Disclaimer: Again, I don't own PRDT or any related characters/storylines...But I just convinced my mom that a PRDT lunchbox is a GOOD thing!!

A/N: Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter! And visit my new Emma Lahana fansite (www.emmalahanaidol.tk)!

So This is Hell: A Ranger Trapped
Chapter 2 – Save Me From the Nothing I've Become

The next day at the Cyberspace, Conner was talking to Ethan about Kira's strange behavoir. "And then it was like she was talking to someone else..." Conner trailed off as he noticed that Ethan kept glancing around and not really listening to him. "Dude," Conner snapped.

"Huh?" Ethan asked.

"Expecting someone?" Conner asked raising his eyebrows.

Ethan grinned. "Well, Cassidy was suppose dto meet me here. We were gonna hang out."

"You know," said Conner. "It doesn't seem like you guys are just 'hanging'...You spend all your time with her. Wait, you don't have a thing for her, do you?"

Before Ethan could respond, Cassidy came over. "Hey Ethan!" she said smiling. Ethan and Conner turned to face her and Ethan's jaw dropped. Normally, Cassidy would be wearing her cheerleading uniform or her regular trendy, pink clothes, but today was different. Today she was wearing a tight, short (and slightly revealing, which both Ethan and Conner noticed) sundress that was a dark blue. Her sleek blonde hair was tied back in a high ponytail.

"Looking good, Cassidy," Conner said smoothly. Ethan kicked him underneath the table.

Cassidy blushed. "Thanks...Ready to go, Ethan?" Ethan nodded numbly, still speechless. They both left the Cyberspace, leaving Conner by himself.

Trent was by the counter talking to Hayley when Kira came stumbling in. She looked really tired and she was still wearing the same clothes as the day before (because she had fallen asleep in them).

When Trent spotted her, he rushed over. "Kira?" he asked worried.

She looked at him and muttered a soft greeting. Her head still hurt and kept seeing the random images in her head. After crying herself to sleep last night, Kira had dreamt that she was trapped in amsall black room. The walls continualy inched closer inward and soon she could barely breathe. She had woken up gasping for air.

"Kira...Are you okay?" he asked.

Kira frowned. "Yeah—Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"Okay..." Trent said. "Hey why don't we go sit down," he suggested. He steered her over to Conner's table where she sat down silently and stared at the floor. It was like working with a robot.

"What's up with her?" Conner whispered to Trent.

Trent shrugged. "Not sure," he replied quietly. "I think—"

"What?" Kira asked suddenly looking up. Conner and Trent both stopped, but before either could speak, Kira continued talking. "No, they're not." The two boys exchanged glances. "They're not," Kira insisted. She looked back down at the floor, staring blankly.

Oh no, Conner thought. She's doing it again...

"Hey," Trent said gently as he got on his knees. He put a hand on her shoulder and she snapped her gaze towards him. They stared at each other wordlessly for a moment and Trent immediately knew that she was fighting something inside of her. Something was definitely wrong. "Kira, let me help you..."

Tears formed in her eyes. "Help..." she whispered. "What's going on?..." She fell into Trent's embrace and he held her tightly as tears fell down her cheeks.

Conner's jealousy flared as he watched the two. He wished that it was him holding Kira instead of Trent...

Slowly, Trent pulled away from her. "I'm gonna ask Hayley if I can take a break right now so we can go somewhere and talk." He glanced pointedly at Conner who glared back, then got up and went to talk to Hayley.

Conner leaned forward. "Kira, do you want me to come? I mean, I can help too."

Kira shook her head. "No, I have Trent...it's okay. You probably have soccer practice right?"

"Oh..." Conner said, hurt. "I see." Yeah, I'm just a dumb jock to her.

Trent returned. "OK, Hayley gave me the rest of the day off. Come on." He offered a hand to Kira which she held as she stood up.

"You know," Conner said, also standing up. "If you need me, I could—"

"It's okay," Trent interrupted abruptly. He could tell Conner wanted to play the hero. He couldn't stand someone else rescuing others if he wasn't involved. Not this time, McKnight, Trent thought. "I've got it."

Conner glared at Trent with growing resentment. "Sure," he said through gritted teeth. He watched as Trent and Kira left the yberspace. As they were walking out, Kira slipped her arms around Trent's left arm. She rested her head against his left shoulder. Conner's jealousy continued to rise. When they left, he sat back down frustrated.

How can I help her if she won't let me?...

hr

Trent and Kira were sitting on a large rock, looking out over a lake. It was the same place where Trent had first revealed to Kira that he was the White Ranger. The surroundings were peaceful.

"...And then when I got up, my head stil felt like an earthquake had shaken it. So the whole day has been pretty horrible..." Kira said wincing. Trent nodded. He had listened to her talk for awhile and listened compassionately. He really wanted to help her. He watched her as she shook her head. "I feel so horrible," she muttered.

Trent reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "But how are you feeling now? How's your head now? You seem okay since we started talking."

Kira blushed as his hand touched her face. She looked away. "It's okay now...It seems like I feel fine when I'm talking to you." She smiled at Trent, whose hand slowly touched Kira's cheek. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for them. "Trent..." she whispered.

"Shh," he whispered back, and leaned slowly towards her. They moved closer and closer towards each other until their lips met. After a few seconds, Trent slowly drew back, but his kiss still lingered on her lips.

For a moment, Kira completely forgot about the voice that was in her head. She forgot about the pictures in her mind. All that she was focused on was Trent. His hand dropped to her knee and his other hand was on the back of her head and the next thing she knew he had kissed her again, more intensely. Minutes passed and they were lost in their endless kiss.

hr

Hayley and Dr. O (still stuck as the Black Ranger) were trekking through a forest of trees. Hayley was holding a sensor and was scanning the ground as they walked.

"Are you sure it's here?" Dr. O asked.

"Tommy, trust me," Hayley replied confidently.

"Let's check over by that clearing. It looks like there's a lake or something over there," he said pointing straight ahead. Hayley noded and the two continued forward.

"So," Hayley said casually. "I got a call at the Cyberspace today. From a friend of yours actually."

"Really?" he asked mildly interested.

"Yeah...It was her again."

Dr. O immediately walked ahead of Hayley. "I don't want to know, Hayley," he said decisively, even though he had heard her last comment about who the caller was.

"Tommy...Just call her back. She's been trying to reach you for the past week. Do you know how many messages she's left on your phone?"

"12," he responded automatically. "But who's counting?"

"Well, maybe you should answer," Hayley said. It was irritating trying to convince him to do anything.

"Listen," he snapped. He stopped walking and she turned to stare at him. "This is just between me and her. I've heard the news from Jason already, and so I don't need to talk to her, okay?!" Annoyed, Hayley nodded and they continued on in silence. But they had only walked a few feet when Dr. O broke the silence. "Besides," he said, his tone softening. "Kim's getting married Why would she have time to talk to me anyways?"

Hayley could hear the pain in his voice and she dropped the matter. They were almost near the lake when the sensor started beeping. "Yes!" she exlaimed excitedly. She changed a setting on the sensor and slowly the lake began to glow.

Trent and Kira, who were on the other side of the lake from Hayley and Dr. O, jerked apart as the lake become illuminated with light.

"What the..." Trent began, unsure of what was going on.

Suddenly, a clear, glowing box flew out of the center of the water. Inside the box were 5 glowing orbs of different colors.

"Trent! Kira!" Dr. O called across the lake trying to get their attention. They both saw Dr. O and Trent waved. Hayley was beside him, trying to draw the box towards them the sensor.

Trent watched the glowing box with a look of awe and amazement. Prisms of light shot out in all directions as the box slowly drifted to Hayley.

However, Kira's reaction was completely the opposite of awe and amazement. Thebright beams of lights pentetrated thebarrier of her mind that kept her sane when talking to Trent. Her head began throbbing again and a silent scene played in her head of Tyrannodrones coming towards her, ready to kill. She screamed and lept back. Kira lost her balance and fell to the ground.

Trent gasped and knelt besides her. "Kira!"

Her eyes were closed and she was still screaming. A terrifying Ptera scream escaped her mouth and the box began to fall.

"No!" Dr. O called and ran to catch it before it shattered. Suddenly, Elsa appeared and knocked him aside.

Kira had stopped screaming by then and she and Trent stood up Elsa kicked Dr. O.

"We need to morph!" Trent said urgently.

Kira nodded.

Going to play...or should I say try to play hero again? It was that damn voice in her head.

"Go away," Kira muttered. Luckily, Trent hadn't heard her.

You know you can't win. Trent will probably have to save you. Or Dr. O will have to. You can't fight for yourself. You've always been the—

"Ready!" Kira yelled, cutting off the voice. "DinoThunder—Power Up! Ha!"

"White Thunder, power up!" Trent yelled.

The two morphed in time as a couple of Tyrannodrones charged towards them. Trent immediately pulled out his DragoSword and began to fight, but Kira froze. The one Tyrannodrone seemed to multiply in front of her. Although she was only seeing things, it was all so real and she sumbled as the Tyrannodrone raised a blade to strike.

Kira felt frozen in fear. Trent shoved the Tyrannodrone was fighting into the lake and quickly turned to Kira. "No!" he shouted as he saw the Tyrannodrone prepare to attack Kira. Trent leapt forward and tackled the Tyrannodrone before it stuck. As he fought the Tyrannodrone, Kira shook her head and tried to focus. She had to try and help Trent.

Weakling, the voice teased. You freaked out at ONE stupid Tyrannodrone! Hah!

Kira was pissed off. Her emotions jumped from scared to extremely upset. She wanted to find the source of that damn voice and kill it. Kill it and watch it burn. Confused and torn, all Kira could tell was this voice constantly rang in her head and she wanted it to stop. Drawing out her Ptera Grips, she slashed at empty air in front of her.

Trent blasted the Tyrannodrone had saved Kira from into the forest. He turned to Kira and saw her attacking empty space.

"Hey," he said as he ran over to her. "Kira!"

Still striking her Ptera Grips blindly, Kira narrowly avoided hitting Trent's helmet. He reached up and grabbed her wrists. She stopped and the voice continued to taunt her.

Don't stop. Kill him. Or are you too weak? Remember what I said back at the Cyberspace about Conner and Trent. They're plotting against you. They want to see you fall...

"STOP!" Kira screamed. Trent was taken aback. He thought she was telling him to stop and he immediately released his grip on her wrists. Slowly, Kira dropped her Ptera Grips and sank to her knees. Her morph dissolved and she was sobbing.

"Power down," Trent murmured and he de-morphed.

You should attack him. He's against you! They're ALL against you!

"STOP!" Kira screamed again. Trent suddenly realized she hadn't been talking to him. It was the voice she had been telling him about.

Hayley was still trying to draw forward the box while Dr. O fought Elsa. Suddenly, Conner came. He was riding on his Raptor Cycle, already morphed. Dr. O had called him for help while Kira was having her break down. Conner immediately jumped in and started to help fight Elsa.

"Get the box!" Hayley screamed at Conner. She could barely keep a hold on it with the sensor anymore. Conner jumped up and grabbed the box. He landed on the ground.

"NO!" exclaimed Elsa once she saw the Red Ranger holding the box. She prepared to attack him but a kick from Dr. O stopped her. Conner ran around the lake to join Trent and Kira.

"Come on guys, morph. We've gotta protect whatever this is," he said motioning to the box.

Trent looked up at Conner. "Something's going on with Kira right now. I don't think she can morph."

Kira had stopped shaking and sobbing now and was holding on to Trent's arm helplessly. She barely acknowledged when Conner arrived.

Compassion took over Conner's voice. "Kira, ohmyGod, are you okay?"

"She's fine," Trent interrupted. "Look, Dr. O's almost done kicking Elsa's ass. Let's just make sure this box thing gets back to the lab okay."

"Conner look out!" Hayley yelled. Elsa had managed to break away from her fight with Dr. O and was charging towards Conner.

"Here!" Conner shouted and put the box down with Trent and Kira. He met Elsa head on and fought her.

Out of nowhere, Mesagog appeared through a green portal. Both Elsa and Conner froze. Everyone was stunned to see Mesagog, especially Trent.

Elsa took the opportunity to strike Conner hard. She caught him off guard and he tumbled. But he didn't stay down for long. He got up and ran towards her and they continued to fight.

Mesagog advanced towards Trent. "Give me the box, White Ranger." Trent stood up and was about to morph when Mesagog held out his hand and started draining power from Trent. "Don't stand in my way." Mesagog tossed his hand to the right and Trent went flying. Kira was left by herself now with the box.

Kira was terrified. Normally she would stand up and kick his ass, but the voice in her head had diminished her confidence too much. She felt like she was 5-years old again.

"Out of my way," hissed Mesagog.

Dr. O rejoined the fight with Conner against Elsa. "Go help Kira!" Dr. O told Conner. Conner nodded and ran to them. Kira was now holding the box tightly, refusing to give it up to Mesagog.

OK, I agree with you here, the voice said. Don't give the box up. Just hang on to it...Don't give it to anyone. And I mean anyone

Conner kicked aside Mesagog. Trent made his way back to them, still de-morphed. Mesagog could see his odds weren't too good.

"Elsa," he hissed. "Come." Mesagog disappeared through a green portal and Elsa was about to follow him until she charged towards Kira.

"Give me the box!" Conner yelled quickly.

Don't! the voice yelled.

Kira, not knowing what to do, did nothing. Trent tried to hold off Elsa but she fought even harder.

"Give me the box!" Conner repeated. It didn't look like she was going to budge. Conner had two choices: He could either try to fight off Elsa (which might not go anywhere) or he could take the box by force. Both ways, he knew Kira would get hurt.

Conner went over to Kira and tried to pry the box away but she stubbornly held it. Her eyes were closed in concentration and the voice kept saying to her, Don't! Don't!

Conner knew there was only one thing left to do. He extended his fist and it connected with her head. She fell unconscience and the box freed from her grip. Conner grabbed it and ran it over to Hayley.

"I'll be back Rangers!" Elsa screamed and she too disappeared.

Silence lingered in the air after she left. Dr. O and Hayley had the box safely. Kira was still out on the ground. Conner was in disbelief at what he had done. "Power down," he said. He started to run towards Kira but was stopped by an angry Trent.

"What the hell Conner?!" Trent yelled, shoving him.

Conner shoved him back. "Shut up Trent, I don't have time for this."

Dr. O quickly ran over before the two continued the argument. "Both of you, stop. Come on, let's get back to the lab. Conner, bring Kira back on your Raptor Cycle. Trent, you come with me and Hayley."

Trent wasn't happy about it, but he went. Conner picked Kira up and slowly rode them to Dr. O's lab. Oh man, he thought. What have I done now?...

TO BE CONTINUED...