Stardust- A Jyn and Cassian Fanfiction

Chapter 23- Cassian

Heh.

Hey peeps.

Soooooo, It's been like a whole year since I've started writing this.  

And good lord, SO much has changed in my life in just a year.  It's kinda hard to believe that just a year ago I was a smol child who actually had so much time to regularly update. XD 

And I can't believe how many freaking reads you amazing people have given this book, so I'm updating for y'all.  Thanks so much for sticking with meh. :)

~~~

As I dig through the rubble, there's no sign of the old woman.

Vesta can't be dead.  There's no way.  She must have lived. 

She must be alive.  The fragile, yet incredibly strong woman with a gorgeous smile and big heart couldn't simply leave us. We have to say goodbye.  She simply means too much to us to let her go without any sort of closure.  

I glance over at Jyn across the courtyard as she frantically digs through more pieces of the once gorgeously styled hotel pillars and walls.  My heart breaks just a bit as I think of all of the time that Vesta probably put into making those pillars and walls, and maintaining them over the years.  Now it's completely obliterated by the Empire once again.  I can still hear her chirpy voice welcoming countless others into her hotel, being incredibly respectful despite the fact that she won't make very much money.  Money never mattered to her.  It was kindness that mattered.

My hands continue to brush through the concrete and stone, as I shift my gaze towards the horizon.

And that's when I see it.

I choke back a sob, and stand still, unable to move forward.

Vesta, in all of her heavenly glory, is haphazardly splayed across the ruins, her soft white hair softly moving as the wind whistles.  The sunset's gorgeous colors dance behind her, making her appear angelic and soft.  From what I can see, she's clearly not going to make it through the night, if she's not already gone from the world.

How could this happen? Vesta was innocent. She was too pure and amazing for this galaxy to be murdered in cold blood at the mercy of the Empire.  Vesta, who seemed so happy and carefree,  is gone.  It's all my fault, I suddenly realize.  We shouldn't have come here. We knew the Empire was on our tail, how could I have been so stupid as to enjoy myself and stay in the same city, much less the same planet, when the Empire figured out we were here? We should've left, and now look what happened.  Vesta is DEAD because of me!  A shiver wracks my body, and it's not because of the cold.  It's because of guilt.

"NO!" Jyn yells in horror, jerking me out of my thoughts.

Jyn sprints past me towards Vesta, and she is clearly not ready to let her go yet. I follow suit, and Jyn immediately picks up and cradles the lady in her arms, stroking her hair out of her face and speaking soft words of encouragement.  As we sit side by side, Vesta still remains passive.

Vesta is not in good shape.  A few limbs are bent at funny angles, and blood is splattered nearly everywhere.  Her eyes are closed, hiding her bright eyes. Her face is completely emotionless, no longer displaying a happy, carefree smile. 

"Vesta?"Jyn asks tentatively.  "Are you okay?"

There's no response. She calls her name a few times and checks for any signs of life. Upon feeling her wrist, Jyn's eyes light up slightly.

"What?" I ask excitedly, desperate for any good news.

"She has a pulse. Very faint, but still there.  Maybe we can wake her up." Jyn replies.