𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙁𝙄𝙁𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉
—𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴—

     BEFORE DARKNESS OVERCAME the sky, Bexley Terris was ushered to an empty cell surrounded by towering metal bars. There was no one in the cells around her, nor was there sign of a guard anywhere near her. But she knew the First Order was watching her, whether she could see the cameras or not. They would be examining her every move while she was here, and it was time she started getting used to that. Apparently, she would be staying here for quite a while.

The clone that shoved her onto the concrete had no sympathy as her head hit the floor and she released a small yelp. Sitting up, Bexley proceeds to glare at him, all the while holding her bleeding temple. The clone simply ignored her existence, before slamming the cell door closed, and locking her inside. He walks away after, and Bexley finds herself staring out of the bars and into the room around her.

It was dark; a very dimly lit room compared to what the questioning room was. But she didn't mind it‒ hopefully it would allow her to sleep. The space was open, and there was plenty of room for prisoners to fit into it comfortably. It was obvious no one put effort into this room, especially from the dinginess that everything reflected. There was no cot for her to sleep on, nor was there anything else in the cell other than herself. Bexley shivers, sinking down into the corner and pulling her knees to her chest.

Her short-sleeved shirt didn't prove to be effective for the coldness of the hostile room, and she wished there was at least a blanket somewhere near her. Unfortunately, she was the prisoner, and there would be no luxuries here. She would survive this temporary setback, and would soon enough be back with the Resistance again. With Poe.

As she lays her head against the wall, she lets out a steady breath. Was this what her life would consist of from now on? And to think that it was all because she hadn't followed orders. Bexley had grown too confident in herself, and took things too far. She, and everyone else she knew, would have to pay the price for that quick mistake. If Poe could see her now, the blonde was sure he would yell in her face for the stupid decision. But she didn't intend for this to happen. She wanted to protect the Resistance, not put it in more danger.

At least now she knew what the First Order wanted, and why they had bombed Takodana. If only she could escape, there was a possibility that everyone would make it out alive. But hope was running short here, and she couldn't deny it.

Soon enough, Bexley would have no hope left.

---

The blonde woman jumps awake as the cell door is thrown open, revealing Kylo Ren in his usual attire. Bexley glares at him as she sits up, holding her throbbing head. The room was colder than it was the night before, and her lips were beginning to crack under the pressure. Although the temperature was cold, her head seemed too warm for comfort. Bexley could feel herself getting sick already.

"Your sidekick wasn't very nice to me last night, Ben," she grumbles, holding out her hand. "Are you going to help me up or what?"

Bexley knew it probably wasn't wise to fire at the commander, but she couldn't have cared less at this point. She was determined to annoy him as much as possible, even if it meant getting herself into more trouble. If she was going to die anyway, why not make his life hell for it?

Kylo rolls his eyes, holding out his hand to lift her from the floor. Once she steadies herself, he leads her outside of the cell with a straight face. "Have you made your decision yet? Your time is running out, Bexley Terris."

"I already told you‒ I don't know what you're talking about," the blonde frowns, following behind him. Two clones stand at her side, their guns prepared for if she made a rational move. "If you'd have listened a little bit closer, you would've understood. Unfortunately though, I don't think you have the decency to do so."

"You're disrespectful," Kylo sighs, stopping to move into a small, confined room. From there, the clones stay outside by the door, and Bexley is shoved inside. The door closes behind her, leaving just the two of them.

"I'm the disrespectful one?" Bexley takes a seat in a white chair across from Kylo, raising an eyebrow. "You're lucky I'm not resisting right now, or you'd have a bruise on your jaw and a broken nose."

"You know better than to put the Resistance in jeopardy for such an action," Kylo responds flatly, leaning back in his chair. "I suggest that you tell me where the map to Luke Skywalker is."

"Why the hell do you want to know where he is anyway? Leave the poor man be," she groans, running her fingers through her hair.

"Must you be so unprofessional?" The raven-haired man cocks an eyebrow. "I don't know why I asked, I'm not the least bit surprised by your behavior. The Resistance isn't formal, and they don't have their technical sights set straight."

"I may not follow orders without hesitance, but they're the strongest and most determined people I've ever met," the woman says, a scowl forming on her face. "You and your band of ill-thoughted nitwits don't know a damn thing about my partners, nor do you have the right to put them down."

"Calm down, Bexley." He runs his finger over his lightsaber, eyeing the details crafted into it. "Your reactions are too complicated, you need to focus on the positive things. You have a chance to save your people, so why not take it? Why act like an imbecile and deny the matter at hand?"

Bexley leans forward, her eyes finding his as she grits her teeth. "Look into my eyes, Ben Solo. Tell me that I'm lying. The force inside you, as well as your heart, tells you everything you need to know about what I'm telling you. I've given you nothing but the truth since I arrived here, and you know that."

"I'm not the one in denial," she finishes, satisfied as she sits back again. "I think we can both agree on that."

Kylo only stares back at her with amusement, growing comfortable with the short silence. The woman in front of him was like none he had ever met before. She, unlike every other, hadn't broken at the sight of him. Instead, Bexley had challenged him in ways he couldn't quite grasp. And soon enough, after her brain was re-wired, he was almost sure that the two of them would get along.

"You make me confused, Bexley," he chides, his eyes still meeting hers. "Why do you continue to provoke and confront me when you know that I can end your life so easily?"

"I'm not scared of you," she murmers, her eyes seemingly dead. "You can kill me if you want, but I promise it won't matter. I want my people out of harm's way, and that's the only thing I care about."

Bexley loved to get under Kylo's skin. She enjoyed watching his eyes flicker with something unrecognizable as she repeatedly called him Ben, and how he squirmed when she coaxed him with opposition. The blonde would stand up to him for as long as she was there, that was what she knew in that moment.

"Unfortunately, your answer is not enough to save Takodana, or your own safety for the day," he announces, the doors behind her opening to reveal the clones that had waited patiently outside. "There will be another bomb dropped this afternoon, and I will grant mercy upon the Resistance for another day. But for you . . . "

He trails off, looking over her distressed face, before clicking his tongue. "You'll have to face the consequences for your discretion."

"What are you going to do to me?" She asks as she is hoisted from the chair, her eyes showing the slight fear that burned in her heart. No matter how hard she tried to convince herself, Bexley knew she wasn't fearless.

"Take her to the torture room," Kylo says smoothly, standing from his seat as he speaks directly to the clones. "And beat the information out of her if you can. If she hasn't revealed anything by sundown, throw her back into her cell and report back to me."

"As for you," he drawls, his eyes finding Bexley, "I advise that you learn your place here and mind your manners. And next time, answer a simple question when you are asked."

The blonde gasps as she's yanked backwards by the hair on her head. The clones drag her out of the room by her elbows, their grip holding no leniency of toughness. Bexley cries out as their holds get stronger, and she silently prays that all of this will be over soon. That these people will possibly have some humanity left, and won't be as harsh with her as Kylo had said. But deep down inside, she knew there wasn't any hope for this situation. She would have to face this alone.

But as she faced the pain, she knew she would think of nothing but Poe, and of his smile that would follow her. Bexley would make it out of this alive.

As Kylo watches Bexley escape his sight around the corner, he releases a breath he didn't know he was holding. Despite what he had said to the guards, he didn't feel as though this was right. The man knew she was telling the truth, but couldn't put his line of work in jeopardy for someone he barely knew. Bexley would have to look out for herself. He turned and began to walk in the opposite direction of the meeting room, his jaw going slack.

It was only moments later that Bexley's desperate, pierced screams echoed down the hall and met his ears.

Kylo Ren knew that the screams of the innocent woman would surely haunt him forever.

_______