~ 𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 ~ A Ben Solo/Kylo Ren Story

32.

Ren and Celeste stood back to back, hands tied together and to each others', lightsabers locked away where they couldn't get to them, completely helpless. A hundred stormtroopers pointed their blasters and them. Celeste felt Ren fidgeting with their restraints.

"It's just rope...your hands are looser than mine..." He whispered through the corner of his mouth. "Use your knife."

"Cause a distraction," She whispered back. Ren waited a moment, took a deep breath in, and coughed loudly, causing all eyes to lock on him. Celeste got her knife out of her pocket, and slipped it between her hands, hiding it. 

"I'll wait a while and cause another distraction. Improvise from there," He instructed, nearly silently. A lot of her energy was drained from controlling so many guards. Ren must have noticed because he slowly touched her hand with his, and she felt a warmness spreading from that hand all the way through her body. He held on for a moment after he stopped, then slowly pulled away. 

Another half-hour of standing in awkward silence, when Ren tapped her hand again briefly, and stumbled away from her slightly, almost falling. Celeste whipped out her knife and cut them apart while the guards were distracted. Ren took advantage of their shock and broke his restraints over his knee as Celeste frantically sliced her hands apart as well. Ren froze all of their blaster shots midair as she dashed through them to find their sabers. Once she was a safe distance away, Ren reversed the direction of the shots, then ran after her. 

"Where could they be?" She yelled as he caught up to her. 

"Follow me, I have a theory," He replied, overtaking her and turning at the next hallway. He led her past his room, to a different set of living quarters. They arrived outside Hux's room and Ren opened the door. 

"Watch for them," He said as he ran inside. 

"Vega?" She heard.

"Yes, General?"

"What's happening out there, why haven't you detonated it yet? Why aren't you on your ship?" Leia demanded. 

"Agh-uh, I encountered some complications, I'll get to the ship as soon as I can, I swear. 

"Hurry, Vega, we're counting on you," The general said. A moment later, Ren came out of the room and handed her lightsaber over. 

"Let's get to that ship," He said. 

"Why did Hux-"

"He likes collecting trophies," Ren sighed as they continued running, looping back around to her waiting ship. Celeste's heart pounded as they got nearer and nearer.

"We're almost there!" She celebrated, picking up speed.

"I don't think so." A cold voice said, and suddenly, they were being surrounded again. Ren cursed loudly. Hux chuckled darkly.

"You're finally finished. Nice try though, Ren." The redhead sneered.

"What are we gonna do?" Celeste asked quietly. A resounding laugh came from behind Hux, as a strangely deformed, pale, and scarred man stepped forward. 

"Die. In the most torturous way possible," Snoke said. He waved his hand toward Kylo, lightning shooting from his fingertips. Ren fell to his knees in pain, dropping his saber in the process, breathing shakily. Celeste yelped softly and looked up.

"What was that for?" She asked, anger flaring. 

"Silence, silly girl," Snoke rolled his eyes and waved his hand in her direction as well, and she froze. She no longer had control of any of her muscles. Her eyes widened in surprise.