Chapter 8
Suddenly, Luke's head snapped up. He had been startled, once again, by the Force. This time, however, it had not been the individual voice that he had become used to hearing; it sounded like many more voices, voices that were crying out in pain and anguish, just before fading away again, leaving his ears ringing with their echoes. This upset him greatly, as he did not quite understand the meaning of this event.
Many have lost their lives this day, said the voice of Obi Wan Kenobi.
"Who? Is the one I am supposed to find among them?" Luke asked, worried that he had indeed been too late.
He is still alive, though for how long remains to be seen. He is in danger still, though he does not understand this fact.
"What do you expect me to do? I do not know where he is! I do not even know why I am HERE!"
Patience, young Luke.
'What good is patience, if someone's life is in danger?' he thought miserably…
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'That's it. Keep calling for help. Do not worry, we will find him,' thought the hidden figure. 'Just keep on looking for a way out. We will make sure that no one survives, this time. We will not make the same mistake again…'
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"Maria! Answer me! I cannot find you in all this smoke if you do not answer me!"
Then, he heard an answer, though he was not sure if he was looking forward to what he was sure that he would find. Someone was still alive, but for how much longer? A hoarse scream came from behind him. Spinning around, he saw something that he had somehow dreaded, as unreasonable and improbable as it might have seemed. For some reason, now understood, he had been hesitant to hope for anyone to have lived long enough for him to rescue. Now though, he found himself faced with a terrible decision: continue to look for survivors, as unlikely as it may be that anyone else had survived, and condemn an old friend to death in the process, or allow anyone who had managed to hold on long enough for his return, in hopes that they would be able to recover from such an ordeal, to slowly burn alive and have those hopes crushed in favor of saving his friend who he knew was still alive. Should he sacrifice the known for the unknown? Or should he sacrifice the unknown in hopes of saving the known survivor? For indeed, the source of the scream had come from the center of the village, the one place that he knew contained a potential survivor, if he lasted long enough to recover. He knew that if he delayed in his actions and did not decide soon enough, the choice would be taken from him. If he offered himself up, would they leave the others alone? If they did, would the others be able to help each other survive? Would he be killed himself and end up being an unneeded sacrifice? 'If only I knew what to do in such a situation.' He knew that chances were good that they would kill everyone who still drew breath either way…