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0. Not Ben

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  IN THE SPAN OF an hour, Otta had failed at being a Jedi. It took her too long to realize what was going on. The temple was on fire, crumbling from within. By the time she had felt the heat and woke from her slumber, it was too late. Agonizing, painful screams could be heard echoing throughout the temple and one person was at the centre of it all. 

Ben's presence was powerful. His anger engulfed Otta's senses. She could feel nothing but his pain. Practically blinded by the emotions, she stumbled through the burning temple, heading for an exit while simultaneously looking for any sign of the other padawans. She found nothing but corpses and when she finally made it out of the smog and smoke, coughing, Ben was waiting for her, lightsaber in hand. 

"Ben..." She hacked and coughed his name, slinking a hand back to her own lightsaber. "Why did you..." She trailed off as she looked him in the eyes. He was crying. 

"I did what I had to," He snarled through his tears. 

Otta caught her breath. "'What you had to?' Ben...you killed our friends!"

"They weren't my friends," He shook his head. "You were the only one I cared about."

"Were..?" Otta noticed the past tense. 

"I won't kill you, but I can't stay. I just wanted to say goodbye. Tell my mother that I'm sorry," Ben dropped his head and moved to turn away. 

Otta stood for a moment, stunned by his words. Leaving? Where would he go? She took a step forward, holding out her hand, pulling his wrist back with the Force. "I won't let you. This isn't you, it's the Dark Side. I know you, Ben." 

Anger flashed behind his eyes so fierce that it sent chills down Otta's spine. "You think you know me? No one knows me!" He ripped away from her, breaking the hold the Force had on him, which was followed by an echoing crack. Otta stared at his now bent and broken wrist. If it hurt, he showed no reaction to indicate it. "Don't make me hurt you, Otta." 

"You would never hurt me..." She said but was now unsure. 

"Maybe Ben wouldn't. But I'm not Ben anymore." 

AUTHORS NOTE
a short little prologue for emo-ren LMAO.