The Broken Ones | REYLO [Complete]

22. Dead of Night

—REN—

"What happened?"

I look up from Snoke's frozen face to find General Hux staring in horror at the carnage that surrounds us. "The girl murdered Snoke," I state, as casually as if we were discussing the weather. "She stole his escape craft."

The general stalks toward me, face contorted in rage. "You let them escape?!" He shouts through gritted teeth. I feel his fear seeping into the Force like a bleeding wound.

"Killing them would have gotten us no closer to the extermination of the rebels. Letting them live was the only way to find their hidden base." I step around the fuming general and stand in front of the Supreme Leader's throne. "Get all our forces prepared to follow them. Let's finish this."

"Finish this? Who do you think you're talking to?! You presume to command my army? Our Supreme Leader is dead! We have no ruler!" His tirade is cut short by a strangled gasp. I march toward him, hand outstretched as I use the Force to cut off his air supply.

"The Supreme Leader is dead," I snarl, now beyond irritated with the idiotic general.

Realization dawns and his gaze snaps to mine. "Long...live...the Supreme...Leader," he chokes out, eyes wide, hands clutching at the invisible grip around his throat.

"Prepare your army," I say again. Hux nods desperately and I lower my hand, flexing it at my side. He drops to his knees with a gasp and rubs at his neck. "NOW."

Hux scrambles to his feet and bows awkwardly. "Yes, Supreme Leader."

His footsteps echo and then fade, and I'm alone again. The power of my new position courses through me like adrenaline, but still I hesitate. I never thought I'd miss that presence in my mind, but here I am, lost in isolation in my own head.

"Damn you, Rey."

--REY--

"Rey, wake up. We're home."

I struggle to open my eyes and disorientation immediately takes over. Still floating in a semi-dream state, my eyes close again. Then I picture him and everything comes rushing back and I feel pain like hot desert sand scorching every inch of my body. Grief consumes me and I fight back tears of frustration with everything that transpired. The loss of his familiar presence in my mind is more painful than everything below the bandages wrapped around my abdomen.

I finally shake out of the daze and take in my surroundings. I'm in the Resistance shuttle, curled into the co-pilot seat. Finn is standing over me looking both concerned and afraid. "Can you stand?" He asks, holding out his right hand to help me up. His left arm is bandaged and held in a makeshift sling. I try to reach up and feel a sharp tug; my hands are bound in the same cuffs Snoke had used to disarm me.

"What's going on?" I demand, gesturing at my shackled wrists.

"It's a precaution," Poe explains, coming up behind Finn. His hair is matted with dried blood, and bruises are scattered across his face and neck. "For the safety of everyone on base. Until we figure out what happened to you."

"We have to be sure it won't happen again," Finn adds.

"What do you mean? What happened to me?" Something feels off but I can't put my finger on it, and the harder I try to remember, the fuzzier the memories get.