A/N - Welcome back to the story! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Rey jumped as the door to the apartment was flung open with a bang and Ben walked into the room. He seemed unreasonably irritated and tense right now, rage rolling off of him in waves.
A small tremor began to work its way through Rey. She had never seen Ben look like this, not even after she slapped him. The strange mix of anger and apprehension clinging to him left her breathless.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"Your beloved Resistance was stupid enough not to notice a spy in their midst," he growled, and Rey's heart dropped. "A spy who has now informed Snoke that you are in captivity somewhere on this planet."
Rey's heart sputtered for a beat before leaping wildly within her ribcage as a cold chill crept down her spine.
"I don't understand."
"Don't you?"
In that moment, the realization hit her. This was it. This was the day that Ben would turn her over to Snoke.
Rey shook her head, trying hard not to seem frightened, but she knew she was failing miserably. No matter how much she fought it, she could feel the horror showing on her face.
Then, a flicker of movement behind his back caught her attention. Her eyes widened, terror coursing through her as adrenaline slammed into her veins. She could only gape in silent dismay as the man behind Ben strode toward them. She didn't understand though, her mind could not comprehend what her eyes were seeing.
It was impossible. What she was seeing was completely impossible.
She took another step back as the overwhelming urge to flee began to consume her. She didn't know what to say, or what to do. She was trapped, cornered within these rooms by two men, one of which she was troubled she might be falling in love with.
The other was a man that she had once trusted with her life but who had most likely come here to end it. She was trying to breathe, but her ribs and her panic were making the simple task exceptionally difficult right now.
And then, she gave into her instinctual urges. Ben's loud curse followed her as she darted through the door of his bedroom, flew over the top of his bed, and raced for the door to the library.
She didn't look back, didn't hesitate in her heedless rush forward. She didn't even stop to think about where she could possibly be going.
She fled through the library. She didn't kid herself into thinking she could truly escape, but she had to try. She wasn't going down without a fight.
Rey wished she had her makeshift weapon to defend herself with, but it was tucked under her mattress and probably wouldn't do her much good anyway. At least it would have been something though.
She threw things behind her as she ran, tossing a chair here, an end table there, in an attempt to knock them off of their pursuit. She wasn't even entirely sure they were still behind her until she heard a reassuring grunt of pain as a piece of furniture made contact with one of her intended targets.
She grabbed hold of the library door, slamming it shut behind her as she leapt forward. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a rushing blur coming at her. Rey ducked low, darting to the side as the blur dove at her.
A small yelp escaped her as a hand skimmed over her back, but she dove forward, just barely managing to escape its seeking grasp. It wasn't Ben thay had leapt at her - she would know his touch anywhere - but rather the traitor.
Her ribs screamed in protest, but they didn't slow her down as fear for her life outweighed the agony. She scrambled back to her feet, leaping onto one of the sofas, and jumping over the back of it in an easy, graceful motion.
There was a frustrated shout behind her, but she ignored it as she bounded forward. The door was right there, just feet away from her. For the first time since the chase had started, true hope bloomed in her chest, and excitement pounded through her.
She had managed to avoid the two men in an enclosed space, surely she could get free. Surely she would escape this never ending nightmare.
Her fingers scrambled over the door as she worked hastily through the locks that had been thrown. Locks that were rarely ever in place, as she had learned earlier when Hux walked in on them.
Locks, she realized, that the traitor had put in place.
The door was almost open a foot when a hand slammed against it, banging it shut with a resounding crash that echoed throughout the room. She tugged uselessly on the handle for a few moments more, feeling like a fool as despair filled her.
She almost screamed for help, but there would be no one to come to her aid. No one to save her. She was trapped and she'd been discovered. There was no escaping that fact.
Not with Poe here now.
He was not one of her allies, but a First Order spy. He had come here to root her out, hand her over, and use her as a weapon against her own people.
Well, the joke was on him then, wasn't it? Because no matter what they did to her, she would never turn to the Dark side, never help them defeat the Resistance.
She was willing to accept the fact that she would die at Snoke's hands. She just wish it hadn't come to this. The sting of betrayal was sharp; she had always liked Poe, she had trusted him, enjoyed spending time with him, had learned from him, and in return had taught him a few tricks of her own.
And the entire time he had been planning to betray her. She was shaking, her body trembling with the bitterness radiating through her.
A hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her against an inflexible body she recognized instantly as Ben's. She remained wooden within his grasp. She didn't try to kid herself; they had grown close, and she believed he might even care for her, but his loyalty would always be to the First Order.
He could not protect her from this, even if he chose to, which she wasn't sure he would. She was his enemy after all.
He turned her away from the door, spinning her to face Poe. She glared ferociously at him, resentment curling through her. She'd stab him right now if she had her weapon, and she wouldn't even think twice about it.
"I take it you two know each other," Ben grated, his voice low in her ear. She clamped her jaw shut, resisting the urge to swing her hanging feet back to kick him in the shin. Pissing him off right now would do her little good though.
"Put me down!" she snapped. Seeming to realize that she wasn't going to bend, Ben placed her unhurriedly down but didn't release her. He kept his arm latched around her waist. "I will never join the First Order! No matter what happens, no matter what is done to me, I will never turn to the Dark side."
His fingers clutched on her stomach as he pulled her closer against him, pressing her back flat against him. Astonishment filtered over Poe's face as he surveyed her and Ben.
She shuddered, wishing she could take solace in his arms, like she had before, but she knew there was no solace to be found this time. He couldn't protect her from this, couldn't stop Snoke from torturing her, not once Poe revealed who she truly was. She didn't even pretend to kid herself that he could, it would be impossible.
Rey closed her eyes, fighting the hot wash of tears.
"I can't let you turn her in, Dameron." Rey's eyes flew open in shock as Ben's hand brushed briefly across her stomach stroking her soothingly. She was trembling within his grasp, uncertain about what he was saying. Uncertain she had heard him right.
He released her, pushing her behind him, pinning her against the door.
"I can't let you tell Snoke."
Amazement radiated from Poe as his gaze darted wildly between them.
"What are you saying?" He demanded.
"I am saying that you will not be leaving this room until we figure something out, but it will not involve you taking her, and it will not involve you telling Snoke who she is."
Rey rested her fingers on Ben's back, too taken aback to move for a moment. Slowly, she peered around him to look at Poe.
"I may not have my lightsaber on me at the moment, but I can still take you," Ben warned.
Rey gaped in astonishment, and Poe's mouth dropped open as his dark eyebrows shot into his hairline.
"Ben," she breathed. Her fingers curled into the shirt he wore. She was awed by the fact that he was willing to protect her. He was going against the Dark side, going against the First Order, for her.
"She can't stay here," Poe retorted. "You know that."
"You're not giving her to him!" Ben took a threatening step toward Poe.
Rey jerked on his shirt, trying to pull him back. His body quivered with rage, his muscles vibrated with it. She didn't want to die, didn't want to be handed over to be tortured, but she also wasn't going to watch the two men fight because of her.
"I never planned to," Poe told him.
Both Rey and Ben started at his words.
"Excuse me?" Ben grated.
Poe rocked back on his heels as he studied the two of them.
"Apparently we have a lot to discuss, but you can be rest assured that I am not here to turn Rey over to Snoke."
"Then what are you here for?" Rey whispered.
Poe turned to her, a small smile lighting his face.
"To bring you home."
Rey's fingers dug into Ben's shirt as she trembled against him.
Home. Freedom. The Resistance.
It was all so wonderful, and she craved it so badly.
Then Ben turned toward her. She could feel the alarm that filled him as she tilted her head back. She knew she couldn't keep the hope from her gaze, but there was a new sense of longing swirling rapidly within her.
Rey would have her freedom, but she would not have him.
She clung to him, unable to stop the surge of anguish that shot through her.
What was wrong with her? She should be embracing this, should be halfway out the door with Poe right now, not standing here feeling confused and heartbroken.
Her head dropped against his chest, and she could scarcely breathe through the jolt of loss that swamped her. There was so much between them, so much that would keep them apart, yet the idea of separating from him was almost unbearable.
He remained unmoving for a moment before his hand slid into her hair and he cradled her against him.
"Yes," Ben agreed. "Apparently we do have a lot to discuss."
A/N - Looks like Poe isn't a traitor after all (like I could ever do my boy dirty like that).
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)