Epilogue

Ahri looked down at Nate’s form, still crackling with violet-colored lightning.

“I know it doesn’t seem like it, but someday you will thank me for this.” Ahri said as she fell through the portal, but a part of her couldn’t dispel the knot of anxiety in her stomach.

The portal swallowed her up and spit her back out in mountainous terrain. She was back in the NetherRealm, somewhere in the Northern mountains from the looks of it.

She took out a piece of parchment from her pocket and un-furled it. As she began to chant the words on the scroll, the leathery scroll lit up with a golden hue. When she finished reading the scroll blazed into a brilliant golden fire so bright it forced her to close her eyes, the bright light enveloped her whole body.

When she opened her eyes again the mountains were gone. Instead, she stood before a large golden-colored two-story home. The architecture of the building would be described in the human world as neo-classical. The golden pillars and dome-shaped building inspired by the roman architectures of humans past history.

She climbed up the steps and knocked on the door. After a minute of silence the wide doors opened, revealing a bronze-colored giant in a suit several sizes too small.

“Your Royal Highness.” The man bowed.

Ahri ignored the man and walked through the familiar home until she found herself in a large chamber. There was one throne in this room, and no other furniture. The throne was empty but Ahri moved towards it and kneeled.

“I’ve returned Master.” She said to the empty throne.

Ahri waited in silence for her Master to respond. The throne was a magical artifact so wherever her master was, he’d receive her greeting.

After an hour of kneeling in the silent room the space around the throne began to distort. Suddenly, with a flash of golden brilliance a demon arrived, sitting on the throne. This demon had violet-colored skin with golden horns that curled downward like the horns of a ram.

Its large frame filled out the throne completely. It looked down on the figure kneeled before him.

“How’d it go?”

“Everything went according to plan.” Ahri said, although she couldn’t help mask the tinge of doubt in her voice.

The demon noticed the inflection in her voice. “What troubles you?”

Ahri remained silent as she struggled with her feelings.

“Out with it.” The demon said impatiently.

“Do you think he’ll survive the lightning?” She asked

The demon shrugged. “Whether he survives or not, it’s all up to him. We’ve done all we could.”

“If he survives you think he’ll want revenge?”

“OF course, he’ll want revenge. You went too far.” The demon said leaning forward, nose flaring in anger. “If you would’ve stuck to the plan then there’d be no real harm. Instead you chose to slaughter his family.”

Ahri clenched her jaws in anger, her nose flaring. “So, he gets to keep everything, while gaining everything?!” She shouted.

She knew she’d stepped out of line that day but seeing Nate’s house, his happy life, it flipped a switch within her. She became so angry so fast, before she knew it, Nate was flying out the window to escape the carnage she wrought.

“You’re angry with me?”

“Of course, I’m angry with you! I was in the same situation as Nate, yet what have you done for me dad? Did you protect me? No, you let that bastard capture me and torture me for centuries!”

The demon leaned back and sighed. “Out of all my children, you’ve had it the hardest Ahri. For that, I am sorry, it was a grave error on my part. I thought my human children would be off limits to my enemies so when I found out about you... I’m sorry I was too late. But why would you put your little brother through the same torture you’ve been through? I’d understand if one of my full-blooded children did that, but you?”

Ahri went silent as the anger simmered down. She was partially ashamed of her actions. Nate was the little brother she was supposed to protect. When she found out about him she felt so happy, but after seeing him with another family, she felt immeasurable jealousy and hatred well up from within.

After a few minutes of silence the demon spoke again, “It’ll be fine. I did what was best for my son. He might hate us, but that’s not important. What’s important is that he’ll have the strength to fend for himself now.”

The demon stood up from the chair and went over to the window. He crossed both hands behind his back as he stared off into the nearby forest scenery.

“Maybe he’ll understand, maybe he won’t. That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I gave him the ability to survive. The world is changing and soon the big players will be making a move. What kind of father would I be if I didn’t prepare him for what’s to come?”

The demon turned around and looked at Ahri. “Your other siblings are still protected by the clan. You and Nate are the only children I worry about. You have enough strength to protect yourself but Nate… can you imagine the brutality he’d face if Archangel Raki had gotten a hold of him? I failed to prepare you and look what happened. I won’t do the same with Nate, whether he hates me or loves me, it comes second to his safety.”

…

Michael Truman sat behind a large oak desk in his study. Around him were dozens of members from the press, cameras all focused on him.

On the surface, he looked calm, but deep down he was nervous. Nervous about what would happen next. The events that took place in San Diego, regarding the Black Watch Asylum, have spread all over the news. Not only that, but videos have surfaced about hunting games where prisoners were hunted like game, all within the Asylum.

San Diego had been quarantined as a desperate act to stop the spread of the zombie virus but people everywhere were acting out in rebellion, in fear. Today he had to deliver a message to try and qualm the anger and fear, but he wasn’t sure he would be able to pull it off.

Michael looked to his right and saw his wife with her arms wrapped around his daughter. He felt a surge of warmth strike through him. There were countless rumors about his daughter and how she came out of the Asylum, these rumors he would have to address. But for now, seeing her alive, made Michael feel like he could handle the mountain of problems on his shoulder.

“We’re all ready Mr. President.”

Michael blew out a breath to relieve the pent-up tension. Then he nodded to the press, indicating he was ready.

“We’re live in 3…2…1…”

“Ladies and gentleman, my fellow Americans, and to anyone who can see or hear the sound of my voice. Today, you have all seen or heard of the tragedy that has occurred in San Diego. About the horrors that was revealed to us when the doors of Black Watch Asylum opened. Or the countless videos that’re floating the web about the hunts that have taken place within the Asylum.

I regret to inform you that it is all true. Monsters, disguised as humans have created the Asylum, and within the Asylum committed countless inhumane acts against the defenseless prisoners. For those of you who survived the Asylum, I am sorry. I am well and truly sorry for not realizing this atrocity sooner. For I was unaware that monsters existed. That the fairy-tales we told our children were in fact true stories. But now we know the truth.

Now I ask you, my fellow Americans, to come together in this time of crisis. We have been separated for too long, but this event has shown us that the division that separate us, be they geographical, race, religion, or wealth, they’re all insignificant. We are all one people, belong to one race; humanity, and tonight and in our future, we will all need each other if our species is to survive and overcome this trial.

The world is different now. Man is no longer alone at the top of the food chain. We dare not hide the events that have happened that day because this even is not something we alone can handle. Let every nation know, whether they wish us well or ill, that monsters exist. I shall not remain in ignorance of the threats that linger in the dark no longer.

To overcome this trial, it will take all of us. Many of you have seen my daughter on T.V. and may wonder how she could survive the infernal strain. I’m here to tell you there is no cure. My daughter survived the disease because her body was enhanced beyond human limits by one of our most expert scientists. There is hope for us, to defeat these monsters, we’re not defenseless.

And so, my fellow Americans, in the words of my predecessor: “Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country.” For we’re at war with the monsters that lurk in the dark, and to win this war we will need brave Americans who’re willing to step up in the defense of their Nation. To defend our mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. I ask for you brave individuals to sign up at your local police station, and equip yourselves with the power to fight back against those who would prey on humanity.

Finally, to the citizens of the world, I ask that all of you throw away the hatred and the division between us, for we are all on the same side. The human side. Let us throw away the borders that have divided us since the dawn of man, and let us walk-upright on the path to the future so that we may be a model for generations to come. Thank you, good night, and god bless us all.”