Soul of the Dragon Queen
Chapter 14: Tense Atmosphere
(Li Mei's POV)
After the little skirmish on our way to Seido, we all were imprisoned. I shared a cell with a stranger named Sub-Zero. He wore a mask which concealed most of his face but I could see he had blue eyes and pale skin. I didn't notice before but the lower section of his arms was either made of ice or covered in ice, I couldn't really tell. Once we introduced ourselves a guard came by and yelled at us to shut up. So I was obviously a little shaken, considering my initial experiences with being trapped in dungeons.
After the guard left, Sub-Zero started another conversation with me.
"So, Li Mei. Do you get stuck in dungeons often?" He joked
"Well, there was this other time…And it really sucked."
"You must have done something pretty bad."
"I was trying to escape from Onaga's personal stronghold."
"Li Mei, you must really love doing stupid things."
"I'm starting to think so." I laughed.
"Oh wait stay quiet." He put his finger to my lips.
A guard passed by and looked into our cell and proceeded to move onto the cells further ahead. Sub-Zero remained silent for about 2 minutes before he said:
"Stupid guards, always showing up."
"Y'know, last time I was trapped in a cell, I was in such horrible shape, the guards didn't even bother to check on me."
"Now I can see why you said it sucked."
"So, Sub-Zero. Do you plan on getting out of here?" I changed the topic.
"You tell me. I haven't done this before."
"Well, last time I only got out because some allies happened to have found me and saved me. Otherwise I'd probably be dead."
"Well, at least you're not. But how did you do it last time?"
"Uhm, it's a long story…but let's just say the guard left the cell door open…"
"Must've been a dumb guard."
I wasn't exactly sure if I could trust Sub-Zero completely regarding my time as Dragon Queen and whatnot. I decided to keep quiet about it, so I changed the subject. But before I could say something I heard two loud clanging noises and then two guards fell down.
"Kenshi, we have found Li Mei!" Ermac said.
"Well let's get her out then." Kenshi said.
Kenshi grabbed the key off of one of the fallen guards, and unlocked the door. He gestured for me to come out.
"I wasn't alone in there you know." I said.
"Then the other person can also come out." Kenshi said.
"Kenshi! It's really you! It's been too long!" Sub-Zero proclaimed.
"Sub-Zero! It's great to know you're alive." Kenshi said.
"So wait, Kenshi. Is Li Mei your girlfriend?"
Me and Kenshi froze. I grew wide-eyed. Sub-Zero apparently did not understand the incredibly controversial statement he just uttered. I have no idea why, but Ermac had burst into laughter. And began wiping his eyes.
"HAHA! We think we will grow to like you Sub-Zero." Ermac said while holding his sides.
"I don't get it…" Sub-Zero looked from me to Kenshi.
Ermac began laughing even harder. I could hear Kenshi gulping. Sub-Zero was even more confused. And I face-palmed.
(Kenshi's POV)
After Sub-Zero uttered that question, "Is Li Mei your girlfriend?" to me, the air grew thicker. And it didn't help that Ermac started laughing. Li Mei will probably ask for an explanation later…
"What? Did I say something?" Sub-Zero asked.
"We insist, you go into further detail on your question Sub-Zero." Ermac said. I wonder if he felt the contempt I was harboring for him right now.
"I was just wondering if Li Mei and Kenshi are going out, because he seems to care for her-"
"ENOUGH! ENOUGH! THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE TO SAVE!" I said loudly, trying to prevent him from saying anything more damaging.
I was presumably the first person to move as the others began following me. Every few seconds, I would hear Sub-Zero asking Ermac something like: "What did I say?" or "What's up with them?" I honestly can't believe he said something so stupid! I mean, here I am trying to slowly mend things with Li Mei and there he goes asking if we're together! I don't know whether I'm more embarrassed or angry.
Sub-Zero sped up and started walking beside me. I knew exactly why. He was trying to figure out what that whole episode in front of the cell was about. I wasn't going to speak to him. I was way too irritated by his presence to be able to conduct a conversation with him maturely.
"Kenshi, can I ask what that-"
"No, you can't."
"What did I do?"
"You made a horribly uncomfortable situation worse. That's what."
"By what? Asking if you and Li Mei are going out?"
"Yes!"
"What? Do you like her or something?"
"How long has it been since you were trapped in there?"
"Past 2 years."
"Why didn't you just freeze the cell door and break it open?"
"I felt lazy. Plus, if I did I wouldn't have run into the gorgeous woman you are so uncomfortable around."
I raised my brow in annoyance and Sub-Zero must have seen. He just made me reach a whole new level of jealousy for some reason.
"She's my ex-girlfriend." I whispered quickly.
"OHHH. That's why Ermac was laughing!"
"Could you shut up! I don't want either of those two to hear us. Wait." I pushed him back.
I signaled Ermac to make a mental scan of the area with me. I could sense 2 guards and showed him 2 fingers. He showed me 2 fingers as well. He stepped forward, and pushed Sub-Zero back. The metallic pipes we had picked up earlier were still in our hands. We both telekinetically smashed them onto the faces of the guards, who fell down due to the impact.
Me and Ermac went to the cell and found two of our comrades, Kitana and Johnny Cage. If you think about it, they truly must have had the worst time being stuck with each other. Both of them being vain and Kitana being nosy and…well Johnny's just a jerk. Ermac looked very excited to be reunited with Kitana. For some reason I feel like he's closer to her than me…
"Oh, Princess! We have a most delightful piece of information for you!" He excitedly yelped.
"I'm here too!" Johnny whined.
"Yes, yes. We're so glad to be reunited." Ermac said coldly.
"And I thought Ermac was a sweetie pie." Li Mei said.
"We are still, very much a…as you say a 'sweetie pie' just not in the case of Johnny Cage." Ermac reasoned.
"Bah! I would rather stay in the cell!" Johnny complained.
"Wouldn't you like to go and save Sonya?" Kitana said cattily.
"….Let's go…" Johnny said.
Kitana laughed and began walking with Ermac at the back. Sub-Zero walked with me in the front, while behind us was Johnny and Li Mei. Ermac and Kitana obviously talking about what happened in front of the cell. Johnny was constantly bragging to Li Mei about how he would save Sonya and she would jump into his arms. Sub-Zero on the other hand kept annoying me for more details about my situation with Li Mei in a situation that made me feel a sense of Déjà vu.
(Ermac's POV)
"I can't believe he actually asked him that!" Kitana squealed.
"Imagine if you were there. We actually began laughing!" We whispered back.
"I hope Sub-Zero says something else that'll make those two even more awkward."
"As do we. Li Mei's jaw dropped! Look at those two! She keeps her pace slow. He is walking incredibly fast."
"I noticed. But, do you think there's still something there between them?"
"Even if we did. We wouldn't tell you."
"What is wrong with you people! I am very trustworthy!"
"We would like to recall at least one incident of such."
"I kept the Li Mei secret."
"Two, instances of your trustworthy nature, Princess."
"That's not fair!"
"We presume it to be so."
"You are cruel Ermac…"
"No we are not. We are a 'sweetie pie'."
(Sub-Zero's POV)
When I saw Li Mei in my cell, I was instantly enamored by her beauty. So of course I was curious, when Kenshi and Ermac came to break her out. It's not that either of them said anything. But something in Li Mei's eyes was giving away the situation. I was obviously not aware of their romantic history. And when Kenshi told me they were exes I began understanding why I made the situation tense between them. I mean presumably they're friends now, and my question was pretty unnecessary.
Kenshi must have become irritated with my constant questions, so he walked ahead of me. He suddenly stopped, which meant he sensed guards in the area. He and Ermac again launched metallic pipes to the guards. They were both knocked out. We proceeded to the cell and Kenshi took the keys from one of the unconscious guards and his head seemed to slump in annoyance, he then handed the keys to Johnny who very excitedly took them and unlocked the cell.
"Sonya! I have saved you!" Johnny proclaimed.
"Ugh! Let's go Jax." Sonya said in irritation and pushing Johnny away.
"B-But I saved you!"
"Oh please! I saw Kenshi hand you the keys." Sonya said.
"Sonya! Still hot-headed as usual." I said.
"Hey! It's Sub-Zero! How have you been man!" Jax announced.
"Well Jax, I 've been trapped in a cell for longer than Onaga's been in charge." I responded
"Rough…We'll catch up." Jax said.
"Okay, now guys. I don't think Kung Lao is here." Kenshi abruptly spoke up.
"What makes you say that?" Kitana asked.
"Ermac and I saw a list of prisoners, Kung Lao's name wasn't there." Kenshi said.
"Wait, is he still alive?" Li Mei asked, concerned.
"Hopefully, he was able to escape in time. Maybe when Liu Kang returns he can tell us." Kenshi responded.
"And when might that happen?" Sonya asked.
"Let's just try to get out of here." Johnny said.
"Always a good start." Ermac added.
-W571-
We all came up with suggestions on how to escape, occasionally disturbed by a guard or two, swiftly dealt with. I suggested me freezing the walls and kicking them down. Kenshi rebuked me by saying that maybe I should've done that for myself when I was initially imprisoned. With the others saying I must be too weak to do that, and then adding that the place could also collapse. I simply put my hands up in defeat and offered another solution.
"Why not ask Li Mei? She told me she's escaped from a dungeon before." I said.
"Okay then. How'd you do it?" Jax asked and we all stared at Li Mei.
"Actually…I-uh…kind of was in a fight with a bunch of Tarkatas with an injured arm. And I was beaten unconscious. Liu Kang and Ermac saved me while they were freeing Sonya, Jax, Kitana, Kung Lao and Johnny from Onaga's mind control." She explained.
"YOU WERE THERE THE WHOLE TIME!" Kenshi exclaimed in disbelief.
The air grew thick. I obviously had no idea of what that outburst was about. But the others looked uncomfortable. Johnny was hanging his head low. Sonya was looking up. Jax stared at a wall. And Ermac and Kitana looked guilty, while Li Mei looked apologetic. I just looked from one person to the other.
"Are we going to escape or not?" I finally asked.
They all looked at me with a grateful form of relief, and I had no idea why. Suddenly a green glow began to materialize before us. As it became clearer and clearer, it resembled Liu Kang!
"I apologize, for my tardiness." He began.
"Yeah where were you Liu?" Johnny inquired.
"Locating a safe location, and sending Kung Lao there." He replied.
"At least he's alive." I added.
"Good to see you Sub-Zero. But we must move now. If Hotaru learns you have all escaped. Prepare for the worst." Liu Kang said.
"So what should we do?" Kenshi asked.
"How myself and Ermac allowed us to enter this realm." Liu responded.
"But me and Jax don't have our equipment." Sonya said.
"It's not completely necessary. We both can perform it on a wall as well. We only used the man-made portal because we needed a doorway." Liu explained.
"Shall we begin?" Ermac asked. Liu Kang nodded in the affirmative.
At first a distinct glow manifested from their hands, but soon their entire bodies were engulfed in the light. It was so bright that the others were trying to cover their eyes. I soon looked away and when I saw the light disappear, a portal was just magically created before us.
One by one we all went through. I went after Jax, and when I went through the portal, I entered a building, which looked to be a square. It was presumably an unused building within OrderRealm. I saw Ermac listening to a stern Kenshi who seemed to be scolding him for whatever reason. Li Mei, Sonya and Kung Lao were all talking about something while Jax was laying down on the floor probably sleeping. Kitana and Liu Kang came and were arguing about how she hates cells. And wants to avoid being in one again as much as possible. I saw Ermac walking away from Kenshi, quite prominently annoyed. Kenshi then slumped against a wall and Li Mei looked at him for a second as though contemplating. She abruptly turned her head away.
And that concludes chapter 14. The entire time writing this I felt, it was just really dragging…but on the other hand I also feel this chapter might be sped up because I think too much happened…..But my favourite part of this chapter is when Sub-Zero asks Kenshi if he and Li Mei are dating! I don't care even if I wrote it as crappy as possible. It's my favourite. :D
Anyway, thank you soooo much Nerdette92 for reviewing :) I'm so glad that you're in favor of Sub-Zero and don't worry, Subby is definitely going to stick around. And it really doesn't matter if you PM me in case you left something out in your review :)))) I actually enjoy reading feedback so it's okay. And thank you soo much! I can't believe you are such a big rooter for the story, I think you're a 'sweetie pie' ;D
Till next chapter!
-Warbird571 signing out-