Chapter 14
"Shadow," the whisper came suddenly. "I need you," it said. "Find me."
"Poe?" Shadow responded. "Where are you?" She followed the disembodied voice to Interrogation room 226. Slowly, she opened the door and saw Poe strapped to a torture contraption. The blades were inches from his skin, which already was cut and bleeding. She ran up to him and placed her hand on his cheek. "Poe,"
"I don't care what side we're on, as long as I'm with you," Poe told her. "I love you, Shadow," He said as he breathed his last words.
Shadow awoke with a start. Fearing for his life, Shadow retrieved her hood and saber, and she rushed down the halls as swiftly and quietly as possible. She arrived at Interrogation room 226 and entered the room. Poe lay there on the floor, cuffed and bruised. No lacerations were found on his skin, which Shadow was relieved to see. "What did he do to you?"
"Nothing," Poe said weakly. "He got his troopers to do it for him. Son of a bitch didn't want to face me."
"Poe, I'm going to get you out of here."
"Where would I go? I can't go back to the Resistance, I betrayed the General. I'd rather just die here."
"Don't you dare say that. You have so much life to live for. I can convince Kylo Ren to keep you here. You can switch sides. I can teach the ways of the Dark Side. We can train together, and I will show you hand-to-hand combat. You will be feared like I am, intimidating. You and I, Poe. I really care about you, and I want to see you succeed, but I can't love you the way you love me." He looked into her eyes.
"I know you love him." Poe winced at his internal pain. "I don't care if it's me or him, I want you happy." He stared at her for a moment, then pressed his lips to hers. She returned his kiss. Distracted, she didn't notice his hands reaching for her belt. The kiss ceased and he smiled. "I will always love you, Shadow. Goodbye." Before she could say a word, Poe powered the saber. The light pierced his chest, and he let out a final breath.
"Poe!" Shadow screeched. "No, no, no!" She quickly powered down the saber and put it in her belt. Her tears flowed like a river. The door to the Interrogation room opened. Ren and Hux entered. Hux looked shocked.
"You killed our only reliable Resistance prisoner. We almost knew the whereabouts of the map! You stupid girl!" Hux raised his hand, and Shadow flinched closing her eyes. The expected slap did not come. She saw Ren hanging Hux in the air by his throat with the force.
"Never raise a hand to my apprentice."