REY

A
blinding flash came from the point where the blast struck and a white cloud rose in the air.

There was an enormous explosion. It was as though a fist of orange flame had decided to launch a punch into the sky from the ground. Chunks of soil flying. Smoke and fire rushed out. Thousands of pieces of grass and sand, a blinding rainfall, showered down. Alarms - shrill and deafening- erupted in Rey's ears. The white noise flooded her mind, clouding her thoughts, shuffling them around like mismatched puzzle peaces.

A dirt haze hovered through the air, taking its time to settle. Sunlight filtered through the small glittery flecks that shined into her squinting eyes. Tears flooded down from the corners as she attempted to pinch them away. Coughing, hacking up dirty phlegm onto the ground. Rey bent over, dry heaving, her hands holding her knees for support. Her face pulses from the blood rushing to her face. Chest aching from the amount of sputtering. Alarmed, her senses begun to yell about a liquid sensation pooling near the side of her head. Rey's right hand immediately flew up to her ear, coming back into her view, the tips of her fingers were grazed with red. The ringing in her ears progressed before finally dying down. Rey's heart jumped in her chest out of fear for she thought she couldn't hear a thing at first, but then a bird circled over the hill and bellowed out a loud cry. Letting out a heavy, labored sigh; she lifted one lead foot after the other up the green rise in front of her as much as she could see through the dust.

The silence grew. Kylo Ren was gone.

Once at the top, her eyes scanned across the field before her. The thin layer of blood that trickled across her fingers seemed meaningless compared to the myriads of thick pools littering the green grass. But the blood wasn't what shocked Rey the most, it was the bodies. Resistance soldiers laid across the outstretched land as far as her eyes could see.

"No..." she breathed out. A silent sob built up in her throat, blocking air from coming in or out.

Some were crumpled in awkward positions where they fell, some were peacefully left by their team; knowing there couldn't have been anything to be done. The battlefield lay quiet, for it was now a graveyard of the unburied. Their corpses lay among the tall grass. The sun still shone and the wind still blew, but somewhere mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters waited in vain. These men that were once boys who played with toy blasters and sticks and laughed at each other's silly tales were now meat for the birds.

A single tear dribbled down Rey's cheek and rested in the corner of her mouth. She licked her lips sadly, tasting the sour salt. "May the Force be with you." She whispered, closing her eyes slowly. She knows that's not exactly how the Force works but it just felt right to say. These men and woman deserved honor for their sacrifice.

Once open again, Rey's eyes roamed the fallen stormtroopers as well. She wanted to hate them, she really did, yet all she could do was feel pity. Thanks to Finn, she now knows they can be good people. Being taken from your family as an infant and programmed to destroy an enemy you don't even know is a harsh thing. Almost unimaginable.

Rey's brows furrowed as her face scrunched in anger. Her fists clenched at the thighs as she stood tall, shoulders back, she loses hair whipped her face. She knew exactly who to hate. The men and woman who programmed these soldiers, the men, and woman who killed these people; the heartless, blinded and cruel First Order that has been in the front seat in this war.

No more. This ends today. This ends now.

• • • • •

Heavy pants lifted into the air from Kylo's mouth as he attempted to sprint across the body filled field. The death toll didn't even faze him as he leaped over corpses, dodging them as he ran. Blood pulsates through his leg, seeping through his padded skirts with every heavy thud of his boot.

After that ships blaster fire went off between him and Rey, Kylo bolted for his lightsaber over the hill. Now it clattered against his belt with a quick and steady; clang clang clang.

The wind whipped through his dark hair and eyelashes, squinting through the dust. The air reeked of a familiar odor, the sun baked the blood and sweat that covered the soldiers.

While running; Kylo reached over his shoulder, groping for his cape attachment at the back of his neck. After a few attempts, he felt his gloved hand grab the chain, ripping it from his back, tossing the large, thick fabric to the side. Leaving it behind him. It flapped behind, whipping it's way to the ground, laying across a fallen Resistance soldier.

Feeling the loose drag gone, Kylo felt he could go slightly faster. Finally, the Resistance base came into view. Kylo couldn't remember the last time he had run so far so fast like this. But he had a motive; Leia.

Snoke invaded his mind before the shot hit the ground, notifying him of Leia being in his possession. Knowing full well what Snoke's plans were with her he departed from Rey as soon as possible. He let himself get distracted, losing his focus on the big picture.

The base is closer now. The warm air felt dry and cold absorbing and retreating into his lungs. His heart pounded so loud he felt the beating in his ears.

He knew Rey was alive, but she wasn't well. Her Force print suddenly changed, it usually felt warm and it reached out to him whenever she was near but now it felt cold, it felt like a roaring animal trapped in a cage; its claws striking out when you got close enough to the bars.

Kylo's mouth set deep into a scowl. Everything was going wrong. The First Order was winning, yet why does he feel he has lost? His brows dove down over his eyes, pure anger seeping through his face.

Kylo Ren entered the base, greedily taking air into his lungs, nostrils flaring. He stalked through the massive bay doors into the ship hanger. Most of the fighters were gone and there were no men to be seen. The entire base was silent spare the dripping of hydraulics and droids buzzing about, doing their programmed duties. Kylo walked down the hanger then entering a stretched hallway. Following Snoke's heavy Force signature, his boots strutted down the paneled floor. Past smoking bodies, flickering lights and blasted ammo-droids spitting sparks across the way.

The more strides he takes the more the Force pollutes itself. Like a dark bubbling cauldron of boiling tar, popping up into the hair, burning anything it touches as the flames beneath lick and cradles the pot.

A dull ache blooms in Kylo's temples. He presses his index and middle finger to the pain, focusing on it, trying to push it away. He had a feeling he will need a clear head.

'Nearly there.' He closed his eyes and sent the beacon of his location to Snoke.

'We're waiting.' He replies in an inviting tone. As if he were gesturing for Kylo Ren to come closer with his claw-like forefinger. He could picture his long, bony digits with his protruding filthy nails threatening to strike him; when he hesitated, was weak, or showed the slightest fringe of self-thought. A frozen chill rode down his spine, sweat beaded and dispersed around where the fabric of his tunic didn't cling to the skin of his back.

Kylo burst through the next doorway into what seemed like the control room. A large, round table stood directly in the middle of it. Studded with buttons and switches controlling the mapping system that remained silent within. A few lights flickered overhead, revealing roots and moss that spread across like a growing virus. Beads of sweat dripped down his face, but he quickly wiped them away, not wanting Snoke to not only sense his fear but see it as well.

"A pleasure to see you, my young apprentice." A voice from the darker end of the rooms called out.

That voice. Such a voice... A cold, awful jangle that scrapes your bones and hollows your guts. His damaged frame causing his vocals to tremble and lapse into hoarseness.

"As it is to see you, Supreme Leader Snoke," Kylo replied; finally taking the pressure off of his injured knee, lowering himself in front of his master.

The tall, darkly cloaked, mangled figure standing before him began to lurk from the darkness. Stepping into the light and revealing a small form within his grasp by the throat. Kylo Ren's face still confronting the floor, all he could hear was her struggled breaths. Huffing out in random intervals, small grunts and rasps escaped her mouth as Snoke increased the pressure around her neck.

Kylo didn't dare to look up. He knew she was there. He could feel her gentle presence just as well as he could when she approached his bed in the middle of night when he dreamt of monsters, as well as when she would bring him to parties; cowering from the loud and tall people and gripping onto her extravagant dresses when he got nervous, as well as-

Stop!

His mind sent tremors through his system to shut out the dreaded memories that only returned when he was near her.

Please...

His inner voice trembled.

"Look at me," Snoke demanded, his tone urgent, clipped and cold. Kylo's neck lifted his head, straining from the weight that seemed unreasonably heavy. Snoke's stoic black eyes reached his. Kylo Rens heart clawed up his throat, leaving his warm chest empty and frozen. His limbs felt as if they were liquidated, falling at his sides.

Leia's face was changing shades and quickly. She was always so pale, just like Ben's, but now the pink heated up into a light scarlet. Her small, fragile hands kept attempting to grab at Snoke's claws and pry them off of her throat. Always failing. Anger was shown across her face, not fear, not pity for herself but determination and hatred for this slimy creature that caged her within his grasp.

"Good." Snoke cooed, taking a step closer. Leia's feet dangled inches off of the ground, swinging as her knees kicked outwards into the air sporadically.

"Now," He began, "This. This is your ultimate test. Pass this, and you will rule the Knights of Ren. For good."

Without hesitation, "Yes Master." Kylo replied, feeling like this isn't what he wanted. Yet, he knew exactly what he needed.

Snoke wound his arm back slightly before letting Leia fall to the ground in a heavy breathing, heap. She grasped at her throat, veiny fingers rubbing the large imprint against her skin.

Kylo's heart slowly began to sink back into his chest. Blinking rapidly before attempting to rise without wincing, he detached his lightsaber in one staggered movement.

This is it. One final swing to rid you of all your burdens. Throw all of your anger away, release the pain; Kylo told himself reassuringly. Looking straight into his mother's eyes, such a rich brown you could almost fall into them. They always reminded Kylo of the forests on his favorite moon where she would take him to a retreat as a child. To escape the troubles of life.

Her eyes would always look to him in admiration, love or pride. But now, actual fear flooded upon her aging features.

As it should. Kylo's inner demon wrestled with him, murdering any thoughts that contradicted its opinions.

He clenched his jaw over and over, his teeth aching from the pressure. Sweat rolled down his temple, hands shaking, knuckles flexing, his body heat almost overwhelming enough to pass out. His body was in havoc but he never let it show through his eyes. Over the years he has taught himself to never let anyone see. See him. See Ben.

'Ben Solo was murdered alongside his father.'

Kylo seethed a harsh breath through his teeth. He was getting tired of having two voices in his head, like having an itchy second skin he has been begging to peel off. In this moment, he can finally let Ben go.

With that last thought, he brought down the saber.

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