Serendipity (Poe Dameron Fanfic)

20. Shock

I sat with my legs crossed, eyes closed and hands folded in my lap. Rey sat across from me in the same position. Every morning, I sat with her like that so we could both start the day off with some meditation. At first, she was frustrated with it, but it seemed like she was getting used to it.

I was proud of how far she had come but I had a feeling, like a chill going up my spine. As goosebumps ghosted my skin, I heard faint murmurs, faint voices of the spirits of the past. I honed in, trying to discern what they were saying. When I heard what they said, I was startled out of my trance, falling back. I stared at her, trembling with fear. She had power that I hadn't seen before. Not the good kind of power either.

Rey open her eyes and looked at me with concern. "What is it, Naaraa?"

I could barely get out any words. There was something about Rey, a twinge of evil those voices spoke about. But as I looked into her eyes, I didn't see evil. She had genuine worry in her eyes at my reaction.

"Naaraa?"

I got up suddenly. "I have to go. Sorry for cutting this so short."

I heard Rey protest to my sudden departure but I was too quick and disturbed by what I heard to stop. I went to a clearing not far from the main camp, wanting to be away from people to clear my mind. I was alone for only a few moments before I felt Poe's presence behind me. I turned and saw a worried expression on his face.

He came closer. "Is everything okay? Rey said you ran off."

I took a shaky breath, looking down at my feet. "I felt something when meditating with Rey. There were these voices talking and they were saying these terrible things about Rey. They weren't my imagination either. I don't get voices like that unless they're from the Force."

"The Force was speaking to you?" Poe was finally by my side, a hand holding my forehead. "It must have been bad if it freaked you out that badly. What were they saying?"

I met his worried gaze. "They said Rey is powerful and it's not from the good side. It's from an evil I've never seen before."

"Rey? Evil?" Poe scoffed. "I never heard something so untrue in my entire life."

"I heard it from the Force myself," I said quietly. "I trust the Force. It's saved me more times than not and when it said that about her, I trust it. But trust me, she doesn't have an evil bone in her body. It's just where she gets her strength from is what threw me off."

Poe looked deep into my eyes, a serious look drawn on his handsome features. "Is it something like . . . Darth Vader bad?"

I opened my mouth slightly, thinking. "I don't know. I missed that time but I feel like it's Sith level. Something bad is attached to her and I want to find out what it is but I don't want to touch it."

"Is it that bad?" Poe asked.

I nodded. "That bad."

"Do you need a hug?"

I didn't even answer before hugging him. Poe held me tight enough that I could feel his heartbeat. It was a calming feeling, being there with him. I wouldn't trade it for the world and hoped to everything I held dear that I wouldn't lose him.

Poe came away and kissed my forehead. "I love you. Do you hear me?"

I nodded. "Yes, I do. And I love you more than anything."

Poe took my hand. "Are you ready to go back? Rey is concerned."

I nodded, taking a moment to breathe. "I need to talk to Rey anyways. To clear the air and give her the reason I ran off."

"You're going to tell her about the voices and the feeling you got off her?"

"Yes," I replied. "Maybe it'll help with everything. But then again, I don't want to disturb the peace."

"Peace? Don't know what that is."

I snorted as Poe and I went back to the main camp, hand in hand. There was a big group standing near General Leia. Poe took my hand and pushed his way through the crowd, taking me with him. Being officers meant we needed to be near the general. I didn't want to really be around people at that time but I had to. I was a lieutenant. And I had to bury my feelings about the darkness I felt from Rey. I couldn't get rid of those feelings.

But then, I had to set them aside. The Rebellion needed my attention. Even if it meant ignoring Rey's evil attachment at that time.

My attention was pulled from the meeting when Rey left in a hurry. I had a bad feeling and followed her. She ran into a room and pulled out a book - the one filled with Luke's notes.

"What is it?" I asked softly.

Rey looked up. "I can find a way to Exegol. There's a thing called a Sith wayfinder." Rey got up and showed me the notes on the page. "Naaraa, this could be it. It'll help us with the win the fight."

I looked at her, uncertainty written on my face. "I don't know, Rey. I've heard rumors about the wayfinders. They aren't good news. Trust me on this."

Rey met my gaze. "Well, let me bring this up with Leia. She can give us some insight."

I grabbed her before she could leave the room, a sudden ringing hitting me that was followed by an aching headache that hammered at my skull. Just from touching her, I felt the connection she had with Kylo. It nearly knocked me out with the force it had. The air no longer filled my lungs and I couldn't hear.

I was shaken out of it when Rey grabbed my arms. My breathing was shaky as I stared into her eyes.

"What's the matter, Naaraa?" Rey asked.

"You have a Force Bond with Kylo Ren."