Darkness Rises

Chapeter 2 Neither are you

Rey

The Bond was growing stronger. Rey could feel it change, slowly morph from something insignificant to a constant presence on her mind. It was worse at night, though worse wasn't the description she wanted to give it. At night the solid metal walls of their minds soften to nothing but a thinly placed veil. One simply had to sweep that veil aside and two minds became one. She never initiated the bond, at least she was hopeful that she didn't. The first time she felt his presence in her mind was on the Star Killer Base. As he attempted to break through her feebly constructed blockade, he hadn't thought to keep his own mind under lock and key. She had simply stumbled into him. She wasn't even sure how, it just happened, and she was staring face to face with his greatest fear. But as quickly as she had fallen into his inner thoughts she was forced out and he had only stared in fascination and anger before he left the room. Now it seemed he didn't mind the intrusion, if anything, it felt like he was encouraging it. She could always feel him in the back of her mind, silently listening, coaxing her to reveal herself in some way. She never spoke to hi, nor he to her. She didn't know whether he was even aware of his existence in her mind, perhaps he knew and was trying to explore her further, but she didn't know. And then as if the force itself wanted more, they were abruptly staring face to face. Her reaction to his unexpected presence was to shoot first and ask questions later. At the time she wasn't worried about what hurting him would have done. Now when she thought back on it she was relieved that her shot hadn't cause him any damage. Though she couldn't say the same about her hut. Now, as the force brought them together again she was filled with an aching desire to tell him everything. After the experience in the black cave she had recklessly fallen into, she wanted more than ever to have someone to talk to. Kylo Ren hadn't even been on the list of people she wanted to see. Unfortunately, he was the only one who didn't look at her with eyes that questioned her sanity as she spoke, as she poured out her fears to him. Fear was something she understood completely and there was a piece of him that should be feared, but in this moment she couldn't bring herself to be afraid of the person before her.

They sat, she explained, and he listened. Never once giving her a questioning look, or telling her she was imagining things. He knew what she had seen, had felt what she felt. Perhaps not from this cave but from a darkness wholly his own. She had wanted answers to the only question she had ever had. Who were her parent? But that answer hadn't come. All she saw was herself, as if she had materialized into the universe alone.

"I never felt so alone" she whispered her confession, wondering why she felt like he of all people knew what she meant. In the silence of night she could sometimes feel him ache. To be close to someone. Anyone. But he was utterly alone and hell bent on destroying that feeling. He couldn't seem to escape it though, and he continued on feeling lost and angry. She could feel him struggle with himself even as he answered, trying to keep his composure.

"You're not alone" he finally answered. His eyes never faltered never looked away from hers.

"Neither are you" she responded. She watched as surprise crossed his face. He clearly didn't realize she could feel what he felt. It seemed like he was even surprised that she wanted to reassure him. Kindness was not something this man knew. Not something he experienced. Perhaps she could show him kindness, offer him a way to break away from the anger he was consumed with. Maybe he would return.

"It isn't to late" she offered him her hand. Offered him a different path. His hand trembled as he lifted it. His eyes wildly darting between her and her offering. "I won't harm you" she tried to whisper into his mind, but there was no acknowledgement that he had heard. Slowly, carefully he placed his hand to hers and she watched as a dark aura that surrounded him lightened at the edges. It was the brief, their contact and then she was swept up in anger for her master for failing this boy who already felt the sting of abandonment.

She couldn't understand why Luke had failed Ben so quickly. He had only looked into his unconscious mind, and sometimes dreams were just that, dreams. Instead of helping his nephew, he turned on him, it was no wonder as to why Ben had become Kylo Ren. His parents sent him away and then the person meant to help him betrayed him. Rey felt ache in her heart at the thought of a terrified Ben as he stared into the eyes of a man who held a light saber inches from his head. Luke had tried to explain himself, he had a lapse in judgement and according to him had stopped himself. From what little she knew of Kylo Ren's temper, she could understand why he hadn't waited for any explanation. Rey had caught a glimpse of the light in him when she felt his hand against hers, she saw into his mind, he was split in two. His head desperately wanted to hold on the dark side of the force, the power, the seduction, but in his heart, he was breaking. He had killed his father and he was completely alone and miserable. She had seen a vision in that second that they touched. It was a simple vision, they were just standing in front of each other. Her hand was in his. That was it. Just her hand in his. Rey had no idea what it even meant. All she knew was she had to try for Ben's sake and the sake of the galaxy itself to bring Ben back to the light. The Resistance and the First Order were at each other's throats and perhaps helping to save Ben would end the need for both.

"Ben I am coming for you" she sent her words to him through their connection. She wasn't sure if he had even heard her.