He was running through tight hallways, the walls seemed to constrict the farther he ran. Blaster shots and screams of agony rang in his ears, reminding him that this was his doing. Snoke had convinced him to bring the Knights of Ren to Luke's Academy, with an offer to bring him peace and make him powerful. But this – this hadn't been Kylo's intended. The death and carnage was more than he had anticipated.
The dead bodies of his fellow students littered the floor as he ran. Most of his fellow students had been too young to understand what was going on, they had been terrified. It had turned into a slaughter of children and Kylo had assisted in killing them.
This was his fault, and there was no going back at this point. He couldn't bring the other students back to life –there was no repentance or redemption for his crime. He had to commit himself to the darkness now, there was no turning back.
The hallway widened again to show an open field – and rain began to pour down. Kylo could feel the water caressing his skin as the drops slide down his face. The area around him was as black as ink, until a bright green saber ignited the darkness.
Kylo felt a Force pull that flung him forward and caused his face to hit the ground. Mud splatter in his face and he tried to wipe it out. Quickly, Ren scrambled to his feet to see Luke standing in front of him. The green from his saber illuminated Luke's features. His old master's eyes were colder than ice; his face had aged considerably as wrinkles had appeared under his eyes, and gray was peppered more around his beard and through his hair. The robes he wore were tattered and burned, probably from killing the other Knights of Ren.
"This is your doing, Ben. You will pay greatly for this," Luke hissed.
That was when Kylo felt Luke's lightsaber pierce through his chest. Heat burned in his body, and he felt the agony of his organs being vaporized, and turned to ashes. He could hardly think as he watched the blade leave him.
Kylo's heart was thundering in his chest like a drum when he awoke. Sweat dripped down his face as he tried to catch his breath. Frantically, he pushed sweat-soaked hair from his eyes and away from his face.
It had been months since a dream like that had surfaced. He thought he left the guilt behind. But since he had started training with Rey, something was stirring in him. Rey's comments about giving up his hatred and seek forgiveness had left him shaken.
Their pain was similar, she had said to him – she had forgiven her parents for leaving her. If she could forgive them, he should be more than capable of forgiving his father, she had told him. But without his hate he was nothing, there would be no place for him on the Dark Side, and the Light Side was beyond his grasp now. He had committed too many foul deeds to go back.
Yet, Rey seemed to have an odd, unshakable faith in him – she was under some illusion he was good – that he was capable of forgiveness. But that wasn't true, there was no forgiveness in him or for him. There was only anger and hate, that's all that was left.
Yesterday she meditated about how his soul was not too far gone, but his soul was. He had cut too many life's short, and caused others too much pain for him to be spared. But his old life, his old self was gone.
When Rey had called him Ben, it had been so nostalgic, no one had called him Ben in years. He didn't particularly like being called by his previous name – it reminded him of his time as a child and at Luke's Academy. Kylo had erased Ben Solo from his life – he'd been too weak back then. Foolish in believing that Luke could help him control his rage. Foolish when he thought his parents sent him away for his own good and not theirs. Ben Solo was buried under the rubble of the destroyed Jedi Academy, and Kylo wasn't certain if Ben could be revived.
Kylo had only told Rey his previous name because she had been right before when they had ate together – he had seen in her mind and learned about her – and now he felt obligated to reciprocate. If anything his mother had always taught him to stick to his obligations otherwise he was no better than a scoundrel – no better than his father. If only that girl never asked questions, he could be saving himself a lot of hardship. If he hadn't agreed to train her either, his life would be a little easier. But he couldn't go back on their deal now, it was too late for that.
If only he could figure out the secret to the peace she brought him, or turn her to the Dark Side. Then all his problems would be solved, but neither seemed likely. Rey seemed too pure for the Dark Side, she had so much sorrow under her beautifully tan skin, yet she refused to turn it into hate. There was no denying she would make a very powerful Jedi, no matter what side she chose. Her connection to the Force was unparalleled, sometimes he feared her connection was more powerful than his. When Kylo had been a student, he had worked so hard to learn new abilities and to master his skills. Often times he became frustrated with his lacking skill. For Rey though, everything seemed natural to her, the Force flowed from her with such grace.
Kylo refused to admit it, but secretly, he enjoyed training Rey. She was a good student, and excited about learning. Yesterday when she had learned how to pull objects to herself, she had been jumping for joy. Her excitement had been so intoxicating – it had been impossible for him to shut it out.
But no matter how much he enjoyed training her, one day he would have to ask for the map. And that would be the end of their training – and the end of their partnership. Deep down, Kylo wasn't sure how he felt about that, at least not yet.
Kylo had informed Rey he would be training her later in the day. There was a strategy meeting hosted by General Hux, and he was required to attend. After General Hux had destroyed the Bothan system – the system where the Resistance traded and got supplies – the Council was plotting their next strike. It would probably be the destruction of the Resistance bases in the Ileenium system.
Kylo finished putting on his helmet and his robes – for extra intimidation Ren put his hood on. He attached his saber to his belt, just in case he needed to inflict more fear in the officers.
Without hesitation, Kylo headed to the war room. The sound of his boots against the floor resonated down the hallway, as he passed patrols of Stormtroopers. The war room was in part of the control unit on the base, it was such a far distance from his quarters.
As usual, he was late to the meeting, but it didn't matter, very little of the material actually needed his approval or input. It was just a formality that he was invited to the meetings. If the Council decided to attack the Ileenium system he wasn't going to stop it. They might call him a Resistance sympathizer if he spoke out, his mother was the General of the Resistance after all.
Ren took his seat at the circular table, his chair was traditionally directly across from General Hux. The other officers always gave Kylo terrified looks when he entered the room, they were always so anxious around him. He suspected it had something to do with him choking many of them nearly to death.
General Hux was in front of the Council spewing the same bullshit as usual – the Resistance were usurpers, the First Order were the true rulers of the universe. Personally, his favorite part was where Hux got so upset he started yelling and almost spitting all over the table. Kylo sat and watched the pompous ass blab away.
It wasn't long until his thought drifted away from the meeting and to Rey. He wasn't sure what to do anymore, he didn't believe he could get peace from her without being in her presence. And when it came to turning her to the Dark Side, that seemed improbable. Her refusal to focus her anger was proving permanent.
Instead of listening, Ren planned on what he would teach Rey today. Yesterday Rey had practiced more with Force manipulation, moving objects and pulling them toward her. He considered teaching her how to push objects, or maybe he would instruct her on mind tricks.
"Kylo Ren, don't you agree?" Kylo was called from his own thoughts by General Hux. The red-head was smirking at him – he had known Ren hadn't been paying attention. Kylo looked around at the rest of the officers, he searched for clues in their expressions, but their faces were as straight as a poker player. He couldn't even guess what they had been talking about.
"Of course." He replied without hesitation. There was no way to know what he agreed to, but he doubted it mattered. But there was no way he would allow Hux to make a fool out of him in front of the Council.
"Since Kylo Ren has agreed to the future destruction of the Ileenium system, we can adjourn this meeting." General Hux called to order. "The next meeting will be at the same time in four days from now."
Kylo stood up, and was about to leave with the other officers, before General Hux stepped in front of him. Regally, Hux put his hands behind his back and straightened his composure. That was never a good sign, Ren had known the General long enough to draw that conclusion. There was a deviant look in his gaze, and Kylo felt his stomach churn.
"Do you have the map yet?" Hux questioned, he seemed to already know the answer. The condescension dripped from his words, and it bothered Ren to no end.
"No," Kylo said smoothly. "Not yet, I'm close though." He wasn't lying, everyday he trained Rey he was closer to asking for the map.
"Really? My patrols have reported the interrogation rooms have been empty the last few days, and they haven't heard any torturous screams in that corridor lately."
Ren refused to be intimidated by this lousy excuse for a General. "I'm doing the torturing my way, she's harder to break than the others."
"She's harder to break? What, because she's one of your kind," General Hux hissed. "Do you pity her, or are you afraid to harm her because she reminds you so much of yourself? Wait, or is it because she's a girl?" The way he phrased that seemed suggestive to Kylo, and it disgusted him. "Don't let this girl get to you, otherwise I'll be forced to tell the Supreme Leader."
The General was all about protocol, but he wasn't shy about blackmailing his rivals. Kylo was not going to allow Hux to puppeteer him – never would he lose his free will to a man as weak as the General. The only valid option Kylo could see was to intimidate Hux.
"Are you insinuating I'm going soft on her because she is Force-sensitive or a girl?" He kept his voice level, but very cold.
"I'm not insinuating anything, other than you're allowing this mission for the map to get personal. We know you want to destroy Skywalker," Hux was trying to cover his tracks. Kylo straightened himself a little more – so he towered over the General like a giant.
"It sounded like you were calling me weak." Kylo said with a steady tone, yet he remained brusque. "Do you remember what happened to the last officer that even hinted I was weak?"
One of the officers a few months ago had called Ren a Resistance sympathizer, for suggesting they should use a barricade to cut off the Resistance supplies and starve them out, instead of attacking them head on. Kylo had ripped his intestines out using a Force pull. It had left a bloody mess all over the Council chambers, but it had left a strong message – he was not to be trifled with.
That's when General Hux became a little fearful – Kylo could feel the terror rolling off him now. "I'm not saying you're weak. Let me get the map from her. I've learned some very interesting techniques to get people to talk." His offer was a pathetic way to try and redeem himself.
"I can do this on my own." Kylo said impudently. "I don't need your help."
Hux would flay Rey, Kylo knew this. The General was a sadistic, twisted man who enjoyed watching his enemies suffer. He would drag out torturing her, Kylo had seen his work first hand, and it was sickening. It always started with making an incision and then he would cut deeper and deeper until he hit bone. Then he would very neatly peel back their skin until they couldn't take the pain anymore. Just the thought nearly made Kylo shudder.
"You sound very protective of her, considering she's our prisoner," Hux stated observantly.
Kylo restrained himself from choking Hux. "The Supreme Leader said he wants the girl intact. I know your methods would leave her incapacitated for a very long time. This has nothing to do with protecting her – it has everything to do with following the Supreme Leader to the letter," he countered.
"The Supreme Leader wouldn't care if this girl was dead, I'm sure of it," General Hux retorted.
"I'm not going to take the chance of upsetting the Supreme Leader. If you want to take that chance, be my guest." Kylo said harshly. "I found her on Takodana and I will do my own investigation, my way."
General Hux remained silent – instead he was staring at Kylo with an incisive gaze. He was searching for weakness, maybe signs of fondness, but it was all for naught. The mask hid Kylo's emotions perfectly. Hux's eyes raked over him many times before the General turned his back and regally started to walk out of the room. Kylo felt himself relax as Hux began to leave.
The General stopped in the door momentarily, he turned around to shoot Kylo one last suspicious glare. "Don't fail us Kylo Ren," he said before he left.
"I don't plan on it," Kylo muttered under his breath, but his response was too late to be heard.
[A/N]: Hey guys, thank you so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If you could leave a review with your thoughts about the chapter or the story, that would be so wonderful. Next chapter will be from Rey's perspective, so stay tune! Again, thank you for taking the time to read this chapter! :)