I decided to take the chance. I'd go to the village, even if the voice was wrong, at least I'd know. I had packed a bag, grabbed my weapons, and now I was on my way through the forest. It would take me about a day and a half to get to the village. I couldn't stand being out here after dark, but I didn't have a choice. I hated traveling only to end up in a small hellhole full of drug users, pushers, and other low-level criminals. I never went to the village for this reason. I only went if it was absolutely necessary and I really hope this was. When the sun started going down I made camp and started a fire. I roasted a small creature I had found and skinned earlier that day and prepared myself for a sleepless night. There was no way I'd be able to sleep knowing I could be attacked at any time. It's not like I was missing anything but my nightmares anyway. I went through my bag to find the book I had brought with me. It was my absolute favorite. My father had read it to me when I was younger, and despite the way, I felt about him now, it was still my favorite. He said he had found it on an archaic planet called earth. I ran my finger across the title "Grimm's Fairy Tales." I fought back the tears that pricked the corners of my eyes and grabbed the saber from my belt. I slid my finger across the activator and watched the beautiful yellow light spring forward. I smiled as I swayed it back and forth. I stood up and very carefully hung the saber from a branch of the tree above my head. I stood back and smiled at my work. My own personal light source. I sat down and propped myself up against the tree and began to read. About halfway through the book the world around me started to change and disappear.
The warm light that the saber had provided was gone, replaced by darkness and cold. I gasped, realizing I had fallen asleep. I knew what would be coming out of the darkness in front of me, yet I was still terrified; knowing didn't make it any easier. I stumbled, my feet splashing around in the water that always seemed to follow me into this frigid wasteland, and started to run — feeling around for anything that could help me, but as always, I was alone in this void. I screamed. I couldn't fight it anymore. My lungs burned as I called out for someone...anyone. The cold slowly crept up my arms, freezing every inch of me solid — reaching for my heart as it always did before it, whatever monster it may be, came out of the darkness.
"Please help me!" I called out, breath coming out in startled gasps.
I clawed at my chest feeling the cold gripping my heart.
"Stop, please…why are you doing this?" I yelled into the void.
Falling to my knees, I crawled backward as I saw the figure step from the darkness just as it always did. The lone figure, robed entirely in black, as if it belonged in this hellish dimension, drew near me — its head cocked to one side. I slapped myself trying to wake up. It was time to wake up. The dream never lasted this long. The figure was getting closer, closer than the dream had ever allowed before. I felt my chest shake as my breathing accelerated. It wasn't stopping and the dream wasn't ending. With a sudden surge of adrenaline, I stood up and braced myself.
"What do you want from me?" I said, venom lacing my words.
The figure stopped a few inches before me, silently observing. I could hear its strange breath, almost mechanical sounding. It annoyed and intrigued me in the oddest way.
I shakily stepped forward and reached out — squinting into the darkness in a bid to make out what exactly I would be touching. My hand met with something solid and obviously metal, and a shiver ran through me. I grabbed onto whatever this thing was, and pulled it towards me. The wheezing buzz sped up, almost as if it was as surprised as I was by my actions. My eyes adjusted as I took a quick step back, having almost collided with a large metal helmet. A man towered before me dressed in black robes. I looked up at his face but was met with the sleek black metal mask.
"Who are you?" he said.
His robotic voice shocked me and I took a step back in fear. Though the tone was mechanical, it was full of authority and anger. An aura of darkness seeped from him which made me sick to my stomach. He wasn't just emanating darkness, he was darkness.
"I asked you a question, girl!" he yelled, stepping closer to me. "Who are you and why are you plaguing my every dream?"
I shook my head in confusion, "This is my dream; my nightmare and you're always here. Why are you torturing me!" I screamed, my voice breaking.
The man leaned down, his masked gaze boring into mine.
"Who are you?"
I decided that it couldn't hurt to answer him. It was obvious that he wasn't giving up.
"My name is Elara. Who are you?" I asked.
The man tilted his head to the side, "Kylo Ren," he said.
Goosebumps appeared at the sound of his name and I ran my hand over my arm.
"Why are we here Kylo?"
Kylo took in his surroundings and looked at me. "The force is connecting us, it's the only explanation," he said.
"The force, what even is that? I don't understand…" I exhaled, grabbing my hair in frustration.
An annoyed mechanical wheeze filtered through his mask, and he jerked his head to the side. "You must know what the Force is? It wouldn't connect me with just anybody. Don't you know who I am?"
I smirked at his condescending tone. He thought an awful lot of himself.
"No Mr. Ren, I have no clue who you are. I don't exactly get out much." I told him.
I could tell he was getting angry and that thought scared me. He began pacing back and forth.
"Listen, I'm sorry this is happening, but remember I don't have any control over this." I reminded him, hoping to calm him a bit.
"Of course, you have no control! You don't even know what the Force is." he snapped at me.
I felt my own anger rising and dug my fingernails into my palms. "Hey! This has been a crap day and I don't need shit from a masked asshole. I only just learned I had this new weird ability and because of it, I'm hearing voices now. Then I fall asleep and find out this Force thing is what's causing my nightmares. So shove off!" I said, taking in a deep gulp of chilled air.
I stared at Kylo, trying to gauge his reaction.
"You're Force-sensitive?" Kylo asked, his mechanical voice rushing out in a deep wheeze. He strode toward me, his cloak billowing out behind him. He lifted his arm, reaching out toward me. "I need to know what planet you're on, Elara," he simply said.
"Why?" I asked, my fear rising.
His raised hand hovered between us, fingers flexing, and I took a few steps back. "I can help you. I can train and teach you," he said.
Teach me? What was he wanting to teach me? All of this was so confusing and I couldn't believe any of it was true.
"I can't tell you that, Kylo. I just want to wake up." I whispered.
He took a step closer to me and reached out again, but this time I stood unmoving. As his gloved hand met mine, I felt a tingle run down my neck. It was starting to become painful.
"Kylo?" I gasped in confusion, reaching up to grasp my neck.
Kylo moved his hand, an angry growl rumbling from his mask. "Tell me where you are!" he quickly said.
But I couldn't answer him. I was falling. From somewhere above me I could see him reaching for me. I watched as darkness swirled around me.
My eyes snapped open and I reached for my neck as pain trickled down my spine. I was awake. I pulled my fingers back and found blood splayed across them. Something had cut me. I stood up and turned around trying to find the source of my injury. I bent over and found a piece of the jagged bark was covered in blood. I guess I must have slid across it in my sleep. Silently I thanked my lucky stars. I know if I hadn't woken up, I would have told Kylo where I was. There was something about him. For some insane reason, I wanted to trust him. Deep down something was telling me not to, that he was dangerous. To think he wasn't was completely ridiculous; he was a terrifying monster in a mask. I went to my bag and found something to patch up my neck. Afterward, I cleaned up my camp. I had already lost too much time. I needed to forget Kylo Ren. I would forget him. After all, he probably wasn't even real.