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mediocres-writing-blog · 2 months ago

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Mortal Kombat: Enenra's Shadow part 2

Chapter 5: Betrayal and redemption

Before they could start arguing, out from behind a tree appeared a portal, out of it stepped Damashi, dressed sharply as usual as he looked down at Viktor.

DAMASHI: And who's the one who defeated the target?

Smirking beneath her mask, Breeze stepped forward.

DAMASHI (smiling maliciously): Masterfully done, Breeze. Now, to discuss your payments.

He responded, stepping back into the portal. Jay paused, their jaw clenched slightly as Damashi vanished back into the portal. Breeze, holding her head a little higher, gave the others a small, cocky glance before stepping through. Jay took one last look at Viktor—still unconscious, breathing shallow, a small line of blood tracing down from his temple—and followed them in, their gut twisting. Back inside the strange space of Damashi’s lair, the air grew colder, heavier as Nitara leaned against a wall while the other mercs stood. Viktor’s body was laid on a stone altar, surrounded by ghostly glyphs, glowing faintly.

DAMASHI (to the mercs): You’ve earned your reward, of course... but first—he and his demon must be prepared for the ritual. There’s... more use in him yet.

BREEZE: Oh?

She asked, tilting her head.

BREEZE (curiously): what kind of ritual?

Damashi smirked menacingly, his earrings dangling in the ear.

DAMASHI: Havik, bring him to this wall.

Havik, albeit reluctantly, placed Viktor's barely alive body against the wall, magic chains wrapping around his arms. Viktor then woke up slowly looking around in total shock.

DAMASHI: I shall separate the demon from this Earthrealmer. It will take some time and it will be extremely painful, but it will work.

Viktor shook vigorously, trying to break the chains with the little strength he had.

HAVIK: Ahem, our payment?

DAMASHI (chuckling): All in good time, Havik. Now then...

The spell around Viktor's hands tightened, leaving him thriving in pain as more golden chains appeared around his neck, Jay looked on in horror.

JAY: Hold the fucking phone, you never said you'd torture them!

DAMASHI (coldly): Torture is such a human word. This is separation. A necessity. You wouldn't understand the art behind it.

Viktor let out a guttural yell, his body thrashing as the magical restraints dug into his skin, glowing brighter with every surge of resistance. Enenra’s voice echoed faintly in his head, pained, but still present.

JAY (angrily): This wasn’t the deal, Damashi! You said capture—not mutilation!

DAMASHI (turning slowly): And you said you were loyal. Tell me, Jay… when did you grow a conscience?

Jay’s hand clenched around the hilt of her blade, her eyes shifting between Viktor—now gasping, struggling to even speak—and the smug figure of Damashi, who was raising a glowing hand toward the boy’s chest.

BREEZE (calmly): If you can’t stomach it, leave. This is what you signed up for.

JAY: … No, it's not.

In a flash, Jay unsheathed her sword and stepped between Viktor and Damashi.

JAY (furiously): You’ll stop this or i'll stop it myself.

Damashi sighs, turning his gaze to Havik, Nitara and Jay.

DAMASHI (unimpressed): Kill her.

He uttered as Nitara sharpened her claws, Havik ripped his own arm off and Breeze cracked her neck. It clearly isn’t looking good for the adventurer. However Jay, the quick thinker that she always is, dashed at Damashi, grabbing his wrist as he fired off a portal at a wall. Jay jumped into the portal, flipping everyone in the room off before it closed. Damashi sighed, reopening the portal before turning to the mercenaries.

DAMASHI (dryly): Find her and bring her to me. She will face judgement.

HAVIK (even dryer tone): Jay’s pronouns are they–

DAMASHI: JUST GO!

The three mercs went into the portal, going after the Earthrealmer and leaving in the room only Viktor and Damashi, who then looked over at the spot where Viktor had been chained, his eyes narrowing slightly at the scorched markings left behind from the disrupted spell.

DAMASHI (quietly): No matter. You can’t run, and most certainly cannot hide

Damashi looked at the clock on the wall, adjusting his earrings as he ripped open a portal in front of himself after placing the book he used to seal the two.

DAMASHI: In time, I will return. Don't bother breaking out. You know you can't.

He spoke menacingly, stepping through the portal which closed on itself in seconds. Viktor then looked down, before speaking weakly. Viktor barely looked around as he struggled against the chains before whispering to Enenra on his shoulder.

VIKTOR (weak tone): Hey... You alive?

ENENRA (slithering out slowly): uhhh... Just barely.

Enenra then turned to the chain admiring it.

ENENRA: Fascinating...

As soon as his tendril touched the chain, it burnt him, the demon gasped in pain.

ENENRA: GAH, MOTHER OF GOD!

VIKTOR: Don't tell me. It's holy magic or some shit.

ENENRA: most certainly.

The two groaned, clearly in desperate need of a plan of escape asap.

VIKTOR: Hey, man. I got a plan.

ENENRA (in Viktor's head): what's the plan, kiddo?

VIKTOR: What if you stretched out and grabbed that book?

ENENRA: ... Really?

VIKTOR: I didn't say it was a good plan! Besides, do you have any better ideas?

Enenra sighed, stretching out from under Viktor's dirty jacket, slithering out and his tendril just barely pulling the book down onto the floor and dragging it back to them slowly.

ENENRA: Great! Now, I need you to read.

VIKTOR: Why?

ENENRA: holy magic doesn't work when demons do it.

VIKTOR: I think you're doing this because you can't read--

ENENRA: Do you want to stay here and get tortured?!

Viktor rolled his eyes with a sigh, as Enenra flipped through the pages and found the unsealing spell. Viktor squinted at the ancient, twisted language scrawled across the parchment. The letters shimmered and moved like worms under his gaze, and it took every ounce of focus he had not to pass out from the effort.

VIKTOR (groaning): Christ, it’s like an infant wrote this…

ENENRA (urgently): Just repeat after me.

Viktor took a shallow breath, feeling the chains around his wrists pulse tighter as if sensing their plan. With no time to waste, Enenra read the tomes aloud and Viktor muttered after him, the syllables thick and sticky on his tongue:

ENENRA & VIKTOR (struggling): ... Karrie… Arnett... Roh’gen.

The moment the final word left his mouth, the book snapped shut with a deafening clap, sending a pulse of dark energy through the room. The chains binding Viktor and Enenra hissed and began to corrode, black smoke rising from where the magic was unraveling. The shackles cracked violently before finally shattering in a spray of golden sparks. Viktor slumped forward, gasping for air but smiling wildly through the exhaustion. Enenra laughed weakly inside his head, slithering tighter around Viktor’s arm like a bracer.

VIKTOR (grinning through his teeth): Never... doubt... my half-assed ideas…

ENENRA: C'mon, kid. We gotta move before Damashi figures out we just flipped him off from his own home…

Viktor nodded, and the two started running around, trying to escape from the lair, taking down whoever stood in their path. While the two plan their escape, Melisa and Nico wander around the marketplace alongside a few Special Forces soldiers wandering through the streets. After a while though, the soldiers wandered off, splitting up as they continued to look for a kid with pink hair. Before the caped crusader could sit down and talk with Melisa, the two were surprised by the general of Outworld’s army, who the moment of being noticed, grabbed Red Robin and put him against the wall.

AMARA: Well, if it isn't the Red Robin. Never got to thank you for almost having me lose my rank.

Nico stood against the wall, squirming and barely speaking as general Muchacha Amara choked him.

ROBIN: Muchacha…! Good to see you too…

Melisa looked at the scene, feeling like she should do something, but just admired what stood before her eyes. Muchacha Amara then turned her head to face the earthrealm woman, looking at her disrespectfully.

AMARA (unimpressed): And what are you? His wife?

MELISA (sarcastically): And what are you? His ex?

Muchacha let out a hardy laugh, half turned to her as she still held the masked man against the wall.

AMARA (smiling almost sadistically): Please, I’d rather eat horse shit than ever date this vile cretin.

ROBIN: Damn… that's probably the closest thing you’ve done to damage since–

Muchacha then pressed him harder against the wall.

AMARA: Bitch, I'm talking!

The caped crusader coughed, as Melisa approached Muchacha, speaking almost formally.

MELISA: To answer your question, yes, he’s my husband. And if you’d be so kind as to return him to me, I won't have to remind you why Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Muchacha looked down at Melisa, looking like she’s checking her out before scoffing and letting go of Nico, dropping him to the floor. As Nico rubbed his neck, Muchacha leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smiling at the earthrealm woman.

AMARA: I’m getting the impression that I’ll like you a lot.

As Muchacha praised Melisa, the caped crusader caught his breath, he turned his gaze to the general, clearly not in the mood for this.

ROBIN: If you’re done hitting on my wife, it would be nice if you could help us out.

Amara giggled, turning to the crusader.

ROBIN: Anyways, Melisa, this is Muchacha Amara. General of Outworld's armies. Amara, this is Melisa. The single most beautiful woman from Earthrealm. Now, the point…

AMARA: Alright, alright. What’s this about, shorty?

Robin turned to her, sounding slightly offended in his reply.

ROBIN: First off, how dare you, i'm a confident 5’9.

Melisa chuckled, shaking off the dust from Red Robin’s feathered cape.

ROBIN: Second, our kid is missing and we could use all the help we can get–

Muchacha stood there in silence, snorting and busting out in laughter, after hearing Robin mention “their kid”. She wiped a tear out of her eye, looking at the two.

AMARA (laughing): Oh my, thats the best joke you’ve said so far!

He looked at her with a glare that could kill a man, to which Muchacha scoffed.

AMARA (chuckling): Oh, you’re dead serious.

She then cleared her throat, standing at the scene like she owns the place.

AMARA: Alright, very well. What does your child look like?

MELISA: Male, black jacket, pinkish red hair, a little taller than Nico.

AMARA: Well, I’ve heard of people talking about it while checking on the damage after a fight happened. The biggest piece of property damage delt in the fight was a cart of cabbages. To say the least, if your kid has any kind of firepower, he has a lot of restraint.

ROBIN (interested): Really? What else did you hear?

The general then stroked her chin, looking at the floor as if trying to remember. She then snapped her fingers.

AMARA: There've been reports that someone that fits that description had entered the living forest.

ROBIN: Then let's get going.

Thus spoke the caped crusader, and the three, followed by a group of outworld guardsmen headed towards the living forest.

Meanwhile, back at the plot, Enenra and Viktor broke out of a tower-like structure, Viktor’s jacket slightly stained in blood and after a few minutes of running, they took a break against a tree.

VIKTOR: Are we good?

ENENRA: I think we good.

Enenra looked behind the tree, scanning for any threats. He then turned back around and faced the protege.

ENENRA: We good.

Viktor sighed, looking down at the floor. He then heard rustling in the bushes, jumping right back up. However, instead of a large beast or another assassin or something. But rather, out of the shade of the trees appeared Jay, who stood across from Viktor in an awkward silence. Viktor looked at them coldly, his fist clutching and eyes expressing pure anger, and before soon, Jay spoke aloud.

JAY: Viktor, listen, I–

VIKTOR (cutting Jay off): No, YOU listen! You worked for that sadistic bastard with an earring fetish and the second he begins torturing me, which may I mind you was the most painful thing that had happened to me, you fuck off!! And here I thought that human solidarity bullshit was…

Before Viktor could finish his somewhat reasonable crash-out, his expression softened at the sight of Jay from across him. Enenra rested on Viktor’s shoulder, as the two gazed at Jay, who stood with their muscles tense and lifting their glasses up just a bit, wiping tears from their face.

JAY (through tears): Yes, everything you said is true, but I swear to God, I didn’t know he was gonna torture you. I understand if you want to snap my neck, but just know that I’m sorry!

Viktor’s expressions changed drastically, shifting between soft and furious. That is when Enenra whispered into his ear.

ENENRA (whispering to Viktor): I sense they speak the truth, kiddo. Breathe calmly.

Viktor’s fists trembled before opening as he took a deep breath and pulled some of his hair back, exhaling as he spoke.

VIKTOR: Listen, I’m sorry for going off on you like that. You’re clearly more than what you show on the surface, but I’ll accept you for who you are if you don’t try and kill me.

He replied, turning his head to the side as he pulled one of his hands out of his pockets and extending it to Jay, who looked at his and sniffled, taking it gladly as she looked up at Viktor, who stood just a little taller than Jay, softly smiling at one another. Viktor then looked to the side, before darting back at Jay.

VIKTOR: This is a little awkward.

JAY: Yeah.

The two then stepped away from each other, their hands breaking apart while still standing somewhat closely.

ENENRA (almost desperately): Oh, come on, you couldn't have made the moment at least a little more exciting? You’re a coward, Wilson. A coward.

VIKTOR: I have got to teach you about boundaries.

Jay giggled. However, all good has to be ruined by responsibilities.

HAVIK: How cute…

Before long, Havik walked over to them menacingly, Nitara swooped in from the sky and Breeze skidded across the ground, wind blowing forward from behind her.

VIKTOR: As much as I actively dislike you right now, that was an awesome entrance.

BREEZE: You’ve seen nothing yet.

Enenra began to shield the protege’s body like a suit of armor, striking a pose as a bit of Vitkor was heard in the demon’s voice.

ENENRA: Let’s give ‘em hell!!

JAY (standing beside Enenra): Hm.

With that, Jay drew her blade, Havik cracked his knuckles and Nitara and Breeze headed straight for Enenra. As the Wind-born fugitive and Vaeternian jumped the demon, Havik’s armored fist collided with Jay’s steel.

HAVIK: Why? Why would you turn against me, Jay? Does chaos mean nothing to you?

JAY (pushing Havik back): Isn’t the point of chaos to fight against your oppressors? Choose your own path?

The kleric chuckled.

HAVIK: Perhaps you have learned something.

With a quick slice to the shins, Jay knocked Havik to the ground, standing over him with their sword pointed at his throat, Light being reflected from their glasses.

JAY: I know, I can't kill you, but I might as well prove to you I’m right.

Havik chuckled sadistically, his fingers wrapping around Jay’s blade as he pulled himself up (sounds hot) and flicking blood off his hand as he looked down at the adventurer.

HAVIK: I suppose you do have a point.

Meanwhile, Viktor/Enenra fought for their freakin’ lives. Blocking Nitara’s slashes and dodging Breeze’s strikes. With one fowl strike, they send Nitara flying away into the canopy, then, after listening to the wind, anticipated Breeze's strike, stopping her hand and sending her sliding across the floor. Enenra then spoke aloud, his voice a mixture of worry and judgement.

ENENRA: You fight not because you are loyal to that sorcerer, you fight because of anger. Because of a possible… grief… it clouds your judgement and guides your fists. Why?

The windborn fugitive stood back up immediately, the mask that she wore covered most of her furious expression as she spoke.

BREEZE: You think you know pain? My people are dead, courtesy of Shao Kahn and his accomplices. And now he is dead, so that guilt falls on his daughter, who gets off scott free. That's why I work with Damashi. He offers me to put her six feet under and inflict on his dead soul what he has done to me. She will pay for her father’s crimes.

Enenra then revealed half of Viktor’s face, his expression softened as he heard Breeze’s reasoning. Their guard drops for a moment before regaining it and continuing to fight her, pulling most of his punches. Viktor and Enenra were blocking and dodging all of Breeze’s strikes, doing as little damage as possible while Breeze kept trying to force through the two, briefly stopping and sidestepping.

BREEZE: I don’t need your pity, fool. So stop holding back!

Breeze went to swing once again, but Viktor and Enenra stood before her, grabbing Breeze’s fist mid-punch as their voices overlapped one another as they replied.

VIKTOR/ENENRA (softly): We don’t want to fight you for our own lives, we will stop for the sake of your own. You fight for another’s sake, and you let your anger blind you. This isn't a pity, Breeze… it’s respect. Empathy, even.

Then, Breeze froze, their words cut deep into her soul. Enenra then retracted into the fist that held her hand, letting Viktor speak for himself.

VIKTOR: Enenra claims himself weak compared to his own kind and I once had my entire arm shattered into bits. Our combined pain doesn’t compare to yours, I won't pretend like it does, but we know for a fact that you aren’t a bad person, it's just a shit world.

Enenra then pulled his arm behind Viktor’s back like a shadow as the protege let go of Breeze’s fist, who pulled it back slowly. She then turned her back to the star child, who looked at her in an awkward silence, before half-turning, speaking to Breeze in a quieter, more sheepish tone.

VIKTOR: I’ll give you time to think alone. I’ve got plans for that Damashi guy, but I won’t force you into any of them.

The wind-born fugitive did not answer at first, half turning and watching as the boy began to walk away from the corner of her eye. She moved her mask down, showing the lower half of her face as she spoke.

BREEZE (gently): You're really hard to hate, you know that?

Viktor winked and smiled at her, Enenra staring back at Breeze as the kid spoke.

VIKTOR (cheerful but somewhat quiet): I try my best to be likeable to people. It doesn't work most of the time.

Breeze breathed out, half a scoff and half a sigh, looking over to Viktor, who's pinkish red hair almost shimmered with the sunlight before approaching the boy, not out of anger or annoyance, but comfort. Something she hasn't felt in ages. She grabbed the pouch around her hip, reaching in it and grabbing a small box before tossing it to Viktor, who blinked in surprise as he caught it.

BREEZE: Top tier medicine. I feel like you earned it, kid.

Viktor smiled and blinked, putting the meds in the inner pocket of his jacket, looking up at Breeze with a soft smile.

VIKTOR: I'll keep it in mind... Friends?

The protege extended his hand to her, smiling at her as his fingers shook slightly in pain while Enenra peeked from the kids shoulder. Breeze looked down at his hand, taking quick notice of his shaking fingers, looking at his hand long enough for the host to start worrying she’d rip it off. But then, she took his hand, clasping it as she looked up at him with hope in her eyes.

BREEZE: Yeah… friends.

Viktor smiled gently at her as Enenra was gushing behind him. Meanwhile Nitara, Havik and Jay watched along at this sight.

JAY (pouting): Awww, that’s cute.

NITARA: I think I’m going to be sick in the mouth.

Breeze then let go of Viktor’s hand and stepped away.

BREEZE: I should get going now…

VIKTOR: Breeze, wait!

Breeze stopped before she had the chance to head off, turning around so she can speak to Viktor.

BREEZE: Yes?

The kid scratched the back of his head before replying a bit nervously.

VIKTOR: I have something planned for Damashi and I can use the extra muscle, which you certainly don’t have a shortage of.

He spoke, his voice nervous but steady as Enenra wrapped around his neck while Havik, Nitara and Jay stood behind him and chattered

BREEZE: You really like pushing your luck, don’t you, kid?

VIKTOR (shrugging): Hey, it's your choice.

The wind born fugitive scoffed as she looked to the side.

BREEZE: What the hell? I’m in.

Enenra then looked up at his host, tilting his head.

ENENRA: So, Viktor, whatcha got in mind?

JAY (in the back): Yeah, what's the plan, V?

Viktor then turned over to the mercenaries, the people who once tried to smoke him. And now, he stood in front of them like they were his friends. Family, even.

VIKTOR: Right. Step 1: Havik, Nitara and Breeze take me to Damashi while Jay stays on the sidelines.

BREEZE: If a little strange, understandable.

JAY: Easy enough.

NITARA: What's next?

Viktor then turned his back on the crew, speaking nonchalantly with his hands at his hips.

VIKTOR: Step two: I have no idea.

After Viktor's statement, everyone stood around in a deafening silence. It was quiet for a solid six seconds. Enenra then spoke out.

ENENRA: ...Come again?

JAY (blinking): You what?!

Viktor slowly turned back around, a sheepish grin on his face.

VIKTOR: Step two is flexible! I have a baseplate for it, but I haven't exactly run through all the options.

NITARA (deadpan): Brilliant. We’re all going to die.

Jay then stroked their chin, looking up as she put her hand down.

JAY (enthusiastically): I think it's worth a shot. IF it's as flexible as you say.

VIKTOR (respectfully): Thank you Jay. Now here’s the rest of the plan…

He replied, stepping just a bit closer to quietly explain the plan.

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