Unison

_._

XXII

If there was anything Rey was good at, it was staying invisible. It could have been days, weeks, even, but she refused to leave her quarters. The darkness of her room mirrored the growing darkness in her mind. How many times had she dreamt of the darkness swallowing her whole? How many times did she have to turn on all the lights in her quarters to keep the darkness that loomed over her at bay?

Every night was the same, horrid visions and dreams of blood-stained hands, her hands; and the faces of all the fallen that laid at her feet. People she knew, people she loved.

Slowly rising from her spot on the floor Rey began to pace. Back and forth. From her bathroom to her door and back. She had refused to let the maids back in after they had tried to move the furniture she had purposely pushed aside. On her first round Rey knew that by the time she reached the bathroom door Senna's footsteps would be halfway down the hall; and that by the time she had made her way back to her door Senna would be knocking.

Senna had been her constant visitor despite Rey refusing to answer. Like clockwork Senna would be there at the same time everyday- shortly after the sleeping cycle had begun. Rey could hear the footsteps getting louder and louder as she kept her pace. Three sharp knocks sounded just as Rey stood in front of her door.

She stared hard at the metal, as if she could see the woman standing on the other side. What would Senna think if she told her about her dreams? Of how she dreamt of her own reflection morphing into a dark and menacing creature that hid deep within herself?

Vision after vision, dream after dream all showing her what she already knew that lived deep inside her. The darkness that called to her, the darkness that seduced her. She would turn to the dark side, eventually.

It was just a matter of time.

And then the voice would return.

"My child, this is the will of the force."

The voice she was very well accustomed to.

And when it would stop speaking to her, she would go through the cycle again.

But there was one ray of light that shined through her internal darkness.

It was when he would come to her. It was as if he could feel her despair. And when she would reach her darkest moment, Rey would instantly feel his arms around her.

He didn't care that she would fight him, turn him away as she grappled with the voice in her head. He would wrap his arms around her and comfort her. She would struggle against him until she could no longer do so, and at the end he would still be there holding her.

There were times where she would lose herself so wholly in the darkness that when she was finally able to pull herself back she would be on the floor in Kylo's arms, weeping into his chest. His arms felt like a protective wall, isolating her from her fears.

Kylo never said a word about it to her. Never questioned her screams in the middle of the night or her need to lock herself in her room.

She was beginning her next round when she looked up at the door and saw Kylo standing there. Startled, she stopped pacing and stood there, watching him watching her.

"Rey?" Kylo took her in as she stared back. When had he come in? Whatever he saw in her face probably spooked him because in three quick strides he was already across the room and pulling her into him.

He ran his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the tears that she didn't realize she had. When had she started to cry?

He pulled her chin up and kissed her forehead. "You're scaring me, scavenger. You need to eat." His eyebrows were drawn together as he took in her face.

It was true, Rey barely ate. She couldn't remember the last time she did. The thoughts that threatened her and tormented her didn't leave room for anything else. Let alone food.

"Please eat." He motioned to the plate of food sitting on her bedside table. Her eyes darted to the food and wondered how long it had been sitting there. She knew she should eat. Understood that her body needed food, but she couldn't feel the pain of hunger. She past the bite of hunger a long while ago. Or was it days?

She shook her head slowly. She didn't want it.

He gave her a disapproving look before walking over to the plate of food and returning with a portion of bread in his hand, "Here." He tore a small piece off and lifted it to her lips. Rey made no move to respond. She wasn't hungry.

Kylo let out a frustrated sigh. "You either eat on your own, or you will be force fed. Make your choice". Rey stared blankly at him. She wasn't hungry, and if he thought he would force a feeding tube down her throat he had another thing coming.

He waited. Seeing that she wasn't going to budge he popped the food in his mouth and began to chew. Before Rey could piece together what he was planning, his lips slammed against hers and forced the food into her mouth.

Almost choking, Rey spat out the food. Her face began to heat up and she felt the first trickle of anger spike through her. Not missing a beat Rey slapped him across the face.

If he was surprised, he didn't show it. Slowly swallowing what was left in his mouth Kylo rubbed at his face, his cheek turning bright pink.

"You will eat. Even if I have to force it down." The cold promise of his words held every intention that he would keep it.

She glared back at him but remained silent. She watched again as he put more food into his mouth and chewed, harder this time.

When he reached for her, she reacted faster, slapping him again, harder than before.

Hands quickly gripped her arms as he locked them in place. "You will eat!" He roared.

"No!" She screamed back, struggling to uncage her arms, It was the first time in a while she heard her voice out loud. Even so, she wouldn't allow what was happening to continue.

"Get out." She spoke through gritted teeth. She wanted him gone. Everyone and everything gone.

Kylo's eyes held mostly anger but they changed as the last words left her lips. Turning into black cold orbs.

Quickly releasing her he left, stalking out of the room without looking back at her. Leaving her behind, in the dark room that had become a cage. She closed her eyes as she just stood there, willing the satisfaction to come to her now that she was alone, but it never came. Only the eerie sound of the water dripping from the faucet in her bathroom filled her head. Drip after drip, rage, anger, and loneliness filled her instead.

"You will turn, time will not be in your favor, young apprentice."

It had been sometime before she had finally calmed down. Rey stared at her palms, finally noticing how many small cuts littered every inch of her skin.

It didn't hurt, nothing hurt at this point. No matter how many times she tried to feel anything. The pain wasn't there. Just an unending emptiness. A numbness that had taken her fully.

Her mind focused as the familiar sound of footsteps started down the hall.

Another day had passed, and nothing changed.

It was getting worse.

The first knock echoed in her room and that sick feeling she finally thought she escaped from returned.

"Take her life." The voice was back, echoing in her head. Egging her on.

Rey closed her eyes and breathed in, trying desperately to call to the light side of the force. Any sliver of light could save her now, to keep her from making her nightmares come true.

The second knock shortly followed.

"Please stop." She whispered. Begging the voice to leave her. "I don't want to do this." Her words barely made it from her lips as another wave of darkness coursed through her. The image of broken glass flashed in her mind's eye, the jagged piece that had broken off the mirror just behind her bathroom door. It had flung to the floor, and lodged in between the door frame and the wall.

"No." She choked out as her legs began to move towards the bathroom.

"Yes!" Tears were flowing from her once more as she made her way to her desired weapon.

Her hand trembled violently as she reached for the door handle. The loud creek of the door made her blood run cold. Spotting the glass piece in the debris of what was left of the mirror and sink, Rey reached for it.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she called out for Kylo. Images of Senna were beginning to fill her head now. She was begging for her life but Rey could foresee what was going to happen despite the knights desperate plea.

Senna would be dead in a few minutes from now and her blood would seep into the cracks of the black sleek tiles of the hallway; and she would be staring down as the light left Senna's eyes. Feeling nothing. Hearing nothing. Just seeing as Senna's life force drained from her slowly.

She was back in the room standing in front of the entrance of her quarters. Squeezing the glass between her palm and fingers, cutting into her flesh.

The final knock came, diminishing the last strands of hope Rey had left. Her hand found the handle and flung the door open.

The force bond was the last thing Rey was expecting to feel now and just like every force bond in the past, Kylo was standing across from her, his eyes shifted to what was in her hand. Rey looked down as she noticed the small puddle of blood she was beginning to form on the ground.

"Rey." Kylo's voice broke through her illusion.

Dropping the glass, imminent shame washed over her as she processed what she was about to do to Senna. Rey took a step back as horror filled her eyes at the realization. Her stomach began to quiver as she tried to breathe in.

"What you are feeling, is just the beginning of what is to come." Kylo took a step towards her.

"The power you feel when claiming a life, that power that fuel's the darkness itself; is within you and me. Kylo's words were indefinite and true. He made another step forward.

She took another step back, desperately trying to retreat into the safety of her room.

"The temple." Kylo had stepped into her room, "is the first darkest act I committed."

Rey braced herself as Kylo gripped her bloody hand and placed it on his chest. "I felt nothing that day."

As her hand made contact with him, Kylo's memories engulfed her senses. They were so potent she could hear and smell everything around her.

Countless of screams filled her head and the smell of burning flesh reached her nostrils. She could see it, the temple burning down, and the students; what was left of them, all trying to escape the raging flames burned their limbs. Rey found herself living the nightmare herself, looking for high ground, coughing, desperately trying to escape the flames that surrounded her.

Then she saw him. Kylo staring down at her from the cliff overhead, a cliff she could not reach. His stare was cold and heartless. His eyes were dark black orbs reflecting the bright reds of the fires he started.

She was ripped from the vivid memories as Kylo pulled her hand away. Ending the horrid images in a flash.

"I felt nothing." His breath grazed her cheeks. "That is how you will end up. If you continue to fight it, it will kill you." His expression turned dark, seeing her and not seeing her. As if he was right there but far way, back on the cliff looking down at the chaos that had spread before him.

"Skywalker speaks the truth, darkness is the key to surviving."

"I can fight it." Her voice shook as she spoke, knowing full well that she may actuallynot win this time.

"Kill him. Claim his blood. And when you do, unlimited power will course through you."

"What makes you think you can escape from this, Rey?" He lifted his hands, cornering her against the wall.

No.

"Take it now, when he least expects it!"

I will not kill him. I will not murder someone I love.

"Love is weakness! He does not care for you!"

"Because I have you by my side." Rey forced herself to look up at him.

His smoldering gaze settled on her.

Slowly, her hands found their way to his shoulders and then wrapped around his neck before pulling him into a kiss. It didn't take Kylo long to follow the rhythm of her pace, and she pushed deeper into the kiss. It was like the gears changed and for once the voice was silent.

Kylo pulled her closer to him, lifting her up and against the wall. Her hands were in his hair now, tugging, knowing deep down this is what she wanted.

Their pants were heavy as they broke apart, the sound filling the room. They both said nothing as they stared at one another.

And after some time, Kylo's words filled her ears with the same words she was asking herself at that very moment.

"Are you sure?" he asked, and as she took the sight of him in, her heart swelled as she answered.

"Yes."

~To Be Continued~

A/N: Hey long time so see! I'm still here dont worry. Love the chapter? Show your support by favoriting/following/commenting on the story!