Prologue
The forest is quiet except for the eerie and rapid mechanical breaths coming from the infamous villain, Kylo Ren.
Wordlessly he removes his mask.
He stalks towards Rey, black cape sweeping behind him. "You knew I'd find you," he says softly, his obsidian eyes melting into her defenses.
Rey looks up, unafraid. "And? You'll never win, I won't turn." Her voice holds firm, although her lip quivers at the end.
Kylo holds the mask at his side. "You're still holding on, still fighting your feelings."
"You chose wrong, not me. And you're still a monster," Rey lashes back. "I tried to reason with you… Ben." Her right eye twitches, giving away her true emotion.
His scarred face jerks to the side as if struck before closing the distance between them. "You will come with me now, you will join me."
"Or what? You'll kill me, then?"
His eyes shine down into hers with electrifying intensity. "You know I can take whatever I want."
The same words he'd used on her during the interrogation, yet this time their true meaning rang with shocking clarity. He wouldn't kill her, but he would take her by all means necessary. "I'll escape," Rey taunts, her eyes alight with that thing he so desperately wants. "You won't have a moment's peace."
"If you escape, I'll find you again." He grips her wrist as she turns to flee. "And again," he promises.