Star Wars - Thief in the Darkness - Chapter 6 - Kylo Ren/OC Fanfiction
You can't run, run, run,
From a smoking gun,
Caught in the crossfires,
Of the things weāve done,
ā When the truth hunts you down (Sam Tinnesz)
I needed them to disable the barrier and release me from my cell. For what seemed like hours I considered ways I was going to achieve that goal. Every option or idea that I came up with just sounded dumb or ridiculous. Try and bargain with one of the trooper guards and hope theyāll help me? Nope. Lure them in with a striptease? Double nope. I kept going over scenarios in my head, trying to imagine Han Solo here with me. What would he do? He was always good at getting out of sticky situations.
I couldnāt just sit here and wait for an event to happen. I had to be proactive. Think, Freya. I needed to draw them in and get them to deactivate the cell. But it had to be believable. It had to be something to warrant their attention.
From my sat position at the center of the cell, I turned my head towards the small plate of food that had been given to me earlier. It was nothing special; a canteen of water and some kind of greyish gruel. Not exactly appetising but it was a positive sign that they werenāt planning on allowing me to die, just yet.
I pulled myself up and walked over towards it. āIs this all Iām getting?ā I asked the two troopers nearby. Their white helmets turned to one another, before swinging back to me without a sound. āIt's not exactly a luxurious three course meal, is it?ā
One them shifted, swinging their shoulders to face me. āYou'll get what you're given and like it, Scum.ā
I picked up the plate and gave the contents a tentative sniff. I lifted a brow suspiciously at them. āHow do I know it's not poisoned?ā
They shared a deep guttural laugh with one another and shrugged. āEat or starve,ā the one on the left said. āLike we care.ā
āFair enough,ā I agreed and took a huge spoonful of the lumpy porridge, shoving it into my mouth. I chewed it quickly, trying not to gag on the salty paste like consistency. It was absolutely disgusting, but it would be enough to serve its purpose.
āI mean, it's not likely to be poisoned, right?ā I chatted lightly to them as though we were best buddies, āyour leader need me alive for the time being. It wouldn't be in their interests to kill me off yet.ā I gave a snort of laughter and ate another mouthful. āCould you imagine how angry they'd be with you, if something were to happen to me? You two would be screwed, royally. They'd be so mad...ā
I paused mid-cackle. A cough wracked its way across my frame and I thumped a fist against my chest to clear my airways.
āHoly shit,ā I pulled a grimace and wheezed loudly, āWhat's in this? It tastes like something crawled in it and died.ā
I continued to gasp, the barking sound growing in intensity until my hand rose up to my throat in panic. My eyes bulged. I clawed at the collar of my jerkin, coughing wildly. Choking.
I fell to my knees with a thud and looked to the troopers watching nearby. āW...What...ā I gasped, I could feel my face growing red. āW..what have... you done to me?ā
āEnough with the games,ā the tallest trooper straightened and stepped closer, trying to intimidate.
I allowed my body to slump down upon the floor, my face pressing against the cool tiles. My limbs kicked out, thrashing. Gurgling noises bubbled up in my throat. A line of saliva dribbling down my chin.
āWhat is she doing?ā I heard one of my captors speak.
I grew immobile, stilling like a statue upon the ground. I held my breath... and waited.
Footsteps approached swiftly. I heard the energy shield surge and then fade away with a sharp beep.
I smiled to myself... This was too easy.
One of the guards disappeared, leaving the room for medical assistance. Which left me with one remaining trooper to deal with.
The moment he reached my side, I sprung into action. I swept my leg out hard, ramming it against the weak spot on his right knee. The sudden shift in his balance caused him to teeter over and fall to a kneel beside me. With swift motions, I pulled him down and wrapped my thighs around his neck. I squeezed as hard as I could, panting heavily. His helmet hindered me, but my limbs were slender enough to fit in the sweet spot around his unprotected throat. We grappled upon the floor, fighting against one another. His fists beat at me in a blind panic, his strength impressive against my smaller one. But I was like a snake, refusing to release him, restricting his airways tightly with all the energy I could muster.
It didn't take long. I felt his body slump, falling to a heap next to me. Unmoving and unconscious. With a huge exhale of exertion, I let him go and took notice of the lack of shield around my cell.
It was now or never. I had to move quickly, before more of the enemy arrived. I had to find Rey and find a way off this base; without being seen. It was a mad plan, bound to fail, but I had to try.
I grabbed the troopers fallen blaster and ran for the door. I peered around its arched frame to assess the hallway beyond. It was empty, but I could hear voices not far away speaking to one another.
My heart raced, practically engraving itself against the inside of my ribcage. My hands shook with the rush of adrenaline surging through my body. I even held my breath for fear of someone hearing it.
Hunkering low, I crept down the corridor. I peered into all of the open rooms, hoping to find Rey, but there was no sign of her anywhere. I took a left, and then a right, but then hastily retreated back around the corner again when I saw a trio of uniformed officers walking down towards me.
I took a sharp left instead. I tried to approach some of the doors, hoping they might open automatically, but to no avail. Only one stood open; a single room situated at the end of the corridor.
The voices grew louder, so I took it as my only option. I launched myself into the chamber and barely dived out of sight when I caught a glimpse of the figures wandering past. Completely oblivious of my presence.
I lingered until they faded away from sight. I sighed, long and deep, in relief. Unease battled against my courage. I wanted to stay bunkered down beside the counter that was my hiding place, but I knew I could not hide forever.
āCome on, Freya,ā I urged to myself, my voice barely a whisper. āYou can do this.ā
Gripping the blaster harder, I began to stride for the exit. Rey had to be in one of these rooms somewhere. I had to keep looking.
I made it within a few feet of the door when it suddenly slid shut, preventing me from stepping through it.
I moved closer, hoping to activate it into the opening. When nothing happened I pressed at random sections on the keypad. But again, nothing happened.
āCome on, you piece of shit!ā I slammed a fist against it in frustration. āOpen!ā
I paused. My unease evolved into an unsettling sense of foreboding. Something wasn't right. I could sense a heaviness in the atmosphere. Stifling and oppressive.
It was then that I felt eyes on me from behind, burning into my back. Slowly I turned to finally realise I was no longer alone.
The person that met my gaze took me by surprise. I didn't recognise the male that stood before me, but he was tall, slender... and topless. I coughed awkwardly and shuffled my feet, trying to look elsewhere, but at the smooth planes of his chest. He wore black boots and breeches. A pair of leather gloves sat tight upon his long-fingered hands. What had my attention the most, however, was his face.
Not in the Grecian, adonis way. No... His features were flawed, imperfect. His lips were full, almost pouting. His nose was long, hawk-like, giving him the impression of a predator or nobility. Thick brows sat angled above his dark onyx coloured eyes. His chin was narrow but prominent, giving him the appearance of a petulant sulky child. Inky long hair drifted around his ears, contrasting harshly with his pale complexion. He stood there half dressed, and upon the nearby bed was the rest of his clothes.
I was staring, I couldn't help myself. I felt foolish gawking, but I couldn't make myself look away.
He scrutinized me just as intensely, his gaze wandering over me. He seemed neither surprised nor angry with the fact I had barged in on his privacy. Nor did he reach for me, despite the fact I was an escaped prisoner loose on the ship. His expression was guarded, I struggled to read what his thoughts or intentions were. His face was a mask. Empty. Mysteriously void of emotion.
For a moment we just stood there staring at one another. Neither of us blinking.
āYou,ā his voice, low and soft, rumbled its way across the space to me. It was pleasant sounding, deep and eloquent.
You? I blinked at him. Did he know me from somewhere? I don't recall ever seeing him before, but he seemed to remember me.
āWho are you?ā I whispered, frowning at him.
He said nothing. Instead, he began to reach for something on the bed and I swiftly lifted my blaster up to him.
āDon't.ā I warned him gently. āI'm not here to fight with you.ā I began, taking a slow step towards him. āI'm looking for a woman, her name is Rey. She's being held here, and I need to know where.ā
He made no further movement, nor did he speak. Silence shielded him like a fortress.
I began to grow frustrated. āNo one will know you helped me. I swear it,ā I pleaded to him and lowered the blaster, showing him my sincerity. I was drowning in his eyes, becoming lost in how dark they were. Bottomless, never-ending darkness.
āPlease.ā I wasn't one to beg but I needed this stranger more than he realised. āHelp me. I need...ā
My words trailed off as something caught my attention; an object lying upon the bed nearby. Large and spherical in shape. Dark in colour with streaks of silvers across its front. A single plate of metal representing that of a mouthpiece, like that which is found on a helmet. A mask...
Fear ran down my back like a trickle of icy water, settling in my belly. Disbelief caused my limbs to slacken and my legs to grow unsteady.
I lifted my focus back to him and noticed the way his own attention drifted to the mask and then back to me. His chin lifted, a wordless confirmation of my thoughts.
It was him. The masked man from the forest, the one who had taken me hostage.
Panic forced me to shoot away from him. I didn't want to be in the same room as this man. I didn't want to be anywhere near him. I had to run, to get away.
His lips parted as though he was about to say something, but was cut off by the door shooting open noisily behind me.
ā Kylo Ren, the supreme leader wishes to speak to you. He requests that you-ā
I whirled on the owner of that voice and our new visitor froze instantly when he saw me.
āYou!ā he snarled, his red head almost matching the brightness of his angry face. āGuards! Seize her!ā
He gave me no option, no time to consider what to do or what plan of action to take. I heard heavy footsteps running towards us from down the corridor.
I leaped forward and swung my arm back, smashing the blunt end of my blaster against Hux's nose. I heard it crack. He staggered and wailed loudly. I threw up a knee, winding him with an attack to his midriff. I flew behind him and with my free hand squeezed at the delicate tendons of his nape. He was much taller and stronger than me, but he stilled under my hold when I pressed the end of my blaster against the back of his skull.
āIf you have any sense, you will do as I say,ā I panted. My fingers digging against a pressure point, causing the lanky male under my hold to give a squeal of pain.
āHow dare you!ā he floundered, bending his knees to try and ease the pressure of my grip. āYou will regret this! Mark my words! I will make you pay for this, you stupid little gir-aah!ā
I cut him off with another sharp press of my hand. His veins bulged across his temples. His face growing brighter with each passing minute; whether from pain or embarrassment, I wasn't so sure.
āWhere is she?ā I shook him as hard as I could, shoving the gun further against his head. āTell me where Rey is!ā
The dark-haired stranger remained unmoved from his spot by the bed. Watching. Neither rushing to save his comrade, nor reaching for a weapon. In fact, he seemed strangely calm. His eyes glued to me.
Kylo Ren, Hux had called him. My mind whirled at that with chaotic thoughts. I'd heard stories about him. Tales of his cruel deeds and cold-blooded acts of malice against innocent people. Things had just turned from bad to worse with a single brief meeting. Death was standing right before me in the form of a handsome man.
I had to get out of here.
I yanked hard on Hux, dragging him back with me into the hallway. A group of stormtroopers approached from my left. Four of them. They drew their weapons, but hesitated, reluctant to attack when their leader was being used as a human shield.
āGet back,ā I growled to them, āGet back! Or I swear, I will splatter his brains all over these walls.ā
āStay away, you idiots!ā The General barked. I could feel his rapid pulse beneath my fingertips. I could sense his fear.
It was no use. I couldn't hold him captive forever. He was being placated only by my hand and his own irrational fear of dying. And although I was a fighter, I was no killer.
I did the only thing I could think of. With all my might I shoved the General towards the group of troopers and fired a blast against a nearby wall, sending sparks and flames all around us.
I took the moment of distraction to run. I fled as though the devil himself chased me. My lungs burned, the world around me blurred as I sprinted down the corridors. I took a left, then a right, and then another right.
An elevator stood open a short distance away and I picked up my speed towards it. I had just managed to get inside when I saw the small group that followed behind me. The troopers. An angry Hux. And Kylo Ren...
I slammed a hand against the buttons and the doors began to slowly close, cutting them off from me, and I from them. A barrier between us. Security. Safety. A chance of escape.
The elevator didn't move. I waited for it to jolt with movement, to head downwards, but it never happened. Seconds ticked by with frightening slowness. I stepped back and pressed my back against the glass. The feeling of security died and instead an ominous sense of imprisonment swept over me.
A sound reached my ears, like metal grinding upon metal. The elevator shuddered. Fear choked me, strangling me of my logic. The doors creaked and slowly began to open.
I lifted my blaster in time to see Kylo Ren waiting on the other side, his arm stretched. His fingers clawed, flexing with barely constrained power.
His midnight eyes found me. My finger hesitated on the trigger.
The blaster was wrenched from my grip by an unseen force, flying across the space to Kylo Ren.
I lifted my chin at him, even though every inch of my body trembled. He saw it. He saw everything. Every flash of emotion that passed across my face. Every droplet of sweat that rolled down my skin. I bet he could even smell the fear I had of him.
He lowered his arms and prowled closer, stepping into the elevator with me. My neck craned back, his height towering over me with ease.
āThat was a foolish thing to do,ā his voice, deadly and soft, was like a slap to my pride.
I glared at him, biting back a retort.
He gestured towards the corridor. A simple movement of command that demanded to be obeyed. "Walk."
I remained still, refusing to move. My stubbornness knew no bounds, it seemed.
āWalk,ā he spoke again, his tone lowering slightly in warning, āOr I will make you.ā
I grounded myself, ready to fight him, ready to face his wrath. I didn't want to go back to my cell. After all the struggle and hassle I'd gone through to get this far. I couldn't bring myself to surrender to him so easily.
Our eyes melded together, trapped in a silent battle. Somehow his face had moved nearer, hovering inches above my own. The heat of his body reached me, his bare chest so close, within touching distance.
I must have taken too long to acquiesce to his request, because in the next breath I felt myself being lifted from the ground. As though my magic I hovered in midair, drifting like a leaf across a wind. My legs kicked out in panic and I glared at him.
āPut me down,ā I growled through my teeth.
He ignored my hostility and lifted a brow. āI gave you a fair warning, but you refused. Now we will have to do things the hard way. My way.ā He began to walk out of the elevator and down the corridor. To my horror I was hauled along with him, as though pulled by an invisible string that tied me to him.
I screamed in frustration, āFuck you! You stupid piece of shit!ā
General Hux and the group of stormtroopers observed us from the sidelines. Hux's face clearly showed his pleasure at seeing me in such a humiliating position.
āNot so clever now, are we?ā he sneered. Ginger bastard that he was.
We approached the familiar room that had been my prison. I stiffened, expecting to be thrown back into my cell with little grace or gentility. But instead I was slowly lowered to my feet within the circular cell. The barriers came up around me, sealing me once again within their embrace.
I shut my eyes and sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat. I rotated to face Kylo Ren and gave him my most sarcastic smile possible. āThanks for the ride, I guess.ā
āYour attempts of escape are futile,ā he stated with calmness, straightening his gloves whilst tilting his head to me. āNot only do you risk your own life by trying, but also that of your friends."
I shook my head weakly, my exhaustion showing itself. āI won't give in,ā I declared quietly. āEver.ā
āYou will,ā he answered just as softly. A promise.
I stared at him. I had nothing else to say to him. I was tired, feeling discouraged and vulnerable. My efforts of escape had been for nothing. Draining and filled with false hope. Every step of it had been stalked and ruined by the mysterious man before me.
Kylo Ren's eyes bore into me, so dark and magnetic. The lights reflected in them and for a moment I thought I saw something. Something lurking. Alive. But as quickly as I saw it, it was gone again.
He took a step nearer, pausing near the barrier that separated us. He opened his mouth to speak, but was stalled by a trooper suddenly storming into the room at full speed. The newcomer panted heavily from beneath his white helmet.
āSir... the scavenger,ā the trooper rasped.
Kylo Ren did not even bother to give the soldier his attention. āYes, what of her?ā
āShe's gone, sir,ā it came out like a rush from the troopers mouthpiece. Frantic with alarm. āShe has been seen escaping with FN-2187, a wookie, and Han solo. They're headed for the thermal oscillator...ā
Kylo Ren rotated his head slowly, his shoulders stiffening. His brooding gaze found the trooper and practically shot daggers into him. A metamorphic changed seemed to come over his entire being. All the calm and passivity of his countenance was swept away beneath a wild torrent of anger. His jaw rolled and his lips trembled under the intensity of his growing fury.
His eyes flashed up to me for a second, practically blistering me with enough heat and fire to set the entire base ablaze.
I'd never seen anything like it. The transition. The swift change in mood. It was both entrancing and frightening to see.
āNo...ā it was like a strangled groan of disbelief from his lips. Ren turned and stormed towards the trooper. āFind them!ā he growled. āDo not let them leave this base alive!ā
And then he was gone. Without another glance or word in my direction, Kylo Ren thudded from the room, the trooper following obediently behind him.
I stood there stunned for a moment. My head was all over the place and I struggled to fully understand what was happening.
Rey was gone. She'd escaped with the others. They'd done it. They'd gotten out and were now leaving the base. They were free.
Happiness blossomed within my chest, but at the same time another emotion rose up into my throat choking me. Stinging me relentlessly with its reality.
I tried to feel satisfaction for their achievement. I did not want to be selfish and feel betrayed by them. But no matter how much I tried I could not remove the pain of being left behind.
They were gone. They'd come to save Rey... but I was still here.
