Ghost of Nightmares Past/Chapter 1

PROLOGUE

"Where is she Bruck?" The boy demanded, holding his blue beamed sabre high. "Where is Bant?"

"She's...unavailable." The white haired youth snarled at him, a smile creeping onto his lips. "Let's just say, she's taking a swim in the fountain."

The Auburn haired boy ran to the fountain and peered in, hoping that his friend was still alive, hoping that he was not too late. He could see her, the brown amongst the white marble, chained and trying to claw at the water surface, desperate to get up for oxygen. The boy deactivated his sabre and jumped in.

His braid got in his way as he clung to Bant's hands, as she began to falter against the lack of oxygen she had. Her eyes were wide and fearful, staring at him as he swam to the chains that pinned her down to the marble base. His lungs began to sting, as his oxygen began to run low. He broke the surface, took another breath, and dived back down. Bant was choking now bubbles rising from her lips as she began to take one last breath. The boy placed his portable mouthpiece for breathing onto her lips, and she accepted it gratefully. The boy pulled his sabre from his belt and ignited it, causing the water around it to sizzle. He swiped at the chains, causing most of them to break. He made to take another swipe at the last chain holding her down, but then, a pair of hands grabbed his shoulder and pulled him out, causing him to drop his sabre. Bruck slammed him against the floor, holding his sabre to his throat. He was baring his teeth at the boy, and snarled, "You're not going to get in the way of me and Master Xanatos ever again!" He raised the blade.

Suddenly, the boy pushed him, and Bruck was thrown back. Startled slightly, the boy got up, watching as Bruck struggled to get back up again. How did he do that?

"OBI-WAN!" Bant screamed, throwing him his light sabre. The boy caught it and ignited it, holding it to his side with both hands, as Bruck ran towards him, yelling at the top of his voice. The boy parried the blow, but it was too strong, and both of them slipped on the wet floor. Bruck suddenly yelled, and there was a cracking sound, and he was still. The boy stood, and, seeing his opponent lying on the floor, he rushed towards him, throwing his blade to the ground, causing it to skid away. Bruck was perched close to the edge of the West Corridor, where the windows were grand arches. He was slipping.

"BRUCK! NO!" The boy screamed, jumping towards him.

His hand missed the other boys by an inch.

The scream of the White-haired boy rang through the sky and the temple. The Auburn haired boy watched, in horror, as Bruck smashed through the glass roof of the temple hundreds of feet below, causing screams to ring from the city into the night. "Bruck," The boy wailed, sitting against the edge of the arch, holding his knees close to him, hugging his legs.

"Obi-Wan!"

Who was that shouting his name? Was it Qui-Gon? Was it Yoda?

"Obi-Wan!" Someone was shaking him violently.

"Master," The boy wailed into the shoulder of Qui-Gon, "I couldn't save him...It...Was all my fault!"

"You did what you thought was right, my padawan." His master told him, rubbing his back.

"OBI-WAN!"

The older man woke suddenly, raising his head, eyes wide, staring around for the source of the voice. Anakin was standing next to him, looking worried in the faint glows of blue light in the archives. Obi-Wan tried to get his bearings; he was in the archives, sitting at one of the computers, which had obviously went into hibernation after he fell asleep at it about...What time was it again? In fact, what day was it?

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, pushing his reddish-blond hair from his face back. "How long was I out?"

"Not a long time." Anakin said, pulling up a seat next to him, still looking worried. "You were out for an hour or so. I was worried; you were flailing and moaning in your sleep."

Obi-Wan felt embarrassment rush through his body, before checking the Archive clock.

19. 23.

"Damn!" He said, jumping up suddenly. "I have seven minutes to get to my meeting!"

He grabbed his cloak, pulling it over his shoulders and ran, ran as fast as he could.