Author's Note: Surprise! I thought you all deserved to receive my next chapter early. Considering Chapter 2 was much shorter and in light of the Blu-Ray Release this week, I couldn't help myself.

Chapter 3

Kylo Ren

"How dare you question me!" Kylo Ren's voice boomed throughout the throne room. "If the girl is found, you shall bring her to me unharmed."

Armitage Hux was kneeling before him. "Yes, Supreme Leader." He quickly straightened up and left the room without glancing back, leaving Kylo alone.

Kylo relaxed into his chair and ran his gloved hand through his hair. It has been days since Rey had appeared in his bed. Despite his best efforts, he tried not to actively reach for her through the force, but that didn't stop him wanting to scour the galaxy to find her. Hux had become more vocal about the events that led to the death of Snoke and his guards. To the point that Kylo had wanted to snap his neck and, he may have even forced his windpipes closed on more than one occasion. He had gradually been making changes within the First Order since taking it over. His most recent defiance was removing the kill order that had been placed on Rey's life, by Hux, to avenge their previous supreme leader. He couldn't keep doing this, he couldn't let his emotions get in the way anymore. With that thought, he slammed his fist onto the armrest of the throne.

"That's got to hurt." A familiar voice piped up. Kylo looked up to see Rey standing before him. Silence followed her remark, promptly bringing him to a forced hush.

The stillness was disconcerting, and the length was starting to become uncomfortable. He was staring at her, afraid to open his mouth in case she decided to leave. She spoke again, "well, are you going to say anything?"

He managed to collect his feelings and responded with, "what would you like me to say?"

Rey shifted awkwardly on her feet. "I heard all about what you have been doing here." Her discomfort radiated from her.

He started to smirk, "what have I been doing here?" He was enjoying her leading the conversation and he liked the way she seemed out of place.

"The changes you are making in the first order. I wouldn't go about it in quite the same way, but it's a start."

"I don't need your approval," he snapped. The words had slipped out beyond his control and he instantly regretted them. She could feel his guilt even though an apology hadn't left his mouth.

"You're not the only one who has made choices they regret." She turned her gaze to the floor.

He climbed down off the throne and was now standing before her. "What choices would these be?"

She looked up at him again. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me." He stepped closer now, closing the gap between them to barely an arm's length.

Tears were starting to form in her eyes. "Putting my trust in people I shouldn't have and not trusting others I should have," she whispered.

He seemed confused by her sudden confession. Was she talking about him? Does she want to trust him? "You know you can always choose differently. It isn't too late." He stretched his hand out to touch her but decided to let it fall to his side instead.

A look of realisation crossed her face and a new-found confidence entered her voice. "It's okay, I know what I have to do." She gave one last glance at him before spinning around and vanishing.

Rey

Now that she was out of sight, she dropped to her knees and let the tears stream freely. She was finally releasing the inner turmoil that had been plaguing her for the last few days. In that brief conversation with Kylo Ren, he had unknowingly given her the answer that she didn't know she needed. She couldn't stay here anymore, she needed to leave the resistance and she needed to leave tonight.

After her dream all those days ago, she had concluded that she wanted to tell Finn everything. She assumed it would be a good idea to tell him about the dream, the force bond, and even Kylo Ren's proposal. She had finally shared her experiences with someone that wasn't him. However, it didn't go the way she assumed it would. Things had changed, not only between Finn and herself but with everyone on the base. Finn couldn't keep the truth to himself and now whispers and stares followed her everywhere she went. Even Leia couldn't look her in the eye anymore. She started to notice a shift in their treatment of her and she wasn't allowed to freely roam the base unaccompanied anymore. She was debriefed and interrogated for details. She felt more like a prisoner than an ally. She was confined to her quarters at night with a guard posted outside the door for her protection, or so they told her.

She cleared the conflict within her mind and replaced it with purpose. She climbed up off the floor and quickly moved around the room collecting her belongings. Most of it was clothing but she made sure to grab the broken lightsaber, the Jedi books, and her quarterstaff. She didn't care about the rest, she was only taking what she could carry. She opened the door and was greeted by Finn.

"Rey, would you like to join me for dinner?" He notices the bag and her quarterstaff. "What's with the bag? Are you going somewhere?"

She needed to think quickly. "I'm being moved. The general wants me to have a room near her, so she can keep a closer eye on me herself."

He ponders the thought for a second. "That makes sense. I'll walk you there."

"Sure, it's on the side closest to the hanger." At least she can get to the other side of the base and worry about the rest when she gets there.

They walked in silence most of way. It was hard talking to Finn now. When they got to a room that she hoped was vacant she stopped and gestured to the door. "This is me."

"Okay then, I'll wait while you put your belongings inside and then we can go have some dinner."

"How about I meet you there? I just want to freshen up first."

He nodded in agreement and then turned in the direction of the common room and disappeared around the corner. She twisted to run in the opposite direction and saw that Poe was standing there with a blaster pointed at her. Before she could react, he had already pulled the trigger and she was engulfed in a bolt of energy that was overloading her nervous system.

As she was nearing unconsciousness she heard the man behind her apologise. "I'm sorry Rey," the voice was Finn. Her body had gone limb as she dropped to the ground and the pain began to subside as she welcomed the darkness that had been threatening to consume her. She was unable to move and no longer able to comprehend her surroundings. She was trapped in her mind, she screamed but no sound left her mouth. Her inner monologue was pleading for Kylo Ren to hear her. Time seemed to stand still. She wasn't quite able to wake up before being plunged back into the darkness. She was washed over with waves of pain that varied in intensity. She was losing hope, she wondered if she would be trapped here forever. She was terrified until she heard his voice.

It was loud and seemed to echo. "I'm coming for you. Please hold on."