Author's note: Thank you so much for the comments, my first ever! Sorry for misnaming BB8 I fixed it :D Do tell me if there are other mistakes with the Star Wars terminology!
The next flashback was her waking up with renewed and redoubled horror. What happened to her on Takodana? What did they do? She didn't feel physically hurt, and her clothes were still in place. She let out a relieved sigh. As Rey looked around a new wave of panic overcame her already strained nerves. She was in a high-tech facility, some kind of circular room painted red from the lights above. Red like a bleeding sun. How appropriate. But the worst was to come.
She was immobilized, lying at an angle on some type of metal platform, a stand. Rey strained against the new found straps on her arms and legs. Never had she been a prisoner before, never had she been.. tortured. She shivered hard. She then tried to control her body which had started to tremble viciously, her skin was perspiring, her teeth chattering, her fists clenching. Rey was hyperventilating, she couldn't move, couldn't escape. She had failed and was captured. Who were those people? Why did they want the map? She started imagining all the things they would do to her to get her to talk. Only days ago all of this, the map, Luke Skywalker, it all seemed like a lie, a silly legend, some mumbo-jumbo quest. It was fast becoming more and more real and she was a part of it now, whether she wanted or not. Her old life was out of the window. But she had lived through enough hardships in her day. She will make it through. Stars give her strength!
As she tried to calm down she looked straight ahead at the reality she wished wasn't real. There he was, the creature in the mask. She should have been more terrified at the fact but for some unknown reason she felt relieved. It was him, the one who didn't kill her, the one who carried her gently? But what would he do to her now? She observed him as he was her behind that iron facade.
''Where am I?'' she enquired trying to control her voice.
''You are my guest.'' He replied in a flat machine tone.
She gritted her teeth, her anger overwhelming her panic.
''I don't really feel like a guest here! What do you want with me? And where are the others!''
''You mean the murderers, traitors and thieves you call friends? You'll be relieved to hear I have no idea." He replied, disdain slipping in his tone. He continued as if amused and disappointed at the same time "You still want to kill me.''
Rey was confused. How could she sense those slight undertones in this mechanic voice? She needed to see his face, needed to see who did this to her. Rey needed every detail about her captor so it could offer her a clue to his motives. A clue on how to escape.
"That's what happens when you're talking to a creature in a mask! I will not talk to a masked coward!''
He stood up crossing his arms behind his back, his tall frame dwarfing her tied one. Taking his time.
"You know about the map in the R2 unit. Somehow you convinced the droid to show it to you… " He paused, then added mockingly ''you a scavenger.'' He repeated the last part word by word, gauging her reaction.
Just a scavenger. Indeed. A nobody involved into something she never wished for. She was just a scavenger, insignificant, she had no friends. Pretending those people she had met shortly were her friends was wishful. She felt angry tears welling up at the harsh truth. Somehow he knew all of this. What he didn't know was that Rey was no traitor.
''Yes I am just a scavenger. So I have no idea what you are talking about. I was just.. having a drink at that bar. You should let me go now if you know what's good for you!''
Rey knew she was bluffing, her rapid heartbeat and sweating palms must have been proof enough, but she wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing her distress.
His mechanical voice startled her
'' What's good for me…and you would know what's good for me scavenger girl? You know I can take whatever I want. ''
Rey shivered hard and not only from the implications of his words. There was a strange feeling in her gut. He approached, his boots clanking on the metal floor. He raised his black bandaged arm, his hand reaching for her temple. His fingers were getting so close.
She held her breath in anticipation. What happened then was hard to describe. It was similar to the feeling she got in the forest. Like when she was daydreaming or thinking, knowing no one could ever hear her. Her thoughts were her own, her dreams were her piece of freedom. But at that moment she was well aware of a presence in her head exploring, seeking for something. It was mortifying, alien, she felt her innermost intimacy forcibly taken away. A tear was sliding down her cheek. It was impossible! This was her only freedom. He was taking it away, stealing her secrets. And she could do naught to stop him.
"You are so lonely. So afraid to leave. At night desperate to sleep. You imagine an ocean. I see it. I see the island. And Han Solo. You feel like he's the father you never had. He would have disappointed you''
Rey swallowed a sob, shaking in humiliation of her uncovered dreams, of how pathetic she must seem to this powerful monster, he truly could take what he wanted…the bastard.. How could he…how dare he…Wait why would have Han Solo..?
''I know you've seen the map, now you'll give it to me.'' She gulped down as he murmured through the modulator. His words were harsh and self-assured. He placed himself in front of her this time his arm extending, trembling with the extortion.
No! Please, Stars! She wasn't going to just stand here and be tortured! That was not her! She wouldn't allow this creature to get the information, even if it was the last thing she did. She would stop him. Even if she had to somehow end her life, she would. She had finally found a purpose, those good people, she would not betray them. Channelling her anger, her despair and resolve, Rey pushed back with all she had, physically and mentally.
''Out of my head!'' Rey hissed.
She had no idea what she was doing but she wanted her freedom. She also wanted, she realized that later, for someone to understand her fear, to help her understand. She heard him, what he said about her dream of the island, about her loneliness, he was announcing it as if it meant naught. She grew so angry then. He would pay. She would make him, show him, take from him what he took from her. She would pierce his impenetrable shield. She pushed at those invisible walls harder, pushing with all her desperation. Her mind straining to find a crack, a strange instinct awakening.
Then something gave in and Rey was suddenly thrown in some kind of a mausoleum or library or gallery? She had only read about such places. She didn't know what it was. The place was so abstract. Ash falling from endless skies. Holoshows playing on repeat, displaying blurry movies. It was so immense. Glowing strands of energy going everywhere and nowhere. She knew not what was happening, was that some new torture, a drug, a dream? It felt so private, like she wasn't supposed to be there. Was that.. his mind?
Rey realized she had little time and desperately looked around trying to memorize as much as possible. A lot of the holoshows playing were about a man dressed in black, was that him? She could barely distinguish his name, his significance. He was…Darth Vader? Hundreds of black and blue strands were plugged into the images. Rey reached for them and gasped. Fear, loneliness and more…She stepped away, another hologram pulling her close. She observed herself this time, on the platform, bound as she was, face strained and stained with tears. The strands connected there were yellow and red as she touched them lightly.
Rey was violently pulled away. Gasping back in her restraints she stared straight ahead at the pits of black molten liquid behind the mask. She was exhaling and inhaling heavily, her ribcage a prison for hidden torments.
''You! You are afraid that ... you'll never be as strong as..Darth Vader?'' Rey snapped trying to be insulting, but coming up as sympathetic somehow..
The towering ghost was speechless. Her words must have affected him. Rey gloated internally. He moved his suddenly shaking hand to his face. As a mechanism hissed the mask was removed and quickly thrown on some pedestal. Finally!
Before she could react to seeing her captor's face, he was on her, gloved fingers spread on her collarbone, his thumb pressing on the hollow of her throat.
Rey was stunned motionless. Her resolve almost slipped as she realized the fatal mistake she may have done by saying that. Another revelation hit her. The creature towering above her was a man. Not just any man. No scars and ugly cruel eyes. No vicious expression. Just a young man, looking oh so innocent. She felt his leather touch acutely.
Her panic started to weaken. There was no way those expressive eyes could mean her ill, there was no way this man was the one who captured her. There was no way this face was that of a monster killing, kidnapping, torturing people. His thumb pushed slowly down and she felt her breath coming harder.
''Scum. You didn't give me what I wanted. You are of no value to me or the First Order anymore. You are nothing but a worthless scavenger. Your friends will never find you.. I will find the map and I will kill them, starting with Skywalker. And I will take your life first.'' He was furious, his soft brown eyes hardening, cold to the world.
The tears came uninvited again gathering in the corners of her eyes, afraid to spill. Why was she so affected by his words…damn him! Damn him! She didn't want to believe it. Couldn't stand to see this cruel side. There was life in him. He had feelings, she has seen them. She had to bring them back. She didn't know what she was thinking, her life was forfeit as it was. But she just couldn't just watch mute. There was something more there.
''Go on then. I have no regrets. Kill me. Do it! You said I am a scavenger, that I am no one. But I am not scared of you!'' She looked up in defiance.
He finally found her eyes, his own no longer glazed. Countless emotions were swimming in that gaze. His mouth was moving slightly. The pressure increased as he pushed his palm on her sternum, she could barely think, barely breathe, the panic enveloping her, but she kept up with the staring contest.
Then the pressure lifted swiftly. Rey took a shaky breath, closing her eyes from the strain. She had been drowning in those endless pools. She was alive. She…he…Rey felt a gloved finger sliding up her cheek. Her pupils dilated, her heart skipping a beat. He was looking transfixed at his finger's ministration, wiping carefully all the frozen teardrops as if not realizing it. The man lifted his fingers examining them. Then as if realizing what he was doing, he turned away, grabbed his mask and left without a word, the door loudly hissing behind him. Rey was stunned, her mind a blank canvas. What by the Stars happened just now? Who was this man… and again... Why had she been ready to die at his hand?
