Disclaimer: Once more with feeling!!! This is a declaration of non-
ownership. Okay? Okay.
Author's note: I apologize for the spelling mistakes in the last chapter, subtle as some may have thought, but I really wanted to get it up. I put all her thoughts in italics, but when I loaded it, it didn't work. Weird. Anyway, on with the show! Hope you like it so far!
Kimberly took a deep breath and this time, jumped into the pool. Her heart slowed as she settled beneath the water. *Here we go again.* The background melted away, and Kim was in her room in Florida. She felt sick as she watched herself shoving various items into a duffle bag. *Oh god.. no.*
*** "This doesn't look that bad." Cassie said hesitantly. She was actually afraid of what it could be.
"Things aren't always as they seem." Kat sad suspiciously, "I know Kim well enough to know that that look on her face.means that it's really bad."
*** Kim began to panic as she watched herself grab belongings off her dresser. She felt thoughts of doubt creep into the back of her mind, but swallowed and pushed them down, for Tommy.
"Never again." She growled through gritted teeth, dropping another item into her bag. There was a sudden banging on the door, and Kim jumped back in fear, her breathing increasing in speed.
"Kimberly open up! I want to talk to you!" a male voice yelled from behind the thin wooden barricade.
"G-go away Brad! I don't want anything to do with you! Leave me ALONE!!!" she screamed back, her voice trembled as her voice filled the room.
"You'll never get rid of me, Kimmie!!!" for a moment Kim thought he'd stalked away, but no, the door suddenly swung open with a crack. Brad lowered the foot he'd kicked it in with, and moved arrogantly into the room.
*Why didn't anyone help me!!!???* Invisible Kim thought, her mental voice shaking in fear.
Suddenly, Kim was in the room next door. Her neighbour was crying on her bed as she listened to Kim's terrified scream. She winced, hearing the crack of Brad's hand making contact with Kim's face.
"Why am I such a coward!" she breathed. "Why can't I just tell the coach.Why doesn't anyone tell him.He's too far away to hear for himself.why doesn't anyone tell him." she sobbed, as the screaming resumed.
Kim the flashed back to her room, and the screaming reached its full volume as tears rolled down her cheeks. *They were too afraid.* Her former self was lying on the floor, cradling her wounded cheek, looking up at her 'boyfriend' in terror.
"Don't you ever disobey me again. Understand? Now, I have a little favour to ask of you, sweetie. Not that you have any choice in the matter." He grinned.
"Never." Kim said defiantly, glaring at him.
Brad's false smile fell and he struck her again, and she yelped as the blow throwing her against her bed. "What did I just say!" he bellowed. He looked down at her and suddenly laughed. "It's almost too easy. Taking your old life away so that you can have a life with me." He knelt down and touched her trembling face, his voice dropping so that only she could hear it. He looked at he a moment, distracted. His look sent shivers down Kimberly's spine as her whole body shook with disgust from his touch. "Hmm," he sighed, rising to his feet. "Well, you're going to do something for me so we can move on with our life.Your so-called 'boyfriend' back in that cartoon you call home.what was his name.oh yes, Tommy." At the mention of his name, Kim's eyes shot up to meet his grinning face.
"What did you."
"Nothing. Yet. It's actually, what I'm going to do to him. Or should I say, what you're going to do to him.my little cupcake." He said wickedly, bending to touch her nose momentarily.
"I would never do anything to hurt him, and not even you can make me." She said flatly.
"Oh really?" Brad laughed, straightening. He suddenly grabbed her and pulled her to her feet by her arm. She cried out in pain from his strength. He held her there for a moment glaring at her, and squeezed harder, which caused his smile to broaden and her to emit a low painful moan. "Now, I have written dear old Tommy a letter." He smiled, pulling a piece of folded paper from his pocket, and placed it gingerly on the desk. "I need you to re-write it, in your handwriting. You're going to break up with your shining white knight of a love." He whispered gleefully. He pulled her over to her near by desk and forced her into the dark wooden chair, grabbing a paper and pen from the top drawer. "Now.write it." He growled.
"No."
Brad hit Kimberly again and she fell off the chair. He yanked her off the ground and pushed her against the wall. She cried out in pain and fear as her back slammed into the hard surface, various pictures crashing to the ground around her. "I thought I told you not to disobey me! Did I not make myself clear! Now get over there and write the damn letter!!!" he yelled, shoving her towards the desk again. Kim stumbled towards the chair, trying to keep her balance. She lost her equilibrium and took a corner of the desk in the stomach. Winded, she slowly sat down at the desk, hesitantly picking up the pen that lay on its surface. With shaky hands, she began re-writing the letter. Tears rolled down her face, but her expression remained neutral. Inwardly she was falling apart, fearing for her life, praying Tommy would understand and see how her hand trembled as she wrote the lies to him.
"That's better." Brad said cruelly. He went to close the door, and then walked around Kim's room as she wrote. Kim felt her stomach twist and prayed that he wouldn't see her bag. Brad was quietly looking for any signs of Angelgrove, when he spotted her bag on the bed and went to pick it up suspiciously.
"What's this?" he said turning to Kimberly. Kim ducked her head and kept writing. "Answer me!" he yelled.
"What does it look like?!" Kim cried in a frustrated tone.
Brad slowly stalked towards her, still clutching the bag. "It looks like, you were planning to run away from me, my love." He said tonelessly.
"Here, I'm done." Kim said flatly, handing him the copy he demanded.
Brad dropped the bag, forgetting it, and snatched the letter to look it over. "Good, good." He smiled. "Now," he sighed handing it back to her. "Put it in an envelope and address it to Tommy."
Kim, glared at him, and took the letter, folded it in half.and ripped it in two. Brad's anger slowly built, and he responded in a frighteningly calm tone. "That wasn't a very good idea, Beautiful." He said, shaking from the fury that burned within him. Kim felt sick as soon as he said that precious name.
"Don't ever call me that, you sick bastard." She breathed. Brad smiled faintly and reached behind his back. He pulled out a gun he'd had concealed beneath his shirt, and pointed it at her head.
"Write it again, or Tommy gets his only love.in pieces." He said, deathly serious.
Kim then began to cry outright. "Why?" she begged, sobs breaking through her voice. "Why are you doing this!"
"Only because I love you.now write it." He said, pressing the barrel of the weapon to her temple. Kim shuttered at its touch, and turned slowly, and rewrote the letter. When she finished, she found an envelope and put Tommy's address on it, then slid it to the side of the desktop. Brad pulled the gun back, and replaced it beneath his shirt, and kissed the letter as he picked it up. "Merry Christmas Tommy." He grinned. He placed the letter in his back pocket, and leaned over Kimberly's shoulder. "I'll see you later.Beautiful." He whispered. Grinning again, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. Kim collapsed onto the desktop, burying her head in her arms. She shook with tears, and managed to stagger to her bed, curling into a protective ball letting the sobs overtake her.
"I have to.get out of here." She said between gasps. Deciding that it was as good a time as any, she sat up to get her bag, and noticed little spots of red on her pillow. "Oh look, I'm bleeding.again." Numbly, she climbed off her bed and retrieved her bag from the floor to finish packing it. She gathered the rest of her belongings and went to the door. She opened it a crack, and looked out into the hall to check for Brad. She swore inwardly, seeing that he was on the pay phone down the hall. He turned, but she shut the door before he saw her. She sighed, feeling another wave of tears coming on as she leaned against the closed door. "Looks like I'll be sticking around a while longer." She slid down the door, crying heavily from both fear and the pain her body felt.
Invisible Kimberly was standing in a corner, also sobbing. The memory ended, and Kim sputtered beneath the water from her grief escaping her lips. She broke through the surface, and crawled out of the pool, collapsing in tears on the side. "Why me." she breathed. "Why me."
The voice returned as Kimberly tried to deal with her memory again. "Congratulations Kimberly Hart, you have completed all of your memories. Now you must face your final obstacle."
"I don't think I can do this. I can't take anymore, please." Kim cried softly.
"You can do anything Kimberly Hart. You have put yourself through so much to get this stone for your love. Kimberly Hart, you realize that if you do not complete your final obstacle, your love Tommy will die."
"I.I know. I have to keep going, for Tommy." Kim took a deep breath and sat up to gather her things for the final test.
"Kimberly Hart, you are weak from your trials, rest. You will need it for the final obstacle. Are you hungry Kimberly Hart?"
"W-what.? A-a bit.I guess, but Tommy will die if I stop. I can't stop." Kim protested.
"Tommy will die if you fail, and you need your strength to succeed. What is your choice?" the voice asked tonelessly.
"What's for dinner?" Kim shrugged.
"Good choice." The voice said. A meal appeared at Kim's feet, consisting of a small salad, mashed potatoes, carrots, some meat and a glass of milk.
"Wow." Kim smiled as she sat to eat.
*** "Mmm, that was really good. Thank you. Now," she said rising again, "can I please get this over with. Tommy doesn't have much time." The empty plate and glass disappeared, and Kim grabbed her things as the door slid open.
"Step through the doors and prepare to face your greatest enemy and fight your greatest love. Good luck Kimberly Hart, this is where our communication ends." The voice said.
Kim nodded, not knowing why, but she understood why the voice had to go. "Thank you, for everything." She smiled.
"No thanks needed, but you can do one thing."
"Anything." Kim said, paused before the entrance.
"Get through the pain. Leave the past behind. It may come back to haunt you, but it cannot hurt you. Not with your friends beside you. Never let them go, any of them."
"Done." Kim smiled, and then moved through the doors, which slid closed behind her. Kim was met with a room that had sharp stones lining the wall, much like the hallway on the way in. Candelabras lined its borders and lit the room with an eerie dim light. Her smile faded as she put her belongings down by the door, and looked around. "Face my greatest enemy, and fight my greatest love." Kim repeated to herself, turning her back to the room's center.
"That's right pink ranger," a very familiar voice said from behind her. She froze in disbelief as it continued. "I am your greatest enemy." The voice was evil. Suddenly, a second voice emerged, the same as the first, but gentler. "But I am also your greatest love."
Kim rose slowly, and turned around, finding two men before her. One looked ready and willing to take her down then and there, while the other looked at her lovingly.
"Tommy." she breathed.
Author's note: I apologize for the spelling mistakes in the last chapter, subtle as some may have thought, but I really wanted to get it up. I put all her thoughts in italics, but when I loaded it, it didn't work. Weird. Anyway, on with the show! Hope you like it so far!
Kimberly took a deep breath and this time, jumped into the pool. Her heart slowed as she settled beneath the water. *Here we go again.* The background melted away, and Kim was in her room in Florida. She felt sick as she watched herself shoving various items into a duffle bag. *Oh god.. no.*
*** "This doesn't look that bad." Cassie said hesitantly. She was actually afraid of what it could be.
"Things aren't always as they seem." Kat sad suspiciously, "I know Kim well enough to know that that look on her face.means that it's really bad."
*** Kim began to panic as she watched herself grab belongings off her dresser. She felt thoughts of doubt creep into the back of her mind, but swallowed and pushed them down, for Tommy.
"Never again." She growled through gritted teeth, dropping another item into her bag. There was a sudden banging on the door, and Kim jumped back in fear, her breathing increasing in speed.
"Kimberly open up! I want to talk to you!" a male voice yelled from behind the thin wooden barricade.
"G-go away Brad! I don't want anything to do with you! Leave me ALONE!!!" she screamed back, her voice trembled as her voice filled the room.
"You'll never get rid of me, Kimmie!!!" for a moment Kim thought he'd stalked away, but no, the door suddenly swung open with a crack. Brad lowered the foot he'd kicked it in with, and moved arrogantly into the room.
*Why didn't anyone help me!!!???* Invisible Kim thought, her mental voice shaking in fear.
Suddenly, Kim was in the room next door. Her neighbour was crying on her bed as she listened to Kim's terrified scream. She winced, hearing the crack of Brad's hand making contact with Kim's face.
"Why am I such a coward!" she breathed. "Why can't I just tell the coach.Why doesn't anyone tell him.He's too far away to hear for himself.why doesn't anyone tell him." she sobbed, as the screaming resumed.
Kim the flashed back to her room, and the screaming reached its full volume as tears rolled down her cheeks. *They were too afraid.* Her former self was lying on the floor, cradling her wounded cheek, looking up at her 'boyfriend' in terror.
"Don't you ever disobey me again. Understand? Now, I have a little favour to ask of you, sweetie. Not that you have any choice in the matter." He grinned.
"Never." Kim said defiantly, glaring at him.
Brad's false smile fell and he struck her again, and she yelped as the blow throwing her against her bed. "What did I just say!" he bellowed. He looked down at her and suddenly laughed. "It's almost too easy. Taking your old life away so that you can have a life with me." He knelt down and touched her trembling face, his voice dropping so that only she could hear it. He looked at he a moment, distracted. His look sent shivers down Kimberly's spine as her whole body shook with disgust from his touch. "Hmm," he sighed, rising to his feet. "Well, you're going to do something for me so we can move on with our life.Your so-called 'boyfriend' back in that cartoon you call home.what was his name.oh yes, Tommy." At the mention of his name, Kim's eyes shot up to meet his grinning face.
"What did you."
"Nothing. Yet. It's actually, what I'm going to do to him. Or should I say, what you're going to do to him.my little cupcake." He said wickedly, bending to touch her nose momentarily.
"I would never do anything to hurt him, and not even you can make me." She said flatly.
"Oh really?" Brad laughed, straightening. He suddenly grabbed her and pulled her to her feet by her arm. She cried out in pain from his strength. He held her there for a moment glaring at her, and squeezed harder, which caused his smile to broaden and her to emit a low painful moan. "Now, I have written dear old Tommy a letter." He smiled, pulling a piece of folded paper from his pocket, and placed it gingerly on the desk. "I need you to re-write it, in your handwriting. You're going to break up with your shining white knight of a love." He whispered gleefully. He pulled her over to her near by desk and forced her into the dark wooden chair, grabbing a paper and pen from the top drawer. "Now.write it." He growled.
"No."
Brad hit Kimberly again and she fell off the chair. He yanked her off the ground and pushed her against the wall. She cried out in pain and fear as her back slammed into the hard surface, various pictures crashing to the ground around her. "I thought I told you not to disobey me! Did I not make myself clear! Now get over there and write the damn letter!!!" he yelled, shoving her towards the desk again. Kim stumbled towards the chair, trying to keep her balance. She lost her equilibrium and took a corner of the desk in the stomach. Winded, she slowly sat down at the desk, hesitantly picking up the pen that lay on its surface. With shaky hands, she began re-writing the letter. Tears rolled down her face, but her expression remained neutral. Inwardly she was falling apart, fearing for her life, praying Tommy would understand and see how her hand trembled as she wrote the lies to him.
"That's better." Brad said cruelly. He went to close the door, and then walked around Kim's room as she wrote. Kim felt her stomach twist and prayed that he wouldn't see her bag. Brad was quietly looking for any signs of Angelgrove, when he spotted her bag on the bed and went to pick it up suspiciously.
"What's this?" he said turning to Kimberly. Kim ducked her head and kept writing. "Answer me!" he yelled.
"What does it look like?!" Kim cried in a frustrated tone.
Brad slowly stalked towards her, still clutching the bag. "It looks like, you were planning to run away from me, my love." He said tonelessly.
"Here, I'm done." Kim said flatly, handing him the copy he demanded.
Brad dropped the bag, forgetting it, and snatched the letter to look it over. "Good, good." He smiled. "Now," he sighed handing it back to her. "Put it in an envelope and address it to Tommy."
Kim, glared at him, and took the letter, folded it in half.and ripped it in two. Brad's anger slowly built, and he responded in a frighteningly calm tone. "That wasn't a very good idea, Beautiful." He said, shaking from the fury that burned within him. Kim felt sick as soon as he said that precious name.
"Don't ever call me that, you sick bastard." She breathed. Brad smiled faintly and reached behind his back. He pulled out a gun he'd had concealed beneath his shirt, and pointed it at her head.
"Write it again, or Tommy gets his only love.in pieces." He said, deathly serious.
Kim then began to cry outright. "Why?" she begged, sobs breaking through her voice. "Why are you doing this!"
"Only because I love you.now write it." He said, pressing the barrel of the weapon to her temple. Kim shuttered at its touch, and turned slowly, and rewrote the letter. When she finished, she found an envelope and put Tommy's address on it, then slid it to the side of the desktop. Brad pulled the gun back, and replaced it beneath his shirt, and kissed the letter as he picked it up. "Merry Christmas Tommy." He grinned. He placed the letter in his back pocket, and leaned over Kimberly's shoulder. "I'll see you later.Beautiful." He whispered. Grinning again, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. Kim collapsed onto the desktop, burying her head in her arms. She shook with tears, and managed to stagger to her bed, curling into a protective ball letting the sobs overtake her.
"I have to.get out of here." She said between gasps. Deciding that it was as good a time as any, she sat up to get her bag, and noticed little spots of red on her pillow. "Oh look, I'm bleeding.again." Numbly, she climbed off her bed and retrieved her bag from the floor to finish packing it. She gathered the rest of her belongings and went to the door. She opened it a crack, and looked out into the hall to check for Brad. She swore inwardly, seeing that he was on the pay phone down the hall. He turned, but she shut the door before he saw her. She sighed, feeling another wave of tears coming on as she leaned against the closed door. "Looks like I'll be sticking around a while longer." She slid down the door, crying heavily from both fear and the pain her body felt.
Invisible Kimberly was standing in a corner, also sobbing. The memory ended, and Kim sputtered beneath the water from her grief escaping her lips. She broke through the surface, and crawled out of the pool, collapsing in tears on the side. "Why me." she breathed. "Why me."
The voice returned as Kimberly tried to deal with her memory again. "Congratulations Kimberly Hart, you have completed all of your memories. Now you must face your final obstacle."
"I don't think I can do this. I can't take anymore, please." Kim cried softly.
"You can do anything Kimberly Hart. You have put yourself through so much to get this stone for your love. Kimberly Hart, you realize that if you do not complete your final obstacle, your love Tommy will die."
"I.I know. I have to keep going, for Tommy." Kim took a deep breath and sat up to gather her things for the final test.
"Kimberly Hart, you are weak from your trials, rest. You will need it for the final obstacle. Are you hungry Kimberly Hart?"
"W-what.? A-a bit.I guess, but Tommy will die if I stop. I can't stop." Kim protested.
"Tommy will die if you fail, and you need your strength to succeed. What is your choice?" the voice asked tonelessly.
"What's for dinner?" Kim shrugged.
"Good choice." The voice said. A meal appeared at Kim's feet, consisting of a small salad, mashed potatoes, carrots, some meat and a glass of milk.
"Wow." Kim smiled as she sat to eat.
*** "Mmm, that was really good. Thank you. Now," she said rising again, "can I please get this over with. Tommy doesn't have much time." The empty plate and glass disappeared, and Kim grabbed her things as the door slid open.
"Step through the doors and prepare to face your greatest enemy and fight your greatest love. Good luck Kimberly Hart, this is where our communication ends." The voice said.
Kim nodded, not knowing why, but she understood why the voice had to go. "Thank you, for everything." She smiled.
"No thanks needed, but you can do one thing."
"Anything." Kim said, paused before the entrance.
"Get through the pain. Leave the past behind. It may come back to haunt you, but it cannot hurt you. Not with your friends beside you. Never let them go, any of them."
"Done." Kim smiled, and then moved through the doors, which slid closed behind her. Kim was met with a room that had sharp stones lining the wall, much like the hallway on the way in. Candelabras lined its borders and lit the room with an eerie dim light. Her smile faded as she put her belongings down by the door, and looked around. "Face my greatest enemy, and fight my greatest love." Kim repeated to herself, turning her back to the room's center.
"That's right pink ranger," a very familiar voice said from behind her. She froze in disbelief as it continued. "I am your greatest enemy." The voice was evil. Suddenly, a second voice emerged, the same as the first, but gentler. "But I am also your greatest love."
Kim rose slowly, and turned around, finding two men before her. One looked ready and willing to take her down then and there, while the other looked at her lovingly.
"Tommy." she breathed.