Author's notes – the chapters are all going to start getting longer, from here on in. Part 8 has ten chapters. We've reached the halfway point of "Nyctophobia", a mid-way dramatic peak, where a number of plotlines from the last few stories get resolved. While the first few parts only featured a few Rangers, and the last two chapters featured full teams of six, this chapter will feature all twelve Rangers driving the story forward. By this point, the Rangers have figured out the sheer scale of what they're up against, and everything keeps naturally escalating from here.

Enjoy!

Part Eight

Chapter One

4 months ago

The first week of February saw everybody heading back to school for the new year. It was easy to tell when the summer holidays ended, Teresa thought, as she strolled down the main street of town after leaving school that afternoon. Everything was quieter. With the Christmas tourists going home, there were fewer cars on the road and a lot less people around. Teresa smiled to herself as her destination came into view. The annual February slowdown had one advantage, at least.

The gelato shop was a small store nestled between a shoe shop and a travel agency, and Teresa was the only customer as she stepped inside. The business was owned by a friendly Italian couple named Anna and Michael, friends of her parents who'd moved to Caloundra some years ago. I'd once said that it was the best gelato in the galaxy. It was a big call, but given how much of the galaxy we'd actually seen, everyone accepted that it was probably a fair one.

"Afternoon!" called Teresa.

"Teresa!" the dark-haired lady behind the counter grinned. "It's been too long! Where have all my favourite customers been?"

"We're back at uni and school," Teresa replied. "Where's Michael?"

"Visiting his parents in Rome," Anna said. "We take holidays in February, it's always so quiet. What can I get you?"

"Strawberry, thanks."

"How's things?" Anna asked. "You're tenth grade this year, right?"

Teresa nodded. "No homework so far, and I'm really liking modern history," she replied. "I don't know Anna, I have a good feeling about this year."

Teresa heard someone step into the shop and turned to see two teenagers behind her, a tall boy with dark hair and a girl with frizzy blonde curls. They stopped by the shop's drinks fridge, and Teresa greeted them with a smile. But as she looked back, her Ranger instincts kicked into gear. The teenagers were far more interested in where Anna was standing than in checking out the ice-cream freezer or the menus above the counter. Out of the corner of her eye, she was annoyed but hardly surprised when she noticed the girl taking a bottle of Italian soda and quietly sliding it into her backpack.

Teresa spun to face them as the boy reached for a second bottle. Her smile was still firmly in place, but lacked any warmth. "You're going to pay for those, right?" she asked.

The boy moved fast but Teresa was faster. Before he could run, Teresa grabbed his shoulder, dragged him forward and twisted his wrist. He let go of the bottle with a yelp, and Teresa caught it as it fell. But while she was distracted, the boy wrenched himself free. The two thieves raced out the door and disappeared down the street. Teresa put the bottle on the table, about to follow when Anna called out to her.

"Don't bother! It's a waste of time."

Teresa looked back to the shop owner. "I could definitely catch them," she said.

"They've been in here every afternoon this week, but they've never bought anything," Anna replied. "I guess I know why. I see people like that all the time. It wouldn't change a thing. Their families wouldn't care, and they'd just go somewhere else. Like any of us can afford it during the quiet months when we're barely making rent." She paused and shook her head. "People aren't worth the effort sometimes. I'm sorry. Here's your gelato," and she placed the cardboard cup on the counter. "Four fifty."

Teresa frowned as she handed over a five dollar note. "Thanks," she said. "Keep the change," and she took the gelato and left the store.

The confrontation with the two thieves was still weighing on Teresa's mind as she reached the Youth Centre later that afternoon. But as she stepped inside, the White Ranger instantly felt her mood lift. Jason was down on the training mats with Sarah, Ian and I, running the three of us through some new martial arts routines. Ernie was polishing glasses by the juice bar, offering a welcome ear and helpful advice to anyone who needed them, while Kimberly and Zac were sitting at the gang's usual tables in the corner, college books piled around them.

Feeling better, Teresa waved a greeting to Ernie and headed towards the Pink and Black Rangers. "Working hard?" she asked, pulling out a seat beside Zac.

"Too hard," Kim nodded. "How's your afternoon?"

"Just waiting for Sarah," Teresa replied. "My sisters are staying over with their friends, so Sarah's staying at my place. What's your night look like?"

"The university opened this state-of-the-art gym and training facility," Kim replied. "Jason and I were gonna go through some routines. Like, what's the point of being in every uni club if I can't share the perks with all my friends?"

"And I'm gonna study," Zac added. "I've got this plan for the year, right? I'm gonna blast through all the reading now, and leave bookmarks in the important bits, so that if something comes up later, or the world ends, I'm covered." His face fell. "I'm over-planning this, aren't I?"

"Are you kidding?" Teresa laughed. "I'm impressed."

Zac grinned. "I'm gonna grab a smoothie. Want me to get you one?"

"I wouldn't say no," Teresa said. "Thank you!"

As Zac walked away, Kim lowered her voice. "You okay?" she asked. "I can hear it in your voice."

Teresa waved her hand. "Long day," she replied, and hoped Kim wouldn't press any further.

Down on the mats, the training session ended. Once the four of us packed up, we wandered up to the table. Jason and I sat down next to Teresa, while Kim handed Ian a bottle of water that he gratefully gulped down.

"Just give me a couple of minutes to towel off and get changed," Sarah said to Teresa, "and I'll be with you."

"So what are you guys doing tonight?" Kim asked me.

I glanced to Ian. "We'll be spending the night at Brendan's place," I said. "His mother and sister are out of town."

Teresa tilted her head. "And you didn't invite Scott?" she asked archly.

"He, uh, didn't ask?" I stammered.

"Go," Teresa said, waving her hand. Ian and I quickly scampered away.

Sarah sighed. "Want me to talk to him?" she asked. "He's my cousin."

"It'll give me something to do tomorrow," Teresa replied.

"Cool," Sarah nodded. "I'll see you in a bit," and she jogged over to the lockers.

The sun was just setting when Sarah and Teresa left the Youth Centre and began following the streets back towards Teresa and Scott's house. But neither of them realised they were being watched. In a tangled garden bordering the Youth Centre, shadows began lengthening, and a tall figure stepped out onto the street, four faithful guards at her back. With pale skin and blue eyes, she moved with an unnatural grace, less like walking and more like gliding. As she walked, she seemed to avoid the lingering rays of sunlight, the smaller patches of light being swallowed up by the darkness that clung to her like mist. She wore a crown of silver and carried a sceptre adorned with a single blood-red jewel. And while never losing her composure, the anticipation in her voice was hard to mistake.

"We have waited long enough," she began. "The stars have aligned! Tonight, we strike! In their dwellings, they are protected. I've studied this exhaustively," and her four guards nodded. "It's old magic. Not as old as that of my beloved, but weaved by a competent spell caster. Attempting to unravel it would betray us. But with the rising of the moon, they are in my realm. Their parlour tricks will not save them."

She glanced to the guards. "You know your targets," she continued. "I will otherwise be occupied. The one in white," and she pointed a trembling finger after Teresa. "She has hope. I must drive it from her. And when I leave her broken, my beloved will pull the stars from the sky."

She raised her sceptre. "Now go!" she said. "I have a temple to build! Just think. When the sun rises, the world will be as it should be. My beloved will be free to shake the Earth with his steps, his palace will tower over this worthless city, and the heroes of this age?" and she smiled cruelly.

"None will live to see the dawn."

To be continued.