Chapter 8
Padme's mind flew with the plans to her escape from Kai. It was so easy. The whole time she had been considering everyone else involved when the most important person was her. She was the one being beaten. She was the one engaged to a power-hungry, untrustworthy, unlikable, and abusive man. If she hadn't been so concerned with other people, her problems would be long resolved and she would be free to find happiness with Anakin.
Unknown to Padme, the dark figure had slowly begun to crawl back into her chambers after having heard the conversation between Anakin and Padme. It stealthily crept behind her before lightly tapping her shoulder.
Padme whipped around and the dark figure watched evilly as her face abruptly changed from surprised to horrified.
"ANAKIN!" she screamed at the top of her lungs before the dark figure clamped its hand on her mouth.
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Anakin shot up in bed. He could have sworn he heard a loud scream. The more he thought about it, the more he was positive that the scream came from Padme. Without needing to think his actions through any further, he sprinted out of his room only to collide with Obi-Wan.
"You heard what I heard?" Anakin said breathlessly.
After Obi-Wan quickly nodded his head, they took off for Padme's chambers.
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Padme opened her eyes slowly, terrified of what she would see. Instead, she saw nothing, only darkness. She quickly realized that she was still in her chambers. However, the realization also hit that she was tied and gagged to a chair right next to the door.
She instinctively began to squirm as an attempt to loosen her bounds. Suddenly, a light went on and Padme winced as the dark figure came into view.
Kai.
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Anakin and Obi-Wan raced towards Padme's door. Immediately, Anakin began to pound on her door, allowing his fear and worry to blatantly show.
"PADME!" he began to scream. "Padme, can you hear me? Are you alright? What's going on? Answer me, Padme!"
But there was no answer and Anakin began to panic.
"Anakin, calm yourself. You're not going to be any good to Padme like this."
"You're right, master."
Anakin took a deep breath, and then took out his lightsaber. Obi-Wan followed suit . He nodded to Anakin, giving him the go-ahead to try to break down the door. Anakin raised his lightsaber and proceeded to slam his weapon into the door. Nothing happened. The door didn't budge. Anakin raised his lightsaber and tried again. Again, nothing. Obi-Wan and Anakin raised their lightsabers at the same time and slammed them both into the door. Nothing.
"Someone's put a force block on the door." Obi-Wan muttered.
Anakin's eyes shot up to see his master's expression. It did not give him any comfort. In a split second, his eyes and his mind went back to focusing on the door.
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Padme watched Kai wearily. She was too tired for this. There was no fight left in her. Maybe that's what Kai wanted.
He came towards her slowly, like a snake. His eyes moved up and down her body, surveying what he was about to destroy.
"Dear Padme, if only you had just stayed away from that Jedi. Then I wouldn't have to do what I'm going to have to do. Then we could've been happy."
Padme's eyes narrowed as she carefully watched Kai inch closer, suddenly fearful of what he was going to do.
"Padme, Padme, Padme," he whispered as he reached out to touch her face. His fingers trailed down to her face and then roughly gripped her chin as he said his next terrifying words: "I saw you."
Then, without warning, he began to hit her. Only this time, more brutally, more hatefully, than the time before.
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"Master, did you hear that?"
Obi-Wan put his ear to the door and quickly pulled back at what he heard.
Anakin quickly put his ear back to the door and heard loud gasps and cries of pain. He slowly slid down until he was in a sitting position. His ear remained connected to the door, listening to Padme's anguish.
He barely noticed Obi-Wan take off to alert the Palace guards. All he saw was Padme's face. Now he knew it was stricken with pain and fear. He had failed her. He hadn't protected his angel. His emotions changed from sick to his stomach to afraid for Padme's life. Then, ever so slowly, he felt anger creep up inside him and finally, boil over.
