Chapter 7: Cat In the Snow

by: Amy Jo Johnson

After 15 minutes, Tommy made his way back to the cabin house breathing hard. He had no luck with finding Kimberly. Once she hit the dark woods, she was too fast and unwilling to stop. He had tried just 2 directions, but couldn't backtrack her path, with not seeing which was she went in the first place, he was in a maze. The woods seem to go on for miles. Kimberly had too much of a good headstart on him, and if Kimberly didn't want to be found, there was no dealing it. She wouldn't be found.

"Did she come back!"

"No. Sorry, bro," Jason said. "Are you sure she went into that part of the woods?"

"Yes! I don't know! Shit! Where is she!" Katherine had a smirk on her face having seen Kimberly go on the path to the lake that was 20 minutes east.

"Maybe, she sneaked back upstairs when no one was looking," Katherine said.

"Great idea, Kat! Thanks!" Tommy rushed upstairs after listening to Katherine. Katherine smiled, watching him retreat upstairs.

"What's that smile about?" Tanya asked.

"Nothing. Want another drink?"

"You should be more concerned about our teammate, about Kimberly, than some drink."

"Oh, she can take care of herself, Tanya. She was always had an independent soul. I mean, she's the mighty and powerful Kimberly Hart, what can't she do."

"Katherine, if you know anything...that could help Tommy find..."

"I know nothing." Jasmine smiled as she came over to them. She held up a cup for Katherine, who took it. Tanya walked away from them. Katherine smiled.

"Like a cat in the snow." Katherine cheered to Jasmine.

"Stepone is complete." They smiled and took sips.

"She's not there! She's gone!" Tommy said after searching the top floor with the bedroom.

"Is her car still here!" Adam asked.

"Yes!"

"She couldn't have just disappeared, bro," Jason said.

"I've searched everywhere!"

"Maybe she..."

"Let's ask around!"

"Right," Tommy said. "Anybody see Kim?"

"Hey, have you seen Kimberly?"

"Have you seen Kimberly Hart?" Everyone shook their heads as Tommy, Adam, Rocky and Jason walked through the group to ask about Kimberly. Emily went to ask the girls standing in line to use the bathroom with Tanya.

"I think...no, she wouldn't go that far this late."

"Go where!" Tommy said to Becky.

"Well, uh, the...There is a lake like 20 minutes to the east," Becky said. "But it's said to be haunted, so no one go to it. I think a couple drowned there like a month ago." Tommy gasped and rushed out the house. Jason right behind him. Rocky and Adam not far. Soon, everyone rushed out of the cabin with them.

Kimberly had gone down to the lake and cool off more, a little splash in Jasmine's pool didn't help and after catching Tommy and Jasmine kissing, that didn't help cool her body either. She was ignited in fire of hate even more than whatever was wrong with her. Kimberly felt as though she was on fire, a fever coursing through her body. Kimberly floated around the small lake after stepping over the guardrails. She didn't even think about removing any clothes, as she dove straight into the water. Just as she got comfortable floating about, beneath the water, silver vine like lines came up around Kimberly and wrapped around her tightly. She screamed out, as she struggled against the lines. A few lines wrapped around her face and neck. King Mondo has used this moment to send a monster down and weaken the ranger team by taking out a strong ranger. Kimberly was pulled under repeatedly. Tommy could hear a muffled scream in the quiet woods as soon as he stepped into the dark woods and ran harder to the lake.

A figure could be seen in the distance, just beneath the water's surface, floating. Tommy dived into the water, Jason right behind him. Tommy pulled Kimberly to the shore with help from Jason and got her to the shore. Jason checked Kim's airway.

"She's not breathing." Tommy looked down and checked her pulse as well. He found it missing. Jason did the same. "Her heart stopped."

"Move!" Tommy immediately started CPR. "Breath Kim! Breath!"

"Oh my god Kimberly!" Becky screamed.

"Is she dead?" A few whispers of the crowd forming. Jasmine appeared to the front of the crowd.

"Oh, is she dead, too bad?"

"Breath! Breath Kimberly!" Tommy pressed harder to her chest. "Breath girl!"

"I told you these woods were haunted," a boy murmured in the crowd. "People die here."

"Didn't a couple just die a month ago..."

"And a woman just 3 months ago."

"Oh, but did you hear about that man who drowned with his..."

"Shut up!" Tommy yelled after giving Kimberly 2 more breaths. He was on the second round of CPR. "Come on, Beautiful, don't do this to me. I can't lose you again."

"Tommy, let me try..." Rocky went to take over, but Tommy pushed him away hard.

"No!" Rocky was the only certified CPR expert being a lifeguard, but Tommy was not giving up. "Come on! Come on, come on, and come on!" Tommy hither chest with his fist with one hard strike Kimberly started coughing up water. Tommy pulled her to sit up against his chest and patted her back. "Good girl, get it all out." Kimberly was gasping for air, as she stared ahead.

"Well, lookie, she came back," Jasmine said. "Good job, loverboy."

"Shut up," Emily said bending down to Tommy and Kimberly.

"Slow breaths Kim, just slow breaths. Just breath with me," Tommy said calmly, though his heart was racing. He had found her lifeless body floating in the shimmery waters. With Jason's help he has pulled her free, and for a brief moment, she was dead. He had lost her. Tommy held Kimberly tight against him, rocking her, rubbing her head and back. Kimberly finally pulled her face that was buried against his chest up to look at the first person she saw when she came back from the light.

"Wha…what happen...?" She whispered.

"We found you in the lake."

"Here, take my jacket," Becky said pulling off her jacket

"Thanks." Tommy took it and wrapped Kimberly's back in the jacket. "She's okay, she's okay, everyone. Go back to the party."

"You heard the loverboy. The princess is okay now, let's party! It's what we are here for!" Jasmine walked away. Everyone followed slowly at first. "Come on!" Jasmine yelled. "Give her space! She almost died! Leave them be!" Kimberly looked to make sure no one was around, but the rangers and Emily still around. Kimberly looked at Jason and motioned to Emily.

"Em, you think you can go ahead and get a bed ready for Kimberly?"

"Of course, here take my sweater too," Emily said handing it over and covering Kim's legs before she left as well.

"Kim needs to hurry and get out of those wet clothes."

"I was attacked," Kimberly said quickly before anyone could speak again

"What?"

"Something, something was out there in the water. Like lines, machine lines pulling on me."

"Attacked, underwater?" Katherine laughed. Kimberly looked at Katherine angrily.

"You dare to laugh at me! I nearly died, Katherine!"

"But, machines underwater?"

"YES! Guys, trust me, something is out there!" Kimberly tried to stand up, but was slowed by Tommy. She was still woozy from almost drowning. She fell back against Tommy. He held her up.

"Okay, okay. Look, you are still a bit woozy from the..."

"Kimberly, King Mondo is ruler of the machines. None of his monsters could handle water."

"Katherine is right. They always short circuit when hit with water. King Mondo wouldn't attack you underwater. He couldn't, okay."

"I know what I felt! I was attacked!"

"I didn't see anything when I found you, did any of you..?" Everyone shook their heads.

"Maybe you just heard the haunting story and perhaps you imagined that..."

"I didn't imagine shit! You need to shut the hell up!"

"Fine," Katherine said holding up her hands. "Don't beat me up because I think rationally."

"Fuck you!"

"Fine." Katherine walked away. "I'm gonna go back..." Katherine turned to leave, but stopped.

"Go back then! Something pulled at me and dragged me under the water guys! I was attacked by some kind of a monster!" She went to the edge of the water. Shivers up her spine as she bent down to touch the water. She had a vivid memory of what happened, the way the lines pulled at her, wrapping around her body tight as she was pulled under the water. Kimberly could feel the cold water flood her mouth, as she screamed, though stopped by the lines. The last thing Kimberly could see was darkness beneath the water, but a small light appearing.

"Let's just all go back inside and get warm." Tommy had his hands on her shoulders. "And get you to a warm bed." Kimberly turned around quickly and looked at him.

"Not until you say you believe me!" Tommy looked at her.

"I know you haven't have much time with King Mondo and his empire, Kimberly. And to almost drown was very traumatic. But Katherine is right, King Mondo's monsters are machines. Water and machines don't mix. You must have been mistaken."

"Let me get this straight. You believe her over me?"

"It's not that I don't think something could have spooked you out there especially after..."

"Unbelievable, but that's fine. Believe her." Kimberly stormed away.

"Hey, hey, wait! Where are you going!" Tommy grabbed her arm to stop her, but she punched him back.

"Go back to kissing Jasmine! Go back to your woman!" Kimberly ran hard back to the cabin, Tommy and the other right behind her, except Katherine, not in the mood to chase after a mad woman. She took her time getting back to the cabin. Tommy asked for Kimberly and found that she went upstairs cursing.

"You know she kissed me!" Tommy said closing the door behind him.

"Oh, and that makes it so much better!" Kimberly immediately started packing up her things as soon as she got into the room. She was nearly done.

"Would you just stop and talk to me!" Tommy tried to grab her bag, only to have Kimberly shove him hard against the door.

"Fuck off!"

"Kimberly, please just..."

"No!" She zipped her things up.

"You are not leaving like this! You cannot walk away from me after this!"

"Watch me!" She flung open the door and walked out.

Kimberly tossed her bags into her car.

"You're leaving?" Becky asked taking her jacket back. After Kimberly practically slung it to her, she rushed to the car.

"Can you get a ride back!"

"Yea, I guess."

"Good." Tommy put his hands on the driver car door as Kimberly went to open it.

"You are not going anywhere!"

"Move bastard."

"Make me."

"Fine by me." Kimberly went to hit him, but Tommy stopped her blow with a simple block. Kimberly went back with her other hand, but he stopped back that. Kimberly faked a headache and fainting spell, causing Tommy to lower his defense as she slapped him hard and shoved him aside. Kimberly jumped into her car and sped off. Tommy rushed to his car. Jason stopped him.

"Bro, wait! You two are going to hurt yourselves like this! Give her space, she is upset and doesn't need a fight tonight."

"She is drunk, Jason! I have to stop her before she tries to kill herself again!" Tommy's car pulled off.

"Loverboy andhis slut," Jasmine said. She put her hand on Katherine's shoulder.

"Don't call him loverboy. She won't be his soon," Katherine shrugged off Jasmine and walked away.

"Soon, kitty Kat." Jasmine smiled. Katherine thought Jasmine was doing this to help her get Tommy back, but secretly Jasmine was in to get Tommy to herself. She befriended Katherine to get in the middle of the gang. Jasmine was always jealous of the friendship Kimberly always kept. She always had group of friends, supporting her, cheering her on. Jasmine wanted to put an end to that soon and Katherine wasn't going to be happy with the results in the end.

Tommy pulled up to his driveway to find Kim's car parked skewed. He ran into the house.

"KIM!" Tommy pushed opened her bedroom door.

"Get out!" Kimberly said pulling her robe on quickly. Tommy stepped over the wet clothes to get to her and shake some sense into her.

"Are you okay?"

"I said get out!' She threw a shoe at him. Tommy caught it with ease. She did it again and again, with anything she could get her hands on. Tommy finally caught her hands and held them up high against the wall.

"Why are you acting like this!"

"Why did you have to kiss her back!"

"I wouldn't ever kiss her, or any other girl!"

"I don't care! We're just friends, you should be able to kiss whomever you like! You should go back to the party. I'm sure Jasmine will still..." Tommy cupped her face.

"Hush! There is only one girl I want to kiss. And she is the only girl I want." Kimberly pulled away and folded her arms over her chest, as her back was to him.

"Then how could you not believe in me?"

"Kim, I'm sorry that..."

"I could have drowned tonight! No, for a moment there I did! And you take her side over mine! You believe her and not me!" Tommy hugged her from behind as she cried. He bent down to kiss her neck and saw a bruise forming. Tommy moved aside the robe move and saw red lines. He gasped.

"No." Kim's robe was pulled off her back and Tommy saw the slight red lines on her back and shoulders as well, gasping at the one around her neck. He didn't seem them in the darkness of the night, must have taken time to form thanks to her ranger powers. He ran his fingers along them. "I'm sorry, Kimberly."

"You think I was drunk, too drunk to realize when I am being attacked!" She pulled away from him and placed the robe back on. "Get out."

"I'm sorry! I was a fool to doubt you! Never again will I...!"

"I could care less." She stood at her door and opened it. "Get out."

"Beautiful, please..."

"No! Don't call me Beautiful me! That is not my name okay! Now go." Tommy sighed with his head bowed. "I can't even look at you right now." Tommy walked over to her. He went to kiss her, but she moved her head away. Tommy kissed her cheek instead. "Get out." Kimberly had her eyes closed as tears rolled down her cheeks. He kissed the side of her head before walking out the door.

"Please just give me a...I love you, Kimberly. I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I love you so mu..." She closed the door in his face. Tommy's head banged against the door as Kimberly leaned her back into the door. She turned and pressed her palms to the door. Tommy was on the other side, in the exact position. "I'm sorry, Beautiful," Tommy whispered before leaving. Kimberly was the last to walk away from the door, as all the lights went out in the Oliver house.

until next time :P