The room Rey stood in was circular in size, and in the center was a prisoner, fastened to a machine of sorts— the same one Rey had found herself tied to, all that time ago, when she had been the prisoner and Kylo the captor.

It had been back when she and Kylo had been bitter enemies, and maybe something even more than that.

Back then, Rey had believed in the lie called morals and in the dream called winning.

She knew better now.

What was the point in caring when you could just… not?

Restless, Rey let her eyes wander over the room— she was waiting for Ben to show up and was growing impatient.

The room was pathetically drab. The walls were all painted deep gray, with nothing to anchor her gaze to, apart from the struggling prisoner in the center. But Rey preferred the walls, even if they were boring as hell. Staying focused on her surroundings kept her from having to look at the man. Looking at the man would mean seeing herself reflected in him, and what she was about to do to him.

She was scared, even thought she would never admit it. Scared of what… creature she'd find hiding inside her if she looked at the prisoner.

Lost in thought, Rey didn't notice Kylo's presence until he stepped through the sliding doors and into the room. She heard his footsteps, and threw him a fleeting glance— a brief greeting— before turning her back to him again.

"I was waiting for you," Rey said. Coldly.

Kylo nodded in reply. Almost hesitantly, he took his place beside Rey. It was where he belonged, wasn't it?

"You ready?" he asked.

Rey had no answer.

How could she be ready for something like this? She can't prepare for murder. All she can do is endure it.

Rey broke contact with Ben and turned to the prisoner with a frown. Her throat felt like sandpaper.

"Speak," she ordered.

It was clear in the man's wide, terrified eyes that he was trying so, so very hard not to give in to his crippling fear. It was noble, in a way. Loyal.

But for what end? Nothing. He was going to die, and he knew it, and Rey would ensure it.

And still he did not answer.

… Why?

Rey felt something start to boil inside her, something dangerous. She was losing herself, wasn't she? Her self control… who needed it anyways? It was slipping through Rey's fingers like sand and she had given up grasping for it a long time ago.

Rey walked closer, and the man turned away, eyes tightly closed with fear. Rey was thankful for that. Was she really strong enough to look into the eyes of someone who might as well be dead?

She thought maybe not.

Rey closed her eyes and continued walking. Drifting away. Undone.

She took a last step forwards, and the interrogation was officially begun.

Already, it felt like an ending.

Rey had never crushed a heart using the Force before. It was sweet, it was soft, it felt good. But right now, all she felt was that she never wanted to do it again.

Kylo Ren had been there through the whole thing. He hadn't said a word; just stood there, silent and brooding as always. He had watched, as Rey mercilessly pulled information out of the prisoner, beat him, killed him. And done nothing.

Make it stop. It hurts.

Rey did not look at Kylo— not once. She was afraid what he'd see if she did. The mask of a killer? Or perhaps nothing, nothing at all.

Am I still alive? I feel dead.

Rey buckled over, the walls closing in around her and changing. It was all spinning. Rey vaguely noted that she was throwing up; it felt like she was vomiting up everything inside her, organs and all. Every last parasite coiling inside her flesh was heaved out.

How disgusting her insides must be.

She felt sick.

Rey opened her mouth and screamed, but she heard nothing. Her lungs hurt, every breath was burning up inside.

Take me away from here, it hurts.

There was a name. Someone was saying her name.

"Rey."

IT HURTS.

"Rey."

MAKE IT STOP.

Her eyes crushed closed, trying to block out everything but it was impossible. It just. Wouldn't. Stop.

She opened her eyes, and found herself no longer in the prison hold, but a room: Ben's. Had she walked here? Been dragged off? She could not remember, nothing was clear anymore.

Her legs gave in, and she fell, but never hit the ground. A pair of gloved hands caught her, holding her up by the waist. They were warm, welcome, comforting.

But to Rey, they were shackles. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't move.

… DON'T.

She tore away, and crashed into a wall— or was it the floor? Everything was upside down, twisting, turning, coiling. Her heart was thunder inside her chest.

She embraced the cold, hard surface of the ground, pulling herself to her feet, unsteady like a drunk. She saw Ben standing before her, and he was… crying?

She stumbled forward, her hand landing on his face, rougher than intended. He closed his eyes and let Rey trace a clumsy hand over his scar. He was there, even though she saw nothing. He was there. Alive.

"Tears," she said, tripping over words. Breaking.

"… Why?"