Into the Light - Ch. 1
By Ayame

She was dreaming again. The old familiar nightmare. No escape. The pistol. Men in green uniforms. The coldness of the dark streets in Japan. The tallest man in red, with a cape, Bison. Beating her father to death. Anger and hatred began to corrupt her. Must save Daddy ... must save ... must save ...

Suddenly, Bison reached inside of his red, gold buttoned jacket and swarmed his hand in there for a few seconds. Fear struck upon her eyes. A pistol appeared in his hand. Laughter came out from his ugly soul. "Well, you have two choices. You can give me the papers, or I can kill you and take them from you." No, no, then the pistol to Father's head. Run. Run. Fight off the darkness. It's only a nightmare. Struggling to awaken. Still no escape.

"Kill him! Kill him!" the soldiers yelled excitedly.

Daddy saw us, neighbor Liu holding on to me tightly from behind a tall building. Tears coming out like water running through the faucet. I don't want to be here. Why am I here again? I want to wake up!

Chun Li's father reaching for a knife in his hidden pocket. He managed to cut the flesh of Bison's hand and free himself of his grip.

How, Daddy? How can you hold off 15 men?

"Look what you did.." Bison licked his hand and then glanced at Dorai with hungry, green reptile eyes. "You think you can kill us all?"

Bison laughing. "I don't think so.." Gun shots fired. Daddy's blood spilling.

Helpless. He cannot do anything anymore. Just laid there.

Bison's laugh once again. Horrifying. Chun Li sobs. Liu covers her mouth. Bison begins to disappear with the soldiers leaving Dorai in the streets, half dead.

Coast is clear. Squirms out of Liu's hands. Chun Li starts running to Dorai. "Daddy!!!!!!!!" She sobs uncontrollably. Her heart shatters like spun glass.

Dorai's hand reaches up to touch her small porcelain face. Tries his best to talk. "I'm ... so sorry my little Chun." Dorai whispers. "I tried my best."

"No, Daddy! Don't say such things!" She screams. "Don't leave me!" Shamed by her selfishness. A smile appeared on his face. The last smile.

Dorai's hand falls. Expression fades. Eyes closed.

"Daaaaaddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Sound of boots walking slowly towards her. Appeared out of nowhere and grabs her by the shirt collar. "Hey look! It's Dorai's daughter!" Bison laughs with his men. "Shall we take her with us?"

"No!" Her own voice screaming. Liu, he was still hiding, and then he turns and runs away.

She tries to kick him, but her 8-year old body is no match for him. Run, run. She needs to run.

"Don't let them take me!" She stopped rocking in bed. Her head came up and she blinked and looked around, as if she had no recollection of where she was.

Just a dream.

Chun Li took a deep breath and sat huddled with her legs drawn up and her arms wrapped around her knees, closing her eyes, trying to shake the haunting sense of re-living the nightmare again. Her hands shook as she swiped at her tears and tried to stop shaking. She hated this inability to control herself after the recurring nightmare as much as she hated having to relive it all over and over - the killing of her only family, the pain of what she went through..

Then there was a knock on the door, and a maid came in dressed with an apron.

"Hi Chun Li, I just heard screams in here. Are you still having nightmares?" She asked with a worried look.

That was Lucinda, the housekeeper of the second floor. Two days ago, she had found Chun Li screaming piercingly in her sleep, when she came in to see what was wrong. After Lucinda succeeded to wake her up, Chun Li had tried to assure her that everything was ok and made up the fact that she was just under a lot of stress. The maid asked more questions but the more she asked, the more Chun Li looked uncomfortable and was unable to answer, so she nodded and left her alone.

"It's really nothing for you to be worried about, Lucinda. I'm fine." She created a barrier around herself once again. Lucinda was about to say something, but then Ken had unexpectedly walked into the room.

"Morning, Chun, I just got a call from Ryu today. I'll give you 15 minutes to get ready, then we'll go into the car and eat breakfast, ok?"

"Ok, Ken." She had called to him. "Sorry Lucinda, but I have to get dressed, will you please leave me alone?" "Of course." She tried to smile and walked out of the room.

When they were both gone, Chun Li closed her eyes. She was truly afraid of getting caught again or having Lucinda say anything to anyone, especially Ken, since she doesn't want anyone being worried about her.

Today, since Ryu and Cammy are coming, Chun Li decided to wear a lilac tank top, and jean shorts since it was hot. Her hair which was about six inches below her shoulders was put into a neat bun, decorated with hair clips.

During the ride, Chun Li stayed silent. Ken asked her a few questions here and there, but she always replied with one-worded answers. Ken debated whether he should check up on her and see if everything was okay, but the during the past few days of doing that, she always managed to smile and say "I'm fine." He sighed and decided not to ask anymore and pulled over in front of a fast food restaurant.

"Be right back, I'll go get our breakfast." After he closed the car door, Chun Li began to think about this morning. I'll need to go see a doctor and get some more pills.

When Ken got back into the car, he handed Chun Li a McDonald's brown paper bag filled with hash browns and an egg McMuffin.

"I know it's cheap, but eh … you'll like it!" He turned his keys and started driving again.

Chun Li started to laugh as she held her egg McMuffin. American burgers always looked big to her. "Smells good. Thanks Ken!" This time, the drive to the airport was a little better. Ken and Chun Li were talking more than at first. When they got there, Chun Li was walking with Ken as he knew which flights they were coming from. Good thing Cammy and Ryu are arriving at the same day. But Ryu is going to be arriving 3 hours earlier than Cammy.. .

"Excuse me, Mister." Said a flight attendant to Ryu who was asleep.

Ryu opened his eyes and look at the window. He was on land!

"Hrmm? Did we arrive yet?" He blinked a couple more times.

"Yes, Mr., I hope you enjoy your stay here in San Francisco."

Ryu thanked the stewardess, took off his seat belt, grabbed his bag, and walked out of the airplane..