This would have been posted last night, but kept giving me a timeout when I tried uploading it. So all my mailing list readers were told and I sent them the title just so they could ponder it over. This chapter creates a big effect on future chapters, just to let you know. Enjoy!
Chapter 20 The Dark Side of Maroon
Rita paced up and down outside of Finster's door. She had been waiting for hours and he still had not emerged. She gave a hurried knock. "It's not ready yet! Perfection takes time! And this one must be truly convincing!"
Rita groaned, but she knew she couldn't argue that. What he was creating had to be perfect, had to be believable. Well, believable enough to torment at least. This time, Rita was going to have fun. No just sitting back and watching. What she had planned was of her own genius. It was going to top even what she'd done with Tommy. That was amateur work compared to this.
An hour later, Finster opened his door and peeked outside. Rita was no where to be found, but Finster could guess where he'd find her. On the outside he was calm and collected, but on the inside he was as giddy as a human child. His new creation was divine and perfect. He hummed to himself as a shadowed figure followed him down the hallway.
As suspected, Finster found Rita in her usual balcony spot. He bowed to her before speaking. "I have done it my queen. My latest creation, just as you requested. I must say that it exceeded my expectations."
"Perfect… where is it? I'd like to see the finished product," responded Rita. She was quite intrigued by Finster's announcement.
"Yes, of course." Finster turned to the shadowed hallway and gestured to the figure waiting there. "Come on out my beauty."
The figure stepped into the light of the balcony. Rita gasped in surprise. "Finster, you've really outdone yourself. She's perfect!" Rita was pleased with the new creation. "Do you have any special name for her?"
"Why no, not really. She's simple a dark version clone, that's all. If you have a name you prefer, then tell me."
"She will be called Maroon. After all, that's a dark version of pink, right? Right. So that's what I'll call her." Rita was pleased with the name she'd created. She turned to address the new dark clone. "Maroon, listen to me. When you are sent on any type of mission you will refer to yourself as Kimberly and others will call you the same. Only I will call you Maroon. You were created from a human being. Your goal is to confuse and create havoc. Understood?" She addressed a figure much the same as Kimberly. This figure lacked the paralysis and was capable of the same techniques as Kimberly. The only way you could tell the two apart (besides the paralysis) is to glance deeply into the eyes. Embedded within Maroon's eyes were tints of electric pink that would flash every so often, but not as noticeable as evil Tommy's had been.
"Of course my queen. I serve to obey only you. What is your wish?"
"Hmm…. Good question. Let's see… your first task will be to distract Zordon from giving the Rangers their mission details, which if I'm correct, he's about to hand out right about now. I want you to go to Angel Grove park and begin terrorizing the citizens in any way you wish."
"I will do as you command," answered Maroon in a robotic voice.
"May I suggest something?" spoke up Finster.
"What is it?" asked Rita, a bit annoyed. She was on a roll and he had to go and interrupt. He'd better have something good to say.
"Why don't you show Maroon to her original? I do believe that may create more internal pain in the long run… after all Kimberly doesn't know what that shot was for, now does she? Perhaps if she knew, if her clone could torment her just a little, you'll succeed in breaking her down more."
"Why Finster, that's a brilliant idea! In fact, I'll take Maroon to Kimberly's cell right now. Come with me, Maroon. Finster, you follow along as well."
The trio walked back to the dungeon area. Rita began versing Maroon in what she should do, first by giving her a history of her plan. Rita felt that Maroon needed to be filled in on what had already happened because she might be able to use that in her torturing. Maroon just chuckled darkly, which pleased Rita. "Now remember Maroon, anything you can think of to use against her, do so. You do have the girl's memories, right?"
"Yes my queen. I know everything that this Kimberly knows. She will be broken even more once I am through with her."
"Finster, are you sure that Maroon is in perfect condition?"
"Yes Rita. She is in perfect health and is a perfect replica of Kimberly, memories and all. She is definitely a very handy tool." The trio quieted down when they neared Kimberly's cell. After all, Maroon was a surprise for her.
Kimberly heard footsteps heading down the corridor and groaned. She had hidden herself in the darkest corner of the cell and curled into a ball. She had passed the time by sleeping, or trying to block out the pain. The wounds she already had were on fire and Kimberly kept having hot and cold flashes. The voices she heard were garbled, they didn't make any sense. A click was heard nearby, and Kimberly looked up with weary eyes.
"Oh Pinky! I have returned again! And I have brought a little surprise for you!" Rita said in an unusually cheerful voice. This was completely out of her character. It simply meant that something terrible was about to happen.
Kimberly watched the witch with dull eyes. She understood what was being said now. It simply had no effect on her brain. Kimberly knew Rita knew that she was watching her though. A dark figure stepped out from behind Rita. Kimberly's mouth formed a small 'o' in shock when she recognized the figure. It was her, but different. It was simply brimming with pure evil.
"Kimberly, meet my newest creation, Maroon. I'm sure you'll find some similarities between her and you."
Kimberly couldn't speak. Surely, Rita couldn't have copied her… then Kimberly remembered the shot she had received from Finster earlier. He had taken her DNA and twisted it up in his own creation. "She can never be me!" rasped Kimberly.
"Of course not!" answered Rita. "She's my version of you. A better version, might I add."
"You cheat…."
"Oh honey, it's not cheating. It's simply borrowing without returning, that's all. We borrowed your DNA for our own purposes. Of course, you can't have it back. Enough chatter though. I want you to get acquainted with Maroon. I'm sure she'll be like… what do you humans call it?... best friends! Yes… you and Maroon will be best friends." Then Rita cackled loudly. "Come Finster. Let's leave the two to socialize."
"Coming my queen."
"Maroon, you know where to find me when you're finished. And remember to lock up!"
"I could never forget such a triviality," responded Maroon. She waited for a few minutes until she knew that Rita and Finster were out of earshot. Then the Kimberly look alike crouched down to get a look at Kimberly. Instinctively, Kimberly withdrew in fear. "Tsk tsk dear Kimmy. Afraid of yourself?"
Kimberly shook her head defiantly. "What do you want with me?"
"Want? I want nothing more than for you to suffer, for you to die. I want you to be tortured to death." Maroon placed a finger under Kimberly's chin, forcing the girl to look her in the eye. "You do know that I'm allowed to do whatever I please?"
"Leave me be," whispered Kimberly.
"Now now that'd be too easy Kimmy, and it's not as fun that way. And I want to have some fun with you."
Kimberly reached up to slap Maroon, but it turned out to be too weak, as though she were gently slapping away a fly that was bugging her. The slap bounced off Maroon's left cheek. Maroon simply laughed. "Oh Kimmy is that the best you can do? What a shame for a former Power Ranger. I had expected so much more from the likes of you. Here's what a real slap should be like." Maroon raised her hand and Kimberly braced herself for the blow that she knew was to come.
Maroon's hand came down hard across Kimberly's left cheek and Kimberly cried out in pain, falling back against the hard concrete floor. She curled into a ball to try and protect herself from Maroon, but Maroon simply laughed. "You're quite amusing lying there like some beaten dog. Is that what you have lowered yourself to, a dog?"
"No…" mumbled Kimberly.
"I asked you a question!" yelled Maroon as she slapped Kimberly again.
Kimberly whimpered as she responded. "No!" she said as loudly as she could.
"But you really are, aren't you? Thinking you could be better than those around you, turning them away. You got rid of all of them because you were a dog."
"That's not true…"
"Yes, yes it is. You didn't want them around you anymore. You were too good for them, weren't you?"
"I never said…."
"Oh but you meant it. Just like you did with him. You didn't want him anymore. You wanted someone new, someone fresh. Someone who wouldn't have to know about your past."
"You're lying."
"But Kimmy, I'm your dark side. I know your deepest desires."
"You're twisting whatever they are!"
"I have that right. I can do whatever I want to you. You don't know what is truth and what is lie."
"I know you're one big lie."
"But I'm not. I'm you, just a little different. I know all about you Kimmy. I know everything about you. That's why you're lower than a dog. Perhaps I should take on the guy you dumped because of selfishness. I can show him a really good time. He would completely forget about you after I'm finished with him!"
"Tommy's not like that!"
"Well he's obviously not good enough for you—you dumped the fellow."
"I…. Had my reasons…."
"Pathetic ones at that too. I can show you." Maroon pulled something from her pocket and a swishing noise was heard. Kimberly saw the flash of metal and pulled back. "Now, we shall find out the truth. You broke up with Tommy, yes?"
"Yes…" answered Kimberly tentatively.
"You broke up with Tommy because you loved him?"
"Yes…" was the reply again.
"Wrong!" Maroon took the small blade she held and sliced it over Kimberly's exposed arm, just enough to cause pain and blood. "Next question. You broke up with him for someone else?"
"No," answered Kimberly. She knew she wasn't lying this time because she had originally lied in the letter.
"Wrong!" Maroon gleefully placed another slice on Kimberly's arm, this time in a 'v'.
"But I wasn't lying!" hissed Kimberly.
"Oh but you were. You dumped him for yourself. You wanted no one but you, isn't that right?"
"No, it's not!" protested Kimberly.
"Stop blubbering! What are you, a big baby?" Maroon acted disgusted with Kimberly before adding a third slice to her arm. Then she stood up and looked down at the sobbing girl. "I will return soon. We will continue our little chat. For now, I think I'd like to have a little fun with those old friends of yours."
Before Kimberly could say a word, Maroon was leaving the cell and turning the key back to the locked position. Kimberly listened as Maroon retreated and then sighed deeply before letting go a new flood of tears. She began to nurse her leg and stop the bleeding. She removed her shirt and used it to apply pressure. It normally would have disgusted her, but now she had no choice. It was her only way to survive this hellhole that Rita had placed her in. If Maroon was going to keep torturing her as she had earlier, then Kimberly would have to try and keep herself as clean as possible. She knew she couldn't stop the pain from coursing through her body. As she glanced at her arm to make sure the blood was stopped, she realized what Maroon had done as she saw a giant red 'M' glaring back up at her.
So we now have a new character, Maroon. I have plans for her in the future too. She is targeting the mission Rangers. I already have what she is doing to Tommy and Kat, but nothing for Jason. So, new contest. Come up with what Maroon will do to Jason. I will give you a hint as to the other two- it's close to not being safe. That is it. Maroon takes Kimberly's desires but twists them in a sick way. The best way to get at Jason will win a lovely icon by me. I will give you until chapter 22 is posted to come up with a way. Leave them in your reviews!
Next time on Windmill into the Fall: Rita sends Maroon to Earth to target the mission Rangers. However, its up to Maroon to torture them in her own style. Rita has given no directions. What is Maroon up to. Her first target: Katherine.