Huxloween: The Thirty Night Trial

Day 8: Candy & Gore

The hike had taken them through a small village. Hux had promptly commandeered one of the comms at the communications hub to catch up on the business on Starkiller, the Finalizer and all over the rest of the First Order. Kylo had lingered just long enough to work out how much time they could spend in the village before slinking off somewhere.

He reappeared two hours later to drag Hux away to continue the hike.

They settled down in the designated camping spot and started setting up for the night, same as always. Kylo revealed that he had bought them a small tent, and a few extra food supplies.

"What are those?" Hux asked curiously as Kylo opened a box with an impressive spread of items.

"It's candy," the Knight said, sounding slightly pleased with himself. "These fluffy things, they're marshmallows. We can toast them over the fire. These ones," he pointed to a row of six little tubs, "They're boiled sweets in various flavours. You suck them. I thought they might be nice for during the walks. Those are gummy bears. You chew them. Those are aniseed balls. They're for sucking too. This is toffee, and those are chocolate with little candy pieces to give that multi-coloured speckled pattern. Want to try something?" He picked up one of the gummy bears and held it out.

Hux took it and chewed. There was an explosion of sweetness. "Wow," he murmured. He'd never really had sweets before. Kylo brought some back from his missions occasionally, but he hadn't had them growing up.

Kylo smiled. "Let's toast the marshmallows after we've eaten the stew."

"Good idea," Hux said, gazing longingly at the candy box. "We need proper food. And eating first will help make the candy last."

Kyo laughed. "I'll keep hold of them. Just in case you find you can't help yourself," he teased.

Hux flushed.

The mood was a lot lighter around the camp that night. Kylo had a tube of something called curry paste which he added to his stew. Hux tried it, but didn't much like it. Kylo joked about his 'refined' palate, and Hux retorted with the accusation that Kylo didn't know how to subsist on limited resources. But there was no animosity. They'd almost forgotten the upcoming trial.

Hux noticed it first. "Kylo, have you spilt something on your shirt?" he asked.

Kylo frowned and looked down. "No," he said, puzzled. He touched the growing red stain, and his fingers came away damp. He lifted his hand to his face and sniffed.

"Blood," he murmured. "But I didn't…" He lifted his shirt.

Despite the growing pool of blood, it was plain to see the gash across his abdomen. He started, and the flesh was wrench out of place, letting the gash gape open-

And the guts beneath to start falling out.

With a cry, Hux dashed over. He frantically scooped up the fallen viscera and tried desperately to push it back into place. The stench was awful; like raw meat and death. Kylo's breathing was laboured, his skin going pale and clammy as his lifeblood poured out on the ground.

"I don't know what to do!" Hux wailed. "I- I can't-"

Increasingly desperate, he pulled Kylo's cowl from his neck and pushed it against the Knight's stomach.

"Hux," Kylo rasped. "I dunno how i' happen'. Mus' be trial. Don'…panic…" He pushed away Hux's hands.

The guts spilled out again.

Hux turned away and vomited.

They wouldn't be toasting marshmallows that night.