She found the strength to get to her feet, eyes glazing over.
Everything fell silent.
xxx
A sharp intake was inhaled before eyes snapped open, hands flailing to shove covers away. Her feet kicked over the side of the bed, bare toes hitting the cool ground as she rose. She hugged her bear to her, a plush red teddy she affectionately called Layla, after her best friend she had left behind. She padded through the old building, moving past closed doors until she stood before his.
She hugged the bear with one arm, the other tentatively opening the door and pushing it open with her fingertips.
Inside he sat in the middle of the floor, feet crossed as he appeared to be meditating.
"M-master?" She called out, hoping her interruption wouldn't bother him.
He turned, eyes opening as he gazed to the small child in his personal quarters. "What is it Elaina? You should be in bed, asleep."
"I had a.. n-nightmare." She whispered, her body shivering from the memories.
He swirled his body to face her, beckoning her in. She closed the door and moved to sit before him, gripping her bear with white knuckles.
"My dear child.. what causes you to appear so shaken, mm?" He arched a brow.
"I saw.." Her vision flickered as images flitted through her mind. "..a house, burning, someone with horns and fur.. a man draped in black, a mask.. a red lightsaber, a table with chains, a Star Destroyer turning.." As she spoke the images shifted in time. "A battlefield." She looked to him, confusion in her cloudy blue eyes. "I saw so many dead."
He smiled softly, reaching for a hand to rub her knuckles to relax her. "What you saw isn't real, my dear. Go on, back to sleep."
She twisted her hand, clutching his like a life link. She leaned forward. "You don't understand, master. I read in your archives that some Jedi could see the future. It was so vivid.. It must be real!"
He furrowed his brow, concern sprinkling into his features. "I think-"
xxx
"You're an idiot!" The rough snarl echoed in the corridor. "You think being a coward in hiding is the key to survival but it's not!" She clenched her fists, shuddering under her flowing anger.
"How dare you!" Master Luke bristled with coolness to her apparently insult. "You know nothing of what happened, how it effected me, what it would mean to come out into the world again."
She leveled her dark eyes to him, deathly calm in her words. "You're right. I don't. I don't pretend to. But Luke. You are a Jedi. You are a protector of the galaxy. The universe needs you and you hide in these caves. Ben has turned to the dark side, it's not your fault that he did. The boy was conflicted, we all saw it even if you chose to be blind to it with him being your nephew." She inhaled, gaining control over herself. "We need you. Darkness is spreading again and its suffocating good people."
"You don't understand." Luke said stiffly, turning with his back to her. "You are young, naïve, stubborn. Those things will get you killed or worse." His flicked his gaze to her over his shoulder. "If you continue to act like you are, angry, obsessed, bitter.. you'll follow Ben into the darkness. It'll corrupt you."
"Show me how.. to fight it." She pleaded.
"I can't. You were right. Ben has become twisted. I couldn't stop him.." He glanced away, staring down at the ground. "Just leave-"
xxx
Blades connected in a flurry of elegant moves, each parting before reconnecting in a dance. The two were strong, great swordsmen that much was clear.
"You're getting better." He praised, his silver eyes twinkling as he put away his blade to swipe a hand through half spiked golden-red hair.
"You think?" Her eyes sparkled with hope.
He smirked, nodding. "Yeah, kid. I'll make a mercenary out of you yet." She paused, her smile dipping into a frown. He noticed her sudden mod change, tilting his head. "..what's wrong?"
"Y'know.. I've never really thanked you." She peered at him with consideration.
He shrugged, waving a hand. "I watched you in the pit. You were far more skilled then any of your opponents. You have the traits needed for survival. You have power, abilities of another lifetime, determination. And you needed help. I couldn't just leave you. I may be a hunter, but I have a heart."
She smiled genuinely at his words. "Jarick-"
xxx
All these memories swirled as she gripped her head, screaming. She staggered, Kylo tensing as he watched her switch from one minute defying him to clutching her head the next.
The force rippled out of her, smacking him back as she leaned over, agony slithering through her body like hot iron prods.
"What's happening?!"
She heard his words, fought against the pain but a wave of dizziness took hold and she dropped to her knees as a result.
She dug her hands into the ground as a set of eyes flashed in her mind, yellow orbs glistening with malice.
"My dear.. foolish girl. He offered you a gift, to join us.. yet you refuse. I will end your suffering." A voice purred into her mind, a presence flickering in the far distance of her mind, through the force. A cold touch wrapped around her as she slowly fell onto her side. It gripped her tightly causing her breath to come out in gasps and coughs.
"Elaina?" Kylo was at her side, lightsaber clipped to his belt. He half lifted her, studying her pale features. She was shivering. What was going on?
That's when he felt it. Him. The other presence. The other force-sensitive that seemed like a phantom in the night.
He immersed himself into the force, focusing on Elaina's signature. He saw the darkness consuming her, killing her light slowly. He felt anger stir and used it to empower him. He clawed at the darkness, destroying it bit by bit. Trying to save her.
But why?
He didn't know. Just focused on the task. Soon he was able to dispel the remainder of the shadows, pulling away to the physical world as she stopped shaking, color returning to her flesh.
She was alive, breathing.
What, or who, had done that?
"Elaina?" He tapped her cheek with a gloved hand. "Elaina?" He tried again. She didn't stir.