Chapter 2- A Stranger in the Darkness
Night had fallen upon the two travelers. They hadn't spoken for a long time. Li Mei spoke just as the two were crossing from an open field into a dense and compact forest.
"Blue?" Li Mei called. "Yes," Blue replied sweetly. "Have you ever thought of finding a companion?" Li Mei asked, " A male companion." Blue stopped walking. "Yes, I have thought about that… a lot, I guess I can't because if I don't find a good one… the right one it would be like putting a band-aid on an open wound that won't heal. Plus it kind of hurts to pull band-aids off, " Blue replied. Li Mei though about what she had said, it made sense but Li Mei replied with a simple "oh".
The two girls had wandered deep into the forest. The light from the pale moon was lost in the leaves of the numerous trees. They stopped walking.
"I don't think we should venture any deeper into this forest, " said Blue , " We can't see and I'm afraid." "We have no choice, we have no shelter and nothing to sleep-, " Li Mei immediately stooped talking. They perked their ears up as they heard the rustling of leaves harshly conflicting with the silence they were accustomed to. "Who goes there?" Blue demanded. The rustling stopped. 'The silhouette of a tall man was barely visible. He lit a match and, in turn, lit a big candle which released ample light.
The man wore a blindfold. "My name is Kenshi young ladies, why are two vulnerable little girls out so lat at night in such a dangerous place?" Kenshi asked. "The real question is: Why do you have a blind fold on?" asked Blue. Kenshi looked in her direction. "I was blinded by Shang Tsung's trickery, my ears are my guides now, " Kenshi said ', " That is of no matter now. In what direction are you headed?" Li Mei sympathized for Kenshi, she too knew Shang Tsung. Blue knew about a man named Shang Tsung but she did not want to pry into Kenshi's business as Li Mei had done before to her.
"We are headed to outworld, " Li Mei said. Kenshi smiled. "I am also headed to outworld, " Kenshi said , " If I may accompany you, I will get you to the portal with one night's rest and one day's journey." Blue and LI Mei agree that Kenshi would do well as a guide and protector, Kenshi would accompany them on their journey to outworld.
"Yes, you may accompany us Kenshi, " said Blue , " Is this the one night of rest?" "Yes, " Kenshi replied , " I know a way out of this forest, in the direction of the portal, the meadow that I use for water and rest is just out of the forest bounds. At dawn, we will begin our day of journey. "It sounded good to Blue, she needed lots of rest.
Kenshi, Li Mei and Blue began to walk in the direction that Kenshi had indicated. After about five minutes of intense waling, Kenshi spotted the exit of the forest. It was only about ten minutes away. "Kenshi, how do you see the forest exit if you are blind?" asked Li Mei. "I have trained to use my other sensed to compensate for my blindness, " Kenshi replied, " I can sense that the exit is not too far off." Sure enough, Blue truly spotted the exit after only three minutes of walking. "There it is!" exclaimed Blue , " I see the exit!" All three of them began to run. The exit became nearer and nearer when a stranger stepped out of the shadows and into their path.
Kenshi's candle illuminated the stranger's horrible face. His mouth was a tangle of terribly serrated, sharp teeth.
Kenshi was the only one with enough courage to speak, perhaps it was because he want' aware of the monstrosity that stood before them. "Who goes there?" Kenshi asked. "My name is Baraka you blind imitation of a warrior, " Baraka stated with enthusiasm. Kenshi seemed to know him. "Baraka is it?" Kenshi asked , " I was traveling to outworld just to kill you, now that Onaga is defeated and Shao Khan's power is not what it used to be, I feel there is no need for Tarkatan trash like you." Baraka stood bewildered. "You wish to challenge me, Baraka, leader of the Tarkatan hordes?" Baraka asked indignantly. "Yes, " Kenshi replied slyly , " I shall start with you and the Tarkatan hordes shall be no more!" Kenshi withdrew his katana from its sheath; it had an odd reddish glow. Baraka sis not attack Kenshi, instead he violently grabbed Blue by her waist, with both hands he lifted her off the ground. Blue did not scream or mo, she just looked down at Baraka with a stunned look. Kenshi knew exactly what was happening and Li Mei withdrew her weapon.
"Put her down Baraka!" Kenshi exclaimed , " It is I that you must confront, not a mere child." "Hey, " Blue said reproachfully , " I'm already seventeen." "Silence!" Baraka barked , " Silence, or I will puncture all of your organs!" Blue looked down. There were tow thick blades protruding out of Baraka's forearms, they were not yet fully extended. If they were fully extended they would both have entered and exited Blue's abdomen.
Blue was not afraid of death, she was a believer and she knew that her soul would travel on to a much better place. It was just that she wasn't quite ready to die. She took a deep breath, her eyes were filling with hate, and she knew she had to do something about this unusual position. She kicked Baraka in his stomach as hard as she could, which was not very hard. Baraka let out a loud growl as he let his grasp on her go; he flew backward and landed on his back. Blue landed on her stomach but she quickly got to her feet.
"Run, both of you must run to the meadow, " Kenshi yelled. Baraka stood firmly one the ground now. He got into his silat fighting position, yet when Kenshi looked back at him he ran off of the path and into the forest. Kenshi looked back at the two girls. They both looked terrified but Kenshi could not see their faces he could only sense their fear.
"I have led you both to the meadow, use the stream for water, use the grass for rest, continue your journey without me, " Kenshi sad. "Why must you leave us now?" Blue asked "I must go after Baraka he must meet his demise, rest for one night, travel in this direction from dawn until dusk. You will reach the portal," Kenshi informed them. Kenshi ran where he had heard Baraka run. His katana was extended before him. Li Mei and Blue ran out of the forest.
"Are you alright?" Li Mei asked Blue. "Yes," Blue replied, " I'm fine. Let's go find the stream, I think it would be nice to sleep by the stream" Li Mei did not answer nor agree. They trudged along looking for a sign of water; the grass they waked through was knee high.
"Hey," Blue sang, "I've found the water!" She ran to the small river, the grass wasn't as long next to the stream. Li Mei caught up with her, they both drank, they laid in the grass hoping to fall asleep.
"I can't fall asleep," Blue said, "What if Baraka comes after me? What if Kenshi didn't find him?" "Don't worry, we're safe here, besides you have to go to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us," Li Mei comforted her. "Okay, I'll go to sleep," Blue said. She closed her eyes. The music of the night played on her ears along with the running water. Sometime passed until Li Mei spoke again.
"Blue?" Li Mei asked. "Hmmm?" Blue asked lazily. "Blue isn't your real name is it? I mean Bluesong isn't your real name is it?" Li Mei pried. "No…it isn't my real name,' Blue answered. "What is your real name," Li Mei continued. "My real name is…well, that really doesn't matter," Blue said half-heartedly, "I changed my name to forget myself; I used an Indian name since I'm part Indian. I was going to name myself pain but I thought people would respond even worse to that name than Bluesong." "Oh, well…Bluesong is a nice name," Li Mei sympathized, "Bluesong is a fine name."
The both drifted off to sleep. The night was calm and Baraka did not come.
"Blue, wake up," Li Mei said, "It is time for us to begin our traveling. The portal is not too far away. I believe hat if we begin now we can complete or journey even before dusk." "Okay," Blue whined, "I'm up, let's get a move on. I want to get to outworld." "Why, are you competing in the tournament?" Li Mei asked. "What tournament?" blue asked Li Mei. "Mortal Kombat," Li Mei answered, "Are you going to defend earth? The tournament was once hosted by Shang Tsung, now we don't have to worry about him, we have to worry about Quan Chi." "Who is Quan Chi?" Blue asked. "He is an evil sorcerer. I was once asked to participate in a fight to free my people by Quan Chi. He is as vile and disgusting as they come," Li Mei explained. "If I ever meet Quan Chi, I will say hi for you," Bluesong joked. "You probably will get to meet Quan Chi," Li Mei responded, "When you do, don't accept any of his offers." Blue felt a little cold, she had a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach after what Li Mei had just told her but she just shook the feeling off. They took one lat look around for food, bathed a little in the small river, and set off on their journey. "Li Mei?" Blue called. "What is it?" Li Mei answered. "Please don't tell anyone my name is not really Bluesong when we get to outworld," Blue pleaded. "Okay," Li Mei said playfully, "I won't."