Insight

Chapter Two

Fire. A fire had started. Just like in the vision, except it was started in the castle. That beautiful piece of architecture was being burned down and ruined by these invaders. Jade had to do something and fast, though her feet were glued to the ground by fear.

My family...

Run.

Reach them.

Pushing through the fear with the force, she began to move. Running over fallen rocks and tree roots, she finally made it to the dirt road that led to her village. A million thoughts were buzzing in her mind. What would happen to her people? What would happen to her family? She's going to need to tell her mom now, no more hiding. What if this is the last time I see her? No. Stop thinking that. Her midnight black hair was streaming behind her in long strands as she pushed even further, trying her hardest to get there before anything happened to her people.

The road stretched far in front of her, but she reached her village in just a few minutes. As she padded down the road, she was screaming to her people who were huddled all together with their families outside of their houses. They had already heard the commotion outside and came out to see what was going on. The devastation on their faces was something Jade would always remember. "Get out of here! You don't want to stick around!" she yelled out to the petrified faces looking back at her as she ran up to meet them.

She slowed to a stop, panting a bit, then continuing. "They came here for one thing, but that doesn't mean you need to stick around to watch your homes burn. Grab what you can and go!"

These people were in no way with the First Order, nor were they in alliance with the Resistance. Their faith and allegiance was neutral, but the First Order is an all-or-nothing type group. You're either with them or dead.

"Where will we go?" a woman holding onto a small child asked, her face as grim as Jade felt. They were confused and scared, but knew they needed to escape before it was too late.

Jade shook her head, her mind now fixed on finding her family. "As far away as you can get."

Quickly, the people dispersed in a hustle to get their things together in order to survive the woods. Jade made a run for her home. Her house was further down but lit up by a single lantern on the outside. The concrete building stood tall against the rest.

She finally made it to her house, pushed open the wooden door, and crashed into the lowly lit living room. Her eyes scanned as she looked around to see no one there.

Oh no.

"MOM!" she called out, starting to quicken her pace through the living room and into her mother's bedroom. Her mom has been sick for a long time, barely able to get out of bed and help herself. That's where Jade stepped in. She became her caretaker, and the mother of the house, after all these years.

As Jade walked into her mother's bedroom, she saw Lyle holding onto her mom who seemed to be absolutely terrified. "We heard the noises outside. We heard what you said. Are we going to be okay?" Lyle asked, sitting up a bit. Tears were brimming his eyes, but he wouldn't dare let one fall. He always tried to be strong for his mother.

Jade slowly came into the room more and sat down on her mother's bed, taking both of their hands in each of hers. The feeling was electrifying, one she will never forget. The terror, the panic, but also the love.

"You're going to be just fine, I'm going to make sure of it. We need to pack you a bag, mom. Lyle, go pack yourself something as well. You need to get out of here as soon as you can."

"Us. What about you?" her mother asked, eyebrows furrowing. Jade didn't know what to say next.

"I- uh. They are-" Jade stammered. She couldn't get the words out, they were too painful to say.

Lyle stood up, his face painted with shock and realization as he stared at Jade. "You. They're here for you, aren't they!"

Jade's mother sat up a bit. "What? Why would they be here for you? What have you done?"

For a moment, everything was silent. Lyle nervously looked at his sister. It wasn't like being force sensitive was a bad thing, but she knew she would be hunted for the rest of her life. She was strong and the sooner people started finding that out, the sooner either the Resistance or the First Order would start to try and claim her. It seemed like the First Order was about to win that battle. She didn't really want to belong to one specific side of the force. It just wasn't in her to do that.

"Mom, I am force sensitive and it's strong. I can see things, hear things, feel things. Things that happen in the future. I can't explain it, it just happens." As she spoke, her mom's face turned from scared to concerned. "I saw this, in a vision, just a few minutes ago. They're going to destroy the village. They're going to take me."

"They won't. They can't!" Her mother was now clutching onto her only daughter's shoulders. The look in her eyes, the worry. Lyle reached down and touched Jade's left shoulder. "We can keep you safe. You don't have to give yourself up." Lyle said, keeping eye contact with his sister.

Jade slowly shook her head, looking down before back up at her family. Her beautiful family that meant the world to her. "If I go with you, we all die. I know it. I feel it." Tears were starting to pool in Jade's light green eyes. Her long eyelashes trying to catch them as she blinked a few times to rid of them.

Her mother gripped onto her daughters shoulders and then took her daughter's face into her hands. She wiped the stray tears away from her reddened cheeks. Just as she did that, they heard another loud bang. The building around them shook and the three of them shuttered in fear, holding onto each other. Jade shot up off the bed and crossed to the small window in her mother's bedroom.

Fire. Except this time, it was her village that was collapsing into flame. One house had been destroyed, engulfing two others near it into its flames and debris. She spun around, eyes filled with fear and pain. "They're coming."