XXVI Just Desserts
I sat in the dingy cell waiting for my fate to be announced. My prospects were positively dismal. I could here the sounds of the rebel party, cheering and drunken singing. I laughed. I don't know why. But, I kept laughing until Ben snapped at me to shut up. Maybe it was the sheer dismay of the whole situation, they would call for Ben's execution, no doubt about that. Probably mine, too. I've always had a funny way of dealing with the idea of my death. I wanted to go out with a bang, something that people will remember. Well, if they choose for me to die I suppose I'll get what I asked for. But, I didn't picture it like this. Never.
Rey and Poe walked in, disrupting my negative thought spiral of- what? Regret? No. I don't know. Despair, most likely.
"The people have decided that you are to be executed tomorrow," Rey stated.
"I'm sorry, Aelin. I never meant for it to be like this," Poe looked at me sadly.
I mustered up a smirk "I always did want to go out with a bang. Something for people to remember, maybe a party after," I laughed at the irony of it. I would get just that, no doubt about.
"You got your way in the end I guess," he said.
"Don't be sad. Look at where I am, and look at where I started. An execution is better than living out the rest of my days in here... with the rats,"
"I wish you hadn't gotten yourself into this,"
"What? And missed out on all the great times I've had? No chance,"
"But, what about the great times you could've had with us?"
"I guess we'll never know, will we," I couldn't look at Poe, I couldn't bear it.
"Goodbye, Aelin. Goodbye," He and Rey turned and started to leave. He stopped at the door, he looked back, I know he did, but, I didn't raise my head. I couldn't let him see the tears.
"You seem to be taking the idea of a public execution quite lightly," Hux said moments later.
"It's all an act," I decided to confess everything then. "All of it. I'm really freaking scared. All the time, but now more than ever. I don't want it to be over. Never have, sometimes the fear was the only thing that kept me alive, but now? I'm really freaking scared, more than I ever have been and will be seeing as I'm going to die tomorrow. So, no I'm not taking it lightly. I'm really freaking scared and I'll bet you are, too,"
Hux said nothing, neither did Ben, who had remained silent since we were put in here.
~~~
Morning arrived all too soon. I was dragged out of my cell, all too soon and I heard my mother's speech, all too soon. Everything was all too soon.
"Do you think she cares?" Ben asked, glancing at my mother from behind the stage.
"No one mourns the wicked," We shuffled our feet around in melancholy silence. "I'm glad I went with you, Ben. And I'm glad I met you, Armitage. I think- I think my life would have turned out for the worse if I hadn't," they did not have time to reply. All too soon, we were lead up onto the stage. I passed my mother.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, barely audible
"Me too,"
The crowd was utterly silent, not the jeering I had expected. Poe, Finn and Rey stood by, and I knew then that they were our executioners. I saw tears prick Poe's eyes. Before anyone could do anything, I launched myself into a hug, gripping him tightly. I felt the tears coming, but I would not not allow myself to cry in front of this crowd. Never.
"I'm so, so sorry, Poe,"
"I know,"
I slipped something into his hand. He looked at me. "My life. Someone ought to know and I'd rather it be you," I smiled faintly. "Farewell, Poe," I laid my head down and waited for death. Ben grasped my hand, although the public couldn't see.
"I'm really freaking scared, too,"
YOU ARE READING
The Mechanic
Fanfiction"I thought you thought that you were doing the right thing," "I am," "Then why are you painting yourself as a bad guy?" "Because that's what most of the galaxy thinks," "So? Just because they think it doesn't mean you have to. So how do you know I s...
