𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲 | 𝐑𝐄𝐍

𝐈

CHAPTER 1 - BALANCE

rule #1: don't indulge distractions

3RD POV:

       The two children were polar opposites. The stark contrast of there looks was nothing compared to the differences in their personalities. The girl has skin colored like the lightest tan and hair as golden as corn. The boy has skin as rich as chocolate, and hazel eyes that can captivate anyone who gazes into them. They were like the sun and the moon, always creating light but never enough to chase away the shadows where secrets lie. 

The girl is serious and routined, often silently needing the boy to help her have some fun and live a little. The boy always follows his heart and leads with compassion rather than commitment. The girl leads with order, and precision.

Despite their differences, they balanced each other out. Some would go as far to say that they were like the balance of dark and light- but nowadays you could be killed for saying that.

If you have to say anything, just say that their friendship worked.

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location:unknown
time:2200

The two people were quiet as they raced towards the exit doors of their barracks. The boy had just spent 20 minutes begging and asking, trying to get the girl to come with him on his risky nighttime excursion. And after all the work, he wasn't about to waste it.

"Cmon, pleaseeee?" the boy pleaded for the millionth time

"I already told you, I'm busy training. Find someone else to go with you"

The girl continued sitting on her top bunk in the back of the barracks, analyzing a force history book. She is wearing her standard training clothes that consist of black cargo pants, black combat boots, and a skin tight, sleeveless, high neckline cropped shirt.

The girl and the boy had just barely made it back before 2200 curfew was enforced and she did not want to go out risking possibly everything just for a snack. No, that's not how she does things.

But unfortunately for her, that is how the boy does things.

He snatched her book and as she leaned over and tried to grab it, without falling off the bed, he told her, "If you want your little book of magic back, you have to come with me." He crossed his arms and glared at her.

"It is not just a 'book of magic' and you know that! That book holds the history of the force and I'm so close to learning it!" she defended. Her persistence was evidence and the boy worried that maybe this time she wasn't going to back down and come with him. The friendship has been stringent at times and now would be one of them.

"Ugh, Minnie why does it even matter? It's not you'll ever actually be able to use it!" the girl's best friend shot back.

"You don't know that."  she verbally pushed at him. The boy struck a cord with the girl, Minnie, and he know that would do something.

"Why does it always matter with you. It's train, train, train- you never focus on anything else. Including but not limited to, yours truly." His humor was not appreciated.

"Fine! Fine! Well go. Happy now?" The girls voice dropped with suppressed anger and sarcasm as she hopped off her top bunk and stealthily landed in her feet. She snatched her book back from the boy, tossed it on the bed, and stalked off to the exit.

"Extremely."

The two decided to ignore the heated conversation they just had, and focus on the situation. This is one of their best traits- being able to get passed silly quarrels and passing comments. Or, it should've been.

Both of the friends stood by the door to their barracks and looked outside for any oncoming traffic.

When the coast was deemed clear, they slid to the nearest wall and made their way to the destination. Today, it is the cafeteria. Last week, was the balcony- a trip that got them in more trouble than the girl would've liked. She prefers to stay in the barracks, study, train, and fight. She has a routine that keeps her going unnoticed unless necessary. The boy has always liked to explore and try different things. A fighter and a free spirit some would say.

When they got to the central corridor, they saw three generals walking down the hall. "So this is what they do after curfew- walk and talk? How utterly boring." The boy complained and they peered from behind the wall.

"Shh! Are you blind? Watch them!" She whisper yelled at the boy while pulling him back the way they came.

"No I am not blind. And I can't watch them if you're dragging me by my arm!" The boy yanked the girl back and demanded an answer. It never came.

"What are you two doing out of you're barracks?" The first of the three generals demanded. They rounded the corner to see the two teens frozen in their tracks.

The two friends whipped around with wide eyes and straightened their stance. Only the girl seemed to remain calm in the presence of such dangerous figures.

"Sorry, sir, we were just getting back. This one wanted to go out but I denied, and he then proceeded to drag me with him." She smoothly explained to the young general with carrot-red hair, as if that was exactly what happened.

"Just as we thought. Thank you for your honesty, MC-1892."

The girl nodded and took a step back.

The general continued, talking to the boy.
"As for you, this isn't the first time you've gone against protocol. If I recall, this was you're last shot."   The general laid out the problem in a slow, venomous voice.

The boy on the other hand was so flustered that even the non force sensitive could feel his fear radiating off of his body.

"I- uh- sir- uh- I- what- no- That's not true!" he exclaimed while looking back and searching the girls face for answers to why she was she betraying him.

The general once again stepped in, "And you want me to believe you? You have cost us prisoners, time, and training. Please, come with us."

The other two generals grabbed the boy by his arms as he flailed around and yelled gibberish to his supposed and trusted best friend. "No! I trusted you! You're my sister! I..."

The boy was dragged off to meet his fate. This left the girl with the red haired general. "Thank you for your honesty, MC-1892. The Order appreciates it. We will see that FN-2187 is handled. We simply cannot have trouble like him in our ranks. Please, allow me to escort you to your barracks." The general said to the girl with a sweet but criminal smile, and they continued back to the barracks as promised.

When they arrived, the general said a quick good night and walked back to what the girl guessed is the way to his room.

The girl paces back to her top bunk, changed into her sleeping clothes, and climbed up to sleep. As she layed down, she thought about what just happened. It was odd. He best friend for life was just taken to his presumable death and his blood is on her hands. It was weird and definitely unsettling, but she didn't feel a twinge of guilt. She missed him, but she didn't feel a twinge of guilt. The bunk below her felt almost as empty as the emotionless void you can call her mind.

The girl slowly fell asleep and whispered to the empty space in the bunk below where her best friend used to sleep.

Goodnight, Finn.

•

For that was the day that the girls last attachment of humanity was dragged away. Leaving her to resume her destiny alone, and heartless.