Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars, nor any character therein. I also do not own the lyrics in italics, Until It Sleeps by Metallica.


Just like the curse, just like the stray
You feed it once and now it stays
Now it stays...

It was hard to breathe. The air tasted bitter on his tongue. Shadows rose in the dim light, screeching with anger, alarm and fear. But their cries were quickly lost beneath the thundering creature. Not one escaped the dark eyes which burned with fury. The last sound each heard was a roar that devoured them whole; a scream Anakin would not remember as his own.
He could still hear it.
It was a sound so raw and without boundary that it shattered his mind. Then, like a caged animal it tore through the shards with ravenous claws, tearing at the thin fabric of sanity which was stretched tightly over his soul.
He could feel the tension ripping through his control. He saw the dark shadows tangle before his aching eyes. Or maybe it was just a memory. Fighting back the urge to move, Anakin focused on the disoriented black shapes that twisted like trails of smoke. His breathing grew shallow, as the smoke evaporated and a clear, sharp image replaced the former vague illusions.
It was a skull.
A skull; coated in black and with two hollow, empty eyes that seemed to stare into nothingness.
Anakin moved now. He had to. He had no choice but to touch his fingertips to the mirror, where the smooth glass reflected his image. Realization, cold and bare stared back at him, with two empty eyes. And Suddenly the pain receded, and the reflection was once again a hollow shell.
Nothing to be afraid of.
After all, hadn't the creature done it's job? Hadn't it left not one breathing, screeching, vicious animal standing?
It had been a necessary trade. The reflection decided, firmly.
The life of the creature, for the death of Anakin Skywalker.
Yes, it had been more than a fair trade.
And with that, the fingers which touched the mirror so pleadingly, disappeared.


I'll tear thee open make you gone
No longer will you hurt anyone
And the hate still shapes me
So hold me until it sleeps...



A/N: I hope that made some sense...O.o; If you have any comments or opinions, i.e. What the #%*& was that!?' feel free to drop me a line! It's the only way I'll learn...