Chapter 13

A few minutes later Johnny was back with the other Flordians, and Ann was standing near a window.

"When I first got to Florida, it was great, a bit strange, but great. I was training with one of the best coaches in the world at one of the most famous training centers in the world. Although it was strange that I had a single dorm and never worked with the other athletes. But Coach Schmidt said it was so he could focus more on my progress during that time, without having to keep his mind on twenty others. And I, in my innocence, or stupidity, believed him. Over time Schmidt became like a father, I was dependent on him, for friendship, communication, let alone teaching. Then he hit me for the first time.

"He apologized, saying he hadn't meant to do it. Sometimes his upbringing got the better of him. And I believed him. After all, coaches didn't abuse their athletes. Then I came back here for Christmas, and told myself it had been a one-time thing.

"The second time I wasn't as believing, but let it slide. And the third I fought back. Even with all my training, I was no match for him. I was banged up pretty bad, and still he made me train. The next time I was in the nurses ward. A broken finger and a sprained ankle, and the assortment of bruises. By then it had gotten to me.

"It was amazing how fast he got into my mind, turned me into a victim. And when he told me to sever all ties with the outside world, I didn't argue, I just did. Two months later I was moved into the regular dorms where I shared a room with Steph and Rach. Then I learned the real horrors of that place.

"We all got to know each other at meals, and I started to hear the stories. I didn't believe them, I didn't want to believe them. Then I saw him harrassing Steph. But I figured he wouldn't do anything else, he couldn't. He was still a coach. That all changed one day." She trailed off, her eyes growing darker as she remembered.

"After my last session on the bars I went to get cleaned up. I knew Rach had a cold, so I figured I'd use the showers in the locker rooms so I wouldn't wake her. Halfway through I heard a noise. I figured it was just another girl.." Ann trailed off as she closed her eyes. She didn't remember anything else from that day, it was all a blur.

"I woke up and realized it was time for dinner, so I headed downstairs, where I joined Steph, Robbie, and Johnny. When I got there they asked if Kim had been upstairs. We started to get worried as we knew her last session had ended four hours earlier. Somehow we knew something was wrong and split up. Steph was the one who searched the locker room, she came running out immediately and I knew. She sent me for the guys as she went back in." Rachel paused as she took a breath.

"When we got back, Steph had her wrapped in a few towels, and Johnny carried her up to the dorm while we all kept watch. We sent the guys back down to get some soup and crackers, and went to work bringing her out of shock. Steph later told me she had found Ann on the floor under the then ice cold shower. Steph was panicked, because the heat in the showers can last three hours before going cold. To this day we still don't know how she didn't suffer third degree burns, as it was she had some first degree."

Rachel stopped as she realized most of those in the room were in shock as well. Sighing softly she shook her head. They had asked.

"After that first time, I was Schmidt's new favorite. Every other day it seemed, until I found out I was pregnant. Around that time he found a new 'toy', and I was free. We managed to keep the pregnancy a secret until I was five months, then he found out. And he was pissed." Ann paused as she unconsciously ran a hand over her right shoulder in memory. Ironic really that he had broken her right wrist this time.

"By then it was too late to have an abortion, so I had to take time off. Four months later I woke up in the middle of the night, in worse pain that I had been during any of the beatings. Fifteen hours later the pain was over, and I got to hold my beautiful baby girl. Well, I really didn't hold her, I was too weak, but she was next to me on the bed.

"Then Schmidt arrived." She paused, her expression changing from one of happiness at the memory of her daughter, to part horror and part anger. To the ex-rangers from that time, it was almost like seeing the evil green ranger take form in her.

"He took her, even though I begged him not to. There was a sink across the room. I couldn't save her, though I tried. I got out of the bed before collapsing, I couldn't get up no matter how hard I tried. I can still hear her cries, before the water. And his laughter, I'll never escape that sound." She trailed off softly, her voice haunted by what she had lived through.

Looking across the room, they knew she couldn't go any further, and Johnny nodded as he made his way back to her, leading her back to the others while she cried.

"She was back in training two days later, to work off the weight she had gained, though truthfully it had been very little. We buried Maria in the grove, next to Kevin, my brother." Robbie explained. "Soon after the beatings started again. And that was when we decided to get out."

"It took another eight months, but we did it. And two months later we had our first real Christmas. We changed our identities, our looks, and got a place as close to the center as we dared. We got twenty more out, before we couldn't get anymore. And we tried our best to move on." Rachel continued for her boyfriend.

"I still don't understand why you won't fight. He can't get away with it forever." Aisha replied softly.

"That's just it, he will get away with it forever. Nothing can stop him." Ann replied as she stood up. The other three joining her. "Don't try to rationalize this, it won't work." She continued.

"So now what? What are you going to do? Just run and hide." Tommy replied evenly.

"That's exactly what I am going to do. I'm not the person I was at seventeen Tommy, so stop comparing me to her. I told you before, Kimberly Hart is dead. She died when she was seventeen. Then I became who I am today. I don't fight impossible battles, not anymore. It's not worth it." She replied evenly before Robbie and Rachel turned and started out the door. They knew she was planning on leaving.

"Don't try to find us, if you ever cared about me, respect my wishes and let me go." Ann continued before she too turned and walked out.

"She can't expect us to do that." Tonya began.

"Even if you don't, you won't find us." Johnny replied. "After today, all of us will cease to exist once more."

"What do you mean?" Jason asked jumping to conclusions.

"Relax Scott, we aren't going to kill ourselves. But do you think we are honestly going to keep the same names we have for the past five years? When Schmidt knows them?" he replied shaking his head. "Just, just do us all a favor and let her go. For her and yourselves. She'll be fine, I won't let Schmidt near her again."

"How do we know we can trust you?" Tommy replied

"Because I love her, and you don't have any other choice." Johnny replied before turning and walking out the door.

"Now what?" Aisha asked softly

"We let her go. Just like she asked." Trini replied.

"Trini's right, Kim has been through hell and back, she's happy now. The least we can do is let her keep that happiness." Jason replied slowly. He may have hated it, but Kim deserved this much from them.