"Again, Francine."

Francine sighed, feeling the weight of Shang Tsung's threat hanging over her. He forced her into this grueling daily training, threatening with a bizarre request of her soul hanging in the balance. As Shang Tsung exhibited to her, Francine brought her hands together, and an icicle formed out of her palms. Shang Tsung took the icicle out of her hands, inspecting it with a critical eye.

"It is larger than the others," Shang Tsung clutched the icicle, shattering it into a million pieces. "Still weak…"

Francine looked down as she rubbed her hands together. She tried again to produce a satisfactory icicle.

"I think this one might be it!" Francine said, her once feminine voice replaced with a deep, hoarse voice.

Unfortunately, Francine dropped the icicle on the stone ground. She gritted her teeth and picked up the pieces.

"What am I doing wrong, man? You make this shit look so easy!" Francine said.

"You are holding your hands improperly."

"What do you mean 'improperly'? I'm doing it just like you!"

Shang Tsung walked behind Francine, pressing his body against her back and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Here."

Shang Tsung snaked around Francine's hands, forcing her palms upwards. He rubbed her wrists with his thumbs and pointer fingers, causing Francine to shiver. A giant icicle eluded her palms; its frosty, blue color encapsulated it.

"Ok, this is definitely the best one." Francine held the icicle up to her eyes. This one was a darker color than the previous ones. Shang Tsung took the icicle out of Francine's hands. Pressing down on it didn't break it this time. He smiled and rubbed Francine's head.

"Your voodoo magic did something to me," Francine said.

"It is not voodoo magic." Shang Tsung said.

"Dude, you're talking to someone where in their culture, if you wanted to curse someone, you'd just leave a chicken head at their doorstep."

Shang Tsung squinted his eyes as he returned the icicle to Francine.

"It's a Cape Verdean thing," Francine said.

"I can see that…"

"Nuh, huh! I'm pale as hell." Francine poked her arms. "I think you're darker than me."

Shang Tsung hummed in agreement as he walked away from Francine. She watched like a hawk to see where he was going, dragging the icicle across her cheeks. She sees Shang Tsung return to the room. He held a skimpy outfit in his hands.

"What's that for?" Francine said.

Shang Tsung held the outfit before Francine, and her eyes widened. A red mock-neck sleeveless tight-fitting dress appeared in one of her hands, and flat red shoes appeared in the other.

"Your new clothing! It will suit you better than your current outfit."

Francine covered her mouth, holding back a laugh.

"You can't be serious, right?" Francine flicked the shoes. "Like, dresses aren't my thing."

"That does not matter. Wearing a dress enhances any woman's appearance."

Shang Tsung held the dress before Francine's body, causing her to look down and frown.

"Not this woman! Besides, I'm not a doll." Francine crossed her arms and turned away.

"Oh, but that is not all to this outfit, see," Shang Tsung pulled out a pair of sheer black gloves and tights. "These are my favorites."

"Like I said, I'm not wearing them."

Shang Tsung closed his eyes and hummed, dropping the dress, tights, and gloves. He took the pair of shoes into his hands and clapped them together. Ice blades appeared out of the bottoms of the shoes, looking as if they could cut through steel.

"... That's pretty cool," Francine said, pointing at the shoes. "But still! I'm not wearing these clothes."

Shang Tsung dropped the shoes on the ground, walking forward and rubbing Francine's head again.

"I can not see why," Shang Tsung gripped her head. "Could it be because you are afraid?"

"The hell you are talking about? Are you scared of what?" Francine said.

Shang Tsung's hand slid to Francine's mask, playing with the attached brown straps.

"What could happen next? You are only alive because of the soul I imbued into the mask." Shang Tsung pushed her head forward until their faces were inches apart. "Unless you want me to remove your and the other soul from your being."

Francine grimaced at this comment, unsure whether to say anything. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

"I thought so. Here." Shang Tsung let go of Francine's head and handed her the outfit.

"Why me?" Francine said, staring down at the clothing.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"All this crap you've done to me, I can't even describe half of it. Just…why?"

"It is quite simple: you are a powerful person. Look at you; you could handle my experimentation."

"Did I actually die?"

Shang Tsung ignored her question, walking out of the room.

"I'm talking to you, Shang Tsung! Did I actually die?!" Francine threw the clothes at Shang Tsung.

He didn't turn around; instead, he only acknowledged Francine with a thumbs-up. He paused at the door, swiftly pivoting to meet her gaze.

"Francine, you are always welcome to leave." You are not my puppet, but you are not my equal, either. To me, you are simply a project.

"Then how do I leave?!"

"You need to put some work in…"

"How?! You aren't telling me how!" Francine rubbed her mask, removing it to reveal her skinned face.

Shang Tsung snapped his fingers; a key appeared between his fingers. He pulled a box out of thin air, dropping the keys into the box.

"Let us play a little game; I will put this box in a random spot outside. If you can find the box within, let us say, five days, I will allow you to return to your home."

"Alright, let's get to it!" Francine said.

"Not so fast, we are not done. If you do not win this game, I will take your soul and the soul within the mask."

What! This fucking–

"Hmm…fine!" Francine extended her hand. Shang Tsung grasped her hand, digging his nails into her ice-cold skin.

"Deal."

Shang Tsung opened a portal next to himself and placed the box on what appeared to be a rock shrine.

Ok, Francine. Five days, life or death.

Francine sprinted out, taking a left turn. Shang Tsung suddenly caught Francine by her collar.

"Wrong way, that is a dead end." Shang Tsung said.

"Huh?"

Shang Tsung turned her to the right, pushing her forward. Francine sprinted again, but–

"Not that way either, Francine!" Shang Tsung ran down the hallway, seeing Francine staring at a stone wall, another dead end.

"I know you made this place, but Jesus! Why are there so many dead ends?!"

"If you somehow find the box even within five days, then the Gods have taken pity on you." Shang Tsung opened another portal through the wall and shoved Francine through it. She looked back as the portal closed.

"Good luck!" Shang Tsung blew a kiss to her.

Francine rolled her eyes, trying to hide her smile, catching the kiss in her hand.

"Umm, what now…"

A vast, dark blue-ish gray ocean stretched as far as the eye could see. Sharp rocks littered the sea, and their shadows spread across its surface. The sunset blinded Francine, so she covered her eyes.

"I'm on an island? Since when the fuck?—" Francine continued to stare over the ocean, her thoughts racing to put two and two together.

"Nah, I can figure this out later. The key is way more important right now." Francine walked along the shoreline, and the water hit her shoes.

"Where can I even find it…" She stared at the palace. The same sharp rocks in the ocean hung around the palace. She turned to the sea again, noticing a boat hanging behind the stones.

"... Ok. Focus."

The sun continued to set as Francine walked across the beach, kicking a pebble along the sand. Within the blink of an eye, the sunset.

"I mean, where did he even put it…all I saw was that tall stone statue thing." Francine squatted to pick up the stone, and a pair of feet appeared before her.

"I thought you're gonna leave me alone, Shang Ts–"

Heavy breathing loomed over Francine as a rotten corpse stared into her eyes, reaching to pick her up. Francine shrieked as she flung the stone at the zombie, but it didn't deter it. She fell on her bottom as the zombie shuffled towards her.

"Stay the hell away from me! Shang Tsung didn't tell me there were zombies!"

Francine scrambled to her feet as the zombie tried to leap onto her. Thankfully, she avoided the zombie's attack. As she backed away, more heavy breathing spread across her neck. A pair of leathery hands clawed at her arms, holding her against its body.

"Let go of me!" Francine said.

More zombies surrounded Francine, and the smell of rotting flesh filled her nostrils. She rolled her eyes back, trying not to throw up from the foul stench. Different hands rubbed her body, squishing and pulling the skin and flesh. One zombie shoved two fingers into Francine's mouth; it overwhelmed all her senses. She couldn't take this torture anymore. She threw her head forward and choked on the zombie's fingers. Puke spewed from her mouth, coving the zombie's fingers and herself. The zombie holding Francine close to its body grazed its teeth along her neck.

"Meat…" the zombie said.

"What–" Francine said.

"Meat!" The zombie sunk its teeth into Francine's soft flesh, drawing blood out.

Francine screamed at the top of her lungs, trying to turn around and hit the zombie in the head. She ripped her arm out of the grasp of the zombie, elbowing its face. She punched the zombie again and again; it grunted after each punch. Another zombie leaped onto Francine, dragging her down into the sand. It gripped her hair. The zombie scratched her back, ripping through her hockey jersey.

"No! Get." Francine punched the zombie's jaw, snapping it in half. "Off!"

Francine jumped to her feet and ran up one of the sandy hills, tripping as the sand dragged her down. The hoard of zombies followed suit. As Francine reached the edge, she looked over. Sharp rocks greeted her from the bottom.

Holy shit!

"Meat!" the zombies said in unison, lunging at Francine.

She shook her head, looking over the edge, and jumped, screaming as she plummeted to her death.

…

It's the fifth and final day of the "game." The sun rose through the sky as the clouds disappeared, birds chirped, and leaves rustled. Somebody grasped the side of a cliff, lifting the person to the edge.

"This gotta be it." Francine's clothing was beyond repair. The only thing intact was her skates.

She looked around, seeing a stone statue hidden behind boulders. She searched each of the stones, but no box. Francine fell to the ground as her feet gave in.

"To hell with it. I'm never finding it."

Shuffling her body to the side, she clutched her knees together.

"He put it on a rock…wait!" Francine snapped her head to her left, eyeing the stone statue.

The small box greeted her. Her mouth dropped open. Francine ran toward it and picked it up. Just before she opened it, familiar footsteps came towards her, accompanied by clapping.

"Hm, it seems you found it," Shang Tsung said.

Francine smiled as she lifted the box before her face. Shang Tsung walked over to her and took the box from her.

"Here's your," Shang Tsung opened the box. "Keys!"

"What…" Francine stared at the keys, a pair of car keys.

"I must say, if there is something I deeply miss about Earthrealm, it is undoubtedly my car." Shang Tsung twirled the keys around his finger.

Francine shuffled over to the man, her arms spread apart. She pulls Shang Tsung into a tight embrace.

"Please, let me out of this place." She shoved her head against Shang Tsung's chest. "Please…"

Shang Tsung chuckled as he rubbed Francine's back, tracing circles into it.

"Perhaps…serve under me, and we will see."

"Serve under you?"

"Yes, you will serve under me to show your devotion, less I take your soul."

Shang Tsung pinched her skinned face, which is still soft and doughy. Francine sighed.

"Do I have to wear the dress and shit?"

"Yes."

"Fine."

"Excellent. Trust me, you will look beautiful in it." Shang Tsung opened a portal next to them.

…

"Does the dress feel proper against you, Francine?" Shang Tsung smiled, rubbing the red fabric of the dress and tracing down to her belly area.

"You know, it does. I feel," Francine looked up at Shang Tsung. "Sexy!"

"Then you shall be 'sexy'!" Shang Tsung placed his hands on Francine's shoulders.

"But foremost, you will be my helper, understand?"

"Yup!" Francine moved her hand to Shang Tsung's. "You promise I'll return to Earthre–Earth if I help you?"

"Of course. What sort of man am I to break a contract?" Shang Tsung clutched Francine's hand.

"A dickhead!" Francine said.

That word took a back Shang Tsung, but laughed. Francine joined in with his laughter.

An alliance has been born, born out of a simple promise.