Redemption: A Reylo Story

Comfortably Numb

BEN/Kylo

Caught somewhere between life and death, I am somewhat numb. Chained up and defenseless, I have endured beatings and torture. I think they have destroyed my right eye and I am nauseated by all the blood I have swallowed. Positive I have internal damage from all of the blows I've taken, I am resigned to my approaching death.

Even still, when I am conscious, my mind stays on Rey. Occasionally, I hear her scream. Every now and then, I get a glimpse of her through the bond, even with the collar on. She is angry, but not hurt. I worry about how dark her thoughts are. "I love you Rey." I try to tell her , but the collar makes it impossible.

Thoughts of our short time together are a comfort. With her choice to love me despite my past, a second chance at life is the reward. That second chance will soon end. But I will not die not being able to say I love someone with all of my cold heart and they loved me in return.

I have always known my life will end in this violent manner. A person cannot commit the atrocities I have against innocent people and not make many enemies. I don't blame them really. I know that given Poe's position, the decisions I made would be the same, if not worse. When death comes for me, I will welcome its peace.

During a brief conscious period, I sense a hint of a presence drawing nearer. One I haven't felt in many years. My mother is coming. Although it is too late for me,  she can still help Rey.

A terrible scream splits through my darkness. It sounds like Rey, if Rey was half wild beast. In the room with me, her Force-signature is so strong, I can feel her boiling in my veins.

Being consumed by the darkness, it won't be long before no light is left in her at all. I attempt to reach out to her, but I'm too weak. The blaster is placed to my head and I think, It won't be long now, as I slip back into unconsciousness.

Pulling myself back up through the murky darkness to a warm feeling and a tender touch, I recognize my mother. She is singing and I immediately remember the familiar song—a song from my childhood—a song before Snoke.

Suddenly, I feel the Force pulse through my body again, but too little and too late. My physical body is too damaged and will soon succumb to its injuries.

Speaking to me softly, my mother's words are a comfort in my last minutes. I love you too. If I could only tell her. Holding her hand, I put all of my strength into squeezing her fingers. I can hear you. I sense her spirit fill with love and warmth and I know she hears me. A feeling of peace overcomes her soul and spills over to me.

I begin to drift off to blackness again when I feel her push a gargantuan amount of Force power out, but not to me.  Trying to follow the flow of the Force, I end up inside Rey.

She is in pain, but it is the pain of creation.  I see parts of her body being knitted back together, while other missing parts are created from new.  My Rey is whole again, able to create life again, but my mother is dying in return.  Her Force-signature weakens as does her grip on life.  She has sacrificed herself to save that last little spark of light that calls Rey its home.

I feel Rey strongly through the bond again, but the feeling of my mother passing into the Force overrides all of my senses. I begin to drift off to nothingness too.

Like a jolt of lightning grounded in my bones, a shock of life-force enters my system.  I recognize who it belongs to immediately. No two Force-signatures are alike.  Hers has always given me a feeling of warmth and belonging, but it's darker now than the first time I met her—my fault.

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REY

     "Come on Ben!"