Can't we play pretend?

Questions

The piercing shriek and shudder of an uproar of applause is all you need to hear to know you have made it. Muffled behind the velvet lavender curtain, you try to pick out individual voices. Perhaps the outbursts from the left are your parents? Or are they seated in the balcony? Would Danica or Anthony even show up? Faces from your past swarm and shiver in your mind until one face appears, causing your heart to sink. The other ones become misty as he rises to the forefront and presents himself, undeniable and absolutely terrifying. Is he here? He wouldn't dare show up, it's far too below a nobleman such as himself to bother with even thinking of attending. At least, that's what you had been hoping for. However, a small part of you knew he would never miss this. Even if he had to put the galaxy on hold, he was going to be there. Perhaps the galaxy refused to rest?

You assure yourself such, and it does some good for a few fleeting seconds. However, as you press your ear to the curtain, you hear the distinct mumblings of a man you know all too well. Shortly after you recognize his voice, you feel him. The sheer weight of his power illuminating the entire auditorium. As it invades your senses and encompassess everything around you- you wonder how you hadn't felt him before. Sweaty palmed and ready to run- you begin to panic. Nausea rises just as the heat burning your cheeks sinks down your neck. You check for all possible exits but alas, a man to your right shoots you the signal clueing you in that the show is starting. As if on autopilot, you position yourself behind the microphone and breathe.

The curtains rise, the audience once again roars, and for a few seconds you drink it all in. The warmth of the lights, the creek of the stage beneath your feet, the thumping energies of each audience member. In the moment before the music starts, it all goes silent. Not unlike the world was being held still for father time to take his picture. Alas, you knew this wasn't the workings of father time but a man much more powerful.

They all love you.

His voice echoes in your mind, sending flutters all throughout your body.

I love you.

A smile stretches across your face, bright and full of so much gratitude. You catch his eye in the crowd and send him a wink. Then all at once the world unfreezes.

The show has begun.

You awake with a gasp, your head pounding and body shivering. Panic gurgles in your chest as the events from the day before swarm your mind. You squeeze your eyes shut so tightly, stars begin to prick at the corners. What is happening?? You try to shove the dream you just had down down down to the very depth of your psyche. It felt so real, yet you knew it would never be. Wherever you were, you knew it couldn't be good for your future. You were going to die here never having made it out of the Marina District. You open your eyes again, determined not to cry.

Perhaps I can die with at least a small ounce of dignity left.

Questions bubble and pop in your head as your surroundings become more and more focused. It isn't until you try to move your wakening limbs that you realize thy're cuffed down. A strangled cry escapes your lips as you peer down at yourself. Strapped to an upright table, still in the red and purple frock from the day previous. A prisoner? You were being held as a kriffing prisoner?? On what crimes? Your question seemed to answer itself as you actually took in the room around you. To your right was a control pad with a first order emblem neatly stamped in the corner. Suddenly the cold, gray and red room held significantly more danger than you had thought. What did the first order want with a random Naboolian such as yourself?

Then it hit you; Ben.

The memory of him and the six men trapping you flooded your mind. Their stainless weapons and frightening masks protruded your senses as if they were in the room with you now. You tried your hardest to keep Ben from your mind. The man who had been so gentle and curious in the bar, so kind to walk you home. His short temper made sense now. You had fallen pawn to an agent of the first order and danced right into his trap. His mask stood out to you, it seemed familiar but you couldn't quite put your finger on how you knew it. He must be someone important, some general or other. The tears you fought back from earlier pricked your eyes once more. How stupid could you be? You knew you never should have agreed. Your life was perfectly fine before. Who cares if you had to miss a few meals? You were doing what you loved. You were surviving. You didn't need the resistance. The tears were flowing full force now. What will become of your parents when they find out what happened to you? They never cared for either side of the war. Like you, they just wanted peace. They didn't care how it came to be. All the fighting and killing was pointless, and now you were going to die because you got caught up in the senseless war.