A/N - Welcome back to the story! Here's another shorter chapter before we pick up with some angst again!
Rey popped the grape into her mouth. She chewed the sweet fruit eagerly as she picked at the tray of food. She was starving from not having eaten yesterday.
She tossed another handful of grapes into her mouth as she made her way to the window seat. She hadn't read in over a week, and she was eager to continue learning, but she planned to wait for Ben.
She was worried that she would miss something or get confused when she read on her own, even though he'd said she was making good progress and was doing well on her own.
Truth be told, she simply enjoyed curling up next to him and listening to the sound of his voice as he read with her. She stared out the window as she thought about the implications of that admission.
Had becoming a prisoner caused her to completely lose her mind? Was she actually beginning to have feelings for this monster? The man who had killed his own father?
That was crazy, it was simply insane. It couldn't be possible, it really couldn't.
But she truly believed that she was, and she didn't understand any of it. She had thought that he'd turned against her. That he had purposely set Hux on her as punishment, but he hadn't.
Not only had he not known that Hux was abusing her, but once he'd found about it he'd been attentive and caring, not to mention fiercely protective and worried about her safety.
He'd even tapped into the Light side of the force to help ease her pain.
And then he had kissed her.
That kiss had almost been her undoing. It had left her completely bewildered, on fire, and longing for more. Longing for so much more. She ached for him to hold her, kiss her, and touch her forever. Yet it wasn't possible, none of it would ever be possible.
Though she didn't think he was, she knew there was a possibility that he was playing with her. That he was toying with her emotions only to make her breakdown more pleasurable in the end, more likely to turn her to the Dark side.
But if that kiss was a sign of anything, she thought it was definitely a sign that he wouldn't purposely be cruel or mean to her.
She just didn't know exactly what he was going to be to her. She was far from certain of anything these days. A few weeks ago she would have been terrified by this realization; she was surprised that she wasn't terrified now. She felt that it was because of him. It was difficult to be frightened when he was watching over her.
Rey frowned as she realized that she had never really been sheltered before. She'd always had to take care of herself on Jakku. The only time anyone she'd had people to look out for her was when she joined the Resistance.
Guilt tugged at her. She was daydreaming about something that could never happen, a life she could never have with her enemy, and her friends were still struggling, still fighting for their lives every moment of every grueling day.
Though she'd been given this brief moment, this reprieve from the famine, death, and struggle that had constituted most moments of her life, she knew it couldn't last. It could never last. His world wouldn't allow it to last. She was a foolish child for even thinking it might, a foolish child for not realizing the futility of this whole situation.
Her thoughts turned to Finn. He was somewhere out there, probably going through something horrific and possibly on the verge of losing his life already.
Sweet, gentle Finn, he deserved far better than what he might be enduring right now. Finn had vowed to try and rescue her, but they had both known that there was only a slim possibility for success.
Was there any chance that she might be able to get to him?
Her gaze traveled over the beautiful apartment with all of its magnificent things. She was lucky to be here, lucky that Ben rescued her from that other vile officer, but no matter how lucky she was, how good she had it, and how angry it would make Ben, she knew that she had to break free of this place. She had to get Finn and get them both to safety before it was too late.
Because no matter how safe and secure she felt now, it wouldn't last. It couldn't last.
It was only a matter of time before this all crumpled around her, and she had to do something before that happened. She had to save her friend before they were both doomed.
Her gaze slid back to the tray of food. If she was going to plan an escape, and free them both, then it was essential that she had as much energy and strength as she could get - but the idea of leaving Ben was enough to make her stomach twist.
Tomorrow she would start taking better care of herself; for now she simply sat in silent misery as she tried to formulate a plan to get out of here.
Though her makeshift weapon was still tucked firmly in her arm wraps, she knew she wouldn't be able to bring herself to use it against Ben. She didn't have that in her, not anymore. No matter how much he exasperated and pissed her off, she knew she wouldn't be able to do that to him.
The first thing she had to do was locate Finn. It would do her little good if she was able to break free, yet unable to find her friend. If she got out of here, she would have to know where he was so that she could get to him safely.
She knew it would be tricky, and she would have to move quickly, but she was fairly certain that she would be able to do it.
She hoped.
Her attention was drawn to the door as Ben returned. She knew immediately that something wasn't right. His shoulders were too stiff and his jaw was clenched.
"Hux will be here soon," He informed her sharply. "Go to my room and stay there until I call for you."
"Okay," Rey swallowed heavily as she managed a brief nod.
"Rey," She turned back at the low murmur of her name. "I mean it. Don't come out of there."
Her temper bristled and she almost rebelled against his command, but she kept her mouth shut. She didn't want to see the man who had abused her anyway, even if he now remembered none of it.
She slipped silently from the room.
A/N - Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)