Waiting in Purgatory

Why are you doing this! Shelly wailed, from hell.

That was the only way to describe it, walking down the street, saying 'hi' to other kids from school…while inside Shelly tried to warn them, tried to make the body she was now a passenger in do something to warn them that they should run, they should get help.

Because I can… Now shut up.

No!

No? Shego said, and smiled, both inside and outside, causing an older man to involuntarily flinch away. No child should have that malevolent look on her face.

Shall I punish you…shall I show you something?

What? Shego paused, and dredged back into her memories. They were strangely fuzzy, but still good enough.

Ron wasn't talking any more, not after the last beating. Kim wasn't talking, or demanding much…just moaning, in mortal fear and pain.

It was easier to see where Kim wasn't bruised than where she was. Her body was covered with, filth, bruises, burns and welts, she was nude save for her panties. Blood crusted over her lower back.

"Please Shego…please, please, please…" Kim whimpered, "I think Ron is dying." Her teammate was cradled in her arms, where Kim had managed to crawl to him, trying to shield him, as hopeless as she had to know it was. One side of his face was puffy, covered with blood, flowing both from his scalp and swollen eye, terrible wounds down the side of his face, even as weakening breath rasped from his shattered mouth. Kim's own legs weren't working anymore laying straight out from her body like dead things.

"Oh… you know what you have to say for the camera." The voice had to be Shego's, Shelly could tell from the hating inflection. She wanted to scream at Kim to keep defying her, to stand for just one moment more… But Kim had nothing left.

"I-I'm a silly little girl…I…you win." Kim said, hiccupping.

"I don't think you really mean it." Shego said. Kim was sobbing.

"I..I…you WON SHEGO, PLEASE, I'LL DO ANYTHING, I'LL GIVE YOU ANYTHING, JUST PLEASE HELP RON!" Tears were pouring down her cheeks as she held Ron to her. "You win…you win Shego…please… don't hurt us any more…I'll go away… I'll quit, I'll never get in your way again." Shelly strangely enough, knew what was coming next. She wanted to close her eyes, but she couldn't. Then there was Shego's voice again.

"Awwww…how cute." Shego turned to leave.

"Shego…where are you going?"

"I'm finished here… Kimmie… you proved to have the marshmallow center I knew you did…"

"But…Ron!"

"Yes…Ron…" Shego gave a giggle and Shelly's skin crawled at the sound. "You know…he's still sort of alive, so if you eat him, you'll probably last a lot longer…since nobody's coming back."

"Shego! No, please! Please, I give, I'll do anything!"

"Donner…party of, ah…two." Shego said, and laughed as she closed the heavy door behind her. The lights went out.

Shelly didn't know how much time had gone by, but then there was light…only this was odd, it looked like she was seeing it from a TV screen, as the door hinges turned red, sagged, melted. Than, Global Justice agents were in the room. Kim hadn't moved, and was just still rocking the unconscious Ron.

"She's over here! They're over here! "

Kim didn't say anything, just desperately tried to shield Ron from anyone else, as her face… Shelly had never seen anything like that. When the agents tried to pull him away, Kim moaned and held him tighter, trying to keep them from grabbing him, trying to shield him. Then there were two female paramedics by her, talking to her in low, soothing voices.

"C'mon Kim… you have to let him go… we can't help him if you won't let him go."

When Kim finally let Ron go, she just curled up…sobbing hopelessly. The only words the audible from her were "She was right."

The girl continued walking, smiling at Brick as Shego considered what he'd look like dead. Shelly wailed inside.

How could you do that?

Because I could… and because Kim deserved it.

Deserved it?

For getting in my way, for being a 'hero', little bitch. Shelly didn't say anything for moments.

You hate her. Why?

I don' t need to talk to you… Shego said.

I'm not going away.

Yes, you are…what do you think you are, Shelly? Let me tell you. I knew that GJ would be looking for me…maybe I should have killed her off, or rigged a trap, but I wanted Kimmies mommy and daddy to see her. Ronnies parents freaking was just the icing on the cake… because well, having Kimmie trying to kill herself... and then failing at even that.. Shego burst into soundless laughter, literally hugging her body in glee. Shelly felt sick. Then Shego continued.

But I still had to hide…and so Dr. Drakken had that Juvinator of his…and when I retired, I took it. He couldn't use it for very long, but my comet powers let me survive, no matter how long…so a few implanted memories, like a false name, and I was Scott free.

A few memories?

I used my own memories, back from when I was young and stupid…

Than I'm…you?

No bitch, haven't you been listening? You're not anything. You're just a fake…just a little camoflauge I set up. I laughed at that crucifix because not only was it stupid—and I can't believe I ever bought into that, but you don't have a soul.. you're not real!

Than why am I here?

Because you don't have the good sense to vanish…but don't worry, I'll show you more than you ever wanted to see… do you know that Kimmie licked up water like a dog, from the floor? Do you want to see that? Without waiting, Shego showed Shelly it, and laughed at the strangled cry in her head.

But don't worry, I won't kill Kimmie this time… I'm just going to kill her friends, little Ronnicans, maybe even her mom and dad and her twins…or maybe I'll just screw them up so bad they'll spend the rest of their lives hooked up to a machine…and I'll let everyone know that their precious Kim Possibleis the reason why. A mad giggle sounded, this time both in her head and for real, Hey, that's even better—If Kimmie checks out, her last memory will be of a failure…if she doesn't her entire life will be reminding her of it. Cool. That will pay her back- Then Shelly saw it.

He fired you. Drakken fired you… this is for that?

Do you want me to punish you again, Shelly? Yes, the bastard fired me…everyone laughing, laughing at me. Can't beat a little kid. I showed them, I showed them all…took their little princess and broke her… they're not laughing at me now, are they?

Why would they waste the effort? You're pathetic. Shego's response to that was a wave of images, of crushing force, of hatred…when it relaxed, Shelly 'heard' herself whimpering.

Anymore smart comments, little imaginary bitch? Shego ignored Shelly while she walked along the sidewalk, thinking about how best to get Zita…and then she could get Felix and Monique…now where should she have the meeting…

Shelly was thinking. Not real…not real… Her mind gibbered. She wasn't even a real person, with a soul…just a copy…just something that had nothing to hope for.

Nothing to lose.

Shego couldn't know about Ron and Kim's special place. Shelly desperately tried not to think of it. Not to see it in her minds eye…. But Shego saw it, and compressing Shelly's mind until she thought she'd die, Shego saw it.

The falls, eh? What a sweet place…won't it be nice to add some new memories to it?

No! Don't you dare!

Shut up. You're just along for the ride. Sucks not being able to close your eyes…doesn't it. Shego started humming…and she was concentrating so much on her victory that she didn't notice the flare of triumph from Shelly's mind.

Back at the clinic, Kim and Ron were sitting in the room, embracing. Ron had picked Kim up and put her on the couch next to him and they hadn't stopped hugging since. Cindy and Kim's mother had retreated to give them some space…maybe because Kim's mother had also gone completely hysterical after her daughter had calmed down and Cindy had decided it would be best to leave the room… while the older woman clung to her weeping and saying "My poor baby…my baby" over and over again.

"Do I need to give you a valium?" Margerat shook her head.

"I have a procedure tomorrow."

"After this? You can call and cancel or I can." Cindy said. Right now the last place she wanted Kim's mother was near someone's brain, handling tools that required utter precision.

Zita was getting ready to head to work when there was a knock on her door.

"Coming!" She said, and opened it.

"Shelly?"

"Hi Zita… There's something I need to tell you."

"I'm uh…getting ready for work." Zita said. There was something about Shelly's face…something… maybe just a trick of the light.

"OH, won't be a problem."

"It won't?"

"No." Shelly said, and punched Zita in the stomach. As the girl doubled over, she came up with a cloth, covering her face, forcing her to breath in the fumes.

"Oh, by the way…Shelly isn't home anymore…it's Shego." As Zita fell into unconsciousness those were the last words she heard.

To be continued.