Chapter Seven
She was literally staring at her own nephew. Naya thought her eyes
deceived her. She rubbed them and blinked several times. Was he really the guy
Hwoarang despised? She could do nothing, but stand there like a half-wit.
Meanwhile, Jin stood there, waiting for her to say something, when she did not,
he replied, "I know the way out of here. Follow me and I will lead you to
safety."
He did not allow her anytime to speak. Immediately, he turned around and
disappeared into the darkness. Naya started to run, afraid of losing him. When
she bumped into him, Jin swore and then faced her.
"Watch where you're going! Listen to the sound of my footsteps if you
can't see."
He turned around again and Naya began to follow. She did not dare ask any
questions, fearing they would make him angry. The man obviously did not want to
make conversation. His only interest was to get her out of there…and then
what?
After they ventured through numerous passageways they finally exited to a
clearing. Naya grew surprised when she realized that it was nighttime already.
She panicked instantly, remembering Hwoarang.
"I have to go," she said urgently. "I thank you for your
generosity."
She started running off, but Jin held out an arm and pushed her back.
"You're not going anywhere," he proclaimed.
Naya frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"You're coming with me with no questions asked." And to make sure
of his prediction, he grabbed her arm and started hauling her behind him. They
walked toward the forest, the Mishima complex located half a mile behind them.
Jin dragged Naya into the forest. Naya started to panic when they were
enveloped within the forbidding trees. Her heart raced, fearing what he intended
to do. She did not allow her mind to think of the horrible things he was
probably planning to do to her. Besides, there must have been an explanation for
his behavior. Wasn't he missing for six months? She remembered reading
newspaper reports about the disappearance of one of the Iron Fist Tournament
fighters. According to sources, the man was so disturbed by something that he
just left. Not a lot of people seemed to care about the man, except for one
girl, and an American one at that.
Finally, they made it to a cave entrance. Jin suddenly stopped and then
turned to face her. He gave her one last look then went on inside.
Naya was beginning to protest by this time, pulling her arm and begging
him to let go, but he wouldn't. She grew frightened by his hidden ambitions.
Suddenly, Jin stopped. "Stay here," he ordered.
His voice echoed, evidence that they were inside a huge cave. Or so Naya
thought. Out of nowhere, torches were lightened. They were set on massive
pillars that stretched the length of the room from ceiling to floor. The size of
the cave was massive and it appeared more like a temple then a cave. Naya's
eyes traveled the length of the room and paused at the very end. At the end of
the room was a huge statue. The statue appeared to be a woman being overshadowed
by a beast resembling a wolf. Naya saw Jin walk up to it and bow. To her horror,
the statue came to live. Instantly, the room was flooded with yellow light. The
figure of the woman came alive. She had black hair, yet her eyes glowed with an
evil yellow presence that made Naya shake to the core.
"I have brought her to you," Jin replied, his hand pointing toward
Naya.
The supernatural being looked up at her and Naya could feel a certain
dread crawl through her flesh by the impact of the creature's forbidding eyes.
She shuddered.
The creature gazed at her a few moments. She then brought up her hand and
motioned Naya to approach her. She didn't.
The Unknown would not allow any defiance. Naya was suddenly lifted of the
ground and brought before the creature. Her face was pulled up close to her
mother's. The Unknown gazed at her a moment, memorizing her features.
"She is definitely the one," the creature rasped. Her voice sounded
like a demon embellished with pain.
Naya was too stunned to reply. She only gazed at her, wondering why on
earth this person or thing would be related to her.
"Will you begin with the process now," Jin asked his master.
The creature gazed past Naya's eyes. "Yes," she replied wearily.
Naya noticed that the Unknown appeared to be weak. She looked ready to
faint and it appeared that she would use the last of her power on Naya. Yet,
Naya had no clue what was going on.
"Wait! What are you going to do with me?"
"I'm going to possess you," the creature hissed. "You are my
creation and I will use you to fulfill my purpose!"
Naya shook. She did not have time to protest. She looked back at Jin for
help, but noticed that he stood there watching, a smirk plastered on his face. He's
possessed. The mark on his head is what gives the Unknown the ability to control
him. Maybe that's why he's been missing all these months. She probably took
control of his mind and sent him out searching for me. But wasn't Kazuya under
her control? So whatever happened to him?
The creature lifted Naya up in the air without the slightest trouble.
Naya could tell by the color of the witch's power was the same magic that
saved her from being killed by Heihachi. Now the Unknown would use it to possess
her. Naya would no longer have control over her mind. She would be like Jin, a
puppet. She would no longer be able to lead a normal life. Instead, she would be
at the mercy of someone's control, someone of her own blood, the same someone
who was her very mother.
The light surrounded her, knawing at her soul,
threatening to dominate her very senses.
I must not let her get to me.
She could feel the evil crawling through her flesh.
I cannot lose hope.
She felt her mind being crushed by the power of the beast.
I cannot forget.
Naya closed her eyes, feeling the evil take over her.
I must remember…Hwoarang!
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Her scream startled both
Jin and the creature. Somehow, the Unknown dropped her. Naya now quickly got up
from the floor, running toward the exit with her life. Jin saw her coming and
prepared to block her way, but Naya's strength tackled him to the ground. She
stepped over him and bolted through the exit.
But he was not easily evaded. The creature ordered him to make chase, for
she could not leave her temple prison.
Once outside, Jin's eyes surveyed through the trees, locating Naya.
Naya
did not care where she was going. She only wished to escape.
Suddenly,
she tripped and started rolling down a hill. Jin was close after her, but lost
track of her when she fell. Now he lost sight of her. Not knowing what to do
next, he turned in another direction and went searching there. However, at
whatever cost, he could not return empty handed.
**
They found her unconscious and alone and to her own luck, it was her student that found her.
Xiaoyu immediately called out to her grandfather once she recognized her instructor's face. The two of them brought Naya inside and laid her on a mat.
"See, I told you, Grandfather, she was going to come."
Wang nodded but reminded her that is was by fate, not by intention.
"She looks like she's been through a rough time," Xiaoyu concluded, studying her teacher's scraggly appearance.
Wang noticed something. "Xiaoyu, look, on her face. Do you notice the color?"
"Yellow."
Wang frowned lost in thought. Before he knew it, Naya was awake.
"Wha-what am I doing here?" Naya asked.
"Miss Yamato…!" Xiaoyu exclaimed.
Naya frowned. "Xiaoyu? What are you doing here?"
Xiaoyu smiled warmly. "You're in my house."
"But I was just…" Naya laid her head back down, not knowing what to
think. Did the past events ever occur? Was she just dreaming?
Wang could see the fog in her eyes and at once understood why she was so
confused.
"Xiaoyu found you outside. She has been waiting for you all night and I
see that you came to us by luck."
"Was I somewhere near the forest when you found me?"
"The edge of the woods is just right there," Xiaoyu replied, pointing
off into the distance.
Naya only nodded her head. For convenience, they nursed and fed her. Wang
had many important things to ask her, but he would let it wait. When Naya was
satisfied, she stared over at Wang.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I understand that Xiaoyu
said you needed to see me."
"Yes," he replied with grave sincerity. "But first I need to know
why you were in the woods all alone?"
"I was trying to run away from a warrior. I believe you will know
someone by the name of Jin Kazama?"
"I do. That boy has been lost for six months. No one has been able to
find him. During the last tournament, he did not even finished and just left.
Apparently, something was consuming his mind. The poor man…all he ever wanted
was to prove himself, but his mind was weak. He could not sustain the evil that
lured him. And I'm afraid that the evil that lured him was the same one that
lured you tonight, am I right?"
Naya nodded.
"The Unknown has been wanting to get her hands on your for seventeen
years. Ever since your birth, you were to be hidden away from your mother
because she was evil. She used a mortal man to sire the child she needed. She
could not get impregnated on her own and she used her arch rival to do that for
her. When you were born, I was the one that took you away from her and delivered
you to a foster home. At the time, it was the best I could do. I thought that by
giving you a different home, that would solve all our problems, but I
underestimated the Unknown's power. Over the years she has grown weak, but she
has managed to store some of her power to do something to you, but I'm not
sure what. Things will reveal themselves in time, but whatever happens, we
cannot leave you in the hands of evil. If your mother ever reaches you again,
I'm afraid all humanity will be lost. What happened tonight was a near miss.
You are fortunate to have been led to my door. And for that I am grateful."
"But why is this happening to me. I understand what you have told me
thus far, but there are people who want me dead. Why are they trying to kill
me?"
"Some think that it was better if you were off dead. Without you alive
then the world would not end, but what they do not understand is that you have
to be alive. You are our last thread of hope. Humanity is dependant of your
survival and personality. Since you are so young and naïve, you are prone to
evil. But we must not ever let that happen. Even if you possess a pure heart, it
won't be much for the evil to break through your good barrier and possess you.
If you fall into the hands of the Unknown, you will become a slave like Jin has.
And I'm afraid there is nothing much we can do to save him. The only thing I
can think of is if someone is willing enough to sacrifice themselves for him,
but his mother was the only one who was capable of doing that. However, now she
is dead. It would have to be someone else who loves him enough to sacrifice
themselves in order to free him."
Naya could not say another word. She had just learned the history of her
past. Now she was aware of who she was and where she came from, but she was not
sure if she could accept her fate. All of a sudden, a wave of loneliness
consumed her. Naya looked at the people surrounding her and felt like she did
not even know them. The fact that she was in the same room with complete
strangers sounded like a threat to her. Before she could comprehend her next
move, she was out the door, running to the only person she could thing
of…Hwoarang.
**
They had tried to stop her, but Naya bolted out of the house before they
could even reach the front door. She ran as fast as she could through unknown
streets, her heart guiding the way. Whenever her heart beat faster she ran in
the direction that she faced. Even though she did not recognize the
neighborhood, her heart led the way, and to her joy, she wound up in
Hwoarang's driveway.
She ran up the long stretch and then started ramming on his door, calling
out his name. A long wait passed on and then she heard a man's voice on the
other side.
"Go away Anna! I don't want to see your face!"
"It's not Anna, It's me! Hwoarang, please open the door."
A few minutes passed by and finally he opened it, but only a
crack. When he saw Naya standing on the other side he opened it wide and crushed
her in an embrace. Tears started welling up in his eyes, grateful for her
safety.
"My God I thought you were dead. I've been calling everywhere all
evening and driving around searching for you. The police didn't even help.
They said that they don't consider a person missing not until they've been
gone for more than twenty-four hours, but to me that felt like forever!"
He kissed her forehead. Naya, meanwhile still clung to him.
Hwoarang led her inside the house, not wanting to let go. He brought her
before the fire so she could warm herself.
Naya shook in his arms, still fearful of the past events.
"What did they do to you?"
"So many things. They told me so many things."
"They told me you were dead."
"They were going to kill me."
"Who..?"
"My father…"
"WHAT? Whose your father?"
She looked up at him, knowing that he would probably reject her if she
were to reveal her identity. Didn't he hate the Mishima line? Or was that just
Jin?
"A man who is in need of brainwashing." Was all she said. She settled
her head back against his shoulder.
"How did you get out of there?"
"….I…I was led out of there and brought into a cave. There was a
statute and then a lady and then…" She cringed at the memory.
Hwoarang held her tighter. "God, I was so stupid! How could I let this
happen to you! I told you that I would protect you, but I failed! I'm so
sorry!"
She looked up at him again, her eyes sincere. "It's not your fault.
I'm okay…they did not hurt me. I'm here aren't I?"
He kissed her because she did not blame him for her transgressions. At
that moment, he felt that she would be his for eternity, that he would never
have to let her go. But, Anna was right.
Just when he though he was going to be happy, he would lose something he dearly
loved.
In that moment the room died away and it became enveloped with a yellow
light.
Naya was the first to notice the transformation. She started to shake and
yelled out Hwoarang's name.
Something started pulling her out of his arms. She was lifted high above
him, now being consumed in the yellow light.
Hwoarang screamed her name and tried running up to her, but something
punched him back. He landed on his back.
And then, just as quickly as Naya came back into his life she was gone.
The yellow light engulfed her. His name was the last thing he heard coming out
of her mouth. The light vanished and he screamed out in pain.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
And then ludicrous laughter silenced the room and a chilling voice
replied, "Let the tournament begin!"