𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈

Prologue

─────────────

The shattered streams of light cascading through the bars of the prison cell didn't quite reach me. The light held out its hand, stretching its fingers through the bars, painfully trying to touch me. But the glow rested just below my foot, jagged and alluring in its appearance. I continued to sit in the shadows but something about the light made me want to move toward it. I let myself get lost in my own head, feeling the slightest slither of hope kindle within me. But I didn't move towards the light. I stayed where I was.

It's been so long I don't remember what freedom felt like. I've grown familiar with the walls they keep me in- I suppose I have my own freedom in here. Here, it's cold and dark. Death lingers like a lost shadow throughout the corridors of the prison, stopping by to visit those who can't live to suffer any longer. Here, I've learned to live with everything cruel.

The light fades and once again I am greeted by darkness. I repositioned myself on my stone-hard cell cot, tossing and turning to try and fall back asleep. I close my eyes, submitting to the darkness beneath my eyelids. I tried to concentrate on the silence but my thoughts were so loud. I only ever see the light when the main door opens, I thought, and the main door only opens when-

The answer had awakened. From deep inside the hallway, a gradual, increasing thunder of footsteps grew closer. They were rhythmic, growing louder and louder with each step they took. Someone was approaching.

I sat up swiftly, fear swelling in my chest. It felt larger than my heart, blowing up against my ribs. Who, from any planet, would want to see me? I knew nobody. I remembered no family and I knew no friends. My next thought was; who's here to torture me?

Suddenly, my chamber opened with a deafening crash. The flickering fluorescent lights from the corridor trickled into the cell. My eyes strained upwards to see the person, though the flourescent shine shot through my skull and delivered a blistering headache. The visitor shifted forward slowly, becoming a shadow against the lights. He stood fearlessly in the frame of the door, the passionate rays of light reflecting off of his shiny armor.

I finally gazed up to see who my visitor was, to see if I recognized their face. Only to find that he didn't have a face. His T-shaped mask peered down to meet my eyes, sending another thrilling wave of terror through my bones. I wanted to speak, to say anything to this mysterious man but the words lumped in my throat. I said nothing.

The silence persisted. We spent our time in stillness simply looking back and forth. I let my eyes trail from the shadowed T in his mask down to his green chest plate. His armor was marked with silver scars all over; scrapes from where the paint had been chipped off, scrapes from creatures that had tried to kill him and obviously failed.

But there was one thing that caught my eye on his armor. There was a familiar blood-colored symbol stuck to his shoulder pad. My heart skipped a beat upon recognizing it: a Mandalorian. I thought they only existed in myths.

"Name?" He sought firmly, breaking the silence.

My name was the only thing I knew about myself. The rest was a blur; the memories, the moments, the people. It all smeared into one lifelong story that I couldn't seem to remember. So, I told him my name, "Ceto. Jade Ceto."

He titled his helmet down, his hidden eyes observing me under that mask. "Come with me." He said nothing more. He turned and left down the same hallway he came. The prison door was wide open, fully welcoming in the light. Shocked at first, I didn't move off my cot. I waited for a trick and a betrayal, for Stormtroopers to run from around the corner and shoot me for trying to leave. But nothing appeared. Finally, I lifted off my seat and let myself be taken into the light.