No. 14—Die a Hero or Live Long Enough to Become a Villain

Desperate Measures | Failed Escape | "I'll be right behind you."

Anakin glanced around the abandoned warehouse. Maul had disappeared for now. He turned back to the structural duracrete pole and tugged on his chains. He had to get out before the Zabrak came back.

Patience, the sensible part of his mind that sounded a lot like Obi-Wan said. Take your time. Be calm. Use the Force. You can do this.

Anakin crossed his legs, propped his chained wrists up on his knees, and closed his eyes. He sank into the Force. He was one with his surroundings. The Force flowed through everything, himself, the cold duracrete leeching warmth from his pants, the creaking, dripping pipes overhead, and the steel cuffs on his wrists. With the Force, he could encourage the molecules to expand just enough for him to slip his hands out and let him go. He gathered the warmth of the Force around him and eased it into his cuffs, moving the space between each molecule farther away.

He opened his eyes and tugged. The left cuff slid over his hand easily, but the right cuff caught on his metal thumb.

A dark spreading presence encroached on Anakin's mind. Maul was coming back.

Anakin's mouth went dry. He wrapped his hand around the cuff and pushed hard. The cuff scrunched his metal thumb, pain tearing through him from the artificial nerves. He pushed harder. The cuff sliced through his thumb completely, pulling the robotic finger and frayed wires with it as he slid it over his hand.

Pain shuddered through his arm. He tucked his hand under his arm on the other side, stood up, and ran.

"Skywalker!" Maul called.

Anakin drew on the Force and ran as fast as he could towards the wall of the warehouse. He didn't know where his lightsaber was or any weapon that might help him. All he could do was run and hope Maul didn't catch up.

He slammed into the door headfirst. He fumbled for the doorknob. He wrenched the door open and stilled, his blood running cold. Savage Oppress stood on the other side of the door.

Savage smiled. "Hello, Skywalker."

Maul grabbed Anakin's arms and jerked then behind his back. "Nice try, Skywalker, but I win." He marched Anakin away to the pole. "Savage, get more chains."

"Let go of me," Anakin said through gritted teeth.

Maul laughed.

Savage returned with more chains. Maul wrenched Anakin's arms around the pole so he was hugging it and Savage snapped cuffs to his wrists. Maul took another length of chain and wound it around Anakin's neck and the pole, then locked it with a padlock.

"I hate you," Anakin said. He hated the feel of the leash, being treated like an animal and not a person.

Maul walked away for a bit, then walked back with an electro whip. He snapped it against Anakin's back.

Anakin cried out, his back seizing. Pain drove into his skin. The whip tore into his back, barking bloody scars into his skin. The electricity set Anakin's fingers to seizing. He fought to keep his pain in, but after a while, he cried out with every stroke.

Maul snorted. "Perfect. Kenobi will be thrilled when he comes to save you."

Anakin groaned, pressing his tear-stained face against the stone pillar.