The Forgotten Jedi - Rey Skywalker // Book V in A Spark of Hope

Chapter Forty Three- Nathan.

"That's the man who kidnapped Andy!" exclaims a young boy, his eyes wide with a mix of tears and fear. The woman looks from the boy then to Nathan, shock visible in her features. Before anyone else can say a word, a tall man with dark skin comes in.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

The boy points to me, "He kidnapped Andy!"

The man roughly grabs me by the collar of his shirt, and forces me against the wall, "You kidnapped my son?!" he asks.

"I didn't kidnap him—!" I shout, "Okay, actually, I did- but I had to!"

"Why did you have to kidnap our son?" asks the woman angrily, her son hiding behind her, "What could you possibly need him for?"

"Are you part of the Empire? Are you like Dark Vader?"

"Darth Vader," Ben corrects. Everyone turns toward him giving him a 'What the heck dude?' look. Ben nods, "That's not important. What is important, is, Nathan isn't part of the Empire."

"Then what is he apart of?"

"Wouldn't we all like to know!" Ben says, "He hasn't said what he's part of, what his plans are - all I know is that they include my little cousin, Rey, and apparently your son."

"You aren't making this any better, Ben," Lyra says.

"Uh," I say, "To answer your question, I am not part of anything. I owed some people for saving my life, and if I didn't follow their orders-"

"They'd kill you," the woman says.

"I wish," I say, "They'll kill my family."

The man looks at me, then slowly release him, "Oh,"

"That still doesn't erase the fact that you kidnapped our little boy!" the woman snaps.

"I know, I know," I say, "And I'm sorry I kidnapped him. But it was either him or my family. I couldn't let my wife and my son die because of my stupid mistakes."

The woman sighs, "Look, I'd probably do the same thing in your situation, but why him?"

"I don't know why I was assigned to kidnap him specifically," I say, "all they told me was his name and where he lived. They said he knew stuff."

"What kinda stuff?" Lyra asks.

"I don't know," I answer, "I honestly don't. I just know whatever it is, it's not good. And it needs to be stopped."

The woman sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Okay, but why are you here? It's not like we can help you stop whatever it is that needs to be stopped."

I look between the woman and man, "I'm here to help you get your son back."

~

"Okay, Mikey, be good for Auntie Millie, got it?" The woman, apparently named Avery, tells her son, her hands resting on his shoulders, "Dad and I will be gone for a couple of days to get your brother back, so I can trust you to be a good boy, right?"

"Yes mommy," Mikey replies, "I'll be a good boy. I promise."

Avery stands up, smiling. "You better keep that promise."

"I will," Mikey nods, "Just... make sure you get Andy back? And then I'll always keep that promise, I'll always be good."

I feel guilt eat away at me, hearing the small voice of the young child, wishing for his brother to return to him safely. What pains me more is knowing that may not happen.

"We'll get him, don't worry, kid." Liam, the dad says, ruffling Mikey's hair.

"It's a long walk from here to the falcon, so hurry your butts up!" Finn shouts, then apologizes, "I'm sorry! I just really wanna find Rey and bring her home."