Chapter Seven

She stood there, too stunned to speak. Sky knew about her sneaking out, knew about her addiction, and, if Shadow had heard him right, knew something about her supplier. The black Ranger watched Sky walk down the hall. She had to stop him before he could say anything to Cruger or someone else. Without a second thought, Shadow raced down the hall after Sky.

"You're not going to tell, are you?" She asked, laying a hand on the blue Ranger's arm to stop him. Sky looked down at her hand, then back up at Shadow. Quickly, she drew her hand away, her gaze moving from his to the floor, embarrassed by her actions.

"Please Sky," she said, looking back up at him with pleading eyes, "I know we don't get along, but please, don't tell Cruger."

The air was charged with tension as Shadow waited for Sky to say something, to give her an answer.

"It's not my place to tell." He said, breaking the silence. Shadow felt her body relax and a relieved sigh escaped her lips.

"Thank you Sky." She said, her voice filled with sincerity. He nodded curtly and turned away from the grateful Ranger.

"I'll be silent for now," his voice rang through the empty hall, "but if I ever catch you again, Cruger's going to be the last person you have to be afraid of."


"Do you think she's okay?" Jack asked Z as he and the four other Power Rangers awaited Sky and Shadow so that they could begin their training. His friend shrugged.

"Maybe she's just tired." Bridge offered, "I mean Shadow's still getting used to our training."

"I don't know." Jack shook his head, "Something's up, I can feel it."


Sky continued down the hall, Shadow a few steps behind him. Jaw clenched tightly, the blue Ranger continued to reprimand himself for changing his mind on telling Cruger about Shadow. Why had he done it? Why had he promised he wouldn't tell anyone?

He glanced over his shoulder. Shadow walked behind him, her head bowed and her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She looked so pitiful, even more so than the night before, if that was possible. Sky still didn't know why he had even bothered to bring her back to Headquarters, it would have served her right to be left out in the park, utterly helpless and alone. But something inside of Sky had told him that it wasn't the decent thing to do, and his mother's training on how to treat a woman had kicked into gear. No matter how much he disliked Shadow and everything about her, Sky had known that he couldn't just leave her there.

Once more, Sky looked back at Shadow. There was something about her that Sky just didn't like. Something about the way she made him feel, so inferior and constantly locked in a battle of wills against her, it all made Sky uneasy.

There was an unspoken battle between him and the newest Ranger, one that he was determined to win. How easily he could use her addiction against her, he could crush her right then and there and win it all. But, though the rules of the game were undeclared, both knew them, and Sky knew that to tell would be against those rules. No, the winner would be declared in combat, not by tattletales.

Sky walked out into the sunlight and approached the group of Rangers that awaited him and Shadow. He felt Jack looking at him, his gaze shifting from Sky to the pitiful woman behind him. Meeting his leader's gaze head on, Sky was caught full force by the angry look in Jack's eyes as the red Ranger approached him.

"Is there something I should know about?" Jack whispered vehemently in Sky's ear, his gaze shifting to Shadow as she joined Syd, Z, and Bridge. Sky looked at him, his eyes narrowed.

"No." Sky replied, just as forcefully. They stood there, locked in a staring contest, neither giving in to the other.

"Fine." Jack snapped, taking a step back after a few suspenseful moments. Sky smirked triumphantly as the red Ranger rejoined the group behind him and, after a few moments of savoring his victory, Sky joined them.


She felt like crap. Her body ached in places that she didn't even know existed. Falling back on her bed, Shadow sighed and rolled onto her side, propping her head up with a fist. She ran her finger over the threads in the quilt that lay on her bed. Things were so messed up, more so than they ever had been. Shadow had always been careful when it came to taking a hit. She always took precautions when she wanted to get high. Always she made sure that no one was around and that she was in a safe place. How could she have been so stupid? She knew the risks she took whenever she took a hit off Mage Flower. How could she have been stupid enough to get high in a public, and sometimes very dangerous, place?

Shadow ran a weary hand over her face. At least Sky had been there, and at least he wasn't going to tell anybody.

I'll have to be more careful next time, she thought, 'cause certainly there would be a next time. Nobody, nobody, could take a hit of Mage Flower and not be addicted, not crave a high every day, every hour, every minute. It wasn't that Shadow didn't want to kick the habit, it was that she couldn't.

Scientists had developed a cure for any addiction known to man, but the remedies were expensive, not to mention Shadow's parents would find out that she had purchased it and thus they would know that she had an addiction in the first place. She couldn't take that risk, not now, not ever. So she would have to live with the addiction, the constant craving, the shaking and hallucinations when she couldn't take a hit. It wasn't a life that Shadow wanted, but it was one that she would have to live with.

A knock sounded on her door, startling the young woman from her thoughts.

"Who is it?" She called, sitting up and running a shaking hand through her tosseled hair.

"It's Jack."

Great, she thought, just what I need right now.

"Come in." she called. The door to her room slid open and Jack walked in, hands clasped behind his back.

"You seemed distracted during training today," he commented, "is there something you want to talk about?" Shadow's heart jumped into her throat and her mind raced with thoughts. Sky had told him, it was the only answer.

Or maybe he's just worried about you and wants to know if everything is alright, said the little voice inside her head.

"Umm…" she stuttered, "I'm…I'm fine." Jack cocked an eyebrow in question.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yes," Shadow grinned and nodded her head, "I'm fine." Jack eyed her, causing Shadow to feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Okay." He said after a little while. He turned to go, then quickly faced Shadow once more. "But if you ever need to talk, I'm here." The look in his eyes made her smile a genuine smile.

"I know." She said softly. Jack smiled and left.


Short chapter I know, but I thought that that last scene would be a good place to leave off. I hope that you all will review and cast your vote for who you want to see Shadow end up with. The count stands at:

Sky: 14

Jack: 21

All of you who want Sky to win, you still have a chance to catch up. The poll will not end until the end of the story. The final chapter will reveal Shadow's choice, so you have until then to keep voting.