"Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair." - Anonymous
Rey suffers the consequences for things she couldn't have known now.
Rey loathed wintertime.
The moment she stepped outside, Rey instantly regretted her choice.
Frozen gusts of wind danced across her face as if it whisked away them. The trees stood tall as they were laid bare like skeletons. Her breaths came out as puffs as she examined her surroundings.
Her apartment building had became more decrepit over the years, but it couldn't compare to the buildings around. Whenever the frozen months rolled into town, the neighborhood had less maintenance than usual. And the usual amount of maintenance for any time of year was dangerously low.
Cracks in the sidewalks exposed tree and plant roots, roads were never paved, and loud noises often dominated through the late hours.
Peering over her shoulder, she clutched onto her coat as she made a hasty retreat towards the tavern.
The fence near the back was secured. Rey cracked her knuckles, hoisting herself up to the metal links. Reaching the top, she jumped onto the dumpster top, sliding off it.
"No! No! Please…just let me go!"
"Like hell I would!"
Silence took hold of Rey as she contemplated. Hiding behind the dumpster, she glimpsed two men. A burly-looking man pressed a smaller man up against the brick wall. The tiny male's jaw was slacked, blood dripping from his mouth. His eyes swollen shut as tears spilled out.
"Please. I can get the money. You don't have to do this."
Her eyes fluttered closed and the corners of her mouth drew back.
The guttural screams started as the man begs and pleads filled the air. Hopefully, it would be quick not only for his sake, but for everyone else's. Cracking sounds, a subsequent thud, and the loud footsteps from cowboy boots followed agonizing minutes.
It was over.
Rey came out of hiding, going over to the body. Purple rings stretched across his neck and crushed fingers were grotesque. His bloody face made him unrecognizable, so she looked over the corpse.
The hand life dealt had cruel intentions. They littered the cards with few pariahs, whose place and last days often occurred in Jakku. Death was a cruel mistress who wallowed itself in the misery and suffering of others.
Her eyes became downcast as she landed on the symbol etched on his skin. This made her shudder and bite her lips nervously. Closing his eyes as far as she could, her face grew more pale.
Hastily, she put layers upon layers of cardboard and other types of scrap in place. Finding an old moldy blanket, she placed it on the man. After looking around and hearing nothing, Rey rushed out of the alley into the tavern.
Smiles, laughter, and dancing in the spotlight encompass her. Even in harsh times and conditions, they could find a rare comfort. Rey swats at the air filled with the stench of stale cigars and cigarettes. Business was bustling with outlaws lining the walls drinking to their hearts' content. She sat down near her usual corner, brushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.
Maz hadn't come up to her, not sparing any glances towards her direction. Rey sighs, playing with her nails. Her eyes raked over the vintage walls before coming upon a strange man.
He was surrounded by two others, a blond female and a red haired male. The way his lips moved and how his gloved hand found the glass of whiskey without looking was unusual.
His jet black untamed shoulder-length hair framed his round face. His thin rose lips came down into a sneer, making him look older. His nose was long and broad, making him look even more like an outsider among the scoundrels. I arched his thick eyebrows up.
The man's hands were large, adding to the impression that he himself was a giant among men.
The striking feature, however, was his eyes.
They were dark and beady like two black holes simultaneously swirling around. Sunken and hard, there was no brightness in them. It was as if he was the incarnation of Death himself among men. His dark suit didn't exactly help him in this matter.
His smouldering gaze turned towards her direction, his lips no longer moving.
Her heart pang, a sinking feeling simmered in her stomach. He rose methodically, his stare remaining on her.
Adrenaline pumped through her as she grabbed her bag and sprinted towards the back of the tavern. The unsavory scoffs and yells from the unscrupulous patrons of the tavern filled her ears.
"Watch where you're going!"
A person shoved her, knocking her back into another individual.
"The fuck you say to me?!"
Rey crouched down under the table. It was just in time as a bottle hurled over her head, smashing into smithereens. Crawling and sticking to the floor, she narrowly avoided a chair. The previous joyful cheers and jeers in Maz's boiled into an exchange of fists and choice words.
Rey crawled to the back of the tavern, going up into a kneeling position.
Looking back, the man wasn't anywhere. Questions whirled around her head as she inspected her belongings.
"Come on. Come on," She hushed her voice, but it slowly rose in height.
"Where is it?"
Rey hurled countless scraps, metals, and crap behind her. The cut from earlier stung with reinforcement. She bit her tongue, gasping as the metallic taste filled her mouth.
"Fuck."
Her chest heaved and Rey grabbed the bag, throwing it over her shoulder. When she tried to open the back door, it wouldn't budge.
Stepping back, Rey slammed herself into the door, catching herself before she could fall. Taking off, she entered the streets, not looking back. She passed by a woman, paying her no mind.
The dark-haired woman stared at Rey while holding a phone to her lips.
"You're certain?"
"As certain as can be."
"Impressive work, Netal."
"My pleasure, Supreme Leader."
Clicking the call off, the woman remained by her vehicle, looking at her phone from time to time.
Rey took to the alleyways, climbing over dumpsters and entering tight spaces. She stopped to catch her breath as she rummaged through a trash can, her stomach rumbling. Her fingers trembled when she put the lid back.
Turning back to the main street, Rey walked down the sidewalk. The gush of wind and falling pearls only added to her scowl.
She glanced back, noticing a dark figure behind her. Rey noticed another person on the corner of the sidewalk. Her hurried eyes inspected every nook and cranny of the street.
The street lights flickered on and off and Rey paused. The person behind her kept walking past her. Rey turned the corner, close to her apartment. But then, she felt a hand on her shoulder, only to see Mr. Tekka.
Rey gave an easy smile to hide her distress.
"Mr. Tekka, why are you out and about so late?"
The man chuckles with a smile, slightly limping with his cane.
"Some days, I enjoy taking a stroll into the cold depths. It's enlightening."
Rey nods, clasping her hands together.
"Have you come to enlighten the streets?"
Tekka grimaced with a shake of his head.
"I'm afraid that's not the case."
He paused. His eyes seemed cloudy, and he seemed to be deep in thought.
"Young one, have you noticed the streets aching?"
She slightly flinched at the question before composing herself.
"I'm afraid I haven't really observe anything out of the ordinary. In times like this, I'd say everything is the same."
The man slightly stroked his beard, his eyes slightly twinkling before darkening.
"You haven't seen or heard anything unusual? Nothing that seemed foul or concerning?"
Rey shook her head, licking her lips and brushed a stray hair back.
There was the weird call she had with Maz and the strange man, but that didn't signal any bells in her head.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized something was up.
"I don't recall."
Rey didn't want Mr. Tekka to worry over much. With the duties he had in the local church and his health scare after falling, she couldn't bear to wonder how he could handle such stress.
The man looks at her, his face serious and grim.
"Rey, may I ask a favor?"
She looks at him, nodding.
He dug through his jacket, holding up a business card. She takes it to relieve him.
"Whenever you get into danger or need help, call this number."
His voice sounded haggard as he shuffled around.
"Who do I ask for when I call?"
"Leia Organa."
Rey looks at the old man, thoughts racing through her mind.
"What would she do? Who even is she?"
Tekka clasped his calloused hands onto Rey's soft ones, looking into her eyes.
"There's no time, Rey."
"There's no time? What do you mean?"
"Young one, you must go home soon. Whoever you see, avoid to the best of your abilities."
Tekka withdrew his hands from Rey's. He pulled out a pouch and some currency.
Rey couldn't speak as he put the items into her hands.
"Mr. Tekka."
"Pack your bags and other belongings. There's no time to explain. Follow me."
The man stood upright, starting to venture near his house. Rey followed behind, entering after him while putting the pouch and money in her pocket. As soon as he closed the door, he set his cane down and started to walk to his living room.
I always knew there was something up with that guy. He has to be as mad as a bag of ferrets.
Rey silently chastised the voice, crossing her arms.
Tekka returned to where Rey was, holding a box.
"Take this. Everything you need to know is there."
Rey furrowed her eyebrows, taking the box.
"Maz gave you the ticket to that sideshow, right?"
She nodded, narrowing her eyes.
"Hold on to it. For now, stay put in your house. Only come out when needed."
Rey tightened her lips, placing a hand to her forehead, wincing.
"It's time for you to go. Thank you."
And with that, he slightly pushed Rey out of Lor San Tekka's house. Hurrying home, Rey entered her apartment.
From the apartment opposite of hers, the kitten clock started playing music again. Rey huffs as she places the box and her bag onto the living room table. BB8 meowed at Rey, sitting beside her as if they would examine the box together.
Carefully, she opened it like it was a bomb.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she cupped a hand over her mouth.
Her stomach dropped, and she held her breath, her eyes wide.
Her hands shook as she held up an item.
The sight of this couldn't be a hallucination. This had to be real.
Staring back at her was a photo of her and the Merlot from a few nights ago.
Her palms felt clammy as she set down the picture, looking through the box and finding an assortment of items.
A photo album, journals, notes, and other things filled the wooden box. Picking up the photo album, she tried to breathe in and out.
The first picture was of her and Finn dancing the night away at Maz's. Another photo on the page had her and Poe grooming BB8. The last photo had her, Rose, and Jessika using a remote control for a robot Kaydel built.
Thumbing through the pages, all she could see was images and more images. All of them had something in common. They all contained her.
How could Mr. Tekka have this? Biting the inside of her cheek, Rey slammed the album down, brushing her hair back. She clenched her hands and teeth, her eyes closed.
Her throat felt like it was being tickled and gagging seemed like an irresistible option at the moment. Setting the album and photo back into the box, she saw a glint inside of it.
She picked the object up, examining it. The ivory handle and the cold steel blade made it clear to her.
Preferring to stay silent, Rey put the knife into her coat pocket as she closed the box, putting it into the bag.
She jumped at the sound of ding. Looking over, she realized it was just the heater finally working. The electricity was back on. Her stomach yelled at her, making her groan and grit her teeth.
To curb her stomach's growling, she ate some heated ramen noodles. The taste of it was heavenly, but it wouldn't stop the things inside her head.
Getting up, she cracked her knuckles and yawned. Retiring to bed seemed like a pleasant idea. In case anybody broke in, she'd have the knife close by her.
Opening the door of her bedroom, Rey opened her eyes before stopping in her tracks.
A person was in front of her bed. Rey silently started to backtrack, but it was too late.
The person lunged at her, the gleam of a gun pressed to her forehead.