Emily

"Just hang on until then" is the last thing I hear before I fall asleep again. The darkness is overtaken by sunlight. I wake up at home at the farm. Confused I walk downstairs but I can't find my parents anyway. Why am I home and not at the Shiba house? Something isn't right

Suddenly I'm walking around the city. It's a gorgeous day, the kind of day that makes it an offense to stay inside but there's something off, no one is outside. I go to all our favourite spots; the beach, the cupcake parlour, Rainbow's End amusement park and all the places we have defeated nighloks. My mind is flooded with all kinds of memories; happy, sad and especially ones of Jayden. But there is no one anyway.

Then I hear a scream in the distance. I start running towards it, towards the forest. The sun starts to set as I get closer I can see the team fighting a nighlok, and they're struggling.

"Did you really think you could defeat me?!" the nighlok voice radiates through the ground. But not just any nighlok, Master Xandred. I stay just behind the tree line and try to figure out what to do next. That's when I see what's wrong.

Serena is tied to a tree on the other side of the clearing. While Master Xandred is distracted by the others I sneak over and start untying the ropes holding her to the tree.

"Emily, you need to get out of here. It's a trap." Before I can question her I hear a blood curdling scream. I look at the clearing to see Mia standing over a fallen Mike and Antonio before their bodies disappeared.

"NO!" Kevin and Mia charge toward Master Xandred but they too are struck down and disappear. That only leaves myself, Serena and Jayden, who has come over and helped me free Serena. Will Jayden try to perform the sealing symbol?

Before he gets the chance Master Xandred turns to face us.

"Foolish rangers. Today your world will fall to the nighloks forever!" he gloats and I can feel Jayden tensing beside me and Serena getting scared in front of me.

He sends a high energy blast towards us and we roll out of the way. Unfortunately Jayden and Serena roll further into the forest while I roll towards the edge of a cliff.

Before I stand up Master Xandreds footsteps get louder and louder, a sickening realisation that he is coming to me. He grabs my wrists in one hand and holds me over the cliff. I can't get myself out and if Jayden attacks, Master Xandred will drop me over the cliff.

"EMILY!"They scream.

"Let her go Xandred" Jayden commands. He's standing in his fighting stance, ready for any chance. Serena just sits there looking at me terrified.

"Insolent rangers. You are in no position to order me around. Say goodbye to our precious yellow ranger."

Then he lets go. And I'm falling into the dark abyss below. My last sight of the two people I love most in the world is of them reaching towards me with fear in their eyes.

I keep falling, the sunlight above me is becoming smaller and smaller. I feel myself getting weaker and the darkness from the cliffs has almost overtaken my vision.

Just as the weakness and darkness completely take over I jerk myself straight up screaming and panting. Looking around I'm in the Shiba house, in the recovery room.

I can't figure anything else out before the front door is opened and I can hear the others running in.

Terrified that my nightmare was real I jump out of bed, stumbling a bit and run out of the room to see them.

First I run to Mike and Antonio, hugging them both and moving on to Kevin and Mia then finally Jayden.

"You're alive" we all say at the same time. The same look of confusion crosses all of our faces.

Why wouldn't I be alive?

"Why don't you all sit down? I need to check Emily and we will come and join you." Mentor broke the confusion that hung around. Without a word I walked towards the recovery room and the others went to the couch.

I sat on the bed quietly while Mentor checked that the nighlok had no lasting effects, trying to figure out what happened in the last couple of hours. My dream, was it a dream?, was so lifelike. I could smell the sweat and blood of the others as they were fighting. I could feel the rope burning my hands as I tried to untie Serena's wrist. But when I look at my hands there are no marks.

After Mentor gave me the all clear I went to join the others, sitting next to Jayden. They all looked nervous but when Mentor told them he didn't expect any long term effects they all relaxed, except for Jayden.

Mia started recalling, with help from the boys, how Splitface stole my spirit then escaped into the netherworld and how they defeated him by reactivating the Claw Zord. After a deep breath I told them about my dream. I had to grab Jayden's hand to get through explaining how they died. I was about to recall how Master Xandred dropped me off a cliff when it all became too much for me. I shook my head, wiping the tears from my eyes. Jayden rubbed his thumb across the back of my hand, I looked up and saw him nod slightly, encouraging me continue.

After I described how it felt to fall Mia pretty much flew across the room to hug me. I was so glad to know that my friends were still alive I hugged her back and didn't hear the guys leave the room. We sat there talking for a while about anything other then what had happened today when Mia's phone beeped. Her attitude immediately changed to a young child on Christmas morning. Her smile went straight to her eyes as she grabbed my hand and dragged me into the kitchen.

"Mia whats going on?" I am so over not knowing what's going on around me. "It's been a heck of a day"

"Trust me, your day is about to get so much better." She answered while pushing me in front of her into the kitchen and dining room.

'SURPRISE!" the guys and Mentor yelled. The dining room had been decorated with yellow decorations, the table was full of my favourite foods and in the corner was a couple of boxes in varying shades of yellow wrapping paper. Confused I look at them waiting for an explanation, they just keep looking at me like I should know.

"Did you guys do all this because I woke up?' I ask.

"Not originally but think of this as a celebration for you waking up and your birthday." Mentor explained. My face drops as I realise my own ignorance. Today is my 17th birthday.

"We know it's your first birthday without Serena so we wanted to make it special." Mia explains as she gently moves me to the head of table.

"But the nighlok stealing your spirit wasn't part of our plan." Mike added making me laugh as I sit down.

As I look around the room again and take in my surprise birthday, I am in awe of the effort that my friends put in, for me.

"You guys are the best." I look at them all one by one, thanking them with my eyes.

"No Em, you're the best." Jayden smiles back, the smile that melts my heart. "We're just so happy to see that you're ok. Today victory really is ours."

"Who wants cake?" Mia asks my slightly drops before I catch myself and put it back on.

"Oh you made a cake?" I'm hesitant to receive the answer.

"No sorry. We had this one made." Mia says disappointedly. I sit up straighter with relief.

"That's ok. You guys had your hands full." I hope that reassures her.

Overall the night went great. We all laughed and ate and enjoyed the end of particularly trying day. All night I could see sparks between Kevin and Mia. Sitting next to each other they shared smiles and blushes. It was very sweet to watch, I hope one day they will be able to show each other how much they care. At least they will be happy with the one they love…

~~~The next morning~~~

The garden had always been my sanctuary. I sit crossed legged on the lawn, close to the earth, watching the sun rise.

"Morning Em, you're up early." I turn my head to see my favourite person walking towards me wearing his black and red practice uniform.

"Hey Jayden, I…. just couldn't go back to sleep" I thought about lying to him but it's Jayden. If I can't be honest with him then I can't be honest with anyone.

He sits down near me and we sit there in comfortable silence watching the sun rise above the horizon and the sky change colours.

"Thank you for the party. It means a lot that you guys remembered." I look at him and see a soft smile grow on his face.

"You don't have to keep thanking us Emily. I uh we would do anything for you." I laugh quietly to myself and move closer to him and rest my head on his shoulder. I give him a quick kiss on the cheek and linger close to his face. He turns to look at me and the air becomes electrified.

His eyes look down at my lips for a second. He looks hesitant and doubtful. I slowly move my head towards his, looking at his lips. He starts moving his head towards mine and stop millimetres from my lips. I can feel his ragged breath on my face, I can taste the mint and smell his warm woody scent. It's so overwhelming I can't stop myself from putting my lips on his.

The fireworks are incredible, the taste is unbelievable, and goose bumps are rising on my arms. I'm so lost in the kiss I don't realise that Jayden hasn't responded. When I do I tear myself away in horror.

"Jayden I'm so sorry." Then I run, out the gate and towards the forest.


I AM SO SORRY!

I cant believe that its taken me this long to update but life has just been crazy.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and please don't forget to follow and review, even just to say hi

Until next time :)

Love Kalgoorliegirl