Chapter III

Cracks

There was beauty in Outworld. Although the realm was notorious for its more macabre landscapes, Kitana knew of places and locations where loveliness thrived—usually far away from Shao Kahn's seat of power. There were gardens and fields and waterfalls. Majestic mountains and great rivers.

She thought of those places as she wandered the garden outside the palace. The flowers around her were a dazzling display of color that was almost overwhelming. The fauna was lush and healthy. Bright pink cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. In her millennia living in Outworld, she never knew so much color could exist in nature.

Edenia was everything she could've hoped for. When she looked out her balcony, she longed to see the city beyond the palace wall. She wanted to meet its people—her people—and walk among them. She wanted to experience the ocean and travel to the farthest reaches of her homeland.

But in the days since the ball, she didn't dare stray far the palace. As beautiful as everything seemed, she couldn't shake the certainty there was something artificial about it all. As much as she wished to accept this perfect life she seemed to have, she feared the moment she did—the second she let her guard down—the trap would be sprung or, at the least, she would finally wake up.

It was a nameless dread that haunted her every step even though the only tangible thing to cause concern was the increase of Seidan Guards around the palace. She hadn't learned the details, but apparently the diplomatic talks went well. Seido and Edenia were developing an alliance, and as a token of good faith, the Orderrealm sent some of its elite guards to act on her father's behalf.

She knew of the Seidan Guard. They were said to be zealots fanatically devoted to their belief in order. Or that was how she remembered them anyway. Maybe that was more of the fever dream from her coma? Thus far, the Seidans hadn't done anything except stand around and make sure everything was tidy. If Edenia was at peace, how much of a danger could they be?

Everything seemed perfect. Her father seemed like the good man she always hoped he would be. Her mother seemed to be the noble woman she believed she was. Jade was happy. Visitors to the palace were content and pleasant. There was peace between the realms, and she was engaged to wed Liu Kang in a few short months.

Even Mileena …

The ground began to shake. It wasn't a violent rumble but a slight tremor that felt like standing on a wobbly table. The trees swayed, and she heard the palace groan from the vibration. Birds squawked and scattered to the air.

As suddenly as it came, the shaking stopped and Kitana was left standing in the garden perplexed and surprised. She didn't even have time to think this was the moment her perfect dream life would end. Once it passed, all that remained was an eerie silence as the wind drifted through the trees and stillness returned to the land.

"That was odd."

She went back to the palace, and her thoughts returned to Mileena. As uncomfortable as she felt around her mother … as convinced as she was something rotten was hiding beneath the surface … it was probably Mileena's presence that seemed the most wrong.

In the few days since she awoke, her sister had been nothing if not friendly, energetic, and loving. It was a jarring switch from the hateful, demented clone she'd known her as for so long. It felt uncanny, as if Mileena was possessed or acting out a role.

There were times Kitana caught a lost, haunted look in her sister's eyes. Once or twice, she'd seen her wandering the halls like she didn't know how she got there or was expecting to find something. During supper the previous night, she seemed to drift away a few moments, as if dreaming while awake.

In the past—or the dream, or in the real world … she wasn't sure what to call it—they shared a bond. As much as they hated one another, their souls were linked. Did that hold true now? Was Mileena sharing her intangible dread? While Kitana was in her coma, did she sense the terrible visions she had?

Or I'm being paranoid, she thought. Maybe she's just flighty and prone to day-dreaming?

Jade was usually the one she turned to in times of doubt, but she'd been occupied with Kotal and other matters. Maybe it was worth getting to know her sister finally? If this was real, and everything Kitana knew and feared was just a fever dream, who better to go to than her twin sister?

When she reached Mileena's chamber, however, she found only Seidan Guards posted in front of the shut door. As she approached, one of them stood in her path.

"State your name and business," he said.

"I'm Kitana, and I wish to speak with my sister."

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that."

"What do you mean you can't allow that? Let me talk to Mileena."

The guardsman was stoic, like a plank of wood. He showed no sign of moving and said, with a stiff, monotone voice, "Princess Mileena is not to have any visitors. Please leave."

"Excuse me? Who do you—?"

"Princess Kitana." Another Seidan approached. He had long, white hair with a stern face and towered over his fellow guardsmen. "I am Hotaru, Lord Commander of the Seidan Guard. What is the trouble?"

Unintimidated by his height, she replied, "I wish to speak with my sister. By apparently I am forbidden?"

"Yes," said Hotaru. "I'm afraid your sister violated curfew last night. She has been confined to her chamber as punishment. You needn't fear. She will be freed in due time."

"Curfew?" she repeated with a sneer. "Confined to her chamber? On who's authority do you lock a Princess of Edenia in her room like a child?"

"The King's, of course. We would never presume to take such action without his approval. If you have an issue with our doing our duty, perhaps you should take it up with your father."


Takeda's bladed whip cracked, and the training log burst into splinters. He pulled and twisted, and the second and third logs did the same. Finally, he thrust he arms out and twin whips plunged into the final log. When he pulled, the wood tore in half. As they snapped back, the boy looked to his master for approval.

Scorpion was indeed impressed. Though young, Takeda showed great skill and discipline. With time and refinement, the son of Kenshi Takahashi would be a formidable Shirai Ryu.

"Are you well, Grandmaster?" he asked. "You seem distracted."

"I am," he replied. "Forgive me, Takeda. I suppose I'm still out of sorts from my illness."

With each passing day, Scorpion's memory grew cloudier. His death, resurrection as a spectre, and years hunting those who wronged him—once so sharp and stark—faded more and more. As he slowly accepted his surroundings and basked in the comfort of his family, the pain and fury seemed as but a passing dream.

In their place, his real memories came back. Yes, the Shirai Ryu and Lin Kuei had been at peace for decades. Hanzo Hasashi earned the right to become Grandmaster when the old one, his mentor, died childless. Kenshi—who was not blind after all—entrusted his son to the clan's care, and Scorpion took it upon himself to train the boy personally.

And there was no Quan Chi. He didn't exist.

"Lady Harumi mentioned you were plagued by terrible visions," Takeda said. "Do they still haunt you?"

"Just the feeling now," he said. "It's so strange … to experience a lifetime in your own mind only to find it was moments to everyone else. It feels like walking on unsteady ground."

"I've had dreams like that. But they go away quick enough when you stop dwelling on them."

He nodded and patted the boy on the shoulder. It was difficult to just let go of the rage that had driven him. To simply accept that Quan Chi—the man responsible for so much pain—was nothing more than a bad dream. Some deep part of him still feared there was a catch or threat yet unseen.

But perhaps Takeda was right? The late afternoon sun gave the woods a subtle golden glow. The warm breeze was fresh, and his wife and son were waiting for him back home. He was Grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu and respected by his allies. Life was good, and maybe it was time to allow Scorpion a rest and be Hanzo Hasashi once again.

He was about to suggest they return to the house, when the ground began to quake. The trees swayed and crows scattered to the skies. Instinctively, he reached for his kunai and prepared for attack. But after a few moments, the rumbling stopped and the world was still again.

He looked to Takeda, who seemed equally surprised. "Must've been an earthquake, Grandmaster."

About to sheathe his weapon, he scanned the woods. Indeed, it likely was just an earthquake and not even a strong one at that. But it gave something away.

"We're done for the day, Takeda. I'll speak with you tomorrow."

The boy bowed and bid farewell. When he was out of sight, Scorpion gathered his things and made like he would return to the house. He moved slowly and deliberately, his body tense and ready to react, but nothing happened. But however muddy his memories were, his instincts and senses were sharp as ever.

He threw his spear into the woods. The kunai plunged into a thick tree, sending splinters of bark flying. He held the rope tight in his hand and kept a second kunai ready to throw in his other.

"That wasn't an accident," he said. "And neither will the next one which will hit you."

After a brief pause, the woman emerged from the brush just beneath where he threw the spear. She was dressed in leather with red trim, and her face was marked with black tattoos by her eyes that resembled hooks or sickles. A white streak contrasted her black hair, and she appeared with her hands up.

"Scorpion," she said. "My name is Sareena. I need your help."


"Are you aware Mileena has been locked in her room by the Seidan Guard?"

Kitana found her father in his study, surrounded by books and maps and parchments. In the corner was a large globe of Edenia, and she hesitated upon seeing it—having never seen her homeland mapped out like that before. Jerrod sat at his desk, reading a book with the Mortal Kombat symbol embossed on the cover and drinking wine.

He blinked at her, surprised by her tone. "Hello to you, too, 'Tana," he said. "And here I thought you'd be concerned about the earthquake."

"The Seidans have confined Mileena to her chamber and aren't allowing anyone to see her."

"Yes, I know. Commander Hotaru informed me she violated curfew last night. I'm sure she simply forgot, but then … you know Mileena."

"So you're okay with the Seidans arresting your own daughter? And since when do we even have a curfew? You're going to allow them to just—"

"Slow down," he said, standing up. "Mileena isn't under arrest. She'll stay in her room for a day or two, nothing more."

"But what about this curfew? And what other laws are the Seidans going to be enforcing?"

"As you know, we're engaging with the Orderrealm in diplomacy. And as part of that, we've agreed to enact some new policies based on their suggestions. It's nothing severe, nothing is written in stone. We're not being forced into anything, and the Seidans understand many of these new laws won't be permanent."

Kitana bit her lip and shifted her weight. It sounded reasonable enough. Even innocent. But the idea of allowing the enforcers of the Orderrealm to hold any sway made her skin crawl. She remembered the stories she'd heard about Seidan Guards and the punishments they administered for even the most minor infractions.

Jerrod saw her discomfort. He walked to her and rubbed her arms. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize this would upset you so."

His touch was gentle, but firm. His voice, warm and soothing. Is this what having a real father was like?

"I just," she said. "I don't trust Seido."

"Why not?"

"They're zealots. Fanatics. They worship strict, sterile order like a religion."

"How do you know this?"

"I just do."

A kind, but weary smile came to his face. Placing his arm around her shoulder, he said, "Walk with me, Kitana."

They left his study and made their way to the throne room. Lining the walls were murals of past Kings and Queens of Edenia. Great men and women of power and beauty. Looking at them, she was struck by the history of it all. These were her ancestors—a legacy she'd never known but spent part of her life fighting for. Or thought she did.

"You're still troubled by your visions," Jerrod said. "You don't trust anything you see."

"I'm sorry," she said. "It was all so real. It's all I remember."

"I understand. I do. Someday, when it is your time to rule, you'll see danger everywhere. You'll question and second-guess everything … even in times of peace. I wish I could say you wouldn't, but it comes with the pressure of ruling. I've had plenty of terrible visions in my time."

"You have?"

"Indeed, I have. One in particular I will never forget. It was so vivid. I once dreamt a terrible evil emerged from Outworld to take our home. It cast me aside, and I was helpless to stop it from claiming you and your mother."

He stopped and stared into the distance, as if he was having the vision right there.

"It was such an awful feeling. To only watch and be unable to do anything while you and Sindel were …"

A chill went through Kitana's blood, like someone walked over her grave.

"It was just a dream," he said. "But it definitely left its mark on me. We may be at peace, but I know there's always the possibility such an evil could appear. So please indulge me, daughter, if I think it's worth sampling Seidan ways. Maybe their beliefs in order will make our defenses all the stronger?"

They reached the throne room, which was a great hall with a domed ceiling and stone columns. The throne was a grand seat of gold, lined with rubies and jade emeralds. Beside it was another chair, for the Queen, and at either side were seats for the Princesses.

She'd dreamed of seeing the Edenian throne in its glory—before Shao Kahn. She always knew, even if she succeeded in overthrowing him and restoring her home realm, she could only create an approximation of it.

"Father, I … I understand feeling protective of our home. Believe me, I really do. But … Seido? We have the strength to resist any threats on our own. Our Earthrealm allies will stand by us. We don't need those fanatics."

He chuckled as they passed the throne on their way to the balcony overlooking the sea. "You're so like your mother, you know that?"

She said nothing.

"You are," he said. "You have her beauty. You have her wits. And you have her heart."

She didn't want to argue, but she shivered at the idea. The memory of that terrible day on the Sea of Blood still too fresh.

"But …" He placed his hand on her cheek and smiled. "That hard head of yours? You got that from me."

She laughed, and the warmth that came with it was a relief she hadn't felt since seeing Liu at the ball.

"I would tell you to let go of your visions or dreams or … whatever it is you saw. I would have you be at peace and accept what you have in front of you. But if you weren't a stubborn, tenacious … pain in the ass, you wouldn't be Kitana, would you?"

He held her by the shoulders and looked at her with such pride.

"You see something broken," he said. "And you have to fix it. You see something wrong, you have to make it right. That's always been you, 'Tana. That's who you are …"

He trailed off and had the same lost, haunted look in his eyes as Mileena. He gave a slight squeeze as if making sure she was really there in front of him. He looked at her like it was the first time he'd ever seen her.

"… my girl … this is who you've become."

The moment passed. He shook his head and cleared his throat.

"Now listen," he said. "If you really want something to fix, try talking to your mother. Don't think I haven't noticed you've been avoiding her." Upon seeing the frown that provoked, he continued, "Kitana, I understand the coma and your memories have left you on edge, but it's cruel what you're doing to her."

She grumbled and shifted her weight. "Father … I …"

"Let me worry about the Seidan Guard. Talk to your mother."


Scorpion kept his hand at his kunai as the strange woman came forward. She was pale and sweating—appeared to be wounded—but it was the symbol of the Brotherhood of the Shadow tattooed on her arms that drew his attention.

"Y-you don't know me," she said. "At least I don't think you do. I'm a friend of Sub-Zero."

He remained still, ready to throw. "What do you want?"

"I think he's in danger. He … I'm not sure how to explain it."

"Why come to me?"

"I didn't know where else to go. The Lin Kuei, they … someone's turned them against me. I'm afraid to go to the Special Forces, and the White Lotus don't know me. Kuai Liang respects you and …" She shrugged. "We both hate Quan Chi. I figured that has to count for something."

Mention of that name stopped him cold. It wasn't possible. He'd finally begun to put that behind him. Quan Chi was just his dream, wasn't he? No one should even know his name. "What did you just say?"

"What?"

"There is no Quan Chi," he said, the old anger taking hold. "Quan Chi doesn't exist."

Sareena looked lost. She paled, and despair came to her eyes. "No, no … not you, too," she said. "You have to remember. You, of all people! He-he's the reason Bi-Han killed you! He murdered your wife and—"

He snatched her by the neck and snuffed her into the ground. She struggled as he pinned her down and held the kunai to her face.

"You watch your tongue! Harumi and Satoshi are alive!"

"Please!" she said. "I'm not your enemy! I'm just trying to understand what's going on! For all we know, Quan Chi is—"

He squeezed her throat tighter and pressed her into the ground again. "There is no Quan Chi!"

"Then explain why I have the Brotherhood's symbol branded onto me!"

"You will not take my family from me!"

She roared. It was an inhuman sound, like metal grinding against stone. Her eyes turned red, and she shoved him off with shocking strength. Scorpion braced himself for her to press the attack, but Sareena simply stood her ground.

"I'm not here to fight you, and I'm not here for your family!" Her breathing strained, and a pained look came upon her, causing her to sink to one knee. "Please. I'm hurt. Something has … something is wrong, and I don't know what to do."

Although he kept the kunai in his hand, Scorpion eased his posture. "Who are you?"

"I'm a …" She hesitated. "I was a servant of Quan Chi and member of the Brotherhood of the Shadow. But I betrayed him and abandoned the clan. When I found a way to escape the Netherealm, Sub-Zero granted me sanctuary with the Lin Kuei. I'm not … I'm not a member, but I help them when I can."

It was familiar. He never knew of Sareena, but he recalled Quan Chi often had female assassins who did his bidding. But that was all in his dream! How could this woman know?

"I just returned from reconnaissance," she continued. "But when I went back to the Lin Kuei, no one recognized me. They thought I was trying to infiltrate them and attacked me. And … and Bi-Han is alive somehow."

Mention of Bi-Han brought a chill to his blood. Bringing up Quan Chi was one thing, but no one should know what Bi-Han meant to him. "Why wouldn't he be alive?" he asked, despite knowing the answer.

"You killed him."

He shut his eyes and rubbed his temples. This didn't make sense. If it had all been some fever dream brought on by food poisoning, how could this woman he never met know so much about it?

It was a dream because he remembered the life he had now. He remembered training Takeda. He remembered becoming the new Grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu. It was maddening, and he felt as though his head would split in two.

"There was this woman," she said. "She calls herself Ashrah. She dresses in white and seems to be a priestess. I don't know how, but I think she's involved. She convinced the Lin Kuei that I was a threat. She—"

She shuddered and crumbled to the ground. Scorpion checked on her and at last saw the wound on her back. She was cut from shoulder to shoulder, and though she wasn't bleeding, it was a sickly shade of purplish-red. Thin veins were visible, and it looked as though she was infected.

"How did this happen?"

"Ashrah," she said. "She has a strange sword. I don't know what it is, but … I've never felt anything like it. It burns."

The wound was unlike anything he'd ever seen. It might've been poison, but he couldn't guess what kind would cause this. She needed help.

And he needed answers.

"Come," he said, helping her to her feet. "I'm taking you with me."


There was another tremor before sunset. Kitana felt it as she stood on the great balcony watching the sun go down. Apparently, there was a small earthquake several miles to the south, which is what the initial rumbling was. Aftershocks lingered for the rest of the day, but she paid little mind. They grew briefer and less noticeable as they went on and didn't diminish the beauty of the scene.

The sky turned a glorious shade of gold and red, and the horizon shimmered as day gave way to twilight. The breeze came up through the garden, bringing a fragrant aroma to the air. Faint music from the village below could be heard—some kind of festivities by the sound of it.

"There hasn't been an earthquake around here in centuries."

Sindel tried to act natural, but approached as one would an animal they hoped to catch and feared would flee. Her steps were slow and posture stiff, but there was tentative hope in her eyes.

Kitana sighed as her mother stood beside her at the balcony railing. Her impulse was to walk away. But she clenched her fist and let it come. If this was real, she needed to settle things with her mother or at least take the first step.

"Do you remember the quake that hit when you and Mileena were still children?" Sindel asked. "It was late, and it woke your father and me. Then you two came running in. Mileena thought it was the funniest thing, but you … I'll never forget: you weren't afraid, you were outraged. You demanded to know who was responsible and what we were going to do about it." She smiled—warm, motherly, and trying so hard to be reassuring. "You've always been willful, Kitana. You always were—"

Kitana felt her hand on her shoulder and flinched. She didn't mean to. She didn't want to hate her mother, but being in her presence and hearing her voice, she could only think of what she did. She remembered her mother's hand at her throat and the awful glee in her eyes as she squeezed. She remembered the relish in her mother's voice as she described the anguish she wanted her to suffer.

An uncomfortable silence followed, and she hoped her mother would leave her. But Sindel said, "The healers prepared us for the worst. They warned us your memory might be lost … assuming you even woke up. They said you might be different. That you might not be the Kitana we knew.

"But nothing could've prepared me for this," she continued, her voice trembling. "Nothing could've prepared me for my own daughter looking at me like I was a monster. That every time I went near her, she would act like I was going to hit her."

Kitana said nothing. She kept her eyes shut and just wanted her mother to go away.

"Kitana, talk to me! What could you have seen to make you feel this way about me? Please, I want to understand."

She held herself so tight, her fingernails dug into her arms. Where should she even begin? If it was all just a dream, what use was there in explaining Shao Kahn and his invasion of Edenia? Did she need to address her mother's alleged suicide and the pain and confusion it caused before explaining how it was all a lie?

"You …" she began, taking a breath. "… hurt me. You … you wanted to hurt me. You enjoyed it. I thought … I thought you were my mother … that you loved me and … you took everything I hoped for and … and you tore it down."

When the tears started, she realized why she'd been avoiding it all along. Even after it was over at Kronika's Keep—after she learned Shang Tsung killed them—she had put up a brave face, hoping if she didn't dwell on it, it wouldn't hurt as bad. Because she knew once she started, it would come pouring out like an open flood-gate.

"I don't understand why," she said, her voice cracking. "If … if you just wanted power, I … but you wanted to hurt me. You wanted me to suffer, and I don't know what I did. Why … why did you even have me if you … why do you hate me so much?"

She broke down into uncontrollable sobbing. Sindel took hold of her and refused to be pushed away.

"No, no, Kitana … I could never hate you." She held her daughter's face and wiped the tears away. "I would never hurt you. Never. How could I? You're my girl … my blood. It was a nightmare. A terrible nightmare. But it's over now. You're safe, I promise."

She hugged her tight, and Kitana forced herself to hug back. She wanted to believe it was true. She wished it had all been a bad dream, and that this was her mother. That her father was the man she spoke to earlier, and that even Mileena was truly her sister.

She wanted it more than anything, and that frightened her most of all.

There was the sound of thunder, and the air chilled. She opened her eyes and suddenly they weren't in Edenia anymore. Above them was the purple sky of Outworld, and the balcony overlooked the desolate Wastelands.

She looked at her mother, and her heart went into her throat. Sindel had changed before her eyes. The royal gown was gone, and it its place was the purple and black garb of a fighter. Dark make-up contrasted how ghostly pale she'd become, and a black streak marked her hair.

Her eyes were blank white and had an otherworldly glow, but Kitana saw such sadness in them. Despite her sinister appearance, Sindel looked full of sorrow. She held her daughter's hands and said, "I abandoned you, Kitana. I'm sorry. So sorry."

"Mother … I don't …"

"Can you ever forgive me?"

Thunder rumbled, and suddenly they were on a ship in the middle of a vast ocean of blood. When Kitana looked, her mother changed again. She appeared to be her normal self—the black streak was gone, and her eyes were visible—but the mournful demeanor disappeared. In its place was a sadistic glint Kitana recognized all too well.

She tried to pull away, but her mother tightened her grip on her hands. Sindel grinned and said, "There you are."

Like the crack of a whip, her hair snapped around Kitana's neck. Kitana struggled as it squeezed her throat and pure terror grabbed her heart.

"My Kitana … you'll never be free of me. I'll always find you. You'll always be my Kitana …"

Pure panic hit in a way she'd never experienced. She screamed and thrashed and didn't even realize she was on the floor with her mother trying to calm her down.

"Kitana! Kitana, it's okay! You're safe!"

She was back in Edenia on the palace balcony. The sun was setting, and the sky turned to maroon with the first stars shining. The smell of the garden was in the air, and Sindel was back to normal.

"You blacked out," Sindel said. "You just … I don't know. You blacked out and started screaming. Let me—"

"Don't touch me!" she shrieked, backing away. "Don't touch me! Please, don't … don't come near me."

Sindel stared at her. She looked wounded and heartbroken. Without saying another word, she shook her head and left Kitana alone on the balcony where she stayed for some time, shaking and trying not to throw up.


The fact Sareena openly admitted she was an assassin was not lost on Scorpion. And although she claimed to be a friend of Sub-Zero and ally of the Lin Kuei, there was always the likelihood she was deceiving him. He didn't trust her, but he was still taking her to his home and wasn't going to take a chance.

He took her to the outside shed beneath the outer patio. Not quite a basement, but it was beneath the house and facing the woods as opposed to the front gate. He wasn't sure if he should expect intruders—she did say someone tried to kill her—but if someone was following her, she would be out of sight.

Using the rope off his kunai, he bound her wrists behind her back. To her credit, she didn't argue or resist. "I know what I am," she said, tonelessly.

"I'll be back shortly." He turned to go but stopped himself. "If you're lying to me … if any harm comes to my family … do I need to tell you how far I'll go to get my revenge?"

"I know who you are."

He didn't see Harumi or Satoshi when he went inside, which he felt was for the best. Even if Sareena was no threat, the last thing he wanted was either of them to get involved with whatever was happening.

He found bandages and looked for anything that could clean her wounds. He wasn't sure how much good it would do, as he didn't know what he was dealing with, but once she was patched up, he could try getting answers. He wasn't sure how much he'd learn, given even Sareena didn't seem to understand what was going on, but better than nothing.

I could contact Kuai Liang, he thought. He won't know she came to me, and I could see for myself if something is wrong with him.

As he turned to go back outside, terrible pain shot through his body. He clutched his neck and felt a strain on his back. It was enough to blur his vision and make him nearly fall to the floor. Next came the burning. It was as if the flesh of his face was on fire. He groaned and gnashed his teeth as the burning grew more and more intense.

He stumbled into the bathroom, not wanting Harumi to see him like this, and ran water over his head. It did nothing to ease his pain, which felt like someone grinding a knife into the base of his skull, and he was on the verge of screaming out in agony.

Thunder rumbled, and the room shook. When he looked up, he wasn't in his home anymore but a desolate chamber somewhere in the Netherealm. A blasted sky slashed lighting out the window, and Scorpion realized his hands weren't covered in water but blood. His clothes were ragged and filthy, and he looked as though he'd just been through a war.

Gazing on his reflection brought the worst horror. His face—the face of Hanzo Hasashi—was gone. In its place was a wretched, bare skull. He tried to scream, but only a guttural, inhuman noise emerged and blazing hellfire erupted.

"Hanzo! What's wrong?!"

At once, he was back in his home with Harumi cradling him. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

"It's okay," she whispered, gently rocking him. "It's okay … I'm here."

Fear was not something he was used to—much less sheer, sudden terror. Not just seeing what he had been again, but to be reminded how easily his beloved could be taken from him. He looked at her—her ivory skin, brown eyes and raven hair with the rose she liked wearing in it—and felt sick at the idea of losing her again.

"I …" she said. "I came to tell you have visitors, but … you need to get into bed. You're still not well."

"Wait," he said, regaining his bearings. "Wait, I'm okay. I just need a moment."

He got to his feet and slowed his breathing. In the mirror, he was himself again. Clear water poured from the faucet, and he splashed some on his face. He didn't know what that was, or if it was connected to Sareena, but it did nothing to ease his dread and doubt.

"Visitors," he said. "Who's here?"

"I think it's Sub-Zero's brother. And some woman named Ashrah. They said it's important."

End of Chapter III