Chapter 19
Maddie had felt the greatest feeling she had ever felt when Nick was hugging her. She then thought… It was so confusing. She just didn't know what to feel… think… believe. She couldn't stand being in his arms and not letting him know how she felt, she had left.
She suddenly felt like someone was following her. Maddie spun around to see that no one was following her. She kept walking, but she couldn't help but feel that scary presence of someone stalking her. Twice more times, she looked behind her, but didn't see anyone. Just then, something grabbed her, putting a cloth soaked with a chemical that made people pass out over her mouth. Her eye sight began to go blurry and she then passed out. The last thing she was a Necroali and two monsters looking down at her with pure evilness and darkness in their shadowy eyes.
Nick suddenly felt his head throb in pain. He shouted in pain, but no one was around to hear him. Then, a dark eerie voice whispered something in his ear. "We've got your friend; red ranger…" said the voice. "Meet us in the forest or the blue ranger will join the dead. And I'm sure you wouldn't want to see this girl die," whispered the voice. The pain then disappeared. "They've got Maddie," he told himself. He felt a surge of guilt. He knew something was wrong. If only he'd gone after her…
He shook his head and called the other rangers and explained to them what had happened to Maddie. "Poor Maddie. It seems like she's always the one getting hurt," said Xander. "I know. But we need to get her back," said Chip. "If they hurt her, I swear… I'll rearrange their limbs," Vida spat, her eyes shinning with courage and rage at the same time. Nick nodded. "They probably only want to meet with me, so I'll go and you guys hide," he began. "When they release Maddie, they'll say they want to fight, and when Maddie is safe from them, then I'll signal for you to come out from your hiding spots and we'll fight them together," Nick said. The others agreed and they left for the forest.
Nick told the rangers where to hide. When they were well hidden, he met with the two monsters and Necroali. "Where's Madison?" he asked them. "You mean the blue ranger? She's right here," said Necroali evilly. The monsters threw a passed out Madison on the floor. "Maddie!" Nick yelled. "If you want her, you will have to fight us," said Necroali. "Give Madison back first," said Nick. "Alright, but only because there's one of you and three of us," said Necroali, and with a snap of her fingers, Madison floated over to Nick. She fell to the floor and he knelt down beside her. "Maddie, wake up," he whispered. She stirred a bit, and he felt a rush of relief. "Now fight!" shouted one the monsters. Nick then made the signal for the other rangers to come out. Necroali gasped. "Where did you come from?" she asked the other three rangers. "You never said to come alone," retorted Nick. "You'll pay for what you did to Madison!" yelled Vida angrily. They began fighting. The monsters fought with Xander, Vida and Chip while Necroali fought with Nick.
Nick used his magi staff and Necroali went flying. She flew into the monsters and they too fell. Before the rangers could finish them off, they vanished, saying, "We'll be back, rangers!" before they left back to underworld. "Good riddance," muttered Vida. Xander nodded in agreement and Chip gave Nick a high five. Nick then walked over to where Madison lay. He picked her up and carried her to Rootcore with the others. "Oh my goodness, what has happened?" asked Udonna when she saw Madison laying unconscious in Nick's arms. "I don't know," said Nick. "Necroali captured her and did something to her," Xander said angrily. Udonna told Clare to create a special potion and when Clare was finished, she gave it to Udonna. Udonna dripped a little bit of the potion on Maddie's lips and she began to stir. Suddenly, Madison's eyes opened and she sat up quickly, fear flashing in her eyes. "Whoa, it's okay, Maddie. You're in Rootcore," said Chip soothingly. "You're okay Madison. Just relax," said Xander.
Maddie soon realized where she was and looked around. "What happened?" she asked. Vida hugged her sister tightly and explained what had happened. "Why am I always the one who has to get saved?" she muttered with irritation. Nick felt a pang of sympathy for Maddie. "You're not always the one to get saved. You're a great ranger and the team would be nothing without you," said Nick, putting a hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him and Vida got an excited and mischievous glint in her eyes. Maddie gave her a warning stare and Vida gave a look of disappointment.
That night, Maddie walked out of the Rock Porium, ready to go home. She looked across the street and saw Nick working on his bike. He had an irritated look on his face. "Having some trouble?" she asked him, walking across the street to meet him. He nodded, not looking at her. "I can't get it start," he said. She knelt down beside him and looked at the bike and began working on it. He just watched her. She caught his eyes and said, "What?" Nick shook his head. "Do you know anything about motorcycles?" he asked. Maddie nodded slowly. When I was little, I used to go to my uncle's house and he had dirt bikes and he let me ride them let me help him fix them," she told him. "Only Vida knows that," she whispered to him. "Why is it a secret?" he asked. She shrugged. "I've just never told anyone that," she said. He nodded. When she finished adjusting a certain piece of the bike, she tried starting it and it started! "How did you do that?" he asked in amazement. She just smiled and they both laughed. She showed him how she fixed it. They both reached for the same part of the motorcycle and their hands touched. Maddie drew her hand back quickly and so did Nick. This reminded Maddie of the night when they had gone to the movies… which was about two months ago.
Nick's cheeks turned red and he looked down. He looked up to see Madison looking down at the ground, a small smile on her face and was blushing. He then asked, "You want to go get some ice cream?" She looked up at him. She remembered the last time that he had asked her that. He had stood her up and she found him making out with Kuinn. She winced. He saw her expression and knew that she probably was remembering the last time he had asked her to get ice cream with him. "Maddie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-" he broke off when she shook her head and smiled. "It's okay. Yeah, I'd like that," she said to him. He smiled and they both began walking to the ice cream parlor.
When they arrived there, Maddie recognized the lady behind the counter. The lady obviously recognized her and gave a friendly smile. Maddie returned the smile and Nick asked, "Do you know her?" Maddie nodded. She was the one that was here the night you…" she trailed off, making an awkward silence hung between them. "You know what, let's just forget about that," she said. He nodded in agreement. They bought their ice creams and they sat down at a table. "Thanks for this," Maddie said shyly. "No problem," he said. "Besides, I owe you for the last time," he said. "You don't owe me anything. You've saved my life so many times over. If anyone owes anyone anything, it's me that owes you," she said. "Why wouldn't I save you? You… you mean a lot to me," he said. She blushed and smiled. "You're my best friend," he added. She felt a surge of disappointment when he said that he was his best friend. Don't think like that, Madison! He's your friend, and that's how it needs to stay, no matter how much you like him, she thought to herself.
"You mean a lot to me too," she said to him. He smiled and she returned his smiled. They began talking about the things they hope to with their lives when they become full adults. "You want to play 'I never'?" Maddie asked Nick. "How do you play?" Nick queried. "Well, one of us tells the other person something they have never done before, and if the other person has done the thing that the other person hasn't, then you take a bite of the ice cream," she said. "Cool. You start," said Nick. Maddie sent him a playful glare and thought. "I've never drank an alcoholic beverage," she said. Nick winced and slowly took a bite of the ice cream. "You drank before?" she asked him, surprised. "Yeah, but it was because of peer-pressure. It happened it fresh-men year," he said. Maddie giggled and then motioned for him to go next. "I've never kissed a man," he said. Maddie laughed. But then they both became silent. She remembered the time when she had kissed Nick and then took a bite of her ice cream. Nick remembered kiss too and he blushed slightly.
Maddie then said, "Well… I've never made out with anyone," she said. Nick glared at her and he took a bite of his ice cream. "I've never… fallen in love," he said. "What about Kuinn?" Maddie asked. "I liked her. I didn't lover her," he said. Maddie nodded understandingly. Then she took a bite of her ice cream. Nick's eyes widened. Ms. Rocca has fallen in love with somebody before?" he asked teasingly. She made a fake smiled. "Ha ha, very funny," she said. "Who did you fall in love with?" he asked her. "I'm not telling you!" she said, punching him playfully. He laughed and then Madison said, "I've never had a dog, even though I love them," she said. Nick took a bite of his ice cream. "You've never had a dog?" he asked. She shook her head disappointedly. "I used to bother my parents for one, but they aren't animal people, so they never got me one," she sighed. Nick felt sympathy for her, but then said, "I've never ridden a horse," he said. Maddie's jaw dropped. "Really? I love horses," she said. "I think they're cool, but I'm afraid they'll buck me off," Nick said. Maddie rolled her eyes. "They're really gentle animals… I'll have to make you get on one," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Nick smiled and then she said, "I never liked frogs," she said with a shudder. "Why not?" asked Nick. "Because when I was little, Vida put one down my shirt," she muttered. Nick laughed. "Really?" he asked. Maddie nodded. "Ever since then, I've hated frogs," she said. "I never was afraid to go on roller coasters when I was younger," he said. Maddie took a bite of her ice cream. "I was always afraid," she laughed. "But now I'm not," she said.
They played 'I never' for five more minuets. "Well, that was fun," said Nick. Maddie smiled. "It's supposed to be a game where two people get to know each other better," she said. "But it usually turns out to be a funny, laugh out loud game," she said to him. He nodded.
They finished their ice creams and then they left. They walked down the road to where they had left Nick's motorcycle. "Thanks for tonight, Nick," she said shyly. He nodded. "No problem," he said. "You need to ride home?" he asked. "Um, no it's okay. I'll call V. She'll pick me up," she told him. "Thanks though," she murmured. "You sure?" he asked. She nodded. They hugged and then he put his helmet on and rode off.