Knock Knock

Chapter 1

Ben Solo stood in front of the newly completed house and smiled. The decision to take a year out after graduating top of his class with a distinction in Architectural Design had been a good one. It had afforded him the time he needed to finish his pet project. He was lucky enough to have been able to secure the land to build on for a relatively cheap price as his family was so well respected in their small hometown. The rest was borrowed and begged, but that didn't matter, because now it was finished and it was just as he had pictured it.

He opened the front door once more and walked through the rooms. Everything was perfect, just as he had designed it, just as he had built it with his own two hands, only bringing in contractors when absolutely necessary. He had remained personally involved in the project from the beginning, for two reasons. One, because he couldn't afford to spend a lot on labour and two, because he wanted to feel connected to the house.

He imagined that one day he would gently carry his wife over the threshold or play with his children in the expansive garden. But today the house had a very different purpose.

He couldn't wait for his Uncle Luke to see the property; he had always wanted to follow in his Uncle's footsteps and now he was about to start an apprenticeship with Skywalker Architectural Design. This house would show his Uncle what he was capable of, maybe he would even let him skip the apprenticeship and offer him a full position. Maybe that was reaching too far, but still, it was fun to speculate.

He saw Luke's car pull up outside and came out to greet him. Ben's smile disappeared instantly when he saw the stormy look on his Uncle's weathered face as he got out of the car and marched towards Ben.

'What wrong?' he asked.

'You know what's wrong,' his Uncle snapped.

Ben looked bewildered.

'I don't understand.'

Luke thrust a piece of paper towards him. Ben squinted at it. It was an offer of an apprenticeship to work at Snoke Architects, Skywalkers biggest business rivals. Ben's eyes widened when he realised the letter was addressed to him.

'How did you get this?' he asked Luke.

'It got delivered to my address instead of to yours. When were you going to tell me about this?'

Ben held his hands out to his sides helplessly.

'I don't know what's going on, I never applied to Snoke Architects. Why would I? I want to work with you. It's all arranged.'

The look in his Uncle's eyes was a look he had never seen before. It was pure hatred. Hatred for Snoke? Or for him? He wasn't sure, and the uncertainty made him ache.

'Don't lie to me Ben. Snoke doesn't just hand these scholarships out on a silver platter, you must have submitted an application.'

'I'm telling you, I didn't. I have no idea what is going on!' Ben shouted desperately.

'Tell me the truth!' Luke demanded.

Ben had never seen his Uncle look so enraged. The little boy within Ben wondered why his favourite Uncle didn't believe him. The man he had become was just trying to control his temper. Young Ben pushed to the surface.

'I am telling you the truth,' he said in a small voice, looking down at the floor.

'I've talked to your parents, they're as disappointed as I am.'

Ben's eyes snapped back up to his Uncles at the mention of his parents.

'They, they think I did this?' he felt a dull throbbing pain form in his chest.