When the halls are void of all life except for the two of us, Ben and I hold hands. He constantly squeezes mine, reminding me that he's here. At least I won't be confronting Snoke alone. At least I'll have a partner.

The heaviness has not lifted over us. Nobody has come to fetch us, to tell us that Snoke has requested a meeting. He must know that we know he's aboard the base. I wonder if he thinks he's going to win this.

This is, of course, if my suspicion about his visit is true. It won't be confirmed until we step into the same room as him.

"Are you ready?" Ben asks me quietly.

"Not at all. Are you?"

"Not at all."

"Glad to see we're on the same page."

"Amara." Ben pulls me to a stop. "If we don't make it out, I'll be glad to die alongside a friend."

The smile on my face wavers. "I'll be glad to know that you've redirected yourself on the right path."

"Remember, play along with what he wants. That will be the key to deceiving him."

I nod.

"Just play off of me, all right? This time, you're not playing First Order. You're playing a pretend traitor."

"Sounds easy." Oh how I wish it will be.

We take an elevator up a few floors, our hands clasped in the others. He presses a tender kiss to my forehead, perhaps a final kiss. Perhaps a kiss goodbye. I respond in kind, giving him one on the cheek.

We stand at attention once the elevator pulls open. In unison, we cross the polished floor. Guards clothed in red with spears stand in various points of the room. Either this is normal, or Snoke doesn't trust us.

He shouldn't, but we need to make him do so.

I inhale. The hologram has nothing on the person sitting in something of a throne-like chair before me. His face is more hideous in person; his eyes more malevolent. The temperature in this room is definitely colder. I didn't believe we could use the Force to alter climate temperature.

"Lord Ren, Apprentice Galavan," Snoke greets us. Ick, his voice even sounds creepy. I don't know how it didn't register as that upon first hearing it through a hologram. "I assume you knew I was coming."

"We didn't want to keep you waiting, Supreme Leader," I say. "Lord Ren told me you don't like to be kept waiting."

"Have you learned a lot under his teachings?"

"Yes, I have. I never realized just how...freeing this new path is. It was scary, I'll admit. You had your doubts about me, which were understandable. Now, I see who I really am."

Snoke squints at me. "As do I, child."

I cock my head.

"Just looking at you two, I can't help but sense the comradery. While I do like the prospect, the reason behind it I do not like."

"Whatever do you mean?" I play stupid. Ben isn't jumping in to help, I'm being thrown to the freaking beast right now.

Snoke chuckles, which sends shivers down my spine. "I see behind this, clever girl. You've tried so hard to keep the mask on, when in fact you've been a fraud all this time. How you managed to throw me off the scent still baffles me. Yet, here you were, pretending long enough for you to get inside Lord Ren's head and turn him against me."

"That's rich, coming from the...are you even considered a man?...the person who corrupted him." My arms fold across my chest. "I'm very well aware of what you are, Snoke. You're a manipulative snake."

"And you are a deceiving Jedi who should not be here." His eyes fall onto Ben. "I shouldn't be surprised to see that she had slipped past your radar, Lord Ren. A few batting of the eyes and tosses of her hair must've seduced you."

My mouth parts in anger.

"I must say, I applaud you for not continuing the false act any longer, Galavan. It would've grown extra tiring, like you being alive currently is. I suppose we shall see where Lord Ren's alliance truly lies. Kill her."

I look to Ben, who hesitates. Snoke and I watch in anticipation.

"Why are you pitting us against each other?" I snap to Snoke. "You don't want to end me yourself? Are you too weak to get off your throne, Supreme Leader?"

"Your smart mouth is asking for your death, Amara Galavan."

"If I can get some licks in before I go, then I'll gladly ask for it."

"Ren, kill her."

Snap-hiss. I sidestep in shock as Ben ignites his saber. As he lunges for me, I ignite my two red sabers. I cross mine into an "X" to block him. With a grunt, I shove him away. It's like we've engaged in training all over again, except this is much more deadly.

In this moment, I think I may have been the one who has been deceived. Maybe Snoke and Ben have been in on this all along. Maybe they were playing along to get my hopes up in escaping only to take them away right here, right now.

I don't want that to be the case. I don't want to believe it, not after what we've gone through.

The red guards in the room become spectators along with Snoke as Ben and I duel for our lives. I swing at Ben, careful to not severe any limbs or kill him. I've already killed Cayden because of Snoke, I will not do the same to Ben.

"I grow tired of this," Snoke hisses.

Our battle stops with me being thrown off my feet. My sabers are dislodged and deactivated as they leave my hands. As I try and scramble for them, the Force moves me. Invisible ropes have tied around me, keeping my body still. I stand on my knees, with Ben in front of me.

"End her, Lord Ren," Snoke commands. "We do not tolerate traitors, or infiltrators."

"If you want me dead, end me yourself, coward," I spit, though my back faces Snoke.

"Why take that chance away from him?" Snoke chuckles. "Go on. Let us put her out of her misery."

I glance up at Ben through my lashes. Though my body is frozen, it still trembles. His saber has not shut off. He looks to have an iron grip on its hilt. Any stronger and he could potentially shatter it (in theory).

He and I lock eyes. His saber is raised, ready to deliver the blow. I still want to believe this is an act. That Ben Solo will not kill me right here, right now.

At another snap-hiss, the hold suddenly breaks on me. I fall forward, hands hitting the floor. I turn around, my chest tightening with dread.

Snoke stares at one of my lightsabers, as its red point is a good foot away from striking him. A wrinkled hand uses the Force to stop it from penetrating him. "How disappointing," he says rather softly. "All that you've learned, you've thrown away, for her."

I quickly jump to my feet, calling my one remaining saber to my hand. It comes to life the second it hits my skin. Snoke has my other saber; I doubt I will get it back. There may be only one way to get it back.

The red guards who were mere spectators now show their weapons in attack stance. Snoke waves them to stand down, they obey. All in the First Order seem to be mindless soldiers for this asteroid head.

"What, don't want to make it interesting?" I taunt the Supreme Leader.

"You already have." Midair, my former saber twirls to allow Snoke to grip it. He rises from his chair gingerly. I know better than to believe that's an advantage for Ben and me. It could be a feign move to trick us.

I back up to stand beside Ben, our sabers out and ready to save our skins. My ears thunder from my pulse. This is really it. Ben and me versus Snoke. This can go one of two ways. I hope for the best.

But I also fear the worst.