Beyond Kombat: Backstage Pass 2 Mortal Kombat

Chapter 15 - Kill It

We were getting closer. At least, that's what Liu told us. The source had stopped, it seemed, and we were able to catch up for quite a bit. Maybe we would obtain it by nightfall, he suggested. I didn't care; I just wanted it, and I wanted it quickly. Maybe now it didn't even matter, though. Kitana had turned Keanu against me. Johnny would sooner or later go back to Edenia...what would be left then? What would I have to be 'good' for? What did it matter if the curse got to me? I didn't dare voice these thoughts, but I was still thinking them. I hardly listened to Johnny and Liu whenever they spoke; I was too enthralled by the verbal wars inside my head.

The curse; what did it matter? What did it change? Who would it hurt? Outworld had one evil ruler. Surely they wouldn't care if they had another. After all, no one tried to stop him. The 'good' people can just leave; find a new realm to live in...right?

I knew all of this was wrong. The pain was starting to wear off. The fresh cuts Keanu left had already begun to heal. I suppose I had seen this coming a long time ago. We were fighting; we weren't happy. When was the last time he held my hand without prompt? When was the last time I told him I loved him in the middle of a silence? I don't think I ever did. The first time I said it was because I was afraid I would die...maybe I've said it three other times? Maybe it was because I didn't tell him enough. Kitana probably told him every day, every minute. She was probably the perfect girlfriend. For the hundredth time I wondered if they slept together.

"Zak," Liu called again, trying to catch my attention. Obviously he had been calling me for a while but I was too wrapped up in my own mind. His voice was blurred as I looked up; slowly coming to. "Zak! Get down!" he shouted, suddenly launching at me and throwing me to the ground, with him on top of me.

"Get off of me!" I shrieked.

His hand shot out and clamped over my mouth. I tried to shake it off but he was too strong. "Shut up!" he hissed. My eyes narrowed at him. "Please?" he added desperately.

What would make Liu so scared?

I looked around and saw Johnny was on the ground next to us. We were lying in a bed of grass; concealing us. Whatever we were hiding from was either holding very still or hiding as well, because I didn't see or hear anything.

"Footsteps," Liu breathed so quietly I barely heard him.

I suddenly froze; understanding what was going on. Instead of fighting off his hand I listened. As soon as I slowed my breathing I could hear footsteps running from far off. The ground slowly began to vibrate beneath us. They were getting closer.

Liu ducked his head to get lower to the ground, further concealing himself, but he was also burying his face in my neck. I was stiffer than a board then; did he know he was doing that? Could he tell that I could tell? I tried to keep breathing but I couldn't. Maybe he would just write it off as me hiding...

I flinched in shock when the footsteps and their bodies marched past us. Clanking metal followed them. They were wearing armor and carrying weapons. Several other feet were delayed behind them. I could tell by their pace that they were carrying something heavier, but I couldn't tell.

We all waited until the footsteps were gone and the ground stopped vibrating. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed like Liu waited a little too long. When he finally got off of me he held out his hand to help me up. "It was Kitana," he informed me.

I ignored his hand and stood up to dust myself off. "What is she doing out here?"

"Well," Johnny sighed. He was already standing, and by the look on his face, pretending he hadn't witnessed Liu lying on top of me. "Judging by how many weapons they have, and how pissed she looked, they're looking for you."