Light Up the Dark

How the Master Gained an Apprentice

Rey's eyelids drooped as her head spun around the darkened room. She was laying on something soft...a bed. It was a giant bed with plump pillows and the softest black sheets she'd ever touched. She ran her hands over the bottom sheet as she shifted and rolled her body onto her stomach, sprawling across the mattress, thinking she was dreaming.

The lights were dim with a red hue illuminating the walls of the room. A giant window from floor to ceiling added a stunning view of stars against the blackness of space. Space...stars...wait.

Rey shot up off the bed and landed in a defensive position on the floor in front of a large night stand supporting the red hued lamp. She was still dressed, thank the Force, and she could finally think clearly. She felt for her lightsaber strapped in her oversized boots...it was gone. Her eyes scanned the room until she saw a familiar dark shape in the corner, sitting next to the window. She could feel the satisfaction radiating from him as if he was an arrogant star permeating space, letting the galaxies around him know how clever he was.

"Kylo Ren," Rey said softly as she turned towards his chair.

She watched as the intimidating figure rose and walked towards the starlight filtering through the window. His gloved hands were clasped behind his back, his posture perfectly straight while a black cape swept across the floor behind him.

'He's still wearing that despicable mask,' she thought to herself. It disgusted her.

"Scavenger," Kylo robotically returned the greeting as he stopped in the middle of the room. "You're awake."

"Apparently," she snapped. "What happened and where am I?"

Kylo shrugged his shoulders as if he could care less. "You and your rebel scum attempted an assassination of the First Order's top political leaders among other heinous acts that I'm sure of which you are aware."

Rey laughed unexpectedly, making Kylo jump ever so slightly at the outburst. She's laughing?

His robotic voice sounded like the bringer of death as he continued. "I already have the information I need, thanks to those resistance scum you call friends."

Rey laughed again. "What makes you think there were others with me?" She was certain they had escaped. Their plan had been full proof, her team was the best of the best.

"Because we found them and executed them, of course."

Rey's eyes widened in horror as she dropped to her knees. Kylo watched as waves of grief and guilt ran through her body. He felt guilty watching her cry and felt an overwhelming urge to comfort her. 'Compassion is a weakness,' he thought angrily. "She rejected me; she deserves no compassion from me.'

After a few moments, Rey raised her head and met his eyes. Tears flowed freely down her face as she shook violently. She had an expression of pure hatred that made Kylo shift back slightly.

"It's just us now," he stated through the menacing face of his helmet.

"At least now they won't have to suffer your unbearable presence,' she hissed. Kylo physically reacted to Rey's dark humor, inhaling quickly. It fueled his Dark side and made him almost giddy. He had never seen her act like this before.

Rey didn't give him a chance to respond before she continued. "What now?"

She was speaking through gritted teeth. Kylo was as still as a statue now, his mechanical voice even. The Darkness was already flowing through her. How could she not see that she is supposed to join him?

"You wanted to accept my hand once. You refused. Since you won't come willingly, I'm capturing you as a prisoner of the First Order. You will give me everything you know about the resistance."