Chapter Twelve

I awoke to find myself in a laboratory. Strapped to a cold, metal gurney. My wrists were bound and I wasn't able to move much.

I scanned the room, searching for a means of escape.

To my right, was a small tray table anchored to the gurney. It contained a few medical instruments. One, in particular, caught my eye.

A scalpel.

I tried extending my hand toward the tray, as far as I possibly could. My fingers fell just out of reach.

I tried again, forcing the strap to stretch as far as possible. I managed to hook my index finger onto the side of the tray and pull it towards me.

The tray came forward and I grabbed the scalpel. My only problem was I'd only be able to cut the strap with the same hand to which I was bound. I had to use the dexterity in my fingers to cut through the strap and also not slice my wrist in the process.

Holding the scalpel awkwardly, I began to cut.

Slowly. Patiently.

To my surprise, the strap started to split. I kept moving back and forth meticulously until I had a good enough partition. I placed the scalpel down, made a fist, and pulled my forearm upward.

The strap tore apart!

Using my free hand, I grabbed the scalpel and went to work on the other hand.

Then my ankles.

I climbed off the table, onto the floor. The cold floor chilled my feet.

Where am I?

I tried to recall the last thing I remembered. Just flashes came to me. Being dragged through a portal. A hallway. My… mother!?

Clang!

A sound caught my attention from the other end of the lab. I went over to investigate. I turned a corner from where I was being held. Walking over, I found a Tarkatan lying on a gurney.

Dead.

Wires protruding from its body. I followed the wires to a cylindrical tank that held a woman inside. Her eyes were closed, sleeping. She had jet-black hair, similar to mine. She was partially naked, save for some loose bandages that covered her wrists, breasts, genitals, and parts of her legs. I peered closer, noticing our facial similarities.

She looks… like me.

Suddenly, her eyes shot open! They looked red. Almost reptilian.

She caught my gaze and her mouth formed an evil smile, opening to reveal razor-sharp teeth. Teeth just like a Tarkat–

Before I could finish the thought, she lunged toward me!

I leaped backward, knocking over a table. Thankfully, the glass was strong enough to prevent her from escaping.

"Isn't she beautiful?"

A voice came from behind me.

I spun around in surprise. It was my mother, Sindel. But she looked… different. She was donned in a purple outfit and long boots. Her hair was now completely white.

"Mother?" I cried. "Wha– what have you done!?"

She ignored my question and entered the room. Her eyes remained focused on the tank that held my new doppelganger.

Sindel stared at her lovingly.

"Kahn and I named her Mileena," Sindel explained. "A perfect combination of you mixed with Tarkatan DNA. She's fast. Deadly." She turned to face me, "And an obedient daughter."

I could no longer contain myself.

"You're insane! You're not my mother! "

Sindel laughed maniacly.

There was no way for me to escape. I was trapped here. A prisoner to Shao Kahn, Sindel, and now, Mileena, a corrupted perversion of myself.

I stared back at the glass in horror.