10,000 YEARS LATER

~Mileena POV~

"Fight!" my father shouts.

I face Kitana with serious eyes, eyes that say I am ready to attack her. She shoots the same look back, a bit calmer however. We circle the sandy arena, the sand almost getting into my shoes and massaging my toes. My hair is tied while hers is down, reaching the small of her back. This is how most are able to spot the difference between us with our masks on. There are others training in the other arenas near ours such as Kano, Reptile, Baraka, and Jade. The tournament is nearing, and training is our top priority.

We are in the back of our palace, high above Outworld. It is a beach-like area with patches of grass in some areas, but for the most part covered in sand. A river runs through the middle of it, creating a waterfall as it falls off the edge, joining the rest of the realm down below. It stands out, however the realm does not. The sky is always gloomy and cloudy, with a purple like tint some days, gray the next, and it seems not rain too often. The the only time the realm appears as decent is during late hours of the night, where flames light the dark realm everywhere and the orange moon does as well.

Our eyes lock. Father is mounted on his throne chair in front of us like always, examining how we can handle ourselves in the art of battle for the hundredth time. These battles usually end with us both out of breath and father telling us to call it a day. However, this time will be different, I intend it to be.

I step to Kitana, throwing a right punch without hesitation. She dodges it by pacing backwards going into her fight stance. I go into mine as well and a moment later I counter her attempted kick to my feet by jumping at kicking back, striking her jaw. She falls back with shock in her eyes as she glares at me behind her sapphire mask concealing her identity. I do not waver. I enter my stance once again, informing her I shall not take it easy, and neither shall she if she values her life.

She steps to me quickly throwing a left punch that I pace to dodge. However, the effort was pointless. The throw was simply a distraction as her left foot trips me, knocking me to the ground. Kitana then takes advantage of my position. She springs on top of me, giving me a right hook to the cheek, making the sand fly in the same direction I was hit. She goes for another hit, but my hand catches her fists. My instincts take over as I use my feet to flip our position swiftly, bringing her to the ground on her stomach and into the sand. This gives me the perfect opportunity to return the favor and pin her before she can stand.

I grab her hands and I watch her struggle. Knowing I have her at my mercy I hiss and lowered my head, then pause.

"No... I cannot end her life yet. She must suffer first." my thoughts cram as I pin her, thinking of what to do.

I know father is watching and desires no hesitation, so instead I stand quickly and kick her, making it look as if I merely taunted her. Kitana grunts slightly from it. She stands to face me. Vengeance is written in my eyes and on my face behind my magenta mask I commonly hid my features with. I cannot even control my instincts during training. I want to murder her. Though it is currently a work in progress.

Kitana most likely does not notice. Instead she flips in the air and manages to kick me in the chest. The wind almost escapes me as her foot makes impact, knocking me to the dusty arena floor. I look up before taking to my feet.

The expression in her eyes looks as if she wants to say, "I got you now," and seeing this, I take to my feet quickly.

I am the better warrior, and I shall prove it. I prepare to attack again.

"Enough," our father announces.

We both stand straight, turn and run to him instantaneously. We bow before him, waiting for him to speak.

"Well done my daughters," he booms so loud all of Outworld probably hears.

"You are growing as warriors, this impresses me. However, I notice faults. Mileena," he shifts his eyes to me. "Never hold back on an opponent, regardless of who it is," he points out, leaving me to feel shame and anger. "Kitana, good job today," I look over at her to see her reaction to this.

She looks as if she could not care any less. This enrages me. I receive a pointless lecture while she receives praises. He always has favored her, everyone does.

"You are both dismissed," he flails his arm forward, signaling us to leave his presence.

I am the first to turn and walk away, leaving Kitana following behind me. However, I do not wish to go to my quarters. I venture around the palace, ditching my sister to head to a quiet area I usually go to when I feel alone, which is somewhat often. It has a large fountain with a statue of a woman on it. It was most likely quite a sight once, but now half of her face has gone, slowly decaying by the harsh winds every day. Time really does change things. The water in the fountain is still of the deepest blue as if the corruption of Outworld never struck it, which I find slightly stunning. The stone woman still recycles the water as well, bringing it back and forth to the little circular pond of water.

I look into the luscious blue waves as I sit on the fountain's edge. My masked face stares back at me. I turn back at the stone woman from whom the water pours from, gazing at her half face. It reminds me of myself, which is probably why I always come back here. I gaze back down at the water, and slowly pull down my mask, revealing my entire face.

The intense razor sharp teeth point back at me. My mouth stretches from almost ear to ear, making it look as if I am always smiling. However, I never truly do. Why did I have to be cursed with this trait? Why do I have to be this beast everyone is afraid to face if I am not masked? I look with angry eyes at my watery reflection, then turn away and gaze at the view of Outworld. I wasn't taking in the Elder God forsaken place, that is for sure. I just do not want to face what I despise most about myself. So I begin to think.

I feel as if I am always the second choice when it comes to Kitana and I. I figure it is because she doesn't share this curse, she looks almost perfect. Her nice round lips are a good size, her smooth face is surely the opposite if mine from the nose down. She is...beautiful. No matter how much it pains me to admit it. She takes it for granted, which makes me despise her entire being. But, what am I? I am just her sister that resembles a Tarkatan.

I let this sink in as I sit in the same spot until the barely visible sun goes down, and the moon sheds light on the realm. Sounds of crickets and distant screams fill the air. I hear a voice speak from behind me.

"Shao Kahn would like to see you immediately," the voice announces.

I turn around to see who is in my presence. It is Rain. He speaks behind a violet mask with a rather calm voice. Rain is probably my only friend, for he is one of the few that were never afraid to look at my entire face. However, he has feelings for Kitana, which makes me feel not envious, but feel that no matter who it is, Kitana will always come before me.

I just sigh and say, "Alright," as I place my mask back into its original place before heading back into the palace.

Rain escorts me to father's current location. Before opening the door, Rain grabs my shoulder and I turn to him with curious eyes. He gives me a look that says not to worry about what I am going to face. I take his advice with a nod and open the door as he walks off, leaving me to go inside. Father has his eyes glued to me, so I can tell whatever this is, it is of importance. I walk in and approach the throne, coming five feet away from his throne chair.

I bow before him saying, "Yes father," intently waiting on him to speak.

"As you know, the Mortal Kombat tournament is in ten days," he starts, and peers at me with an expression that says I better be listening, which I am.

I place my hands behind my back, never breaking eye contact to look at the artwork of the room we are in. The entire palace has the same color scheme and is equipped with so many windows you can see all of Outworld.

"Once we get there, you will be put against fighters I know you can handle. However, they are not the issue. It is Kitana who is the issue," he finishes.

I gasp in my head.

"He's suspecting Kitana?" I think to myself.

Finally he sees, it was as if no one gives concern about her suspicious actions. Instead of saying those harsh words that I really wish to out loud, I simply reply, "What about her," with as little anger as I can muster to carry in my voice.

"I suspect she may want to join the Earthrealm forces during the tournament, therefore you will keep me updated on her actions and whereabouts throughout the event," he booms, echoing it through the whole room.

I bet if Kitana were down the hall, she'd hear the whole speech. However, I am pleased at this news. If Kitana betrays father, I will finally get the respect I deserve.

So I bow deeply and say, "As you wish father," in an innocent tone that betrays all my dark thoughts.

I wish to murder her myself before I even think of watching her every action. Whatever she may be plotting will not stop me from taking her life, especially delivering a pointless behavior report to father. This is something I deserve.

"You are dismissed," and with that I turn and walk out of the room.

The day is almost over and I have not seen Kitana anywhere throughout the huge palace. I figure she's up to no good. My hatred for her grows every day, whether I want it to or not. This rage I have inside of me refuses to give in. Instead of focusing on it I exit our palace and venture outside for a walk. I do not go to my usual spot, for Rain located me so someone else probably could as well. Instead, I go to another area which is hidden by a rather large tree that overlooks the realm. It is also a few feet to the right of the river, which brings fresh water to the heathens below as it leads into a waterfall. It's as if the palace is on a mountain.

The large moon shines bright, reflecting in my vengeful eyes. I sit there leaning on the large tree, thinking of the upcoming tournament, and how I'd execute my plan to execute my sister. I feel my teeth with my tongue behind my mask.

"I'll use these to teach her a lesson," I state mentally.

I hear footsteps subtly creep behind me and I turn around, climbing the tree quickly to the first branch I could kneel on. I see a guard, patrolling the perimeter. His armor shines brightly and creates noise with every step he takes. A ragged sword is in his hand as he advances. He walks over to the tree, gazing at where I had originally been, casually. I suppose he wonders who I am, for he examines around the spot.

The shadows made from the crisp, virescent leaves conceal my body as I gaze down at him. He looks so clueless, so ignorant of my presence, so...delicious. I hiss quietly, my light brown eyes widening as I lick my teeth. The beast within me longs for this, and no matter how much I resist, I know this will happen. My abdomen roars and my body tenses up. My eyes start twitching as I watch my prey inch closer to me.

"Hey you! What are you doing up there?" he demands finally spotting me, yet unaware of what I am going to do.

I waste no time as I pounce onto him without warning, landing directly on top of him while peering into his eyes. My hands plant his on the ground forcefully near both sides of his head as he yells in confusion. His sword drops into the grass getting lost in the darkness.

I raise my hand to his lips and whisper, "Shhh," seductively.

Luring the prey in with deception is the best way to end them, making the job that much easier and delighting. This is my prefered style of assassination. He looks up at me then grins.

"So that is what this is?" he asks slyly as he leans upward to kiss me.

I pushed him back down to the ground roughly, softly dragging my hand across his chest as I lean upward.

"That's a way you can put it," I reply as I quickly remove my mask, yank him by his helmet, and begin to gnaw into his neck harshly, eating his live flesh and drinking his blood that gushes from his arteries as screams of horror escape him.

I am not going to stop, I am unable to now. There is no turning back, and I am hooked to this feeling of starvation. I rip his entire head off of his shoulders with my teeth and spit it out to the side, ending his screams, while I viciously nibble at his neck that is still oozing blood. I let out moans of hunger and laughter as I continue devouring the rest of his body without pausing.

Suddenly, I stop. The feeling of intense hunger is somewhat gone. I then realize I had been holding my breath the entire time. I begin to breathe heavily, holding my chest, and then holding my stomach, which feels oddly content. I finally close my mouth, making my jaw feel at ease. I look down at my magenta training clothes which are blood stained entirely. I stand and peer around, taking in what I have done. It is thrilling and beyond worth it, though father would consider feasting on our forces treason. I walk over to his head, which is separated from his body, and take it into my hands.

I lift it by the hair. One of his eyes gazes up motionless while the other is so covered in blood I am unable to detect if it does the same. All of a sudden my arms stiffen. I know it will happen again, but I do not fight it this time. I start wheezing and let out another moan that sounds as if I have been starved to death and open my mouth wide just before biting into his face from his lips to his forehead. I chew and gnaw until I cannot anymore and drop the remainder of his head onto the bloody, grassy and somewhat sandy terrain.

This is not the first time I feasted on someone, but I decide I want no one to know about this event. I am not exactly one for attention, after all, this is more than a mere feast. This is who I am. I lift what remains of the man's body and go to the edge where the waterfall falls. I drop his head and body, watching to see how fast it falls compared to the water. He drops so fast, the impact of his body, or at least what is left of it, virtually explodes on the ground. Nothing too unusual for Outworld. A moment later, I sneak back inside as if nothing happened.

I make it back to my quarters undetected, and unnoticed. I immediately take off the bloody robes and replace them. I also use a towel to get the blood off of my skin, which assist in making it seem as if the encounter never happened. I gaze into the mirror, contemplating who I am, and what I am as I caress the side of my face with my left hand gently. I start to remember how the guard's flesh tastes and how it felt between my honed teeth. My body tenses again, which leads to me hissing at the mirror. The reaction causes my eyes to start glowing a tangerine color and my pupils become crescent.

I put a hand over my mouth a moment later, calming myself. I watch my eyes divert back to their normal light brown state with round pupils that shine back at me in my reflection. It is as if I am a switch, waiting to be turned. I then slip a veil over my face that hides my features from the nose down. I cannot sleep tonight. I stay up waiting for sunrise, allowing the hunger to completely wear off.