Backstage Pass to Mortal Kombat

Chapter 2 - The Boat

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Chapter 2 – The Boat

I stood slowly; no one but Mrs. Lyn claps for me. I stood at full length, looking out at my audience, hoping it wasn't who I thought it was. Standing in front of the stand was a tall, tan, blonde man, wearing dark sunglasses and a designer running suit. “Very impressive – now can you do that with beef stew?” He asked with a charming smirk. He wasn’t very charming to me, though. I scowled at the man, wishing he were someone else.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“You speak English?!” He jeered sarcastically. “Finally; someone who can! I’ve been going from place to place, trying to get something to eat, but no one here knows a good word of-“

“I could care less about your difficulty speaking Thai, even though you were supposed to learn it, Cage.” I growled.

“You know my name too? Well, aren’t you just a package.” Johnny Cage winked. He was a pig, always has been. Freshly eighteen, like Keanu had been, also from the school we were from. Righten High was big on sending their students away for the school year, sending them somewhere educational yet interesting. And can I say the place where Mortal Kombat is a big feature is quite interesting – they certainly have a dark sense of humor.

When my parents died almost as soon as I came here, I just started staying all year long; not even going home for the summer or holidays. Cage here never seems to leave either; always bugging me on every chance he got. “Ha ha, very funny – why don’t you bug someone who doesn’t have a job?” I barked.

He shook his head, “They’re not as much fun though. Where’s Keanu; he’s always glued to you.” He asked, looking around. A sharp pang stung in my chest as the memories flooded back in. With the busyness of work, I had almost forgotten Keanu wasn’t here anymore.

“He left.”

“Where?”

“Outworld,” I replied bitterly.

Johnny’s jaw dropped as he heard this. “No way – he’s fighting for Shao?! Whoa, I would have never expected that from him.”

“He just wanted to get out of here, we both know that. He took the first chance he could to leave. He doesn’t want to go back to America; and neither do you.” I explained. I knew both of them were being sent home this summer, since they were graduated from high school now. Neither of them wanted to go back and work at a McDonald’s, they wanted to stay here in the exotic, new, atmosphere. I wonder how Keanu’s parents are going to take the letter they’ll get.

‘Keanu has enrolled in the U.S. Army,’ or something along those lines. That’s what they always said, and gave them a fake address their letters would be sent to and unread.

“Not true; I want to go back someday. I just think fighting in Mortal Kombat will help my image.” He stood up a little straighter, showing his physique.

“Oh God, you’re doing it too?”

“Well at least I’m waiting for Raiden.” He pointed out. I just nodded. Johnny saw my expression and sighed, leaning on the stand so we were level. His voice softened as he spoke, “I’m sure he’ll be fine though, Zak. Keanu’s a smart guy.”

I nodded again, “I know… I actually got one of the other fighters to look after him. He seemed pretty genuine.” I remembered Hanzo, and how he promised to watch after Keanu.