Backstage Pass to Mortal Kombat

Chapter 32 - Going Out in Style

[[Enjoy the chapter!!]]

Silence was the only thing that came from me as I sat in the corner of the barred cell. Though my silence could have been interpreted as upset, depressed, or even scared, only I knew what was really going on as the cogs in my head turned and clicked. I was plotting our escape. It was a working progress, and so far all I had was running and hoping for the best, but still I didn't give up. I didn't give up when Walter began saying his goodbyes to his family through prayer, I didn't give up when Johnny told me it was silly to think we could escape, and I didn't give up when my brain began to throb with pain from a head-splitting headache.

Escape was the most important thing, and I wouldn't give in that easily. Though there wasn't many sounds, I still didn't hear them as my thoughts whirred like spinning tops. After thinking through every single plan and coming up with the worst scenareos at possible, I threw one out after another, deciding it was too risky. Once again, I was left with running as quickly as possible and keeping our heads down.

Johnny nudged my shoulder quickly. I didn't have to ask why he did that, since I followed his cold stare to the hallway, where footsteps sounded once again. In moments, I watched as Keanu walked into view for the second time. He was dressed in his official uniform, and the only visible skin on him was his upper arms - which were much more muscular than I imagined - and his eyes. He was wearing a black face mask, like the rest of his clothing, with light blue trimming here and there. He looked sharp, I'll give him that.

"Time to go," he announced. The four of us nodded and stood to our feet. The other three looked defeated, and in all honesty they were. Maybe I was too, but I refused to think that. Quickly banishing the possibilty from my mind, I stood in the back of the line we formed and walked out of our cell to stand in front of Keanu's careful gaze.

He looked over the three men, assessing them carefully, before finally stopping at me. A small smirk tugged at his lips; the only way I could tell was how his eyes squinted slightly, looking sympathetically at me.

"My offer stands, Zak. You know I will fight them off for hours for you..."

Since cruel words were all that came to mind, mostly along the lines of I wish I did know that, I bit down hard on my tongue and turned to stare at the back of Cory's head, hoping to distract myself. Keanu nodded to himself, as if this was the response he had been expecting, and walked in front of us, leading us down the hall, out of the dungeon, and out into the hall. I continued to stare at the back of Cory's head as we walked, not trusting myself to do anything else.

Because I hadn't been watching, I was surprised when I realized just how quickly we had reached the foyer. Keanu pushed open the large doors and led us out onto the steps, the same ones where the four of us pledged to kill Shao Kahn, to his face, but now never would get the chance to do so. I mentally kicked myself for letting Raiden down, for letting Edenia down, and for letting myself down.

As we decended down the stairs, I finally looked around. Everyone in the entire fortress was now standing outside, watching as we were herded like sheep to a cage that awaited us. Feeling fiesty, I frowned.

"Oh great, another cage. What are we, rabbits?" I snapped.

"Well, I did say you're about as dangerous as a bunny." Keanu said from the front of the line.

"I'll show you bunny..." I muttered to myself. Even if he couldn't hear it, I glared at the back of his head, expecting him to burst into flames. When are these damn mind powers going to kick in?

Standing all around us were the famous fighters of Outworld; Kitana, her mother Sindel, Movado, Rain, Smoke, and even a few other people I didn't quite know by name. They all watched us with disgusted sneers, laughing maniacally as they watched us walk to our demise.