by Shinn A. H.
When they got to the front of the monastery, they saw a full-out brawl ensuing between the monks and the monkeys. The ruthless primates were destroying everything they got their claws on and ferociously attacking their foes. The monks were fighting hard to save the monastery, as well as themselves.
Kellie watched painfully, trying to figure out the best way she could help, but as she looked in every direction, there were multiple monkeys advancing toward every man. In front of them, Shifu Han was swinging a staff and hit one rival as if it were a baseball. Another hairy beast came at him and he jabbed it right in the abdomen. A third monkey, hanging from a rooftop, was ready to dive onto the back of his hairless head.
Drawing in air deeply into her lungs, Kellie released the wind through her mouth as she shot her open palm forward. The monkey was propelled a few inches over Shifu Han’s scalp as it descended, missing its target, and exposing itself. Shifu Han swung his stick and sent the animal flying.
“How — how did you do that?” asked Jory with a shocked stare. Jake’s fallen jaw signaled he had the same inquiry.
Beaming, Kellie whispered, “I did it! Mulin and Zurich trained me…I didn’t know if I could do it again!”
“That was incredible!” Jake whispered back, swinging out his arms in astonishment.
“Watch out!” Kellie warned, but it was too late. Jake knocked over a large clay pot with his hand.
CLUNK!
The loud shatter caught the attention of a group of monkeys and they pounded their chests, ready to attack.
“RUN!” yelled Kellie.
She bolted down in front of the House of Meditation where the heart of the battle was. Jake was by her side and Jory, the slowest runner, trailed behind. Once the monks saw the three, they inched their way closer to them, as they wrestled their enemies.
Kellie and Jake turned around and yelped, trying to warn Jory. A monkey leapt at Jory and was about to grab him, but in midair, the sedative effect of the drug kicked in and the primate’s eyes rolled back and the animal fell splat on the ground. Jory twisted his head back and witnessed the dramatic collapse.
“Yeah!” he shouted. “Did you see that?”
He joined his friends and they stood back-to-back, ready to protect each other. Weapons were tossed into their hands and many of the monks surrounded them.
“What you doing here?” shouted Shifu Su, alarmed at their presence.
“We came to help!” yelled Jory.
“Did you find Master Zheng?” screamed Kellie. There was so much hollering and shrieking from both man and beast, she could barely hear herself.
“No! We went in forest to search for him…but monkeys chase us out!”
Kellie gripped her monkey staff and took a hard look at the monastery: it was being torn apart. Everything was either tossed over or smashed, leaving rubble and debris all around. Black smoke rose from behind the House of Meditation and the shingles on its roof were savagely pulled off. It was a heartrending sight to see. The monastery had hundreds of years of history and in a matter of minutes, the besiegers devastated the place. Kellie watched as they scaled the walls, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, breaking any object that they were able to get their claws on.
Shifu Han was on top of the steps of the House of Meditation, protecting its entrance. While he was distracted, fighting three monkeys at the same time, Kellie spotted two scurrying into the House of Meditation.
“NO!” she shouted, afraid of the damage they were going to inflict in its precious interior.
Her scream only caught the attention of the aggressors and they headed right for her and her band of defenders.
Kellie jabbed and battered the obtuse animals with ease; it wasn’t difficult to read their telegraphed moves, but just as quickly as they scampered away, more of them pursued her. Jake and the monks fighting beside her faced the same dilemma.
Jake held his stick like a baseball bat and whacked them like he was aiming for a home run. Jory on the other hand, struggled with his weapon; he had a club that was too heavy for him. At the end of it was a weighted ball with spikes, and he was barely able to hold it up.
Fearfully, Kellie tried to keep an eye on him, but the invaders wouldn’t let up.
Then she panicked when she saw a huge, ugly monkey waddle toward Jory. Unfortunately for him, this primate was the largest and most portly of them all.
Dragging the sizeable weapon behind him, Jory heaved with all his might and flung it across his body. As the momentum built up, the club flew right out of his hands. The beast ducked and avoided the blow. Enraged by the near miss, the animal hooted at him and picked up the bludgeon.
“Jory!” yelled Kellie, terrified. She was unable to help him; the monkeys she was contending with swept her farther and farther away from him. “Jake!” she screamed, hoping he could come to Jory’s aid, but he was even more distant.
Jory, his petrified face, ghost white, stepped backward, not taking his eyes off the sharp points on the club in the monkey’s hands.
The intimidator hooted and hollered some more, implanting fear in his rival.
Jory trembled as he took each stride back. Then when it couldn’t get any worse, he slid on loose rocks underneath his shoes and fell on his rear, dust dispersing all over him.
The animal stood over him and raised the weapon over his head, in a victorious pose.
Ridding the monkeys with one swift swoop of the staff, Kellie had a free moment. She released her energy in Jory’s direction, aiming for the stick that was ready to strike down on her friend; instead, a potted plant a few yards away teetered, then regained its balance. She missed! She was too fearful for Jory and couldn’t breathe or concentrate.
As Jory tried to scramble to his feet, he tripped and fell to his side. With a smirk on his mug, the monkey was about to lower the club, but as he did, his eyelids drooped and his head began to bob from side to side. The weight of the metal ball, still over his head, seemed to grow heavy. The enormous body of the animal swayed before dropping straight back, knocking himself out cold.
Jory adjusted his glasses on his face and then cautiously crawled to the creature. “Sticky buns!” he shouted, as he pointed to the crumbs on the primate’s hairy chin.
The other animals they duped also began dropping like flies off the buildings, and those standing collapsed to the ground. The monks cheered, though they seemed confused to why the monkeys were spontaneously passing out.
The defenders were close to being the defeaters, but there were still some more enemies to handle; however, many of the monkeys started to retreat back into the forest.
Jake helped Jory up and slapped him on the back. Jory significantly tilted the outcome in their favor. Seeing that her friends were safe, Kellie relaxed, and loosened her hold on the stick, since no imminent danger was close by (her opponents were lying on the dirt, unconscious). She was about to assist the monks in other areas of the monastery when a raspy voice resonated through her eardrums.
“Bao Yu.”
Kellie felt a shiver in her neck and looked all around.
“Bao Yu,” she heard again.
Kellie knew exactly who was calling her, and it seemed no one else could hear the faint commanding whisper.
“I have Zheng. If you want him back alive, come alone to the place where your name is engraved, and bring the other stone…or else he’ll be eliminated.”
Kellie caught sight of a flicker, high up in the darkness of a tree. She concentrated her eyes at the source, taking controlled breaths. A metal dagger came into focus. It was clutched in a wrinkled, shaggy hand of whom she suspected: Hagos was perched on a branch. His scathing, black eyes shot back at hers, and before she could blink, he vanished. She saw leaves rustle from tree to adjacent tree in the direction of the forest.
Kellie knew what she had to do. She was ready for him and speculated again that this was why Mulin and Zurich were so adamant she receive her training. She accepted her fate as a chosen one.
Th
e fight between man and beast was winding down and any remaining monkey cowered away. Merriment transmitted across Taiping Monastery, as victory was theirs, though there would be no time for a celebration: Master Zheng was still missing. Kellie also foresaw her, Jake, and Jory’s presence being dealt with immediately, especially since they were instructed to stay put in Dr. Lee’s house. Kellie had to act fast and disappear before she was reprimanded for disobeying.
A new pandemonium was developing: slain animal bodies were already being removed after respect was given to them by the monks; a band of shifus were gearing up to search for their absent master; fires were being extinguished; and Shifu Han was already questioning the boys.
Kellie wasn’t approached yet, so the split second every back was turned to her, she darted toward the woods. She ran into Shenmi Forest, not quite sure where she was going, jumping over exposed tree roots and pushing plants out of her way.
She heard nothing; Hagos’s dreadful directives were gone. Where were they? Come to the place where your name is engraved, she said in her head…where your name is engraved, she repeated. Where your name is engraved! Sprinting between the trees, she realized where that was!
Kellie took long strides, rushing to the area as fast as her legs would take her. As she drew close, natural light was vanishing and it was almost twilight, the full moon largely visible.
Slowing her pace, arriving at the stream she knew well, she stayed hidden behind the trees. She cautiously proceeded where she believed Master Zheng was being held captive. Hearing moaning and leaves crunching, she slowly leaned around from behind a large trunk and investigated the scene. There tied to the tree she had carved her name in when she was a little girl, Master Zheng struggled to get free, his hands bound and mouth covered.
aster Zheng was covered in soil and his usual spotless, pressed robe was unrecognizable: it was torn in many places and the yellow material was tarnished brown. Blood stained his arms and a substantial gash marked his bald head as if a ruffian showed no compassion. He looked dehydrated and weak, although his tenacity to escape was apparent.
Overwhelmed with sympathy, Kellie imprudently hurried to him, exposing herself in the open. Hagos led her there, so she was aware he was concealed, waiting for her. She ripped off the gag and began untying him.
Master Zheng, shocked at seeing her, cried, “It is unsafe….He’ll hurt you….Get out of here….Get out of here….”
His eyes were sunken and speech slow; Kellie guessed it was from the lack of food and water. Up close, she saw more injuries he sustained from his pitiless captor; his left shoulder drooped as if it was luxated and the same hand was swollen.
Helping him up with his right arm, Kellie had a difficult time supporting his weight. She heaved him up and got under his armpit, walking him only a few feet before his body slumped down.
“Master Zheng…please, you can do it.”
She was propping him up with all her strength when she felt viscous fluid on her hands: blood was streaming down the front of Master Zheng’s chest. The end of a dagger was embedded in his already injured left shoulder.
“Master Zheng!” pleaded Kellie, tears invading her cheeks. She set him down gently on the ground, unable to carry him much more.
“Go,” he gargled. “Save yourself. This world cannot risk losing you.” He closed his eyes, and Kellie cried as she watched his chest slowly heave up and down.
Helpless and angry, Kellie screamed, “Zurich! Mulin! HELP ME!” She pulled out the knife, the object she saw in Hagos’s hand, and pressed down on the wound, remembering the first aid lesson she learned in P.E.
Her striking white gi blotted red. “Zurich! Mulin!” she kept calling.
“They won’t help you…they don’t get directly involved,” remarked a voice, obdurately.
Kellie looked up and saw Hagos sitting on the massive boulder by the stream.
“I hate you!” she reviled, loathing the sight of him. Kellie could feel her face steaming with detestation, seeing him sit and watch nonchalantly, as if he were at a Sunday afternoon flick.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” he asked, a sinful smile spreading across his insensitive countenance. “…the energy of revenge…You want to kill me, don’t you? For hurting Zheng there…for killing Lau —”
“Shut up!” screamed Kellie, springing to her feet, her nails digging into her palms.
“Let it go,” he coaxed her. “It feels good…once you let it out. Once I get what is mine, I can teach you…. Your kung fu has promise.”
“I will never be like you or learn from you…you revolting creature!” Kellie felt sick to her stomach at his words. How dare he tell her what to do. And to think she would ever be his student. “You’re going to pay for what you did. Even if it’s the last thing I do….You want it back? Huh?” She dug into her pocket, took out the fake stone, and chucked it as hard as she could into a thick bush immersed in mud. “GO GET IT!”
Hagos’s smile wiped away after her action. Kellie once again saw the wickedness in his glare she was acquainted with. He lurched on his long arms, his stance in an aggressive position.
Kellie’s wrath overcame her fear and with gritted teeth, she threw a double heel palm at Hagos. He staggered back as if a mild breeze caught him off guard.
“Is that really all you have? Is that all you can do?” he spat in contempt, and jumped into the darkness over her head.
The trees shook left and right. Kellie didn’t know where he was.
Sunset was complete and blackness filled the sky. The stars happily danced around the flawless, circular moon, as if a celebration was underway. The mood above was in direct contrast to what was developing below.
Trying to pick up a hint of his whereabouts, she instead got a glimpse of a shimmer beginning to encompass the moon, through the cracks between the trees.
Groaning, Master Zheng feebly grasped her ankle.
“I’ll get us out of here,” she said to him.
Walking out into the middle of where it once used to be her playground, she begged, “You have the other piece of the stone. You have Anguo. Let us go!”
Kellie waited and listened, knowing very well Hagos wasn’t the type to oblige a request so willingly. No attempts to conceal the shuffling and crackling were made, but she still had no clue of his position.
Suddenly, he was back on the rock, holding each part of the stone, one in his right hand and the other in his left (Kellie noticed the black twine was missing from the one Master Chen gave her). Presenting it into the moonlight, he pressed them together — Kellie held her breath, anticipating his fury when he discovers the imitation — He relaxed his limbs when nothing happened. Then a gradual glow emitted from one of the pieces and his face moved closer to his hands. It was Anguo’s essence and it was ready to pass.
The lack luster counterfeit sat humdrum next to the brilliance of Anguo. The monkey’s claw clenched over the replica, cracking it. It crumbled out of his grip as his attention homed in on Kellie.
“I’ll give you only one chance to answer — Where is it, little girl?” asked Hagos, pejoratively.
“I-I don’t have it,” Kellie said bravely. “It’s in another continent…and you’ll never have it.”
Seething at her response, he reached up and grabbed a hanging branch, and swung from tree to tree. Kellie tried to keep her eyes on him, but was getting dizzy and confused from his rapid movement. He was in one place, then suddenly in another. Kellie lost sight of him, until a clatter behind her made her jump. Spinning around, she saw nothing, except dangling leaves swaying with the breeze.
At that moment, a blunt force propelled her body forward. The initial shock was numbing, but the pain soon radiated up her spine. Plunging face down, she broke her fall with her palms, scraping across the earth.
Her archrival let out a piercing cackle that resembled knives scratching against a metal surface.
“And you are a chosen one?” he sneered, playing with the dagger in his hands.
> “How did you know?” she asked, pushing herself up, and pretending she wasn’t in excruciating pain.
“Your crane blocks, your tiger strikes, and your gi…. Let me guess, Zurich and Mulin gave it to you before your training in Spring Meadows….I wonder how they continue that futile tradition, time after time.”
“Was it a ‘futile tradition’ with Xavier?” she shot back. At the mention of his former student’s name, Kellie saw him twitch, and a momentary semblance of what he once might have been before the malicious transformation.
The sharp weapon left his hold and blasted right for her chest. She leapt to the side, but she wasn’t quick enough. The point of the knife hit her and bounced right off. She felt the pressure, but it didn’t penetrate; it didn’t even break the fabric. Confounded, she patted her body, assuring herself she was unharmed.
Ridiculing her with a shrilling laugh, he said, “I see they haven’t told you that your gi is invincible.”
Spotting the dagger that was inches away, Kellie lunged forward. As she reached out for it, Hagos sprang at her and latched on her wrist.
“But you’re not!”
His yellow nails sunk into her skin as he rotated her arm, attempting to break it. The maneuver twisted her torso down, allowing her to see two brave eyes looking up at her. Master Zheng nodded, silently telling her that he had faith in her.
Lifting a bent knee high up, she blasted him with a thrust kick, forcing him to let go and stumble backward. This created space between them, allowing Kellie to launch herself up in a ready position.
He came at her with a series of punches and kicks, but she evaded every one using the crane’s way, only feeling the wisp of his hair as she danced around him.
His strikes became rapid and his arms became a blur, just like their first encounter at Taiping Monastery. Nervous, Kellie tried to block them, but was getting hit as she took clumsy steps back. Finally, she twirled around and struck him with a heel palm between the shoulder blades, tossing his frail old body straight back, slamming him against the big boulder.