Chapter 9: The Same Person

The evil woman sneered to see things going Kimberly's way. "It always has to be Kimberly's way," she sneered. She stomped her foot with a growl. "Jer," she called. A man came out from the shadows with his arms crossed.

"Yes, my lady," he answered.

"I have a new mission for you," she informed.

"Anything, my lady."

The woman sneered. "Attack Kimberly's eldest daughter, Hannah," she instructed.

"The Green Ranger?" He asked.

"Yes, attack her…and kill her."

Jer bowed his head. "As you wish, my lady," he answered. He disappeared in a black light.

Hannah was walking home from work when she heard someone coming up from behind her. She looked over and saw someone following her. Hannah bit her lip as she started walking a bit faster. She heard his pace start to quicken as she started to walk faster. Pretty soon, she dropped her backpack and ran as fast as she could away from the stalker. She dropped her backpack as she took off down an ally. "GO AWAY!" She screamed. She ran down the nearest ally and got in a fighting stance only to have a punch hit her square in the jaw. Hannah spun and hit the ground hard.

"You can't escape," Jer hissed.

Hannah got up and wiped the blood from her lip. She did a side kick along with a jump front kick only to have them deflected. Jer grabbed her arm and Hannah ran up the nearest wall, jumping over his head. She winced when he threw her to the ground again and she hit her head hard. Her vision went blurry and she held her arms up to try to protect herself from his punches. "NO!" She screamed.

Conner was walking down the street towards his car when he saw the backpack lying on the ground. "What the…" he trailed off. He walked over and picked it up. "This is Hannah's," he mumbled. He looked up when he heard a scream. He ran into the alley and saw a guy on Hannah beating her. "HEY!" He shouted. He ran over and pushed the guy off her. Jer looked up at Conner.

"Stay out of this, boy, if you know what's good for you," he threatened.

Conner blocked an attack and started to fight him. Hannah was just lying on the ground in so much pain and she was shaking in fear. Conner kicked the guy in the stomach watching Jer double over in pain. Conner made a strike at his throat making him fall to the ground. Jer looked at Conner with a glare. "You…won't…be…able…to…protect…her…forever," he gagged out. Then he disappeared.

"What?" Conner mumbled.

Conner then remembered Hannah lying on the ground beaten up. He hurried over to her. "Hannah," he murmured. He lifted her off the ground and into his arms. Hannah clung onto him and started crying. "Sh, sh, sh, it's okay, you're safe," he whispered. She buried her head into his chest and let out a sob.

"I tried to fight him, I tried," she sobbed.

Conner held her gently and knew he had to get her out of the alley. "Can you stand?" He asked.

"I can try," she replied.

Conner went to help her stand when she nearly collapsed. "I should get you to the hospital," he insisted.

"No, don't," she whimpered.

"But Hannah…"
"I said no."

Conner sighed and picked her up in a carrying position. "Just take me home," she whispered. She buried her face into his neck. Conner carried her out of the alley and walked towards his car. He set her into the passenger's seat and threw her backpack into the backseat. He got into the driver's seat and drove her home.

Conner carried Hannah up to the door and Kimberly opened it before Conner could even knock. "What happened?" She asked worriedly.

"She was attacked in an alley," he replied.

"Set her down over here."

Conner went to set Hannah down when she clung onto him. "Please, don't leave me," she whimpered.

"I won't," he assured her.

He set her on the couch before sitting next to her and she placed her head in his lap. "Here, Conner, can you take care of the blood on her face?" Kimberly asked.

"Sure," he replied.

Conner cleaned the blood off her face and Hannah slowly started to fall asleep. "I'll be here as long as you need me, Hannah," he assured her. He kissed the cut on her forehead and watched as she fell asleep. Conner looked down at her and stroked her sandy-blonde hair.

"Did you see him?" Kimberly asked.

Conner looked up at her. "Not really, Miss Hart. It was dark, I couldn't really see. I could only see that Hannah was getting hurt and the freak that attacked her," he replied. Kimberly bit her lip and traced the scar on the side of her head.

"The reason I ask was because, nine years ago, before I found out I was pregnant, I was attacked in an alley. He beat me so badly that he nearly killed me. I was in a coma, and the doctors said I was lucky that my baby was still living even while I was in a coma," she explained.

"So you think this was the same guy?"

Kimberly nodded her head slowly. "Yes, I think it was the same guy," she replied. Conner looked down at Hannah and he looked back at Kimberly.

"Don't worry, Miss Hart. I wont' let anyone kill Hannah," he assured her.

"I trust that you'll protect her, Conner. Should I call your parents?"

"I'll call them."

Kimberly nodded again before walking away. Conner picked up his cell-phone and called his parents, telling them what happened. He looked down at Hannah and stroked her bruised cheek while she slept. He liked her, he'll admit that, but asking her out is what scared the crap out of Conner McKnight the first time. Since the last person he dated, shattered his heart.