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Void Forsaken

Star Wars : The Force Awakens

Kylo Ren x OC

He found her.

She hid from him as long as she could. It was a mistake. The market was busier than usual that morning. Travelers from across the galaxy crowded the stalls in trade. Her face wasn't hidden as it usually was nor did she keep her eyes down. They saw her. She tried to run but the stormtroopers caught her. Their Supreme Leader somehow knew today would be it. For years, she managed to keep herself hidden from his spies, his power.

Today, she failed.

And now, she stood before him. In his presence, she refused to shrink away from cowardice. Her chin remained parallel to the floor, her gaze straight, fists clenched, lips firm. Snoke watched her carefully, waiting to the side of her. His hunched form wouldn't move since she was brought to him. The stormtroopers left them hurried. Their uneasiness seemingly obvious. Their leader had come to the Base not by a hologram projection, but in physicality. He was there, among them.

She hadn't moved as well. The room filled with their tension. The chill of it sent a shiver through her but she refused to tremble. Though, as the wait grew longer, her fear had lessened. Since they found her, the intimidation of her situation forged her mind. She couldn't stop the panic. But as she stood still, challenging his presence with her own silence, she was able to calm herself.

"Turn to me, Avadrie."

She refused, tempting the courage more.

The air grew thick. It would happen soon enough. He would use the force against her. But instead, his sharp nails dug into her arm and he turned her himself. "Do not test me," his haunting gaze pierced any attempt she would make to fight. Before he nearly cut into her jacket, he released her and began in haste. "You've kept yourself from what should have been. Kept hidden from all you were to become. I could end you right here for what you've done. The setbacks you caused the First Order may never be undone. I still see it in you. The dark side wants you still. How strong do you think you are to refuse again? How much longer can you resist?" he spat in pause, tilting his head. "But even now, after all these years, you still choose nothing."

"You couldn't accept my decision-"

"Silence!" it was then, she readied herself, but he looked away suddenly. His jaw tightened. The thick scar running through his face had twitched, pulling at the grey flesh. Something held his focus and seemed to change his intention for a different purpose. "He was told to wait," Snoke lowered his voice. He met her gaze again. "If you react against this, expect worst."

Just as she understood, the entrance door opened. Before she could look, a shooting pain snapped her head to the side. Her legs nearly gave from the impact. Nearly did her lip split open from the strike.

"Supreme Leader," a cloaked man addressed him after a moment of silence. Snoke moved from her as though nothing happened.

"Come, Ren."

Above her brow, a throbbing ache surfaced. A warning not to say nor do anything. Despite the intensity, she straightened herself and tried to face them.

"You summoned me."

Her vision cleared as the voice reached her ringing ears. It was steady, deep and cryptically masked. His dark cloak hung over his shoulders down to just above his boots. She looked up then, cringing by the harsh light from behind them. As her eyes adjusted, she saw them, both watching her. Neither had spoken yet. Simple exchanges were made but nothing more. Hope had left her then. With a mangled breath, she walked to them. Their attention fixed. Once she reached them, her sight cleared completely. The mask, the helmet, the way they were, why she was taken, she knew. Snoke knew this would happen. The moment his apprentice was seen, she would know.

"There now. No explanation need be said. All has been discussed among the First Order. They know who you are, what to do if you resist. You will go with him. If anything should happen, Avadrie, if you do what I expect, it will be the end. Do you understand?" She nodded. There's nothing she can do. "Kylo Ren," Snoke hissed his name to pull him back.

He'd been fixed on her, his focus had shifted. "Supreme Leader."

"You know what to do. I see no further need of my presence here. She's ours, for now."

Kylo bowed his head, motioning her to leave with him. As she passed Snoke, his sharpest nail scratched along her arm. Another warning. Her pace quickened.

The doors closed behind them. He took the lead. She followed. No blood surfaced from her lip. Never has he struck her, not even in training. Snoke did it the moment his apprentice saw her. The leader's intent driven solely by his reaction, she knew it was for him.

Along the hall, a group of stormtroopers marched past, a few attendants and droids, Avadrie kept her eyes down. To them, to those who remembered, she had returned. They knew of her. She shook her head unbeknownst of their stare. It won't be as they think. It can't, she won't let herself. But the Order had Kylo Ren now. He was as she would have been, if not stronger. He would remain close to her, as Snoke would want him to. The fight would be all the more difficult.

They reached the end of the hall to a crossing room. He passed through first and waited. The panic had numbed to withdrawal. Just as she entered, the door snapped shut. His presence should unnerve her. But as she was numb, so was her pulse. He stood to the side, facing her. The hood of his cloak had been pulled back. The mask seemed even more prominent. Without a word, she moved from him to the other side. The massive glass wall revealed the view she had regrettably missed. She touched the window pane. Frost collected along her palm from the outside. Snow covered the trees beyond the Base. She even recognized the path she used to trek. When the guards would wait, she'd run through it alone. Returning only when she felt her legs ache from exhaustion. This was meant to be her home.

"You know where you are," his sudden proximity brought her back to the reality of it all. He followed her carefully. He must be behind her now. Near enough to falter her.

It must be said.

"I understand this is punishment," she began. "To bring me back, to show me what could have been. Your master must have it be known. He plans for my demise. I'm to be broken into submission. He needs me to know the power can never be mine now. But as I assured him, and you, there's no need."

"You rejected the dark side," the words seethed through the mask. "It had you. But you were weak. You chose the light."

She turned to him. He was closer than she thought. "Is that what he told you?"

"He didn't need to."

"Snoke has you, he found you. I have no purpose here. I chose nothing. As the dark side kept me, I ran from it. As the light tore me, I hid."

"You denied-"

"I chose no side, neither the dark nor the light. If you see that as weakness then it's no surprise. Many see it as weakness, fear of the force, betrayal, denial. That's what the Supreme Leader sees. There's no more to expect. It is what it is. I couldn't choose. But you have, that's what matters. You're all he wants now. This is all you want. I shouldn't be here." Silence returned. They stood near enough to feel it. She caught her breath before hesitating. But she asked it of him without thinking. "Take off your mask."

Her throat tightened. This was a mistake. But it was too late, she braced herself. He would raise his hand to her. The force, in its darkest form, will be used to choke the life from her, a reminder of who she was dealing with. She closed her eyes.

The sound of releasing metal opened them. Beneath the shadow, locks of wavy black hair fell over a pair of dark reflective eyes. He held the mask with one hand, running his hand through the strands. Challenging her request with a youthful gaze. Those eyes, they contrasted his pale skin so willfully, it struck her in a luring deception. She saw herself in them.

"What did you want to see?"

Words escaped her in pause. But she couldn't stop herself. She needed it to be known. Her hand reached for him before he noticed. Along the side of his neck, her palm slid into place. The tip of her thumb hovered over his collarbone. Beneath her hand, she felt his pulse unexpectedly. He tensed immediately, pulling back in slight doubt. But she moved with him and revealed herself in fault. "I saw what you wanted me to, Ben."

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Star Wars. Watched it twice. Kylo Ren. Enough said.

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