Obsession

Temporary Freedom

"I suggest you back down, little girl. I don't mean to brag, but I can take you down pretty-"

Ama launched her body diagonally towards him, making Johnny jump to the side. He dusted off his suit and frowned. "What the hell was that for?"

"Johnny, you need to fight back!" Sonya shouted.

"No, he'll hurt her!" Sub-Zero retaliated.

"He's going to have to." Liu Kang whispered.

Johnny jumped in to his fighting stance, but didn't stand a chance; Ama's attacks were faster, stronger, and she knew when he was going to throw something towards her. He grew frustrated after awhile and threw a punch at her. She grabbed his fist and, without even looking at him, flipped him on his back. He grunted as he landed and held his wrist close to his chest.

"Ama wins!" Shang Tsung declared, the monks and observers sitting in front of him clapping simultaneously.

Ama stared at Johnny before she stepped to the side. Kung Lao and Liu Kang grabbed Johnny gently by his upper arms and assisted him to the back of the courtyard. Johnny's eyes were wet and he continued to clutch his wrist to his chest.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Smoke asked.

"She...she broke my freaking wrist..."

Sub-Zero and Raiden stared at each other. Raiden finally spoke, "She is not who she appears to be."

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Jax questioned.

"While she was trained, Ama never did anything like that. She knew how to attack, but she wasn't as agile as she is now." Sub-Zero grunted.

"...That means..." Johnny began.

"Shang Tsung probably did something to her. The question is, what." Raiden announced.

"The next kombatant will be...Smoke!" Shang Tsung boomed.

Smoke took a deep breath before moving on to the middle of the courtyard. He stared at Ama and with his eyes, begged her to return to him. She showed no indication of knowing who he was, and he felt his heart breaking the more he looked at her.

"You will be fighting Ama as well! The more the merrier, right Miss Haruki?!"

The monks laughed and she didn't respond. She simply stood in her fighting stance and watched Smoke closely. He took a step toward her and begged, "Ama, please, you know me."

She didn't say anything. He took another step toward her and said, "I would never hurt you, you know that Ama. Please, just...say something."

She stared at him, not one word escaped her lips. Shang Tsung impatiently stood and shouted, "Fight!"

Smoke sighed and stepped back. "Ama, you're leaving me no other choice."

She blinked and stayed in her fighting stance. He took his stance as well and concocted a cloud of smoke. "Forgive me." He whispered before throwing it at her.

She rolled out of the way in time and ran at him. He moved before she could tackle him, and they stood staring at one another for a while. She finally jumped gracefully into the air; he watched and turned invisible, but she knew where he was and she landed on him accordingly. While she was sitting on his stomach, she tried to choke him out, but he realized what she was trying to do before she could press her hands down on his throat. He shoved her off of himself and she growled.

"Ama, please-" Smoke pleaded.

"Enough talk, fight!" Shang Tsung yelled.

She punched his face as hard as she could and he grunted from the pain, blood spewing from his mouth. He looked at her, and with his hand placed under his mouth, he backed away from her. Shang Tsung rolled his eyes and screamed, "Somebody has to win!"