The Lucky One (a Star Wars fanfic)

Chapter 16

Rider's pov

The second the door closes behind Anakin, I turn toward Shawn fully, and in a concerned tone, I ask, "Shawn, can you describe everything that just happened?"

"Do I have to?" Shawn asks after several seconds of silence.

"Please, Shawn, if you tell me what happened, maybe the two of us can find a way to prevent it from reoccurring," I say with an encouraging smile, hoping that I will be able to convince him to tell me what happened.

After releasing a heavy sigh, he whispers, "When I first woke up this morning, I felt a little strange, but I assumed that it was nothing, so I didn't mention it. When we began talking, everything suddenly started to feel heavy, as if there was a massive weight pressing down on me. The weight started getting heavier and heavier, until I felt like I could scarcely breathe, causing me to panic. He must have been able to sense my panic, because he chose then to strike. A sharp pain entered my head, making it impossible to think about anything other than the pain in my head and the voice that was now there, whispering to be that I am worthless, nothing more than a vessel for him to control. I don't know how long that went on, but after a while I started to believe his words, causing me to say what I did. "

"Why didn't you tell me that he was doing this to you?" I ask after a few minutes of just thinking over what he said, a little hurt that he felt the need to suffer through that in silence rather than letting me know what he was going through.

"I... I was afraid. I didn't know how you would react to finding out what the Sith was doing to me. I don't think that you would try to hurt me, but I know that you must hate the Sith, and if I fell under the control of this Sith, I was afraid that you might hate me too," Shawn says even quieter than when he last spoke, not meeting my gaze despite how hard I try to make eye contact with him.

While wrapping my arm around his shoulders and pulling him into my side, I say, "I know that a lot has happened to you over the past week, and not much may seem certain, but I do know one thing that won't change. I care about you, Shawn, I don't want to see you hurting like this, so if there ever is anything I could do to help you, I will, you just have to ask. Even if this Sith does manage to overpower you, I will do my best to keep you safe. No matter what happens, we are in this together."

As he scoots a little closer to me so that his head is leaning against the inside of my shoulder, with a small smile, he says, "Thanks, Rider. I don't know how I would get through this without you here."

After a few more seconds of just sitting together like this, I move my arm from around his shoulders and place my hand on my lap again as I wonder what happens next.

A few minutes later, despite how hard I try to stifle it, I yawn loudly, feeling exhausted, having gotten used to spending every moment either asleep or in bed.

"Do you want to go rest?" Shawn asks with a small smile.

Even though I do want to sleep, I know that I can't leave him alone to face this Sith, so I shake my head 'no'.

"If you are worried about me, don't be. I was able to escape his hold once, I can do it again," Shawn says, his smile still there, but it seems a little more forced now.

"Are you sure that you will be okay?" I ask after a few seconds of hesitation, not feeling good about leaving him here with only Anakin, especially since Anakin has no idea what happened to Shawn earlier.

"Yes," Shawn says, the determination in his eyes causing me to sigh, knowing that I should let him face this Sith on his own, but the fear that he won't be able to win still causes some uncertainty within me.