The Pull to the Light

Chapter XVI

Every day was the same: Chiara would wake up, take a shower and get dressed, accept a meal from a stormtrooper and eat it in her room, sit around and do nothing, accept a second meal and eat it in her room, do some more sitting around, eat another meal, deny Kylo's invitation to the dark side, then try to sleep but instead become plagued by nightmares.

She was sick of it. She wanted something to do, something to take her mind off of what came to her in her sleep. But there was nothing to do with the door out of her room locked and not even a book on the inside. She would sometimes try to find patterns in the stars or play with her long brown hair, trying out extravagant hairstyles.

Kylo Ren came in as she prepared for another restless night as he always did and asked yet again if she was ready to let go of the light yet. Oblivious to Chiara, she really did hurt him each time she denied his request. He didn't understand why she was unwilling, there was nothing left for her on the light side.

"I am not changing my mind, Kylo. I will not fall as you have, I owe at least that much to Luke for all he has done for me," Chiara spoke, looking out at space, not even flinching when he came into the room.

"You will not be able to fight it forever, Chiara, you must realize this."

"I am not giving up with a fight, you may torture me all you wish but I will not sway. You of all people should know that I will do all I can to resist the darkness," she replied, turning to face him.

He sighed, "I shall see you tomorrow then." And with that, he left her room and she was plunged into solitude once again. She sighed, brushing her hair out of her face and then curling up into bed, praying that tonight would be the one day without nightmares.

She was watching someone chasing another figure in the woods. Both shapes were cloaked but the pursuer held a red lightsaber while the other figure was defenseless. The pursuer was dressed entirely in black, a hood over their head and a piece of cloth over their face, similar to a tenugui, to hide their identity. The victim seemed to be dressed in robes that were almost replicas of those worn by the Jedi. but the hood cast a shadow over their face and made it impossible to make out who it was. Chiara wanted to help the victim, knowing that they would not be able to stand up to the monster chasing them.

Before she had a chance to scream a warning, the red blade fell down on the victim, ending their life. The person fell onto her back, the hood falling back and her face becoming illuminated by the brilliant moonlight.

"REY!" Chiara cried out, recognizing the young girl. The figure who had slain her removed the cloth around their face in triumph, revealing the identity of the monster who had killed Chiara's friend.

"NOOO!" Chiara cried out, realizing that it was her face, she was the one who had killed Rey.

"Chiara!" She heard someone call out, bringing her out of the nightmare. She was still mumbling incoherently, tears falling from her eyes when she woke up, taking in the sight before her.

"Ben?" She asked, her voice cracking, recognizing the unmasked figure of the man who had fallen so far.

"Chiara, what were you dreaming?" He asked, not correcting his name but remained concerned for her.

"I-it was nothing," she stumbled, trying to get away from his arms which were holding her to his chest.

"You can be honest with me, Chiara. I do not mean you any harm," he spoke softly, wiping away one of her tears. "I can help you."

"I-I was watching a figure chase another through to woods until it finally killed her. As the victim crashed to the ground, her hood fell back and revealed her as that girl I sacrificed myself for when you kidnapped me-" Chiara began to explain, only to be interrupted by Kylo.

"Chiara, it was only-"

"That is not it," she interjected, before he could go on. "The killer removed the cloth over her face and i-it was me! I was the person who stroke Rey down with the red lightsaber! I killed her!"

"Shh, it was only a dream," Ben, as he was clearly not being the monster by the name of Kylo Ren, assured her, awkwardly allowing her to cry into his chest. He wrapped his strong, muscular arms around her small body and nestled his face in her chestnut waves.

"I just want these nightmares to end! I haven't had a decent night of sleep since arriving here!" She cried out, her body shaking a little.

"There is only one way to make it stop, you must join the dark side, then you may sleep as you please. I, too, suffered from similar nightmares but they disappeared once I joined the dark side. It really isn't as bad as you fear, don't be afraid."

"And the nightmares will go away? You are sure?" She asked, beginning to lose the battle raging inside of her.

"I promise," he replied, running his fingers through her wavy hair.

"I-I don't know what to do, Ben. I know I should not give in, that the dark side is evil, but I have not slept a full night's rest in what feels like forever!"

"Join me, Chiara. The dark side is not as bad as you fear, it is over exaggerated by the Jedi. Please, do not deny me any longer."

Chiara could not bring herself to give a verbal response but instead nodded, moving closer to Ben's warm body. She closed her eyes while her head rested against his chest and allowed herself to drift back into sleep. This time it was dreamless, she was not woken by nightmares as she slept shrouded in Ben's warmth.

...

So she gave in! Will she continue down the path to the dark side or will she gain the strength to come back to the light?

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