An Unexpected Calling

Chapter 3

Everything seemed to blur together as I slowly pried my eyes open. The figures, the colors, and even the sounds were all disoriented. A few men were wearing white and holding what seemed to be a large black object; some aimed at me, and others were held at their sides. They were all standing near me, talking to each other. I couldn't make out most of their conversations; however, I could hear bits and pieces from one coming from my right.

"The . . . is on . . . way," said one of the figures.

"Good. Then we . . . notify . . . about finding . . . as well," said another figure. Who is on their way, and who else will they notify? Are they talking about me? It must be, right? I thought to myself as I fought to stay awake, but the darkness surrounding my vision started closing in on me. I could feel my eyelids begin to get heavy. I tried to blink away the black spots clouding my vision, but it didn't help. My body was just too exhausted even to stay awake. So, I gave in, letting the black void of unconsciousness consume me; however, in those few seconds, before my vision completely went away, I caught a glimpse of a tall, black figure approaching from my left. Then everything went black.

* * *

My body suddenly jerked awake, arms and legs banging against the metal restraints holding me to the upright slanted table. Cold beads of sweat trickled down my forehead as I took in rasping breaths to calm myself down.

"You're awake," a mechanical voice sounded from somewhere nearby. My eyes darted around the room, trying to find the voice's owner. However, I found that I was utterly alone. No one was in front of me, nor to my left or right. But that's not possible! I know I heard a voice . . . . Fear started to creep up and replace my train of thought. Goosebumps on the back of my neck started to stand up. My heartbeat began to quicken, my breath hitching in my throat as I tried the best I could to continue to calm myself down, but I knew that it was all in vain. He could still sense the fear that was radiating off of me. He knew that I was afraid, afraid of what he might do. I mean, he is the most feared commander in the galaxy.

I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it. What should I say? Should I say anything? Is he waiting for me to say something? I didn't know what I should do. I swallowed the lump in my throat before I tried to speak again.

"What d-do you w-want from m-me?" I managed to force out, trying to keep my voice steady. Kylo Ren's boots echoed throughout the metal interrogation room as he came from behind, strolling and locking his eyes on mine. He came to stand before me, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Answers," he replied. "I want answers, and you're going to tell me. However," he paused, watching me closely through his helmet, "if you are lying to me, I will force the information out of you."

I gulped. There was no way I would let Kylo Ren in my head again, especially after the previous mind battle, which practically left me drained. But I also couldn't tell him the truth. Either way, there will be consequences, and I am not ready for them.

"Let's start with a simple question, shall we?" he slowly started to circle the contraption, "What is your name?"

"Oddette," I answered quickly, hoping it was okay to tell him at least my name, just not where I was from.

"And where are you from, Oddette?"

Great, just great. He had to ask that question, I thought quietly. Knowing I couldn't risk telling him the truth, I lied. "Naboo. I live on the planet Naboo."

Suddenly, my head got thrown backward, banging against the metal headrest of the table and forcing out a small, unwanted moan from my lips. I will have a big bruise on the back of my head once I get out of here.

"Who said anything about releasing you," Kylo Ren sneered, coming to a halt in front of me, his black, gloved hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. Damn it! I mentally kicked myself, completely forgetting that he could read my mind.

"Stay out of my head," I said through gritted teeth.

A dark and mechanical laugh resonated from Ren's mask. "If you wanted me to stay out of your head, then you would have told me the truth instead of lying again!" He raised his right hand as before; his fingers curved a bit like he was trying to grab hold of something. And at that exact moment, it hit me.

An anguished scream tore through my throat, ripping through my vocal cords as my head tilted back against the headrest of the slab, eyes shut tight as wave after wave of pure agony forced its way into my head. My fingers clenched together, digging into the raw skin of my hands, causing the old wounds to reopen and new ones to form.

"Tell me, what planet you are from!" Kylo Ren growled from underneath his mask. I bit down hard on my tongue to keep myself from answering his question. I wanted to answer him but couldn't let myself do it. "Not talking?" he paused, lowering his outstretched hand and taking a few steps closer. He leaned in, closing the space between us until the nose part of his mask was just mere inches away from my left ear. "Well, we will have to change that, won't we?"

At that moment, another rush of pain washed over my entire body. My face contorted with pain, and my mouth was wide open in a silent scream that never seemed to leave my throat. My body began writhing in torture as the pressure in my head continued to increase. It felt as though my whole head was burning, and there was nothing I could do to stop it, except . . .

"EARTH!" I yelled, my voice sounding hoarse from screaming so much. "Earth! I'm from the planet Earth!" Almost imminently, the pain in my head receded, and my body went limp, falling against the restraints like a rag-doll. I tried lifting my head but lacked the strength to do anything. Everything just ached. I barely even had enough strength to open my eyes, and even so, when I did, they just wanted to close back up. But before they could, two black-gloved fingers made their way underneath my chin and tilted my head up, forcing me to make eye contact with the Dark Knight.

"See, it wasn't that hard to answer, now was it?" Even though my brain wasn't working at 100 percent, I could still tell it was a rhetorical question, sarcasm dripping from each word that came from his mouth. "Now, are you going to cooperate and answer my questions? Or are you going to continue to resist?" When I didn't answer, he continued, "How much more pain do you think your body can take?" He leaned in the front of his mask mere inches from my nose. "You know it's useless to resist me. You will never win."

By now, black spots had formed at the corner of my vision. I could feel my eyes getting heavier as I tried to keep them open but to no avail. All noises and sounds became distant as if I was submerged underwater. However, before the darkness completely consumed me, I heard Kylo Ren's inhuman, mechanical voice,

"Resistance is futile."

Then everything seemed to disappear as I fell into the world of unconsciousness.