Disclaimer: Witty phrase translated to: "I don't own them." Waa.
A/N Hi everyone! I just wanted to apologize for keeping you all in suspense (hopefully you actually were in suspense and my hopes have not been raised for nothing), and making the updates so few and far between. Lots o stuff has been a changing with me and I'm facing some big decisions. Whether or not to go back to school or take a year off, being one of 'em. Plus I now have my very first wonderful, terrific, amazing, gorgeous, boyfriend. So obviously that has been consuming my time, gladly of course. Anyways, I just wanted to also say thank you to those who have kept up with the story so far, and that I will be updating as frequently as I possibly can. I love this story and I love the characters, and I love that you guys like the story so far. Hopefully I do you all justice. And with that, let us pick up where we have left off. Read on Great Adventurer!!!
"Kim?" he called, pulling back the covers to rise. He began to make his way to the bedroom door, when the sound of running water from the bathroom caught his attention. He made his way over to the door, and pressed his ear against the wooden surface to confirm his suspicions. The sound then ceased as the shower was shut off, and Tommy took the opportunity to knock softly. "Kim? You in there?"
A sniffle echoed from inside and a little voice answered, "Yeah, hold on a sec." Moments later, the door was pulled open and a wave of steam made its escape from the tiny sauna-like room. Kim, cloaked in an oversized white bath rode emerged with her wet clean wet hair hanging loosely about her shoulders. Tommy looked into her tired eyes, and knew immediately that while he had slept un-roused, his wife had not.
"Morning." He said softly, making no move to embrace her. He decided top let her take the lead, knowing that if she needed a hug, she'd ask.
She hadn't slept for a good portion of the night, spending it tossing and turning, trying to keep the voices away. She sighed then, and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her husband's waist and leaning her head on his chest. He promptly returned the gesture and tightened his grip as he felt her begin to cry softly.
"Shh," he soothed, "It's okay, we'll make them stop. I promise." He said, kissing the top her head.
"It's not that." She whispered, looking up at him. Tommy frowned, and awaited her explanation. "They're gone." She breathed. "The voices...they're really gone...."
Tommy exhaled, smiling happily and hugged her. "That's amazing! Are you sure? When did you feel them go?"
"I don't know. I can't explain it, but they're gone." She suddenly frowned and looked to floor momentarily. "But what's next..."
Tommy tipped her chin up gently. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, Brad won't give up so easily... What's he going to do to me next? And how do I make sure he's gone for good?" Kim sighed, moving past her husband to take a seat on the bed. Tommy stood, lost in thought before turning to kneel in front of her.
"Kim. You know as rangers we faced a lot of crazy stuff. And not all the solutions were that easy to deal with, but they were the only way, right?" Kim nodded. "Well, I think that the only way to fight Brad, I mean really fight him....is on the dreamscape."
Kim looked away, considering the idea. "If it'll get him gone for good, I'll do anything." She said firmly.
Tommy smiled gently, seeing the doubt behind her determination. "I know you can do it..And you're not doing it alone, okay? I'm here every step of the way."
Kim exhaled and embraced him. "Thank you...I love you so much." She sighed.
"I love you too, Beautiful." He pulled back and stood, pulling Kim up with him. "Now," he said, "I have to go down to the track for a couple of hours, Uncle John's orders, but I you are welcome to come if you like."
"What happened to every step of the way.." Kim teased. Tommy looked at her a moment, about to apologize. "Go, go on. I was kidding! Jeez...And I'm gonna stay here, maybe call Kat and see if she's up for lunch."
"Alright. I'll give you a call when I get there?"
"I'm actually going to go back to bed for a while. It's only what...7:30" she said glancing at the clock.
"Are you sure that's safe?" Tommy frowned.
"Yeah..I feel safe enough going to sleep for a while. Maybe I'll try and get a little practice in as well." She smiled pointing to her temple.
"Well, be careful, okay? Now I'm gonna be late if I don't leave soon." He sighed, gathering his things from around the room. Tossing some stuff into a bag, he turned to her. "I love you." He said looking into her eyes.
Kim smiled and kissed him. "I love you too..Now go." With one last smile, Tommy left the room and bounded down the stairs.
"I'll change when I get there!" he called. Kim shook her head, letting out a loving chuckle, before her expression fell. She looked towards the bed and sighed.
"I hope I know what I'm doing.."
***
"Kimmie...Kimmie, wake up!!!"
Kim slowly opened her eyes, praying that she was where she thought she was. But it was true. She was sitting in the same chair from her nightmare. She was looking into those dead eyes, masked in madness. Fear took over and the shaking set in with a wave of nausea as she felt her stomach turn at the sight of him. She kept trying to tell herself that it was a dream, but she quickly fell back into the game and all too familiar feelings of the situation.
"Welcome back Kimmie. I'm very glad to see you." Brad smiled. Kimberly looked around frantically, hoping it would be different this time, and tugged wildly at her ropes. "Oh no no, there's no use struggling." He grinned. "I've tied 'em real tight."
"Why won't you just leave me alone! I don't love you. I never have and I never will! I love Tommy. Why the hell can't you just accept that and move on." Kim cried exasperatedly.
Brad took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "Kimmie, you're trying to make me angry with you so I'll do something stupid. We both know the answer to that question since you've asked it countless times!!!!!" he screamed.
"But every time you answer it, it's about rage. Try telling me the truth this time." She said calmly, after a brief pause.
Brad's anger slowing faded into an evil grin. "Alright, you want the truth? Here it is: I have no choice in the matter. I just can't leave you alone Kimmie dear. You see, you've put a spell on me, taking away all of my free will so I may never forget you." He began.
"What?" Kim cried.
"You're a witch. You've cast one of your little spells on me from your little book, so that I would love you to make your boa jealous. But, it went horribly wrong. I took back the control you stole, and in doing so, I mutated the spell. So you see, I'm cursed!"
"You are insane!"
"Well, that must be one of your little spells too. I'm a witch hunter now because of you, but unlike other hunters, I've only got one target: you...Do you know what they do to little witchies like you Kimmie?" Kim's breathing began to increase as she began to consider what he might do to her.
"You wouldn't," she whispered.
"Oh but I would." Brad grinned. "I've always wondered what flesh smelt like as it burned."
Kim squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to allow herself to be drawn back in. "It's just a dream....it's just a dream...."
"Just you keep telling yourself that..when you're burning a the stake!!!!!"
"It's just a dream.."
"Burn Kimmie, burn!"
"It's just a dream...."
"BURN KIMMIE, BURN!!!!!"
"IT'S JUST A.....NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!" Kim screamed through the sting of her tears, looking towards the sky. Suddenly lightning struck the old warehouse, causing Kim to shut her eyes. There was suddenly silence all around her, and she couldn't feel her restraints anymore. She finally found the courage to open her eyes, and was met with a wall of white all around her. It was blinding at first compared to the dimness of the warehouse, but Kim's eyes soon adjusted as she wondered aloud:
"Where am I?"
"You are in your subconscious." A voice answered.
THE END!!!!!!!!! ...of this chapter. How do you like it? I know this chapter was a bit weird cause Brad's insane. But hey, it keeps it interesting right? Anyways, I really hope you like it, and I also know that the whole voice thing for Kim is all too familiar, but this is inside her head, so...yeah...I don't see how that's different either, but someone has to show her the ropes, and hey, sometimes it's not up to the writer, but to the story. Anyhoo, I gotta go, but I will be updating again soon. Thank you for reading and I will see you next chapter!
Can't forget the teaser line!!!
"So what you're saying basically, is that my perception of reality is the be all and end all? That it determines my fate?"
A/N Hi everyone! I just wanted to apologize for keeping you all in suspense (hopefully you actually were in suspense and my hopes have not been raised for nothing), and making the updates so few and far between. Lots o stuff has been a changing with me and I'm facing some big decisions. Whether or not to go back to school or take a year off, being one of 'em. Plus I now have my very first wonderful, terrific, amazing, gorgeous, boyfriend. So obviously that has been consuming my time, gladly of course. Anyways, I just wanted to also say thank you to those who have kept up with the story so far, and that I will be updating as frequently as I possibly can. I love this story and I love the characters, and I love that you guys like the story so far. Hopefully I do you all justice. And with that, let us pick up where we have left off. Read on Great Adventurer!!!
"Kim?" he called, pulling back the covers to rise. He began to make his way to the bedroom door, when the sound of running water from the bathroom caught his attention. He made his way over to the door, and pressed his ear against the wooden surface to confirm his suspicions. The sound then ceased as the shower was shut off, and Tommy took the opportunity to knock softly. "Kim? You in there?"
A sniffle echoed from inside and a little voice answered, "Yeah, hold on a sec." Moments later, the door was pulled open and a wave of steam made its escape from the tiny sauna-like room. Kim, cloaked in an oversized white bath rode emerged with her wet clean wet hair hanging loosely about her shoulders. Tommy looked into her tired eyes, and knew immediately that while he had slept un-roused, his wife had not.
"Morning." He said softly, making no move to embrace her. He decided top let her take the lead, knowing that if she needed a hug, she'd ask.
She hadn't slept for a good portion of the night, spending it tossing and turning, trying to keep the voices away. She sighed then, and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her husband's waist and leaning her head on his chest. He promptly returned the gesture and tightened his grip as he felt her begin to cry softly.
"Shh," he soothed, "It's okay, we'll make them stop. I promise." He said, kissing the top her head.
"It's not that." She whispered, looking up at him. Tommy frowned, and awaited her explanation. "They're gone." She breathed. "The voices...they're really gone...."
Tommy exhaled, smiling happily and hugged her. "That's amazing! Are you sure? When did you feel them go?"
"I don't know. I can't explain it, but they're gone." She suddenly frowned and looked to floor momentarily. "But what's next..."
Tommy tipped her chin up gently. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, Brad won't give up so easily... What's he going to do to me next? And how do I make sure he's gone for good?" Kim sighed, moving past her husband to take a seat on the bed. Tommy stood, lost in thought before turning to kneel in front of her.
"Kim. You know as rangers we faced a lot of crazy stuff. And not all the solutions were that easy to deal with, but they were the only way, right?" Kim nodded. "Well, I think that the only way to fight Brad, I mean really fight him....is on the dreamscape."
Kim looked away, considering the idea. "If it'll get him gone for good, I'll do anything." She said firmly.
Tommy smiled gently, seeing the doubt behind her determination. "I know you can do it..And you're not doing it alone, okay? I'm here every step of the way."
Kim exhaled and embraced him. "Thank you...I love you so much." She sighed.
"I love you too, Beautiful." He pulled back and stood, pulling Kim up with him. "Now," he said, "I have to go down to the track for a couple of hours, Uncle John's orders, but I you are welcome to come if you like."
"What happened to every step of the way.." Kim teased. Tommy looked at her a moment, about to apologize. "Go, go on. I was kidding! Jeez...And I'm gonna stay here, maybe call Kat and see if she's up for lunch."
"Alright. I'll give you a call when I get there?"
"I'm actually going to go back to bed for a while. It's only what...7:30" she said glancing at the clock.
"Are you sure that's safe?" Tommy frowned.
"Yeah..I feel safe enough going to sleep for a while. Maybe I'll try and get a little practice in as well." She smiled pointing to her temple.
"Well, be careful, okay? Now I'm gonna be late if I don't leave soon." He sighed, gathering his things from around the room. Tossing some stuff into a bag, he turned to her. "I love you." He said looking into her eyes.
Kim smiled and kissed him. "I love you too..Now go." With one last smile, Tommy left the room and bounded down the stairs.
"I'll change when I get there!" he called. Kim shook her head, letting out a loving chuckle, before her expression fell. She looked towards the bed and sighed.
"I hope I know what I'm doing.."
***
"Kimmie...Kimmie, wake up!!!"
Kim slowly opened her eyes, praying that she was where she thought she was. But it was true. She was sitting in the same chair from her nightmare. She was looking into those dead eyes, masked in madness. Fear took over and the shaking set in with a wave of nausea as she felt her stomach turn at the sight of him. She kept trying to tell herself that it was a dream, but she quickly fell back into the game and all too familiar feelings of the situation.
"Welcome back Kimmie. I'm very glad to see you." Brad smiled. Kimberly looked around frantically, hoping it would be different this time, and tugged wildly at her ropes. "Oh no no, there's no use struggling." He grinned. "I've tied 'em real tight."
"Why won't you just leave me alone! I don't love you. I never have and I never will! I love Tommy. Why the hell can't you just accept that and move on." Kim cried exasperatedly.
Brad took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "Kimmie, you're trying to make me angry with you so I'll do something stupid. We both know the answer to that question since you've asked it countless times!!!!!" he screamed.
"But every time you answer it, it's about rage. Try telling me the truth this time." She said calmly, after a brief pause.
Brad's anger slowing faded into an evil grin. "Alright, you want the truth? Here it is: I have no choice in the matter. I just can't leave you alone Kimmie dear. You see, you've put a spell on me, taking away all of my free will so I may never forget you." He began.
"What?" Kim cried.
"You're a witch. You've cast one of your little spells on me from your little book, so that I would love you to make your boa jealous. But, it went horribly wrong. I took back the control you stole, and in doing so, I mutated the spell. So you see, I'm cursed!"
"You are insane!"
"Well, that must be one of your little spells too. I'm a witch hunter now because of you, but unlike other hunters, I've only got one target: you...Do you know what they do to little witchies like you Kimmie?" Kim's breathing began to increase as she began to consider what he might do to her.
"You wouldn't," she whispered.
"Oh but I would." Brad grinned. "I've always wondered what flesh smelt like as it burned."
Kim squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to allow herself to be drawn back in. "It's just a dream....it's just a dream...."
"Just you keep telling yourself that..when you're burning a the stake!!!!!"
"It's just a dream.."
"Burn Kimmie, burn!"
"It's just a dream...."
"BURN KIMMIE, BURN!!!!!"
"IT'S JUST A.....NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!" Kim screamed through the sting of her tears, looking towards the sky. Suddenly lightning struck the old warehouse, causing Kim to shut her eyes. There was suddenly silence all around her, and she couldn't feel her restraints anymore. She finally found the courage to open her eyes, and was met with a wall of white all around her. It was blinding at first compared to the dimness of the warehouse, but Kim's eyes soon adjusted as she wondered aloud:
"Where am I?"
"You are in your subconscious." A voice answered.
THE END!!!!!!!!! ...of this chapter. How do you like it? I know this chapter was a bit weird cause Brad's insane. But hey, it keeps it interesting right? Anyways, I really hope you like it, and I also know that the whole voice thing for Kim is all too familiar, but this is inside her head, so...yeah...I don't see how that's different either, but someone has to show her the ropes, and hey, sometimes it's not up to the writer, but to the story. Anyhoo, I gotta go, but I will be updating again soon. Thank you for reading and I will see you next chapter!
Can't forget the teaser line!!!
"So what you're saying basically, is that my perception of reality is the be all and end all? That it determines my fate?"
