Rey turned the ring over in her hand. The black diamond was chipped and scratched.
"I don't know what to do with it," she whispered frantically to Ben as she knelt beside him on the stage. He lay motionless, barely breathing.
The thought of the dark side and all of its power coursing through her was terrifying and at the same time filled her with temptation.
"This Sith master, he found this intriguing ability, he found a way to keep those he cared about from dying." She recalled Hux saying.
Ben's breathing was shallow and labored, she pushed him over to his back to examine his wounds, she had seen wounds like that in the deserts of Jakku, they had always been fatal.
Tears streamed down her face unheeded.
"You belong with me," she whispered, lowering her head to his wounded chest. Her tears soaked into the black fabric of his clothing.
She could feel his breathing slowing further, his heart rate sporadic and weak. She sat up, wiped her face with her sleeve and looked at the ring in her hand again.
Rey slipped the black diamond ring onto her finger.
Suddenly, the breath left her body, leaving her gasping for air. The dark side of the Force surrounded her. She felt her fear, anxiety, and anger swirling around her, fueling the power of the ring. The world took on a reddish glow for a moment while she struggled to regain her bearings.
Rey focused on Ben, his face was white like ash. Her stomach convulsed looking at him. All of the sudden, everything about him repulsed her, his weakness and helplessness. Hatred welled up inside her as she beheld him. Her eyes caressed the diagonal scar on his face; she smiled with pride at her handiwork.
A thought settled into Rey's heart slowly, with each passing second it grew stronger. With General Hux and Ben Solo out of the way and the ring sitting comfortably on her finger she could easily take control of the First Order, the galaxy. She smiled softly. It would be so easy really. All she had to do was let him die, there on that stage.
The cave under the Jedi temple crossed her mind. It had been so intriguing; awakening a curiosity inside her she hadn't realized was there before. If only it had shown her the parents she hardly remembered.
Rey thought of telling Ben about the cave, how she should have been afraid, how she felt alone.
"You're not alone." His voice echoed through her heart, reverberating there for a long moment.
A tear trickled down her cheek. The thought of never feeling his presence again made her hurt deep in her soul.
"Neither are you," she said it aloud. "You belong with me."
She gathered his hand into hers, reaching to him through the Force. It was difficult to find him, she couldn't feel him like she always had before. He was slipping away.
The farther he slipped away from her, the more she felt the call to the dark side, tempting and sickly sweet.
Carefully, she started pulling every strand she could find of him together, knitting them together, "Come back to me, Ben," she whispered.
She remembered the vision she had on Ahch-To when she touched his hand, he was standing in the light and she was there with him, standing by his side. She held that picture in her mind, focusing and sharpening every detail until it was solid.
Rey's swept her fingers along his jawline, his pulse beating under her fingertips.
"Stay with me, please." Rey whispered, closing her eyes and lowering her head back to his chest.
Suddenly, the Force crackled and sparked and flashed in the space between them.
Rey felt Ben's hand tighten around hers.