𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝙠𝙮𝙡𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙣.

o4. jedi killer

CHAPTER FOUR
'JEDI KILLER'

❝      and if i'm dead to you, why
are you at the wake?   cursing
my name;   wishing i stayed.
look at how my tears ricochet.    ❞

— MY TEARS RICOCHET,  taylor swift

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:

highly recommend listening
to that song as you read this.

A PIERCING SCREAM startled Andromeda as she jolted from her sleep. She had always been a heavy sleeper.

Andromeda's groggy eyes looked around as she rubbed them harshly. Her bare feet hit the ground as the sound of destruction rattled her core. Her breath hitched in her throat as she noticed empty beds.

With an eyebrow raised, her feet padded softly against the floor as she made her way from the hut and into the open nighttime. Red hues haunted her vision as half of the camp was burning. Her mouth parted slightly as she gripped the hem of her nightshirt.

Peering around the corner, a gasp erupted from her as she saw one of her own, slain at the entrance. Terror forever marked his features. She bent down, cupping his face as she tried to find a pulse. Tears crashed down onto the body as there was no sense of life in him. His blood stained her clothes as she stood quickly, backing into the hut, clutching her heart as she began to hyperventilate.

The sounds of lightsabers humming and clashing startled her as it drowned the piercing sound out.

Her mind went to Ben and Kayla. Then to Uncle Luke.

That was the motivation her feet needed to carry her. A she moved off of the hut, the tattered edge caught her shirt, ripping it open. That was the least of her worries. Her movements were slow and unsteady as the chaos swarmed around her, burned bodies twitching beneath the flames. A dirt and blood covered hand came up to cover her mouth as she swallowed her shock.

Andromeda winced as she stepped on something that cut her foot open. Ignoring her pain, she persevered. Who was doing this? What happened?

As she rounded the corner, she was met with a large back. She knew it was Ben's.

"Ben!" She breathed a breath of relief as she stepped closer. Ben stood; frozen.

"Ben?" Her voice was uncertain as it cracked.

Ben turned around, lightsaber crackling in his grip. His body was littered with blood as his eyes reflected anger. Upon seeing Andromeda, they softened. "Not you..." He whispered.

Andromeda backed up, taking in his features as her mind began to connect the dots.

"Why?" She cried, slowly backing up from him. "Please don't do this."

"Go! Now!" Ben barked, his lightsaber flailing as he yelled.

"Ben, please." She pleaded, her hands out in front of her.

"Go, I don't want to hurt you. I can't. If you don't leave, I will." Ben spat, not daring to meet her eyes. "Go!"

His yell caused Andromeda to flinch. Her voice, and perhaps her being broke as she whispered, "I love you."

Turning to run away, she ignored the throbbing pain from her foot as she tried to put distance between them. The lightsaber destruction continued as she ran. She needed to get help. She was defenseless against him.

"Andi." A hoarse voice called out from the rubble.

Stopping in her tracks, Andromeda's eyes traveled to the origin. "No." She cried, rushing over to the body. Half of it lay in the burning ash while the other half was covered in despair. "No!" Her sobs were like banshee screams, piercing the heart of Ben Solo from where he stood.

Falling to her knees, she shook her head, "No, no, no."

"It's okay." Kayla croaked, trying to muster a smile as she retained no movement.

Andromeda grabbed her hand, pulling her body into her lap, placing her hand against her cheek. "You're gonna be okay, you're gonna be okay." Her sobs echoed hauntingly around them.

Kayla smiled, her voice so low that Andromeda struggled to hear. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Stop it." A sobbing Andromeda pleaded.

"Will you still wait for me?" Kayla questioned.

The fire gained inches between them as it longed to catch Andromeda in its flame. She would be okay with that.

Kayla's question pulled Andromeda's heart in two as she nodded, "Yes, yes." Catching her breath, she continued. "I'll meet you wherever we go next."

That was all Kayla needed. It was conformation that it was okay for her to go now.

"Kayla, I love you." Andromeda's eyes blinked shut tightly as she leaned over her friend. "I'm so sorry." Tears fought their way out through shaky sobs.

Kayla's eyes closed softly, the ghost of a smile slowly fading away, as she did.

Andromeda looked at the sky, letting out a scream deep within her that rocked the core of the planet. That was the last thing she remembered before darkness consumed her, letting her fall against the ground beside her best friend.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

As Ben Solo reveled in the aftermath of his disastrous wake, he walked the grounds. Lightsaber and fire destruction everywhere.

He had one thing on his mind; Andromeda. Before he could leave, he had to make sure she got out. That she escaped his wrath.

The planet was silent save for the ash settling in the dusk.

Rounding the corner, he saw two heads of brunette hair laid on the ground, badly burnt. "No." He whispered.

He couldn't muster the strength to carry himself over there; to hold her one last time.

Shaking his head, and biting back tears, he turned, leaving Ben Solo behind. He died that night, too. Alongside his lover and his family.

Andromeda Kenobi would haunt him forever. But, at least he had her in some way.

rensapprentice