THE HUNT

Twenty

Kylo's hand rests on my lower back as we watch the scavenger hoist herself over the edge of the broken floor of the throne room.

She grits out a grunt, standing. She hesitates for a moment before stepping in front of a door, which slides open with a rough creak, metal grinding against metal.

When she enters, it closes immediately.

The Knights are hiding away to prevent any of her friends interfering, and Kylo is tense. I look up at him, and he smiles down at me.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be." I shrug.

I know he's concerned about me and my discovery of my relation to the girl, but he doesn't need to be.

She's nothing, and I'll kill her if I have to.

"Chava-" He pauses as the door slides open and Rey falls backwards out of it, a metal object rolling across the ground. Kylo moves quickly, slamming his hand down on the relic as it rolls towards us.

She scrambles to her feet, eyes wide. Kylo only looks at her steadily, holding up the triangular object. She ignites her lightsaber, and I pull my swords from their sheathes. Kylo hold out a hand, gesturing for me to wait. I put my swords away against all logic, watching her take two steps forward.

"Look at yourself." Kylo says, shaking his head, a small smile pulling at his lips. "You wanted to prove to my mother that you were a Jedi, but you've proven something else." He angles his head slightly, and she grits her teeth. "You can't go back to her now." He pauses. "Like I can't." His voice wavers, and I step towards him.

"Give it to me." She whispers sharply. My lover shudders, chin trembling.

"The dark side is in our nature." He says, steadying his voice. "Surrender to it."

"Give it," She grits out. "To me." Her breathing is ragged as she glares at Kylo. His gaze turns to the object in his hand for a moment before sliding back to her.

"The only way you're getting to Exegol," He says. "Is with me." He holds the object up higher, and it shatters in his hand. I blink, knowing that I should be impressed, but he still thankfully has a hold on my emotions.

"No!" She screams, swinging her lightsaber at him. He dodges several swings before pulling his own weapon into a block. He parries a few times before stepping back and leaping down a hole in the ground. She follows him without hesitation, and I follow her just as quickly.

I don't have the force to lighten the impact, so I throw myself into a roll, my knees trembling with the impact. I watch as Rey pursues Kylo, pushing him further away from me, ocean spitting water on them, and now me as I pursue.

When I catch up, Rey immediately attempts to attack me instead, obviously knowing that it will be a distraction to Kylo.

It is, and he shouts angrily, pushing her away from me with the force. He attacks her with renewed vigor, and I attempt to continue my assistance, but a voice behind me startles me into action.

"Rey!" Immediately I turn, flinging a small knife towards the rogue stormtrooper. He ducks, falling backwards as Rey pushes him with the force. He slides to a stop about thirty feet away from me, and another girl runs to help him, a bow strapped to her back. I suck in a breath as I glance towards the sea.

"Kylo!" I shout, pointing towards the towering wave. He pauses, eyes catching the danger. While he's distracted, Rey pushes off of him, throwing herself across a chasm with the force. Kylo follows. "No!" I race to the edge, trying to see if I can make the jump.

I most certainly cannot make the jump.

I watch in horror as the mist clears, and I see the two continue to fight as the waves threaten to overtake them.

"No! We can't follow them!" I'm reminded of the two people behind me, and I whirl, pulling out my swords again.

"I can't leave her!" Finn shouts.

"We can't!" The woman counters, grabbing his arm.

"Rey!" He shouts again. I step closer, and their gazes shift to me. "No, not you." He steps back.

"Surprise." I crack my neck, preparing to fight, but a wave crashes over me from behind, and I'm swept backwards, nearly off the edge of the platform. I push myself back up, stepping towards them again. Finn shoots at me, the blaster bolts bouncing off of my armour.

"Not really a surprise." He lifts his chin. "You're Ren's pet after all." I grin, and he shifts on his feet.

"That's not the insult you think it is." I tell him, lifting a brow.

"Finn, who is this?" The girl pulls him back again, and I advance further.

"Hunter Horne. She was a Resistance spy before turning to serve Ren."

"And my life is so much better for it." I smirk, and he narrows his eyes.

"Let us pass."

"No chance, man."

"I don't want to fight you." He holds out a hand, palm facing me as if I'm a beast.

"Then turn and leave. This isn't your conflict."

"Then why were you chasing them?"

"Why not?" I shrug. "I like watching him kill people."

With that, he shouts, lunging towards me. I move to the side, shoving my knee into his stomach. He falls to the ground, and I kick him hard in the back of the head. He gasps, then lies unmoving, eyes fluttering shut. The girl runs towards me, but I duck as she swings her bow at me. My gloved hand finds the weapon, wrenching it from her hands and tossing it to the side. She lunges, but I step out of the way. She stumbles past me and I kick her in the back, scoffing as she hits the ground hard and stills.

I look up to see Kylo and Rey's figures through the mist. I brush myself off, and when I turn back, I see Kylo collapse.

Rey drops his lightsaber.

And I fall to my knees.