Leia closed the file on Carlos Alvarez by tossing it into the fireplace. She watched warily as the flames consumed the thin folder. All traces of his visit to St. Matthews had been eliminated. The poor man wasn't getting his soul back, however. The deal was done and Leia couldn't help the father of two on that front.

For the moment, the headmistress was alone in her office. It was quiet. Taking advantage of the opportunity, she breathed deeply and centered herself.

Armitage Hux was gone. The deacon was reliable in tough situations. He placed a call to the police department while untying Mr. Alvarez. He escorted the disoriented parent from the premises and delivered him to the officers waiting at the front gates. The stressful evening had come to a tidy conclusion — or so Leia thought.

The ceiling was back to its usual, unremarkable state. God willing, they wouldn't need to use The Lost Mural for some time.

Looking for a distraction, Leia flipped through some outstanding paperwork. She knew it wouldn't be long before her son returned. Right on cue, the door to her office flung open and in stormed Ben. Without saying a word, the science teacher made a beeline for the antique cupboard in the far corner.

"Pour me one, too," Leia said.

Ben removed a pair of glasses and a bottle of whiskey from the cupboard. Keeping his back to Leia, he poured himself a drink and downed it in one shot.

"You'll be thrilled to know that everything has been handled," Leia continued. "Hux contacted his people in Westchester County PD. A squad car will return Mr. Alvarez to his wife. She was worried sick. Apparently, he didn't tell her where he was going, but she's relieved—"

"I don't care," Ben interrupted. His voice was hoarse from the sting of whiskey.

"What's wrong now?" Leia sighed. Her son left in such a hurry that something had to be wrong.

Ben didn't answer; he was too distracted. He slowly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and paused — holding the empty glass away from his lips.

"Ben?" Leia asked again, growing more concerned.

Moments earlier…

There was a long, awkward pause where Ben and Rey said nothing. Teacher and student stood five feet apart, staring at each other in the moonlight. Ben's gaze was intense and Rey braced herself for what was to come. She was certain that the towering man would lash out. She believed that Ben Solo was nothing more than a clever disguise for Kylo Ren.

The man looking back at her was through hiding. It was exhausting and he hated it. He hated having to hide who he really was, especially from Rey.

"Te mirari desino semper," Ben finally said, looking down.

"What? What does that mean?" Rey asked.

"You never cease to amaze me," he answered. "You're an amazing young woman, Rey… with more power than you realize."

He spoke softly and his demeanor caught her by surprise. He almost seemed shy, but she knew better.

"So, you're not denying it? A weapon exists that can hurt someone like you?" Rey asked.

The question put Ben on the defensive again. His face hardened and his whole body tensed. Rey could feel the barrier forming between them; the wall going up from his end. She tried to think of something to say or do; anything to keep him from vanishing.

"Are you planning to use the lightsaber to kill me, Ms. Kenobi?" Ben countered.

"No!" she answered hastily.

Lost in thought, Professor Solo scanned the tree line. Rey knew about the existence of his grandfather's sword. The revelation was troubling for several reasons. The heavenly weapon should be in twenty pieces, hidden all over the globe. If Rey saw the sword assembled in a future vision, then that wasn't the case. The lightsaber might be closer than he thought. It may even be on the grounds of St. Matthews.

Shit, he cursed internally.

"Goodnight, Ms. Kenobi," Ben said, giving her a parting glance.

Turning abruptly, he walked in the direction of the administration building. Rey was caught off guard by the sudden exit. Running after Ben, she struggled to keep up with his long strides.

"Stop," she huffed.

"We're done now," Ben said dismissively.

"We're not done yet," Rey protested, getting out in front and blocking his path. "You may think that it's dangerous to tell me the truth, but I need to know what's really going on here. I'm not some helpless teenager in need of coddling. I am a grown woman."

Ben's lips parted. He reached for Rey's arms, trying to embrace her. Maybe if he did, she would finally listen to reason. Rey flinched however, causing him to stop and show restraint.

The nineteen-year-old cursed under her breath. She wished she had reacted differently. Rey wanted to be in Ben's arms again, but the instinct to protect herself had proved to be too powerful.

"That's right," Ben said with a slight nod. "You should be afraid of me. You should avoid me and all the dark shit that follows me around like a black cloud. At least you'd be safe."

"I'm not afraid," she replied.

"Don't lie to me, Rey. If you want to be treated like an adult, then do the responsible thing. Forget what you think you saw. Mr. Alvarez was never here. There's nothing sinister hiding behind the ceiling panels in Leia's office. Go and join your friends at the student union… before they start to worry about you."

"Fuck you, Ben! I want answers," Rey snapped.

She reached for the man's wrist but he yanked it away before she could get there.

"You aren't ready and it's just too dangerous," he snapped.

"I'm too young, right? You are so full of shit, Ben Solo," Rey scoffed. "You push me away… keep me at arm's length. Do you know that you fuck me several months from now… in the courtyards?"

"Don't say another word," Ben glowered, backing up against a tree. "Stop. Do not tell me the future."

"It was amazing," Rey said hotly, closing the gap between them. "It's like you didn't care where we were. You lifted my skirt and fucked me right into the ivy. I'll bet you thought that I was old enough then, hmm?"

"Fuck!" Ben shouted, slapping his hand into the tree behind him. The force of his strike sent a shockwave into the bark, rattling the branches.

Rey gasped and held her ground. Leaves fell from above and a few landed in her hair.

"You're a pain in my ass, you know that?" he growled. Ben tried to hide the fact that his cock was hardening; after that imagery, he couldn't help it.

"I won't be ignored, Ben. I won't let this go," Rey stated, holding her ground.

"I'm speaking from experience, okay? Forget what you saw tonight; it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Earth is ground zero for the war between Heaven and Hell. It sounds black and white; Light versus Dark, but it's never that simple. Agents on both sides will seek your help, hoping to claim a new champion. They'll use you and in the end, it won't make any fucking difference. Your sacrifice will be meaningless. The war will continue long after our bones have turned to dust."

"What I saw in Leia's office… that was evil," Rey said, leaning in close. "It wasn't some gray area. It was real darkness. I could feel it."

The sound of a radio nearby, caused Ben to slip away and put distance between them. They weren't alone anymore and he didn't want the guards or faculty to have the wrong impression. Campus security approached and shined flashlights on the couple.

"Professor Solo… is everything okay?" asked the first guard.

"We're fine, Charlie," Ben replied, shielding his eyes. "Ms. Kenobi got turned around. It's so easy to get lost out here… but now she knows better. Would you escort her back to the courtyards please? I wouldn't want to lose someone with such a bright future."

Rey didn't protest this time. Instead, she flashed daggers at Ben before leaving with the security guards. The conversation was far from over.

"Ben?" Leia asked again. He hadn't spoken for several minutes and the silence was becoming unnerving.

The distracted thirty-year-old cleared his throat, finally acknowledging his own name.

"What the hell difference does any of it make? Hmm? Is the Sanctuary worth all this bullshit? Carlos Alvarez was just an ordinary man and a good father. He wasn't wealthy or politically connected. That man was of no use to our cause! And what does Hux gain for taking his soul, besides a few more years of youth?" Ben ranted.

Leia fell quiet, silently considering her son's point. Ben took another long drink while she watched. He had always detested Hux, but this was different.

"Talk to me," Leia pleaded.

Ben gasped and wiped his mouth once more.

"Rey saw everything… the entire memory ritual. She doesn't trust you anymore, or me for that matter. It will be a fucking miracle if she doesn't run away."

"Christ," Leia swore, burying her forehead into her hands.

"I was afraid this day would come," she said softly.

Ben paced around the room, replaying the conversation he had with Rey. A sinking feeling landed in the pit of his stomach. He didn't want to lose her; the thought was terrifying. Fuck, maybe he should tell her that? Everything seemed to be spiraling out of his control.

"Why… why the hell was Luke Skywalker here?" Ben said, suddenly remembering the presence he felt from earlier. "Does he know about Rey?"

Leia sighed heavily.

"He knows we have a prophet, yes. The Archangels were in the dark about Rey's existence, so we caught a bit of a break there. He knows it's a girl, but he doesn't know specifics. He doesn't know which student," the headmistress clarified.

"This is great," Ben chuckled sarcastically. "How fitting. The Knights of Ren can start grabbing girls as they leave the campus. Sooner or later, we'd have to give up Rey in exchange."

"That will never happen," Leia snapped, her gaze growing fiery. "No harm will come to one of my students. I won't allow it."

"It's a good thing you have me then," Ben hissed. Downing the rest of his drink, he headed for the door. It was time to put this evening behind him.

"Hang on, Ben. What did Rey say to you?" Leia yelled. "Ben!"

"I'm done for the night. I'll see you tomorrow," he called over his shoulder.

"Ben, wait!" Leia shouted, standing from her chair. It was no use though, he was already down the hallway.

The student union was crowded and pumping with music by the time Rey arrived. Looking toward the back corner, she found her friends hovering around their usual table. It was the only nine-foot table in the game area. The rest were seven footers, but Rey preferred shooting on the larger one if they could.

"Speak of the devil," Poe said, grinning at Rey.

Taking his cue away, Rey flashed him a forced smile in return. She proceeded to interrupt the current game, working her way around the table and sinking each shot. One by one, the remaining solids fell. Rey paused only to adjust her wrist band; she had never shot pool with it before. The piece felt cumbersome and she found it annoying.

"Damn," Claire giggled, nearly spilling her sparkling water.

Finn and Poe had witnessed this display before, but it was still impressive to watch Rey in action.

"I guess that means I win," Poe said smugly.

"No, no. I don't think so," Finn argued.

Rey moved to the stripes next, sinking them with ease.

"She knocked mine in first… ergo," Poe insisted.

Finn pointed at his best friend.

"I'm not even joking right now. Don't ever use ergo with me again," Finn warned.

Claire started to laugh, but she stopped when her gaze caught Rey's expression. Her roommate looked furious. In fact, Claire had seen that look only once before. Finn and Poe were too busy trading idle threats to notice that anything was wrong with Rey.

"Um… excuse us boys. Rey and I need to powder our noses," Claire said, dragging her friend toward the restrooms.

Once they were inside, Claire pushed open the stalls. They had some privacy, at least for the moment.

"Okay, spill it," she started. "You were gone for a while. Was your mystery man a no show?"

"No, he was there… that's never the problem. I'm not sure I should go into specifics," Rey sighed.

Claire frowned. She couldn't pass on the opportunity to learn more about her roommate. Rey was normally so secretive but she clearly wanted to talk.

"Rey, remember your second week here? You have the same look on your face — that look when Bradley Kuhl asked you out. I believe you yelled at him in the cafeteria; told him to get lost… and he did. Faculty couldn't find him for two days!"

"Well, Bradley Kuhl was an ass and he deserved to be expelled. He whispered the most awful, vulgar things to me in Pre-Calc. And he would have gotten a black eye, too… if he didn't walk away when he did."

"So, what did your boyfriend do to piss you off so much?" Claire prodded.

"I caught him in a lie and now I'm worried it's just the tip of the iceberg," Rey admitted. The nineteen-year-old crossed her arms and shook her head. "I feel so stupid."

"You shouldn't feel stupid. If he lied to you then he's the moron," Claire said. "Is it really that bad? I mean, are we talking about a break-up here?"

"I don't know. Maybe," Rey said, pausing to think about it. She cracked a small smile after a beat. Rey didn't have many girlfriends and it was nice to have someone like Claire in her corner. She wished that she could share more.

"What's so funny?" Claire smirked.

"Eh, it's just that he's very complicated…. like stereo instructions," Rey laughed.

"Ah, I don't get that reference," Claire giggled.

Rey moved over to the mirror to check her appearance. She turned her head from side to side, making sure that there weren't leaves in her hair. Thankfully, there were none. A few strands were out of place, but that was it.

"Seriously, though… are you going to be okay?" Claire asked.

Rey looked at her reflection once more before turning to face her friend.

"I'm going to be just fine. So, listen, a small group of us are heading out to Cherry Lake tomorrow for a bonfire. You should come with us."

The next morning, Finn and Poe led a small group to the western edge of the campus. They got an early start and everyone had a backpack of supplies with them.

Rey had to give the boys credit. They had their shit together. Finn and Poe were Eagle Scouts and they didn't mess around when it came to the outdoors.

"Here it is," Poe said. Pulling vibrant strands of creeping jenny from the outer wall, he revealed a Gothic-style gate. The side entrance was well hidden and looked like it hadn't been used in years.

"And there she is," he added. "The Lake's not that far away but I figure this will help. We can squeeze in and get a head start on the wood pile."

Rey couldn't believe her eyes. Parked just outside the gate was a 1979 Ford Bronco.

"How did you manage to pull that off?" she asked incredulously.

Poe winked at Rey but didn't give an answer. He started to work on the lock with what appeared to be a skinny brass key.

"Bump it, baby," Finn encouraged, holding the shrubs out of Poe's way.

"Amazing. Well, we're all here. We have everything… all the supplies," Rey said, looking around at the group. She suddenly felt like they were forgetting something.

"Yep," Claire smiled in response.

"Weren't you wearing a scarf?" Finn asked, raising a brow at Rey.

"Shit," Rey said, feeling her clavicle. Looking back, she spotted the red fabric a hundred yards away — hanging on a low branch. "How in the hell? Ugh, I will hurry guys."

"Take your time," Poe said, concentrating on the lock.

Rey dropped her pack and jogged over to the tree to retrieve the garment. She wondered how she managed to lose a freaking scarf. It wasn't like they had wandered off the beaten path. The scarf seemed to be draped with such care, too. As she bundled it around herself, there was a shift in the wind. It was a subtle change, but it was just enough for her to notice.

A set of heavy footsteps landed behind her.

"Someone will see you," Rey said, freezing in place. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Rey could feel his breath on the nape of her neck.

"Where the hell do you think you're going, Ms. Kenobi?" Ben purred, casting his gaze over to the group.

Rey could feel goosebumps forming all over. She cursed inwardly.

"We're leaving for a few hours. And you're not going to say shit to anyone. Not campus security and not the headmistress," Rey said, keeping her back to Ben.

"Is that so?" he asked. "It looks like an overnight trip."

"I don't care what it looks like. You're going to let my friends and I leave… or I will tell everyone about us," Rey said coldly. "I will be very detailed."

"You… are fucking bluffing, Rey," Ben hissed in her ear.

"Not this time, professor. Nice trick with the scarf by the way," she added.

Rey was about to walk away but Ben grazed his fingers on the back of her hand. He let them ghost upward, tracing to her elbow.

"You get to play this card once. Do you understand me, Rey? One time only."

"Fine," Rey said, swallowing hard. "Is there anything else, Mr. Solo?"

"That's all, Ms. Kenobi," Ben said coldly. There was plenty more that he wanted to say, but that could wait.

Rey walked away and the science teacher didn't make a move to stop her. He was gone by the time she glanced over her shoulder. The entire encounter was over in seconds, although Rey's pulse raced for several minutes after.

Later that Night...

Cherry Lake was crawling with students. Most of them hadn't been invited which drove Rey up a freaking wall. While roasting a marshmallow by the bonfire's edge, she counted at least twenty-five party crashers along the shoreline — and that was too many. She told Finn and Poe to keep the guest list down to a dozen.

Sneaking out of St. Matthews in a small group turned out to be easy. Returning with a larger one would be much tougher. Rey considered heading back before daybreak and leaving the uninvited behind. She'd speak with Finn and Poe about it. The boys would need some convincing, however. They were looking forward to camping and they usually slept in late on the weekends.

The students by the lake grew louder and more obnoxious with each drink. Rey scanned across the water, noticing the cabins along the far side of the lake.

"Are the cabins occupied this time of year?" she asked.

Poe was seated in front of her, strumming on his guitar. Pausing in the middle of his song, he shrugged at Rey. He could tell what she was thinking.

"You wanted to do this, remember?" Poe asked.

"Yes, but not with the B team. Word will get back to the faculty, if they haven't caught on already," Rey said in a low voice.

For some reason, Rey felt confident that Ben would keep his word. He wasn't going to be the one to bust them, but the assurance wasn't entirely comforting. Counting both groups, there were thirty-seven students out on the lake. St. Matthews had some inept faculty members, but even they would notice the empty seats in the cafeteria.

Finn, Claire and a few others were in earshot, listening to Poe's song. Unlike their boisterous classmates, they were relaxed and content with staying by the fire.

"That water must be cold," Finn said, taking another sip of his beer. "These idiots will get us detention until we're eighty."

"Organa can't expel us all, right?" Poe interjected. "The booze is going faster than I thought. I didn't plan on all these extra jackasses showing up."

"Maybe that's a good thing," Rey replied, carefully stuffing the marshmallow between a piece of chocolate and two graham crackers. "Who do you think blabbed, anyway?"

"Randy," the guys said in unison.

"Hey! I'm right here," Randy complained.

"Ah, so you are," Finn chuckled. Sitting on the ground, he sat up a bit and leaned against Claire's leg. She was seated on the fallen tree and responded by playfully running her fingers into his scalp.

Rey gave them each a sideways glance. When the hell did that develop?

"Okay, I have an idea that might reign those idiots in," Finn said. "We're going to tell a genuine ghost story."

"Genuine?" Rey smirked.

"As in it really happened," Finn clarified. "Honest to God."

"That could work," Poe said, stopping to lean his guitar against the tree trunk. "Yes, definitely."

Placing two fingers between his lips, he let out a loud whistle, getting everyone's attention.

"Who's gonna tell it? Do you want to, or should I?" Poe said, taking a drink from his bottle.

"Man, I don't know. Maybe we shouldn't tell them," Finn said. "We were both there. We could tell it together, but I don't want to give anyone nightmares."

"We can handle it," Rey said, rolling her eyes. She took a bite into her s'more and winked at Poe.

"Alright," Poe started, "don't say we didn't warn you."

"Just tell us the damn story," shouted one of the guys in the back.

"Zip it, Shawn!" Finn yelled. "We gave you a non-alcoholic beer. You don't have an excuse for being a dick today."

The crowd snickered in response. Poe held up a hand and waited for them to quiet down again.

"This happened last summer… on a night much like this one. Most of you know that Finn's family came out to visit the Grand Canyon. And while they drove through Flagstaff, Finn got to stay at my place. It was a blast. All my cousins were home for the summer, too. We had access to wheels every night. They were able to get us into bars on the res. We took over the town," Poe said fondly.

"It was a lot of fun," Finn agreed. "No curfews and plenty of hell to raise."

"Saturday night we were out pretty late," Poe continued. "It was the last night we had Finn. His parents would be there in the morning to pick him up. So, we all had a good time. Anyway, it got so late that no one was out on the streets of Flagstaff. The highway was completely deserted, too."

"The town is up in the mountains and there are wild animals everywhere," Finn explained. "Especially at night. I couldn't believe it at first. You see giant elk walking through intersections in alarming numbers. You must be careful driving after midnight. Sometimes all you see is a silhouette and that's if there is enough moonlight behind them."

"Exactly. So, my cousin was driving us in his 1970 Impala. We're going along this winding highway to take us back. He was being cautious because there was a cliff to the right and forest to the left. There was an old bridge up ahead, which we had to pass each time we entered and exited the city. And each night we had seen Elk on the drive home."

"Without fail. Huge fuckers… grazing by the bridge," Finn confirmed.

"But we didn't see them… not that night," Poe said ominously. "We didn't see them in the city streets either. Instead, there was this low-lying fog that had rolled in. It looked eerie, but we kept driving. We had to get home, you know?"

Poe paused to take a sip of his beer.

"As we crossed the bridge, the fog got thicker — to the point where we were inching along. We noticed some movement up ahead on the driver's side, as the fog cleared a little. My cousin, Chris, put on the high beams."

And he said, "What the hell is that?"

"So, we get closer and realize that it's a woman in white. Her hair and clothes are damp. And I'm thinking… it's nearly 1 am. What the hell is she doing out here? There aren't any homes for a mile or so."

"Oh shit," Claire said, putting a hand on her chest. She didn't like the sound of that.

"So, my cousin rolled down the window."

"Excuse me, ma'am. Do you need any help?" Chris called to her.

"At first, the woman said nothing. She doesn't even acknowledge us. I mean, she must know that we're there. The headlights were on her; the car had a loud engine. And she's soaked; completely soaked and alone," Poe continued.

"Maybe we should stop—" Finn said, swallowing hard.

"Don't you dare!" Rey snapped, leaning in.

"Anyway, Finn and I are scouts and Chris was in the army. We can't leave her stranded… not out here. The woman in white finally stopped walking but she wouldn't turn to face us. She just stared straight ahead. By now, we've stopped moving, too. Chris had his foot on the brake and we were all a little on edge."

"My children," she said in a whisper. "Have you seen my children?"

"Chris looked around at us and checked his mirrors. I will never forget the look on his face."

"Children? We haven't seen any children out here," he answered. "We can help you, ma'am. We can call the police or an ambulance."

"We really wanted to help, but this woman was acting so damn odd. She just stood there, ignoring our offer," Finn added.

"Ma'am?" Chris said again.

"And then it happened… the woman finally turned to face us. She started walking toward my cousin's window. Just thinking about her charcoal dead stare gives me the willies."

She screamed at the top of her lungs, "My children!"

"And then black tar started tumbling from her lips like a fountain. It was like she had been forced to swallow cans of motor oil," Poe continued.

"Shit!" Claire gasped.

"The woman in white kept screaming, even with her mouth closed and black bubbles forming. I remember hitting my cousin's seat, yelling at him to punch it," Poe said, his voice shaking.

"My cousin floored it. The back tires spun out and the Impala raced down the bridge. But the woman… the woman ran after us. She ran like forty miles an hour and reached into the passenger window. She nearly got Finn."

"Holy hell," Rey muttered under her breath.

"She… she did," Finn stammered. Standing suddenly, the star athlete started convulsing. Finn's eyes rolled back and he collapsed into the sandy campground.

"Finn!" Poe cried, coming over to his friend with a flashlight. The other students had circled around Finn too; everyone was visibly on edge.

"Finn, she didn't get you buddy. Maybe just a little bit… just a few scratches!" Poe pleaded.

"Come on, Finn!" Rey said excitedly, playing along.

"My… children!" Finn growled, opening his eyes and grabbing Poe's throat.

The frightened crowd scurried from the campsite, leaving their possessed classmate behind. Most of the girls and boys screamed, chasing each other to the shore again.

"Awesome story," shouted Dexter, one of the party crashers. Stumbling around, he finished his beer and threw the bottle into the bonfire.

"Great," Poe said sarcastically. "That wasn't dangerous or stupid at all."

The buzzed junior ran toward the lake, tripping and falling about halfway.

"At least he didn't hit somebody. This is what I meant by entitled lightweights," Rey chuckled.

"Is that it then?" Finn said, watching the crowd move into the shallow water. He couldn't believe it, but the senior class started pulling off clothes like they were going for a swim.

"It's too cold for that shit," Finn added standing up and addressing the others.

"It kinda looks fun though, doesn't it?" Claire tempted.

"Well, yeah. I didn't bring swim trunks," he answered.

"I don't think they're worried about it," Claire said, pointing to the stripping seniors. "How much alcohol did you give them?"

"Not that much," Poe smirked.

"It's a good thing we have a roaring fire then," Rey said, kicking off her sandals. She looked like she might join them.

"Hang on. You're going in?" Finn asked.

"Of course, she is. Rey has nothing to worry about. Neither do I," Poe said arrogantly. "Do you?"

"Oh my God," Rey laughed. "If you guys strip and get in there first, I will join you. What the hell — why not?"

Finn and Poe exchanged quick looks.

"Oh, we're doing this," Finn said, pulling off his shirt and running toward the water.

Rey laughed, watching Poe take off after him.

"Are you coming?" Claire giggled, waving at Rey.

"A deal's a deal," Rey shrugged.

She removed her jumper first, draping it over the trunk. The fire was a little toasty and she was glad to be free from it. Left in her undershirt and shorts, Rey started fumbling with her leather wrist band.

"Be right there," she called to her roommate.

Without thinking about it, she loosened the straps. Rey carefully removed the guard, running her fingers along the underside. She made it a habit, feeling for the amulet each time the wrist band came off. It was still there, of course. Rey tucked the guard beneath her folded jumper, making sure it was hidden away.

She started to pull her undershirt over her head when the strangest sound came from above. Rey paused to listen; it wasn't her friends or the crowd by the lake. It sounded like thunder, or maybe a deep bass horn. The noise grew louder and came in consistent intervals. Something was circling overhead. Rey yanked her shirt back down, covering herself. Her fierce gaze went immediately to the skies.

Moving to the wood pile, she grabbed a straight branch that hadn't been used in the bonfire's initial teepee. Finn and Poe thought it was too good to burn. There was talk of turning it into a staff or something.

Keeping her eyes to the sky, Rey backed away from the clearing. Taking shelter under the nearest pine tree, she got into a low crouch.

Maybe it was her imagination?

Yes, it had to be, Rey thought.

And that's when she heard a blood-curdling scream from the lake. Rey caught just a glimpse of a girl getting pulled out of the water by a man with giant black wings.

It wasn't Ben. The man had red, fiery hair that Rey could see from fifty yards away. His wings flapped hard, raising Melissa in the air. The poor girl continued to scream and kick wildly. And it was then that Rey noticed the blood coming down her shoulders.

The Archangel was carrying Melissa with his feet — which upon closer inspection — were oversized talons.

"Shit," Rey cried out.

In the confusion, the students fled from the lake. At first, they were slow to react. Some of them must have thought it was all a prank, but nothing could be further from the truth. Panic spread once everyone noticed the blood. Finn and Poe grabbed Claire, rushing for the shore.

"Fuck," Rey breathed, leaving her hiding space.

"That's not her," shouted a deep voice.

A second Archangel swooped in, grabbing a girl that had just made it to the shoreline. He struggled to lift her though, dropping her into the water a few yards back.

Melissa was released a second later, falling in the middle of the lake.

"Finn! Get Melissa," Rey shouted, running toward the lake with her makeshift bow. She passed by scores of terrified teens who were fleeing for the bonfire.

"Head for the woods," Poe yelled, finally making it to the shore with Claire. "Get into the trees!"

"What the hell?" Claire cursed, stumbling in a foot of water. In all the commotion, she had lost her glasses in the lake.

A third Archangel swooped down, wearing something that resembled a samurai mask. His wings spread wide and his talons extended for Claire.

Rey caught him in the forehead, twirling her staff back and bringing it down at the perfect moment. The loud crack that followed, confirmed she hit the mark. The Archangel fell unconscious, dropping in front of Poe and Claire like a bird that had flown head first into an eighteen-wheeler.

"Jesus, Rey!" Poe exclaimed, looking at her wide-eyed. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"I… I'm not sure," Rey replied. Her hands and forearms stung from the impact. She didn't understand the power coursing through her own fingertips. It was something new and quite the rush.

"She's over there," shouted a fourth voice.

A blonde-haired angel with a silver chest plate landed in front of the bonfire. He ignored the students that ran past, allowing them to take cover in the woods. The man looked the part; he looked angelic, like something straight out of the bible. But he had a sinister smile on his lips as he eyed Rey. With an arrogant strut, he walked toward the young woman.

"Here she is… at last," said the Archangel. His wings extended and in the blink of an eye, he flew right for Rey.

Rey gasped and held out an outstretched hand to defend herself. She didn't even have time to draw the bow back.

The Archangel moved like an arrow across the clearing but came to a sudden stop, five feet from the prophet.

"What… what is this?" he asked in disbelief, freezing in midair.

Rey trembled in shock. Was she doing this? No, she couldn't be.

The blonde warrior couldn't touch her; he could barely move a muscle. It was then that Rey noticed the large hand next to hers. Ben was standing behind her; she could recognize those fingers anywhere.

"Kylo Ren!?" The Archangel shouted. He tried to reach for the weapon on his belt, but couldn't.

Rey noticed the hilt strapped by his side. He had a lightsaber, nearly identical to the one she was having visions about.

"Goodbye… Gabriel," Ben growled.

Flexing his fingertips, he sent the Archangel flying back across the clearing. Gabriel screeched into the night, landing in the bonfire and causing a small explosion of flames and embers.

Ben took Rey by the hand, pulling her toward the campsite.

"Where's your amulet?" he husked.

"I… I tucked it away," Rey hurried, "it's safe, Ben."

A fifth figure dropped down in front of them, landing on the opposite side of the bonfire.

"Shit," Ben said, pulling out his crossguard hilt and igniting it.

Rey stumbled back in shock, falling in the sand. Her eyes widened at the sight of Ben's crimson lightsaber.

"Who is it?" she gasped.

The bonfire parted down the middle and separated into two sections. A clear lane emerged in the center, allowing a man with gray robes to step forward.

"Luke Skywalker," Ben sneered, taking a defensive posture.

Dropping his cloak, the Archangel glared at his nephew. His gaze then moved over to Rey. He appraised the girl with deep interest, like he was peering into her very soul.

"So, Father Tekka was right. The girl lives," Luke stated.

"Excuse me?" Ben said, putting himself between Rey and his uncle. He didn't have the patience for riddles or deceptions.

Rey swallowed hard, watching the old man draw his lightsaber as well. She should put a stop to this. These two were going to tear each other apart. Rey knew that she should intervene… but she found herself struggling to do so.

She felt like she knew the Archangel. Had they met in the past? His familiar words echoed in her mind. Soon, it was all she could concentrate on.

"The girl lives."

She had heard that before… in a vision. Lor San Tekka had pleaded with Kylo Ren from his knees. The fallen Archangel would hear none of it. And the last thing Father Tekka said was…

"The girl lives!"

Rey gasped in surprise, recalling how the vision ended.

A moment later, Luke and Kylo Ren charged each other. The sound of their blades pulled the prophet from her previous vision. Flashes of blue and red collided with an intense heat, matching the bonfires nearby.

"Stop!" Rey demanded, scrambling to her feet. She didn't want these men killing themselves over her. Enough blood had been shed in her name and in the name of her mother. "Stop!"

A/N: I'm going to post early because today has sucked and posting cheers me up. Alright, let's toast Chester and get right into it.

I have a reference to my favorite comic book series in this chapter. The first person who can tell me which comic book series it is, will get a reylo drawing. They can choose the content - I will draw them doing whatever. LOL.

So, this is a big chapter and we finally know who Rey is. Did any readers pick up on it ahead of time? Kylo Ren mentions a little girl when he finally tracks down Father Tekka. I'm curious to know.

We're about half way done with the story and I believe there are still a few mysteries for us to dive into. :)

I'm going to take some time to really outline the rest of the fic. I outlined up to the bonfire scene, so there is a little work to do. I promise it will be worth the wait! Just be patient with me... the next update will be in a couple weeks. Hang in there and thank you for reading!