Permanent Mark

Chapter 56

NOTES: I apologize with all of my heart that it has been so long since I've updated.

I have been very sick with stomach issues that have plaqued me for over a decade. I was finally able to have procedures done. Finally found a good doctor. I have spent the last two months basically sleeping.

I also did not know how to end this. I'll leave more notes at the end.

Thank you. You are all amazing.

    _________________________________

When she wakes again, she's cold. So very cold.

She dares not lift her head. She pretends to still be asleep, shivering all over.

It's damp here, wherever here is.

The force is still unreachable. It hurts.

Taking slow, steady breaths, she slightly moves her arm from her face, trying to take in her surroundings.

Fog, cold, damp, eerily quiet. She's lying on rock, which explains why she is so cold.

She hears nothing, no one.

Rey has two choices. Stay still and quiet or rise and face whatever she will find.

Fighting the fear inside of her, fear of the unknown, she rises.

Her head spins and she feels nausea trying to overwhelm her. She has no idea how much time has passed. Could be mere hours. Could be days. It's dark and gloomy, no way to know the time of day.

Looking around, she realizes that she's in some type of cavern. The ceiling made of the same rock underneath her.

Turning her head to the left, her breath catches.

A throne. Sinister and black, carved into the rock itself. It sits empty.

She's in some type of throneroom.

Turning to her right, her eyes fall on what appears to be an arena style audience. No one is there. Only blackness.

Wait. There's movement. She squints then rubs at her eyes, blinking and then looking again.

The seats are full, the creatures wearing all black. She cannot see faces, only shifting forms.

Tearing her eyes away, she looks back towards the throne.

Someone is there.

Something is now occupying the seat.

She jerks, surprised that she had not heard...whoever that is...come into the room.

"Where...where am I?" Rey asks the being.

It moves and Rey's vision, previously blurry, clears. She immediately recognizes it. She's seen this…..thing.

In her lover's mind.

Instantly she stands, angry. This is the creature who tortured her Ben. Her head spins and her body hurts. It must be the drug...or that she hasn't eaten...

This is Snoke.

"Ah, so I see that introductions are not needed, little one…."

"Where is Ben?" she asks, seething, shaking as she tries to get her head to stop pounding.

The creature shifts in his seat. Whatever he is, he's old.

"He will be here soon, little Jedi," the creature says, leaning forward, its eyes burrowing into her. It's like he can see her thoughts, feel her emotions.