Unmasked

Test Of Life

Kylo's P.O.V

There is a steady thumping that comes from around me, and inside me. For a moment, it calms me, amd then my eyes open as I realise what it is.

My heartbeat.

I'm alive.

It is cold, and I draw my arms around myself, finding little warmth. Slowly, yet without problems, I sit up. I'm in a forest.

A dark forest.

Fog curls up from the ground where there is a thin layer of snow. The sky is black, suggesting night. The trees loom above me hauntingly.

There a cackling from around me, and I spin, trying to locate it's source. It sounds familiar, but the echoe makes it impossible to define.

I feel confusion rising inside me, and curiosity is laced in every part of my mind. I take a step forward and see a movement to my right. A spot of colour.

Red.

"What are you doing?" A voice calls behind me.

I spin, but the forest is empty.

"Where are you?" I call back.

"Over here." This time it is whisper and it comes right next to my ear.

I don't move, letting the warm breath of whoever is behind heat my neck. I feel my own breath coming out short and sharp.

I turn my head, and see two glowing blue orbs staring at me.

Eyes.

They are framed by feathery red hair.

Suddenly, I remember something. I'm supposed to be dead. They face that is now leaning comfortably in the crook of my neck is the one that sent me to my death.

Yet, I couldn't move. Didn't want to.

I then remember something else. There have been many tales of people who say that just when they are about to die, they are given a test. If they past that test, they live. Some even suffer a physical injury even though the test is in their head.

I have a feeling that this is my test.

"Why did you do it, Barnie?" I whisper.

The eyes widen at the name I use.

"You remember." She answers.

It is hard to tell if she is happy with that. She nestles her face into my neck, and I wish I could stay here forever.

For the first time ever, I have felt the need to have somebody else help me. I don't want to do this on my own.

But I have to.

I know what this test is, what I have to do, and so I do it.

I turn around, and take Barnie into my arms, letting her small frame fold into me. She lays her head on my chest and sighs blissfully.

She doesn't suspect a thing.

I quietly slide my lightsaber out of my belt, but I do not raise it to her chest like I did to Han Solo. I breath the scent of her hair and then push her away.

She gives a confused look, until my saber buzzes to life. Her eyes widen in recognition, but not shock or fear. She instantly brings out her own lightsaber.

I have fought her only once before, but I assume her lack of skill was an act for my benefit. I begin to circle her, and she does the same.

The fight is slow to begin, both of us simply jabbing at each other, testing the limits. She does not question my actions, focusing instead on my movements, judging me.

Then she jumps forward with a yell, and I block, quickly raising my saber for an immediate attack. She jumps away and strikes back.

It continues like this for a while, though I sense that I am pushing her back.

Suddenly, there is a rumble underneath us, and the ground shakes. As we fight, the ground begins to fall away, taking the forest with it.

I am pushing her backwards, towards the dissapearing forest. She begins to panic, but she still fights with skill.

The ground falls away behind her feet, and she blocks one of my blows, but I hold it there, hoping to push her over. She seems to find the strength to push us both away from the edge, and as I stumble, I feel a hot pain on my face.

My left eye is covered in blood and my right cheek is burning. I cry out, but keep my good eye focused on Barnie. She is coming in for another attack, but I deflect it, kmocking her away.

I'm finished with fun and games. I know that she is not real, so I can, and I will, kill her. I raise my saber, while her back is to me, and I slash it down.

She collapses in the snow, turning the white powder scarlet-red.

The steady thumping returns, and I drop to my knees, suddenly exhausted. The saber stops buzzing, then dissapears altogether.

My eyes feel heavy and I take a long blink.

I'm now lying down on a flat metal surface. It is still cold, but the room is light and Barnie is gone. I sense someone next to me, and when I turn my head, very slowly and with lots of difficulty, I see a man with dark hair.

He is dresssed in white, and I recognize him as medical staff.

"Y-you're alive..." he stuttered.

Yes. I'm alive.

And when I'm out of this damned place, I'm getting Barnie back. I know I will, because that was what the test was for.

I feel a pain in my right cheek, and my left eye blurrs slightly.

"What happened to my eye?" I mumble, almost incoherently.

The doctor gives me a weird look.

"You have a scar, Lord Ren. It appeared a few moments ago, but luckily it missed any vital parts. There is a little tissue damage, but it won't be to much of a problem. It just appeared out of nowhere." He says.

I turn my face in the other direction.

I let a small smile appear on my face.

Now I have reason to cause Barnie as much pain as I can whilst I am trying to save her.

Yay! He lives on! He has his scar!

But will he save Barnie? Tell me what you think!

Sorry it has taken so long, my publishing button wasn't working well.

Howling_DreamHaunter