Disclaimer: Gosh am I sick of typing this. In case you had any doubts, I do not own the Power Rangers. Disney does. Or somebody does. Somebody that isn't me.
When the Grim Reaper Knocks
Chapter VII
The next morning, Bridge watched as Sky slept peacefully in his bed. Sky asked to sleep in his own bed instead of in the infirmary. Kat reluctantly agreed to grant Sky his wish because he hadn't had any ailments or symptoms for quite some time now. Sky headed off to bed shortly after having his birthday cake. Nobody blamed him though. They all knew how exhausted he had to have been. Bridge was glad that Kat allowed Sky to sleep in his own bed. Sky and Bridge had been roommates ever since Bridge first joined the Academy, and Bridge didn't want to think of a night going by without Sky in the room with him.
Sky's Dream
Sky heard a knock on the door. He rushed to open it thinking his dad had returned home from work. A bull looking monster that like a Cyclops, only had one eye, stepped into the house. Sky backed away in fear. He wanted to scream for help, but he was too frightened to do so.
"Tsk, tsk. A little boy like you shouldn't open the door without asking who it is first. Otherwise, strangers might come into your house," the monster said with a menacing tone of voice.
Sky wanted to run for his life, but his legs felt like rubber and he found himself frozen in terror. He wanted his dad to come home right now more than anything else in the world. Sky knew that his red ranger father would be able to take this monster.
"What's the matter? Do you want your daddy? It's a shame really. You are going to get hurt and it's all your daddy's fault. If he hadn't put me in jail, none of this would happen. I'm going to get my revenge on him through you. I know how much you mean to him. I'll take what's dearest to him away from him, and that is you!" the monster exclaimed.
Sky noticed that the monster had some type of needle in his hand. He hated needles. Sky whimpered in pain as the needle was jabbed in his arm.
"Too bad you'll be dead by your twenty-second birthday. That'll teach your father to let me rot in jail!" the monster said.
End Dream
7-7-7
"No!" Sky shouted sitting upright in his bed.
Bridge was startled by Sky's scream. He rushed over to his bedside. He put a hand on Sky's shoulder and had a concerned look on his face.
"Are you ok?" Bridge asked.
Beads of sweat rolled down Sky's face. His heart rate had increased and he was breathing heavily.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I just had a dream that's all," Sky answered.
Bridge didn't believe Sky for one second. He was going to get to the bottom of this with or without Sky's help.
"It sounded more like a nightmare," Bridge commented.
Sky wasn't even sure if it was a nightmare. It all seemed so real to him. Sky wondered if maybe it was a repressed memory.
"I said I'm fine Bridge!" Sky snapped.
Bridge was hurt. He was only trying to help Sky. Bridge knew that Sky never once had a nightmare ever since they had roomed together, so he was sure that something was up. He just wished that Sky would trust him enough to confide in him.
"I could always scan your aura and see if you are telling the truth," Bridge suggested.
Sky glared at Bridge. He couldn't believe Bridge was even thinking about it. His feelings were his own. They always have been. They always will be. Sky didn't want to burden others with his problems. Why should they care? They weren't their problems. They were his problems.
"Are you calling me a liar?" Sky asked icily.
Bridge didn't know what to think about Sky's sudden change in temperament. Yesterday, Sky had loosened up and actually came out of his shell. Today, Sky had once again put up his walls and shut everyone else out.
"No. I just wanted to know why you woke up screaming 'No!' that's all," Bridge said matter-of-factly.
While a part of Sky was glad that Bridge cared enough about him to be concerned, another part of Sky thought Bridge should just mind his own business. The latter side ended up winning.
"Why do you have to be so nosy? Just stay out of my business Bridge!" Sky shouted.
Bridge had a hurt look on his face. He couldn't believe that Sky just snapped at him like he did.
"Excuse me for caring," Bridge retorted before leaving Sky alone in the room.
7-7-7
Sky felt bad about how he reacted. He didn't mean to upset Bridge. It's just that he didn't want him to know what he had dreamt or remembered or whatever. He didn't want anyone to know. Sky was curious if that was a dream or a repressed memory. He rolled up the sleeve of his t-shirt and saw a scar on his arm. Sky quickly pulled his sleeve down. Was that a repressed memory that Sky had? Had that really happened? What else would explain the scar on his arm? Sky was shaken out of his thoughts.
"Mail call!" a postal worker said handing Sky a holographic device before leaving.
Sky opened the holographic device and a familiar image appeared before him. It was the bull monster.
"Did you enjoy your birthday yesterday? Mark my words, that's the last one you'll ever have!" the monster exclaimed.
Sky felt a knot form in his stomach. He felt fear try to overtake him once again. This time he wouldn't let it though. He was going to get some answers.
"What do you mean that's the last one I'll ever have? What did you do to me?" Sky asked as hatred flowed through his veins.
The monster merely let out an evil laugh.
"You're my little experiment. I used you as a guinea pig to test out a virus. I must say it works far better than I imagined. Now that I know it works, I plan on infecting the entire planet with the virus!" the monster answered before the transmission cut off.
Sky was in too much of a shock about what the monster just revealed to him. Sky still had so many questions that he needed answered. Sky had no idea what he did to deserve this. If it really was a repressed memory that Sky woke up from and not a dream, then Sky knew why the monster targeted him. It wasn't fair though. The monster had a problem with Sky's father, so why did he have to be dragged into it? How did the monster even get access to such a lethal virus? Did he really mean that he was going to infect the entire planet or was that just an empty threat? Was he really going to die before his twenty-second birthday? How did the monster know how well the virus was working? One thing was for certain though. Sky could not let the monster succeed with his plan.
7-7-7
Bridge entered the recreation room and the other rangers couldn't help but notice how sad Bridge looked.
"What's wrong Bridge?" Syd asked.
Bridge wasn't even aware that he was in the recreation room. His mind was too focused on Sky. He wanted to help him even if Sky didn't want his help. Sometimes when people say they don't want help, they are just afraid to admit that they need help.
"Bridge?" Z said waving her hand in front of his face.
Bridge finally snapped out of his thoughts and realized that Syd and Z had said something to him.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Bridge asked.
"We asked you what was wrong," Syd replied.
Bridge pondered whether or not to tell them what he knew. Maybe Sky wouldn't want them to know. At the same time, if something was wrong with Sky, they should know. That was the problem though. Bridge didn't know what was wrong with Sky because he didn't tell him.
"It's Sky," Bridge answered.
Syd, Z, and Jack exchanged worried glances with one another.
"Is he sick again?" Jack asked.
Bridge thought about his answer to the question, which is something he usually doesn't do. Usually he just says whatever comes to his mind when it comes to his mind. Maybe Sky was sick. Maybe his mood swing is attributed to his being sick. Or maybe Sky's just closing himself off from the world around him.
"He's not sick. At least I don't think so. He had a nightmare and the thing is he's never had a nightmare once the whole time we've roomed together. We've roomed together ever since I joined the Academy," Bridge responded.
Jack, Syd, and Z didn't see what the big deal was. So Sky had a nightmare? Everyone has a nightmare from time to time. It doesn't necessarily mean anything.
"That doesn't explain why you're so sad," Z stated.
Bridge gave Z a confused look. Was he that obvious?
"Sky and I got into an argument. I wanted to help him and he didn't want my help," Bridge explained.
What Bridge was saying didn't make any sense to Jack, Syd, and Z. The five of them argued quite frequently since being given their morphers. Sky and Bridge getting into an argument didn't seem like such a big deal.
"Help with what?" Jack asked.
"Haven't you been listening? I said Sky had a nightmare. When I tried to get him to talk to me about it, he completely shut me out," Bridge snapped.
Bridge's outburst caught the other three rangers off guard. They expected something like that from anyone but Bridge. Bridge saw the shock on the faces of his teammates.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. It's just something is wrong with Sky and I don't need to scan his aura to know that," Bridge said.
7-7-7
In the parking facility, Sky was getting onto his Patrol Cycle. He had already put on his S.P.D. uniform and his helmet.
"Where do you think you're going?" a female voice asked.
Sky looked to see who the voice came from and saw Sophie. What is it with people and prying into his business today?
"Don't you have to get back to theta quadrant?" Sky asked rather harshly.
Sophie felt as though that question were a slap to her face. She thought he was happy she came to Earth.
"Why are you being like this? I don't think you should be going off by yourself like this," Sophie responded.
Sky rolled his eyes beneath his helmet.
"Who do you think you are? You can't tell me what to do!" Sky snapped.
Sophie was getting fed up with Sky's attitude. She didn't know what his problem was, but at this point, she didn't care.
"Fine! I make a trip all the way to Earth and this is how you thank me? You know what? Go ahead and go!" Sophie screamed before heading back into the Academy.
Sky started up his motorcycle and drove off into the city. He may not know how the monster knew how well the virus was working, but Sky was counting on the fact that the monster was somehow able to track his whereabouts. He would lure the monster out and make him pay for doing this to him if it was the last thing he did.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Wow you all are amazing! My average number of reviews per chapter has been bumped up from 8 to 9 thanks to you all. I know one shouldn't write merely for the reviews, and believe me I don't, but it still is nice to see that so many people are actually reading my story and enjoying it. For all of you who have listed me as one of your favorite authors or my story as one of your favorite stories, I'm not sure I deserve it, but thanks anyways. Let me know what you think as long as you don't flame me.