Chapter 14
"It's pretty late. You should get to bed," Sonya said, checking her watch. "Yeah, I guess so. What about you?" Brianna asked her quizzically. "Oh, I'm a night owl," Sonya gave a forced smile. Brianna returned with a friendlier one. "Good night," she called as she walked to her room.
Brianna walked along at a medium pace. There weren't any sounds except for the crackling of the fire that came from the hung torches. Soon she came to the bridge that she never could stand crossing. Things were very quiet, 'Too quiet', she thought. She stopped and listened for a sound. There was a pause, and then Brianna thought she heard the slightest sound of a footstep. When she heard this sound, she ran as fast as she could into Sub-Zero's room.
"SUBBY, SUBBY, SOME ONE'S CHASING ME!!!!!!" she screamed when she busted open the door. Sub-Zero's face became concerned. "Who?" he asked getting up and walking over to her. "I don't know. I was too scared to look back," she confessed.
Sub-Zero walked up to her and absently put an arm around her shoulders. He walked to the door and stuck his head out. He looked around, but didn't see anyone. "No one's there," he said skeptically.
"I'm sorry, Subby. It was probably just my mind playing tricks on me. I'm sorry to bother you," Brianna said sheepishly. "Don't worry about it. I know this place can get pretty creepy at night. Now you just rest your pretty little head and I'll see you in the morning," he smiled. Brianna smiled back. "Goodnight Subby," she said and walked into her own room.
Sighing, Brianna kicked her shoes off and was about to take her shirt off when she was grabbed from behind and lifted. Hand was over her mouth and another hand pulled her head back by her bangs. "Shhh. Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you, okay?" Sky's voice tried to be as soothing as possible. Brianna looked up at him and noticed that he was wearing the same thing as Sub-Zero, only dark blue.
"SCORPION!" she screamed from under the hand. "What? Scorpion? I'm not a Shirai Ryu. Now come on, I'm taking you to Headquarters," Sky said.
"Can you take your hand off my mouth?" Brianna asked, after it had taken her a second to calm down. "What?" Sky asked her. Brianna coughed a bit of fire onto his hand, making him take it away from her mouth immediately.
"Ow! So you are Inferna?" Sky asked. "Who are you with?" Brianna asked, trying to sound harsh. "I am here to take you back to Lin Kuei headquarters," Sky answered.
"Lin Kuei? Isn't that the club that Subby used to be in?" Brianna inquired. "Sub-Zero? You know him? Where is he?" Sky asked frantically. Brianna regretted mentioning her friend's name to the ninja before her.
"Oh no, I don't know him. I've just heard of him. But anyway, back to this Lin Kuei thing. Why do you want me to go?" Brianna asked. "Inferna, there is no time to explain. When we get there, you will be told everything, I promise," Sky said, pushing Brianna out the door. "Okay," Brianna said and walked outside with Sky. A door that led into a great, swirling blue light appeared in front of them. Sky grabbed Brianna and pulled her in with him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Brianna was led into a room that was filled with male ninjas that wore the same exact thing that Sub-Zero had worn, only with different colors and these people wore masks that matched. She was led to the front of the room where 3 old men sat on thrones and had welcoming faces.
"Inferna, welcome to the Lin Kuei headquarters," the first Grandmaster said brightly. Everyone was staring at her, as if they were expecting her to do something. "Sup?" she nodded to the three men. The ninjas looked at eachother and a hushed whisper was heard through the room. Brianna looked around, confused. Then, as if a light bulb had gone on above her head, she curtsied. "Sorry 'bout that," she smiled.
"Uh, yes, of course. Inferna, the Lin Kuei welcome you as the newest member of our Clan. First you must show us that it truly is you, show us your power," the second Grandmaster said. "Oh, my fire thing. Sure, no sweat," she smiled. "What do you want me to torch?" she asked politely. The Grandmasters looked past her and to the back of the room. The crowd stepped away to show that a man was standing on the other side of the room. He, too, was dressed like the others and wore orange and black. His eyes though were full of fear and shame.
"You want me to light him up?" Brianna asked the Grandmaster, shocked. "Just do it," came a voice from the crowd that only Brianna heard. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a man look at her, notifying her that it was he who told her to do so. "Ok, fine," Brianna said regretfully. Looking down she reached her arm out and pointed her finger. From it came a line of inferno, setting her victim ablaze. He screamed and ran around for about 30 seconds until he finally became nothing but ashes at the end of the hallway.
Brianna turned around and looked at the Grandmasters. They looked extremely pleased. "Welcome, Inferna, to the Lin Kuei. Sektor, show her to her chambers," the third Grandmaster beamed. The mechanical warrior bowed and took Brianna by the arm and led her to a very bare room. It consisted of a cot, a blanket, a pillow, a table, a stool and a candle with some matches. Roughly, Sektor through Brianna into the room.
"Hey, take it easy. You'll never get your heart that way, Tinman," Brianna teased the robot. "What did you say to me?" Sektor asked harshly. "Nothing take it easy, Jesus."
Sektor glared at her, then walked loudly down the hall. Brianna also noticed, though, that there was another cot, another table and stool, more matches and a candle that had been burned about halfway down. Tilting her head, Brianna looked at the other person's possessions.
"I wonder who else is here?" she thought out loud. "That would be me," came a slightly familiar voice from behind her. Standing in the doorway was a man dressed in gray and black. "I am Smoke. I take it you are Inferna?" he asked with a bit of humor in his tone. Brianna smiled brightly at him. "No, my name isn't Inferna," she admitted.
Smoke looked at her, very confused. "You're not Inferna?" he asked. "Oh no, I am Inferna, but that's not my real name," she told him. "Well of course it isn't your real name. You don't have a real name anymore," Smoke said.
"Wait a minute. Are you Smoke?" Brianna asked the ninja. He nodded, a bit confused. "The Smoke?" she asked, realizing that the man before her was more than her new roommate. She ran passed him and closed the door. The only light was coming from the candles that burned from both of the tables. Brianna pulled up a stool and sat down.
"Smoke, did you know Sub-Zero?" she asked, her eyes glowing red. "What about him?" Smoke asked bitterly. "You knew him! Sonya told me all about it! You and Sub-Zero tried to escape from the Lin Kuei, but they found you and Sub-Zero thought they killed you, but you're still alive," she said confused.
"That's right. That backstabber Sub-Zero left me there to die while he cowered to wandering the Earth," Smoke said. "Smoke, you mustn't be so hostile about Sub-Zero. He misses you dearly," she said. "And how would you know?" Smoke asked the girl that sat below him.
"Because, Subby is with the Forces of Light now. Before I came here I stayed with Rayden and the others for about 3 months. You were all Subby ever talked about. He even has a picture of you and him in his room. It's sad, really. Whenever he brings you up he gets all emotional and stuff, and then he'll talk about the Lin Kuei and get so pissed off," Brianna rambled on.
"What? You mean he still lives?" Smoke asked her, shocked. "He's alive and well, trust me," Brianna smiled at Smoke. "He has betrayed me, though. I cannot forgive him for that," Smoke said sternly, causing her smile to fade.
"But he misses you, and he feels really bad about leaving you. It was all just a big misunderstanding. Here, let me-"
"Enough," Smoke said simply. "You need to go to the arena after you change," he said, and walked out of the room. Inferna sighed. "Well, if that other place I was at before wasn't a total hell hole, this is gonna be."
THE END
..or is it? If you're not satisfied with the ending, read the sequel, The Lin Kuei. Thanks for reading!
"It's pretty late. You should get to bed," Sonya said, checking her watch. "Yeah, I guess so. What about you?" Brianna asked her quizzically. "Oh, I'm a night owl," Sonya gave a forced smile. Brianna returned with a friendlier one. "Good night," she called as she walked to her room.
Brianna walked along at a medium pace. There weren't any sounds except for the crackling of the fire that came from the hung torches. Soon she came to the bridge that she never could stand crossing. Things were very quiet, 'Too quiet', she thought. She stopped and listened for a sound. There was a pause, and then Brianna thought she heard the slightest sound of a footstep. When she heard this sound, she ran as fast as she could into Sub-Zero's room.
"SUBBY, SUBBY, SOME ONE'S CHASING ME!!!!!!" she screamed when she busted open the door. Sub-Zero's face became concerned. "Who?" he asked getting up and walking over to her. "I don't know. I was too scared to look back," she confessed.
Sub-Zero walked up to her and absently put an arm around her shoulders. He walked to the door and stuck his head out. He looked around, but didn't see anyone. "No one's there," he said skeptically.
"I'm sorry, Subby. It was probably just my mind playing tricks on me. I'm sorry to bother you," Brianna said sheepishly. "Don't worry about it. I know this place can get pretty creepy at night. Now you just rest your pretty little head and I'll see you in the morning," he smiled. Brianna smiled back. "Goodnight Subby," she said and walked into her own room.
Sighing, Brianna kicked her shoes off and was about to take her shirt off when she was grabbed from behind and lifted. Hand was over her mouth and another hand pulled her head back by her bangs. "Shhh. Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you, okay?" Sky's voice tried to be as soothing as possible. Brianna looked up at him and noticed that he was wearing the same thing as Sub-Zero, only dark blue.
"SCORPION!" she screamed from under the hand. "What? Scorpion? I'm not a Shirai Ryu. Now come on, I'm taking you to Headquarters," Sky said.
"Can you take your hand off my mouth?" Brianna asked, after it had taken her a second to calm down. "What?" Sky asked her. Brianna coughed a bit of fire onto his hand, making him take it away from her mouth immediately.
"Ow! So you are Inferna?" Sky asked. "Who are you with?" Brianna asked, trying to sound harsh. "I am here to take you back to Lin Kuei headquarters," Sky answered.
"Lin Kuei? Isn't that the club that Subby used to be in?" Brianna inquired. "Sub-Zero? You know him? Where is he?" Sky asked frantically. Brianna regretted mentioning her friend's name to the ninja before her.
"Oh no, I don't know him. I've just heard of him. But anyway, back to this Lin Kuei thing. Why do you want me to go?" Brianna asked. "Inferna, there is no time to explain. When we get there, you will be told everything, I promise," Sky said, pushing Brianna out the door. "Okay," Brianna said and walked outside with Sky. A door that led into a great, swirling blue light appeared in front of them. Sky grabbed Brianna and pulled her in with him.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Brianna was led into a room that was filled with male ninjas that wore the same exact thing that Sub-Zero had worn, only with different colors and these people wore masks that matched. She was led to the front of the room where 3 old men sat on thrones and had welcoming faces.
"Inferna, welcome to the Lin Kuei headquarters," the first Grandmaster said brightly. Everyone was staring at her, as if they were expecting her to do something. "Sup?" she nodded to the three men. The ninjas looked at eachother and a hushed whisper was heard through the room. Brianna looked around, confused. Then, as if a light bulb had gone on above her head, she curtsied. "Sorry 'bout that," she smiled.
"Uh, yes, of course. Inferna, the Lin Kuei welcome you as the newest member of our Clan. First you must show us that it truly is you, show us your power," the second Grandmaster said. "Oh, my fire thing. Sure, no sweat," she smiled. "What do you want me to torch?" she asked politely. The Grandmasters looked past her and to the back of the room. The crowd stepped away to show that a man was standing on the other side of the room. He, too, was dressed like the others and wore orange and black. His eyes though were full of fear and shame.
"You want me to light him up?" Brianna asked the Grandmaster, shocked. "Just do it," came a voice from the crowd that only Brianna heard. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a man look at her, notifying her that it was he who told her to do so. "Ok, fine," Brianna said regretfully. Looking down she reached her arm out and pointed her finger. From it came a line of inferno, setting her victim ablaze. He screamed and ran around for about 30 seconds until he finally became nothing but ashes at the end of the hallway.
Brianna turned around and looked at the Grandmasters. They looked extremely pleased. "Welcome, Inferna, to the Lin Kuei. Sektor, show her to her chambers," the third Grandmaster beamed. The mechanical warrior bowed and took Brianna by the arm and led her to a very bare room. It consisted of a cot, a blanket, a pillow, a table, a stool and a candle with some matches. Roughly, Sektor through Brianna into the room.
"Hey, take it easy. You'll never get your heart that way, Tinman," Brianna teased the robot. "What did you say to me?" Sektor asked harshly. "Nothing take it easy, Jesus."
Sektor glared at her, then walked loudly down the hall. Brianna also noticed, though, that there was another cot, another table and stool, more matches and a candle that had been burned about halfway down. Tilting her head, Brianna looked at the other person's possessions.
"I wonder who else is here?" she thought out loud. "That would be me," came a slightly familiar voice from behind her. Standing in the doorway was a man dressed in gray and black. "I am Smoke. I take it you are Inferna?" he asked with a bit of humor in his tone. Brianna smiled brightly at him. "No, my name isn't Inferna," she admitted.
Smoke looked at her, very confused. "You're not Inferna?" he asked. "Oh no, I am Inferna, but that's not my real name," she told him. "Well of course it isn't your real name. You don't have a real name anymore," Smoke said.
"Wait a minute. Are you Smoke?" Brianna asked the ninja. He nodded, a bit confused. "The Smoke?" she asked, realizing that the man before her was more than her new roommate. She ran passed him and closed the door. The only light was coming from the candles that burned from both of the tables. Brianna pulled up a stool and sat down.
"Smoke, did you know Sub-Zero?" she asked, her eyes glowing red. "What about him?" Smoke asked bitterly. "You knew him! Sonya told me all about it! You and Sub-Zero tried to escape from the Lin Kuei, but they found you and Sub-Zero thought they killed you, but you're still alive," she said confused.
"That's right. That backstabber Sub-Zero left me there to die while he cowered to wandering the Earth," Smoke said. "Smoke, you mustn't be so hostile about Sub-Zero. He misses you dearly," she said. "And how would you know?" Smoke asked the girl that sat below him.
"Because, Subby is with the Forces of Light now. Before I came here I stayed with Rayden and the others for about 3 months. You were all Subby ever talked about. He even has a picture of you and him in his room. It's sad, really. Whenever he brings you up he gets all emotional and stuff, and then he'll talk about the Lin Kuei and get so pissed off," Brianna rambled on.
"What? You mean he still lives?" Smoke asked her, shocked. "He's alive and well, trust me," Brianna smiled at Smoke. "He has betrayed me, though. I cannot forgive him for that," Smoke said sternly, causing her smile to fade.
"But he misses you, and he feels really bad about leaving you. It was all just a big misunderstanding. Here, let me-"
"Enough," Smoke said simply. "You need to go to the arena after you change," he said, and walked out of the room. Inferna sighed. "Well, if that other place I was at before wasn't a total hell hole, this is gonna be."
THE END
..or is it? If you're not satisfied with the ending, read the sequel, The Lin Kuei. Thanks for reading!