Darkness At Dawn • Kylo Ren [1]

XLVII

"Everyone, deep in their hearts, is waiting for the end of the world to come."

∫

The guilt sat not on his chest but inside his brain. What he had done, he could not un-do. He could make amends in subtle ways, but confession was out of the question, even to Elara. The guilt was like gasoline in his guts. His insides died slowly in the toxicity, needing no more than a spark to set it ablaze. The fire burnt Kylo out so badly there was nothing left but a shell, an outline of a person. When the guilt came, it took him down the old familiar path. He wanted to refuse to walk it, pretend that he was the person he was demanded to be.

Every last bit Ben Solo was dead.

Kylo moved through the trees, holding his bloody wound until he stopped. He took out his lightsaber and ignited it. A still figure amidst the gusts of wind and snow. Standing nearly thirty feet away, facing him, were Finn, Rey, Bellamy and Jude.

"We're not done yet!" He snarled.

Overcome with emotion, Rey cried out. "You're a monster!"

It seemed unfair that no matter how much he strived to be the man his conscience wanted him to be, it would keep taunting him with his failures. Each time the regrets reemerged he would diligently analyze them again, hoping that this time his mind would be satisfied with his self professed remorse, but it never was. Like an unforgiving spectre it would be back just as quickly as it was gone to haunt him all over again.

"It's just us now, Han Solo can't save you!" He spat.

After a beat, Rey moved forward with her blaster and aimed it. Kylo raised his hand, causing Rey to struggle under his forceful power. It wasn't easily seen but he strained too, especially with the wound from Chewie. With a simple gesture, both Rey and the blaster were flung back.

Finn ran after her with Bellamy and Jude trailing behind him. He dropped to his knees and panicked. "Rey no, no!"

"TRAITOR!"

Finn replied by turning on Luke's lightsaber and upon seeing the weapon, Kylo reacted in shock. "That lightsaber, it belongs to me!"

Crippled in fear and adrenaline, Finn shouted. "Come get it!"

Despite his fear, Finn raised the blade and Kylo charged at him. He lunged at Finn but Finn deflected the sparking saber. Not far from them, Rey recovered with the help of Bellamy and Jude. Kylo was obviously hampered by his agonizing wound but yet he attacked with primal savagery. When Finn actually got a hit in, Kylo became enraged.

Kylo charged again and their weapons pounded against each other. Kylo pushed Finn back and attacked with pure ferocity, leaving Finn stunned. Kylo unleashed a merciless series of blows and pushed Finn further and further back until he loses balance. With his defences down, the lightsaber is flung from his grasp and Kylo sliced his torso and his back.

Unknowingly, Elara had made her way to the snowy battlefield. She stood beside Rey and together, they created a strong force bond.

Kylo had turned his lightsaber off and reached for the blue saber, beckoning it with the force. His gestures began to increase and Luke's lightsaber finally flied out of the snow but to his surprise, it wasn't going in his direction. Kylo turned to see Luke's lightsaber safely in the hands of Rey, who was beside Elara. All three of them seemed utterly shocked.

"Elara." He muttered, watching as Elara ignited her purple lightsaber.

"Kylo please." Elara begged. "This is your last chance!"