Mortal Kombat: Sub-Zero's Student

Chapter Sixteen: Hellfire

-Kuai's POV- The feeling of someone's fingers tracing my spine as I lay on my side causes me to relax into my dreamless sleep.
"Are you pretending to be asleep, Kuai? No matter. I'm here, little brother. I will not leave your side again."
'This is a dream,' I think. 'I must be dreaming. There's no way that Bi-Han, my bully of an older brother, is currently crooning things in my ear to soothe me. Perhaps he enjoys this caretaker role. Perhaps I can win him over and get out of here.'

I decide to play along, waking up and pretending I hadn't heard a thing he said. I yawn, looking over my shoulder to see Bi-Han removing his hand from my back and placing his mask back on.

"I see you're awake now. How are you feeling?"
"Better," I force a smile, sitting up and noticing that the frostbite on my chest has now shrunk.
"Hah, you should have heard how silly that sleeping pill made you. It was quite amusing to watch."
"Really?" I tease, snorting out a laugh.
"Indeed. You were giggling like you're hyped up on laughing gas."

Just to add onto the child act, I force myself to giggle. I wonder what Kana's reaction would be.
"Yes! Just like that!" Bi-Han laughs.
The sound of fire whirling cuts our brotherly love short.

"What was that?" I ask.
Hanzo's Kunai suddenly launches through the steel door and sizzles. With a yell, the door is violently yanked away from its hinges and slides across the stone floor in the castle's main room.

Bi-Han quickly unlocks the shackles holding me to the bed. "Stay behind me," he orders.
He holds his sickle and runs out of the room. I quickly follow, staggering as the sleeping pill wears off.

Hanzo stands in the middle of the room, his rib cage and head ablaze with hellfire. "Sub-Zero." Hanzo growls.
'Hanzo!' I gasp. 'No, that's not Hanzo. His eyes are white. Scorpion's back...'
Much to my horror, I see Kana come out from a closed door and freeze in terror.

"U-uncle Hanzo?" Kana squeaks out. Hanzo—Scorpion—whirls around with a hiss.
"Do not interfere!" Scorpion screams, whipping out his Kitana and raising it over his head.

I scream, launching an ice ball that freezes Scorpion on the spot. Kana looks over and his whole face lights up.
"Papa!" He rushes over to Bi-Han and I. Scorpion immediately breaks free from the ice, screaming in rage.

Bi-Han growls and gets in front of Kana.
"So you finally let your rage get the better of you once again. Temper, temper, Scorpion."
"You will not harm anyone else that is dear to me!"
"No! Don't fight!" Kana cries. He looks up at me.
"Papa! Make them stop!"

"Scorpion! Bi-Han! Enough!" I yell. They both ignore me, circling each other.
"Hanzo, don't let your vengeance take over!" I scream.

Scorpion whips his flaming skull around to glare at both Kana and I. I feel Kana stiffen as he grips my arm. "Do not try to interfere, Tundra."
More icicles splinter out from my arms as pressure builds up in my chest. No, I can't lose control as well.

"I'll interfere if I deem it necessary, Hanzo."
"I am not Hanzo! I am Scorpion, demon of hellfire!"
"No," I shake my head, glancing at Bi-Han, seeing him loosening his grip on the sickle. "You're my friend. You saved me from losing control myself, and I thank you for that."
Scorpion tilts his head, looking momentarily caught off guard.
"You're like a second brother to me, Hanzo."
"Hey!" Bi-Han turns to face me, looking somewhat offended.

I ignore Bi-Han, feeling Kana tug at my arm.
"Can I speak with Uncle Hanzo?" He asks.
"Go ahead, but stay by me." I answer.

"Uncle," Kana begins, twisting his hands and taking a few steps forward to Scorpion.
"Please stop, you're scaring me."
"Little one..." Scorpion whispers, his rage dulling along with the flames.

-Hanzo's POV- The boy looks at me with such sadness... his grey eyes shining with worry and fear.
"I...I did not mean to frighten you." My voice shifts back to my own with the flames smoldering.

I kneel down and hold my hand out. "Come here,"
The child looks back at Tundra, who nods.
The boy runs up to me and hugs my waist.
"S-Satoshi..?" As my fury fades, my mind plays tricks on me.
No. I snap back to my senses.

Tears flow down my cheeks as I hug Kana back tightly. "I'm here, Kana. Do not be afraid." In response, he snuggles into my abdomen with a relieved expression.

I look up to see Kuai speaking with Bi-Han. They both look worried. "What's wrong?" I ask, getting up and walking towards them. Kuai looks at me, his sapphire blue eyes shining with worry.
"I need to go back to the Lin Kuei Temple. There is no recent news about the situation with the Lin Kuei cyberization. Frost could have escaped. Bi-Han and I will go. Watch Kana for me."

"Very well," I nod, glancing at Bi-Han.
"You don't need to say anything," Bi-Han states, his white eyes showing the slightest bit of sympathy.
"I understand why you became frustrated."
"But I feel like I need to apologize, Bi-Han. It was wrong for me to kill you. My vengeance—my anger got the better of me. I have demons that I must face."

"As do I, Scorpi—Hanzo. I hope the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu will continue to be allies." We both bow, Bi-Han placing both his hands in front of his chest and I place my right fist over my heart.

We both look over and see Kuai in tears.
"Kuai..." I gasp.
"Little brother!" Bi-Han sounds just as worried.
"I'm okay!" He laughs, wiping his tears. "I just never thought both my brother and friend would become allies. But if the Lin Kuei Temple is safe, Hanzo will bring Kana to the temple."

"And if it isn't safe?" I ask, crossing my arms.
"Then keep Kana at the Fire Garden. Just to be safe." Kuai informs me.
"Understood," I nod, walking back to Kana and kneeling down. "Listen, Kana. You need to come with me. We're going back to the Fire Garden. Both Kuai and Bi-Han will join us shortly."

Both Kana and I are surrounded by a fire tornado that teleports us back to the Fire Garden. But I could have sworn I saw Kuai's smile crack under the pressure for a brief moment. I just hope he'll make it back in one piece with Bi-Han.