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Chapter 7

Kylo Ren is distracted, trying to determine where the Resistance has taken Rey. He bridged their minds in attempts to narrow it down, but the consequences were extensive. First, seeing Rey, his beloved, being taken captive. Those monsters kept her in isolated captivity. Kylo wasn't expecting to see his mother for the first time since he turned. He has felt her presence but has not faced her. It broke his heart to see her disappointment in him. The force connection was the longest one and the first that he had initiated himself. The energy caused him to pass out in exhaustion.

"Sir, there's an alternative 'government' trying to take over the different systems." A guard informs, disrupting Kylo's rest.

He sighs, annoyed by this guard's sense of idiocy. "Why do you think we're doing all this? This war against the Resistance has been everlasting."

"No, sir. There is another Order rising. They call themselves 'X Order.' They have taken over several systems." The guard explains, careful with his words. He knows how angry the Supreme Leader gets and is worried that anger will be taken out on him.

"Fine. Prepare a speech for me to formally renounce them." Kylo Ren brushes off, dismissing the guard, leaving him to his thoughts. While this news is very concerning, he can't be distracted finding Rey.

Being separated has given him a lot of time. There's something off about her. He sighs, his internal begins. I've never told her I loved her. Maybe that's why she continues to be skeptical about me. She has seen my dark demons and didn't run away. I chose the Darkness because the Light betrayed me.

In the short time, we have joined together, their feelings have always been assumed. We've been connected through the force, but I shouldn't assume. Being away from her draws the Darkness in. I need to tell her how I feel.

"Rey, stop."

"No, Finn. You don't understand. None of you do." Rey panics. She was hoping she would get farther before running into someone, let alone her first friend.

"Breathe," Finn explains. Poe started with a military approach talking to her. Leia attempted to reach for her emotionally. He decides it's important to let her speak and get all of this out of her system. She has spent so much time by herself. She is probably internalizing all of her problems. Someone just needs to be there and listen.

"The longer I am away from him, the worse he will get. I-" Rey cuts herself off. She is so frantic, she is failing her own plan.

When Rey isn't paying attention, Finn shakes his head at Leia, finally catches up. "Come with me. Away from all of this. We'll go to a safe spot I have found on this base, away from everyone."

Rey nods. She can't continue keeping all of this burden to herself. Finn used to be a part of the First Order. Maybe he'll understand. He leads her to this back area that overlooks a beautiful waterfall. The sight and sounds are so soothing to her. Seeing all of these various types of nature, that different from Jakku, continue to amaze her. She takes a deep breath and looks down in shame.

"I didn't go to the Dark side." Rey begins. "Well, I didn't at first."

Trying to remain calm, he struggles to remain calm. She needs to trust him. The more she trusts him, the more information he will get out of her. He hates betraying her this way, but until he knows more, he doesn't trust her.

Rey continues carefully. "When I was on Ach-to, our minds were bridged by Snoke. He told me what happened." She lowers her head. "His parents were never there for him. He thought Luke was trying to kill him. The Light betrayed him."

"What does that have to do with you?" Finn questions.

"I didn't choose Darkness, but I did choose Ben. I put on this act to gain his trust and the plan was to guide him back to the Light." She finally admits.

"Was?"

"I didn't choose the Darkness. But being around it, it has invaded my thoughts." Rey explains, unsure of how to explain this. He betrayed the First Order. He will betray you too. The darkness creeps in. She squeezes her eye shut, trying to shut out the thoughts. "I can't escape it, like right now"

"What does it tell you?"

Rey looks over at Finn, and she can feel in her heart that he is genuinely there for her. "It is telling me that you will betray me." She looks over at him, seeking validation that her dark thoughts are lying to her. He looks away. He knows he will probably have to betray, but hopes she knows it's for her own good.

"Rey, we can help. We want to help you." Finn pleads.

"How? You don't understand the force." Rey snaps. She wants to believe him, but he doesn't know the first thing about the Force. How controlling it can be.

"No, but I do." Leia appears, breaking Finn's trust that she would let him handle this.

"Let me go! I can't do this." Rey panics.

"Rey, look at me." Leia pleads, grabbing her wrists. "Look at me." Rey finally makes eye contact with her. "I am familiar with those thoughts. Those same thoughts turned my son when I know he has a heart of gold deep down. He's hurt. You've been hurt. You can't let that same pain turn you."

She could end her plan right here and rejoin the light. Rey is struggling internally with the Darkness continuing to creep in. It is overwhelming.

But what about Ben?

A/N: So this chapter is a little shorter than others, but we get to see how both Rey and Ben are coping with being separated. This really brings out how unbalanced they are right now.