Street Fighter 2

The White Angel: part 2

Cammy's head rested on the car window, her face maintaining the same nonchalant expression it had back in the hospital. Chun Li turn her head a couple of times to see what Cammy was doing, but only for a split-second, she had to keep her eyes on the road.
She noticed the scar that she had on her left cheek, and wondered where it came from.
Probably a souvenir of all the torture she's had for the last ten years. Damn you Shadowloo!
The streets of Hong Kong where still as busy as ever. Hong Kong was usually this busy during this time. Tourists went out for shopping, which was what Hong Kong was famous for, businessmen on their way to executive lunches, and people just going out for a walk around town.
Chun Li was amazed at how little had changed since the transfer of Hong Kong to China. The leaders of China decided to keep Hong Kong the way it was economically and corporately, instead of forming it like the communist country that China was.
No bad thing, she thought, at least we still get paid properly.
It was normally a one-hour drive from the hospital to the apartment, but with traffic the way it was, that time was likely to be increase by at least half-an-hour. Chun Li waited patiently for every light to turn green as the traffic moved slowly through the city streets. She was tempted to use her siren, but she dismissed it.
Surreptitiously, Cammy tested the restraints again. They held solidly, unyielding. She relaxed. The Chinese girl, about five or six years older than she was, though she wasn't sure of her exact age, said that she would take them off when they reached her apartment, but she kept them on so that she wouldn't try to escape from the car.
All she could do was sit. Sit and wait.
They arrived at the apartment. Chun looked, and saw Cammy still leaning her head against the window.
"We're here."
Cammy turned her head towards Chun Li, and then opened the door and stepped out. She gazed at Chun Li's apartment, which was going to be her new home. It certainly looked nice, with various flora and fauna surrounding the building, which was built in a traditional Chinese style. She wanted to smile, but her depression forced it away from her.

Chun Li walked in as the door opened, flicking the lights as she headed towards the kitchen. "Well this requires a celebration. My own roommate! What do you want to eat?"
Cammy didn't answer. She just stood at the doorway, staring at what was down the hallway. All she could see was the entrances to the kitchen which Chun Li had walked through, the living room entrance, which was facing her, another door between the kitchen and living room, and another two doors to her right.
"Cammy, what do you want to eat?" Chun Li looked out of the room and saw Cammy still standing at the entrance outside.
"Look, Cammy, please trust me. You'll be safe here. I promise."
Cammy looked down and thought it over. Deciding it was safe, she took one step through the door, and closed it behind her. Chun Li's face lightened up with a smile
"There. That wasn't too bad now, was it?"
Cammy observed her surroundings of the place she'd be living in from now on. Chun-Li had a small, nicely decorated kitchen, and neatly organized living room complete with a high quality entertainment center, futon and other miscellaneous furniture. It was comfortable, if somewhat alien to her. Then again, she had been strapped to a hospital bed ever since she woke up.
Chun Li opened the first door on the right. Inside was a single bed, with a cupboard, a chest of drawers, and a small desk with a window on it.
"This is your room. I had originally intended it to be a guest bedroom, but since you're going to be living with me from now on, I thought that it would be perfect for you." She chuckled. "The guests can just sleep on the futons. Next to the kitchen is the bathroom, and next door to your room is my room."
A sudden DING made Chun Li turn towards the kitchen. "Ah! Dinner's ready."

Cammy stared at the meal that Chun Li had placed in front of her. It wasn't much, some ready-made noodles with vegetables and beef, and a drink of water. Chun Li was already half way through her meal when she realized that Cammy wasn't eating anything.
"Aren't you going to eat?"
Cammy said nothing, she still staring at her food.
"You're food's gonna get cold y'know?"
Still nothing. Chun Li changed tactics to a humorous tone
"I suppose you're too used to the stuff they give you in the hospital. You sure they call that food?"
"I…..couldn't eat."
An eyebrow was raised from Chun Li. For the first time, Cammy had spoken. Not the shrieking voice of fear like the doctor, but her normal voice, a light, English accented sound. Chun Li wanted to congratulate her, but decided not to. As childlike as she looked, Cammy was 18.
Cammy was surprised as well. Why was she talking to someone whom she had only just met? Is it because for the first time in the life that she could remember, she actually felt safe?
"You couldn't eat, why not?"
"I don't remember."
"Come on, surely you can remember how to eat?"
"I can, but…." She stopped what she was saying, and felt silent.
"Cammy, if you don't eat, you'll die of either starvation or malnutrition. I don't want that to happen to you."
"Why you! Why do you care about me?!!"
Chun Li was taken aback by this sudden outburst. "Wha…?"
"Why did you bring me here to stay with you?! I hardly even know you!!"
Cammy stormed out of the living room door, slamming her bedroom door shut.
"Cammy, wait!!"
As soon as Chun Li stood up, the phone rang.
"Ah SHIT!"
She picked the phone up. "This is detective Chun Li, who's speaking?" In the mood she was in, she said it in a rather aggressive tone.
"Hey, Chun! It's Fei Long."
"Fei! Listen, could you call back, something's come up."
"What? What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you about it later."
"Hey, wai…"
Chun Li put the phone down and went to Cammy's room.
She opened the door and saw Cammy sitting on the floor, her knees brought up to her chest. She walked up to her and sat down next to her. She thought that Cammy would move away, but she remained still.
"I'm sorry Cammy. It's just that you are suffering such a hard time, and I want to help you fight it."
"You can't….I can't fight it, so why should you?"
"Because it's my job."
"Your job?"
"Sure, as an Interpol agent I help people. I don't care about what you did when you were an agent of Shadowloo, I'd still help you no matter what."
"But I don't know you."
"Well, that's the first thing we're going to change. Just think of me as some long-lost sister, hmm?"
Cammy looked up at Chun Li. Her voice was one of concern, but she managed to hide it pretty well. Living alone in that room in the hospital was lonely, and the doctors and nurses weren't much help either. Maybe Chun Li was the friend she needed.
"Sister…?"
For the first time that Cammy could remember, she smiled. A small, nearly unnoticeable smile, but a smile none-the-less. Chun Li smiled back in return.
"Thank you, miss Li."
"Call me Chun Li. Or better yet, just call me Chun. Only my close friends call me Chun."
Cammy hugged her. She felt a lot better, now that she had a friend.

Cammy was sleeping when Chun Li phoned her captain.
"Right now, she's sleeping. She's actually looking a lot better. However, the nightmares will still haunt her."
"That can't be helped. She's been through a lot, Detective Li."
"I know. The problem is that she doesn't remember it yet."
"I've spoken with the doctor. He says that Amnesia can be cured within time, but she'll have to bear with it. Right now, she needs to be taught how to live. She hasn't 'lived' for ten years."
"I'll do it sir. I think she trusts me now."
"I don't doubt it. You know the pain that Shadowloo is capable of inflicting on innocent human lives, you've experienced it yourself."
Chun Li's tone quietened. "Thank you for reminding me, sir."
"I'm sorry Chun Li, but you're the best possible candidate for the job. Who better to help someone that Shadowloo has ruined but someone who's experienced it themselves."
She looked through the living room door. Cammy's bedroom door was only slightly open.
"But my job. I can't leave Cammy alone at all for a while, the way she is."
"I understand that. As of now I'm placing you on leave for two weeks. With pay of course."
"I appreciate that, but two weeks might not be enough."
"It's all I can give you I'm afraid. Remember, we've got that meeting with Captain's Guile and Nash in two weeks time."
The meeting. How could she forget it. Guile and Charlie, two friends she met in the Street Fighter tournaments, were coming to Hong Kong for a few days, partly for an R&R session, but mostly to sign a joint investigative alliance between the USAF and Interpol. It would be nice for Cammy to meet them.
"How could I forget?"
"Look, after two weeks, show her what you do. Bring her round to the headquarters, or something like that. I'm sure your team-mates would like to meet her."
"Well, okay, but don't forget, sir. She's not very good in the company of other people."
"Alright. See you in two weeks."
Chun Li switched the portable phone off. As soon as she did that, she heard a scream.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
Cammy!
Chun Li ran into Cammy's room, to find her screaming and kicking the bed. Chun Li ran and managed to get both arms around her in a tight bear hug, though not too tight. Finding herself trapped, Cammy went into a frenzy, kicking and hitting and using her teeth. Cammy kept screaming while Chun Li held her.
Chun Li talked to Cammy as she kept clear of slashing feet and elbows. 'It's okay, it's okay, Cammy. It's over, you're going to be all right now. It's okay, you're safe."
Finally, Cammy's strength ran out, slowing down like a failing motor. She went completely limp in Chun Li's arms, almost catatonic, and allowed herself to be rocked back and forth.
"You had the same nightmare, didn't you?"
Cammy burst into tears. She tried to bury herself in Chun Li's chest, shrinking back from a dark nightmare world that only she could see. Chun Li continued rocking her back and forth.
I'm here Cammy. I'll protect you. I'll make sure that you never see those nightmares again.

Home/Introduction/Next Part