Backstage Pass to Mortal Kombat

Chapter 22 - First Fight

[[So I know I haven't written anything in a while besides letters. I've had dreaded writers block. Yes, I know, terrible, but I'm trying. Here's something - sorry if it isn't good! Thanks for reading:)]]

Chapter 22 - First Fight

There are some things that you just don’t share; kissing your enemy was one of them. The kiss didn’t even mean anything, which was one of the last things Liu said to me. It was just an experiment, and so I didn’t have to tell Johnny anything. It still confused the hell out of me.

When I went below deck that day, I didn’t come back out. Figuring it’d be best if I stayed out of the way and let everyone do their jobs, and also that it helped my motion sickness; it was just best to stay put. Though it irked me that it was from the very person I loathed, I had brought my favorite book with me in my backpack, finally taking the time to read it. Johnny did the same; keeping to himself, but stayed near me. Occasionally we would talk, but not much.

By the second day of our traveling things turned from casual and severely boring to hellishly hot with moist, thick air. My skin was sticky with sweat as I panted below deck, wishing there would be a crack in the wall, a small sliver of the wood gone, just so I could gather a slight breeze. In the very middle of the second day, in the midst of a burning hot afternoon, I threw my hands up in defeat and changed out of my full suit, leaving on the accessories, and pulling on my black shorts and tank top instead. When I realized I was still unbearably hot I made my way to upper deck, hoping to breathe in fresh salt air when I did so. The feel of wind on my face would be well welcomed and enjoyed with a smile. That is, until I stepped onto the creaky floorboards and realized it was even worse up there.

The air had a bitter edge to it as dirt and dust flew with whatever breeze it found; I didn’t feel anything. The skies above weren’t blue, nor gray, but simply…nothing. There wasn’t a bird in the sky, no sun, no clouds; again, nothing. I was almost scared to do so, but I still walked to the side of the boat and looked down at the water. It was brown, like clay, with bits of garbage and torn cloth floating on the rippling surface. A no man’s land, it seemed.

Johnny’s footsteps sounded behind me – you learn to recognize the way people sound, how they breathe, how they move – and stopped beside me. “It’s awful, isn’t it?” He asked. Before I could reply, he tapped my shoulder and pointed ahead of us. “Just look at the shore; it’s horrible…”

My own eyes regretted the decision as soon as they landed on the ugly surface. The soil was red as blood, the clay thick and clumped. Jagged rocks lined the edges, making it nearly impossible for a boat to glide onto shore or even for someone to climb onto. Sitting sheepishly in the middle of the millions of rocks circling what looked to be an island stood a small dock, about the size of a minivan. I shook my head at the pitiful sight. “Where are we?”

“I asked the captain that already, but I don’t think he knows a lick of English. I don’t think he knows any language; he just muttered a couple things before screaming at me and walking off…” Johnny shook his head as well and we both turned away from the island. I guess that’s where we would be docking for now, and I wanted to get my things. I walked ahead of him as we made our way back to the lower deck. Seeing me, he playfully wolf-whistled. “I think you’ll be one of those fighters who just pose and their opponent dies from a broken heart.”

I rolled my eyes, “I’m going to assume that was a compliment…”

After quickly grabbing my backpack and slinging it on my shoulders, I turned and saw Johnny struggling with his two large suitcases. With a heavy sigh I knocked both of them out of his hands, which earned me a couple glowers from him. “Look, Johnny, you can’t take both of them. Is there anything in here you think you absolutely need?”