "Hiya sweetie! Going out for a stroll?"
I was choking, gasping for breath as he gradually pressed harder. My face turned red as the blood was trapped, my eyes began to roll backwards. My body was weak, no way could I fend him off. I felt so useless. A Power Ranger before now I can't fight. A cruel irony.
"You like to watch movies?" What the hell kind of a question is that? The man glanced left and right to make sure we were alone. "I like to watch Die Hard. At the very end, you know, when Hans has McClains wife, he holds her close. Well, this time no one is going to help the women. Hehehe"
He pulled out a long knife, my eyes widened see it shine in the moon light. Gradually, he eased his pressure on my throat. "Relax, babe. You won't feel a thing"
He plunged the knife, aiming for my stomach. A hot sensation could be felt as the metal pierced skin, then intestines. A quick jerk upwards, it severed the stomach. Blood came up the throat, escaped from the lips. A dark, graveled voice echoed in my ears, "Yippie-Ki-yay, mother fucker!" and the man fell forward. His grip was released, I fell down on to my knees, the body sprawled in front of me. Beyond that, a pair of black boots, nicely polished. Coughing, I held my throat as blood flowing to my knees. Slowly, I gathered my composure, I never seen a dead body before, stood up to see this other man. The man wore a dark pair of jeans, a thick camouflaged jacket with the collar turned up and some sort of cloth covering his face. "Hello, Hart" he growled before kneeling down to wipe his knife on the man's pants.
That voice, I heard it before, "Robert?" He pulled down on his mask, it was Robert!
"Where did you come from?" I asked as he helped me on my feet.
"Don't worry, you're safe." He put an arm around my shoulder, my fear faded. Together we walked out onto the street.
"Freeze!" Someone yelled, we both froze and looked. A police car was sitting on the road, two police officers were behind the doors of their with weapons drawn.
"Just take it, easy," he whispered softly to my ear, "They won't hurt you. You're the victim" We held hands, "I'll see you, trust me!" and bolt down the street away.
"Wait! Stop!" I pleaded with him to stay, but Robert disappeared, again.
