Sonya changes into the disguise, and we get the location for the second fight from that bartender.  I don't like it the minute we pull in.  Marcus keeps eyeing us.  I can feel his eyes on me, as I step into my first match.  I hope they get harder than this.  I quickly disperse of the opponent, and sit back down.

            "He's watching me."  I whisper, sitting next to Sonya.

            "Calm down, he's watching everyone."

            "I'm serious.  He knows something.  Get the hell outta here, while you still can."

            "No chance.  Even if you're right, we can't leave now.  He'll kill us both.  Now, knock this guy out."  I climb into the ring.  Alright, you goofy bastard, I'll give you something to watch.  I wait for the guy to charge, and take him down in three blows.  He's out cold.

            "LET'S GO!  THEY GOT NO CHALLENGE HERE!"  As Sonya and I try to leave, two men grab our arms.

            "Marcus wants to talk to you."

            "TELL HIM MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.  LT is a busy woman," I feel something hard and metal jab into my back, "OK, maybe I can make five minutes, but no more."   The man laughs, leading me upstairs.  I fight the urge to look back at Sonya, and go in.  I find Marcus sitting behind a desk.  He looks up at me, and smiles.

            "That was a good match, Jessie."

            "The name's LT.  You deaf, or just stupid?"

            "Playing games with me isn't smart, Jessie."

            "I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm loosing my patience."

            "You're loosing more than that," I turn to the sound of the door opening, and see Sonya led in, a gun to her head.  SHIT, "And who's Carmen?"

            "She's just a friend.  Let her go."  I see the door behind him open.  OH, NO!  THAT SORRY BITCH!  I watch, helplessly, as Karen yanks the wig off Sonya's head.

            "I'm moving up in the world.  They sent in the big gun."  Sonya glares at Karen, her anger obvious.

            "Why?"  She growls, as the men tighten their grip on her.  Karen slaps her hard across the face.

            "I've waited years for this."

            "Why kill two innocent people?  Why not just try me?"

            "Because I want you to suffer.  Like I have for so many years."  Sonya kicks at her, and gets taken down hard, one of the guards kicking her in the back.  I manage to break free, and run to her side.

            "You OK?"  She nods, glaring at Karen, as I help her up.

            "You surprise me, Jessie.  Despite your mouth, you do actually have some skills."

            "I got enough to take your sorry ass."

            "I doubt it."

            "Try me."  He laughs.

            "Why?  I've got plans for you."  Sonya roundhouses one of the men.   As another grabs at her, I grab his arm, sending him flying into the wall.  We fight off four guards, while making our way to the door.  Why haven't Marcus or Karen moved to stop us?  As soon as Sonya opens the door, I get my answer.  An arm flies around her neck, and a knife presses hard against her throat.  The fear in her eyes stops me cold.  It's the guy from the alley.  THAT MUST BE . . .

            "Don't hurt her."

            "I've already done that, kid."  She closes her eyes tightly, as he rubs the blade up and down on her throat.

            "Don't kill her yet, Kano.  We still need her."

            "Yeah, I figured as much," I watch a guy move toward her, handcuffs in his hand.  I quickly move to cut him off, "I wouldn't do that, kid.  I got no problems slitting her throat."

            "Jess, don't."  She whispers, as Kano pushes the knife harder against her throat.  I immediately step back.  Seconds later, Kano shoves a handcuffed Sonya into me.  I catch her, steadying her,

            "You sonuva . . . "  Before I can move, I hear three clicks.

            "You do something stupid, she dies by his blade, or my men.  Sit down, Jess, we need to talk."

            "It's Jessie, to you."

            "Sit down, Jessie."  They shove Sonya hard into one of the chairs.  She stares straight ahead, as I sit next to her, "Do I have your attention?"

            "You got it."

            "Good.  So, how do you like my little competition?"

            "Get me some competition, and we'll talk."

            "I bet you didn't know Kano's been watching you for weeks.  He actually thinks you have a shot to win."

            "And, to think, I thought he was a complete idiot."

            "It's your silly fascination with Mortal Kombat that led him to you."

            "Yeah, I knew sooner or later Raiden would pick up on that machine, and me.  And, of course, he'd want to do something to stop me.  And, seeing your skills and your fascination with Sonya Blade, you were the obvious choice."

            "At the rate your mind works, I'm amazed that didn't take decades."

            "You think you know me, huh?"

            "I know you're a psycho with about as much going for him as a dried up pile of dog shit."

            "Don't push your luck, kid."

            "Come do something about it, bitch," He laughs, punching me in the stomach, "Is that your best?"  It better be, my stomach's throbbing.

            "Nah, not even close.  But, you proved in that alley you don't actually care about your pain.  Now, someone else's . . ." He kneels in front of Sonya.  Sonya kicks at him, and he catches her leg, hitting her hard in the knee.

            "LEAVE HER ALONE!"  I scream, trying to break free of the four men holding me.  He jerks Sonya off the chair, and begins stomping her.  I'm still struggling, as Marcus waves him off.

            "Let me explain this to you in simple terms even you can understand.  You have two choices.  You can walk out right now.  But, make no mistake, we will kill her."

            "And my REAL option?"

            "Keep putting on the show, like you've been doing.  But, if you loose even one match, they'll have to do a DNA test to ID the body."

            "And if I win, then what?"

            "Then maybe we won't kill her.  Maybe we'll just cripple her instead.  She'll never be the same, of course, but she'll survive."

            "You're a sick bastard."

            "I told you, you can walk out of those doors right now.  Leave her here to die."  I look at Sonya, who mouths leave.

            "No fucking chance."

            "I thought you might feel that way.  Take them away."  As soon as they let me go, I help Sonya up.

            "You should've walked."  They lead us down to two limos.  Shoving Sonya into one, they push me in the other.  Some yahoo gets in on my right, and Kano sits in front of me, as the limo drives off.

            "You know what's eating me.  I didn't recognize you."

            "You were looking for that face plate Kano wears in the game.  I never had one."

            "So, you've played the game.  Which version?"

            "3."

            "Really?  Have you ever seen Kano's fatality from the original?"

            "No."

            "He shoves his hand into his fallen opponent's chest, and rips out their still beating heart."

            "Sounds cool."

            "Yeah, and if you so much as TOUCH her again, I'll give you a live demonstration."  He laughs, pulling out that knife.

            "The only reason I haven't gutted you yet is because I have a small fortune riding on you, but don't push it."

            "Try me, I'm begging ya."

            "And loose my investment?  Nah.  Besides, fucking with Sonya is so much more fun."

            "Don't fuck with her."

            "Why not?  I tortured her mother to death, gutted her father like a tuna, and sliced her twin brother's throat.  I've been fucking with her since she was 14."

            'You shouldn't have told me that."

            "Why's that?"
            "Because, now, when this is over, you're gonna be lucky if all you need's a faceplate."

            "And you'll be lucky if she isn't a catatonic quadriplegic."  I jump at him, as darkness engulfs me.