The air was cold, if not frigid. Clouds hid the stars from view. Icy rain pelted Rey, chilling her to the bone. She looked around the empty field, searching. Where was Kylo? She'd heard his voice through the force, inviting her to this place for one final match.
"I know you hate me," he'd whispered. "I know you must want revenge."
"You don't know anything about me," Rey'd hissed back.
"That's not true, Rey. I know you better than anyone else." Kylo's voice was smug, enraging Rey. "After the way I hurt you, you must want me dead."
Rey hadn't bothered to argue. "So what if I do?"
"Meet me tomorrow night, at the meadow. We'll have a duel. One last fight."
Rey was skeptical. Could this be a trap? Why would Kylo face her in single combat when he had the weight of the First Order behind him? What did he possibly have to gain from such a meeting? "And why would you do that?" she'd asked.
"I have my reasons," he'd replied. "Will you come?"
Rey hesitated but her hatred was stronger than her reason. "Yes," she'd agreed. "I'll be there."
"Come alone," he'd warned. "Don't tell anyone about this, not even your precious traitor."
Rey chose to ignore the irony of Kylo calling someone else a traitor. "I won't."
"The meadow," Kylo'd said again. "Tomorrow night."
So Rey had ignored her common sense and come to the meadow, a large clearing a few miles from base. Five minutes after her arrival, there was still no sign of her opponent. Rey felt for the lightsaber hanging at her belt as a fresh wave of anxiety washed over her. What if this was a mistake? What if it wasn't Kylo who appeared but a dozen Knights of Ren, there to either kill or capture her? True to her word she hadn't told anyone about this meeting, no one would know where to look for her. How could she have been so stupid? Just as she turned to leave, she saw a dark figure emerging from the woods. Kylo Ren had arrived.
"I was starting to think you weren't coming," Rey called. She ignited her lightsaber. To her surprise, Kylo didn't do the same. Instead he tossed his weapon to the ground, throwing his hands up in surrender.
"I'm not here to fight Rey," he said. "I want to talk."
Rey stared at him, not understanding. "Talk?"
"The duel was just an excuse to get you here," he explained. "I want to talk to you," he said again.
"You want to talk?" Rey asked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What the fuck could you possibly have to say to me? After all you put me through?"
"I never wanted to hurt you," Kylo insisted. He looked at his feet, almost as though he were ashamed. "I just…I couldn't stay there anymore. I didn't belong with the Resistance." He looked up. "And neither do you."
Rey tightened her grip on her lightsaber. She took a step closer to her former lover. "And where do I belong? With you and your sick old master?"
"Snoke's wise, Rey. He wants to teach you. There's no one to train you here, you can't let all your talent go to waste. With his help, you could be extraordinary." He sighed. "And besides, I miss you."
"I don't need him and I sure as hell don't need you!" Rey lurched forward and held her weapon an inch above Kylo's neck. Her hands shook with anger, her head pounded.
"Just think Rey," Kylo pleaded. "You could be so powerful. Together, we'd rule the galaxy. You'd never be alone again." He reached out and stoked Rey's face. "No one could separate us."
At his touch, Rey felt herself growing weak. However, she still didn't lower her lightsaber. "You were the one that separated us," she whispered. "You left me."
"Because I know the truth now. I belong to the darkside."
"I don't," Rey told him. "I lose myself to the darkness the way you have."
Kylo put a hand on Rey's wrist, gently lowering her saber. He moved even closer, closing the space between them. "Give in Rey," he sighed.
"Never," she whispered, dropping her weapon. Rey couldn't think, she could feel his breath on her neck, she could feel her heart pounding. Then, his lips were on hers in a passionate kiss. She felt herself being pulled in to his arms, carried away. Rey kissed him back, not caring about the consequences, not thinking about the war. There was no light, there was no dark. Nothing mattered now. Throwing aside the last of her reason, Rey allowed herself to be carried off into oblivion.