Saving the Monster

Chapter 5

Rey froze, her eyes sweeping across the path she had trodden and up into the jungle canopy.  Nothing.  She swore that she could hear breathing, deep and calm, somewhere near her ear.  Her hand clasped around her saber, pulling it from her belt.  In front of her Finn stumbled backwards, his hands raised, "Woah, woah Rey what are you doing?"

Rey's eyes flicked down to him and then with one last look around she deactivated her saber.  "I, I need to rest, goodnight, sorry for...". Rey shrugged, trailing off, not wanting to stay to explain herself.  Rey went into her hut then and closed the door. 

She waited until Finns footsteps had echoed away and then she sank down to her bed, covering her eyes.  Hot tears burned and she let them fall.  She was so tired.  So tired of training, so tired of trying to fit in, so tired of thinking of him. 

She fell asleep that night thinking of the voice she had heard, had it just been in her head? Was she going crazy?  She wasn't sure. 

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The next morning Rey packed.  This trip could run for many days Poe had told her before she had left for her room the previous night. 

When Rey entered the mess hall Poe, Finn and Rose were already there, sat together in a huddle, their voices low. Rose glanced over her shoulder as Rey approached and the three of them became silent. Rey collected her food and sat down to the side of Poe who smiled stiffly at her. Finn had told them about last night, she was sure of it.

"All packed?" Poe asked, widening his smile slightly. Rey nodded, tearing off a lump of bread and shoving it into her mouth.

Rose leant forwards towards Rey, "You know you could always stay here with me? We could rest together"

Rey stopped, her hand hovering mid way to her mouth, "Why would I need to rest?" She asked, her eyes landing on Finns.  His mouth opened soundlessly and Rey raised her brows expectantly. 

Finn rolled his tongue around in his mouth and leant back in his seat,
"Ok, I told these guys about last night, about the way you've been acting".

Rey stood up, "And how have I been acting?" She shot back at Finn,

He blinked hard and folded his arms across his chest.

Rey leant into him, "Hmmm, come on I want to hear it,  how have I been acting?"

Finns eyes met hers and suddenly she was afraid, afraid to hear the answer, afraid to hear the truth.

"Ok, if you must know, crazy, you're acting crazy.  What happened to you Rey?  What did he do to you on board the supremacy that day?" Finn asked, his tone softening.  Rose and Poe looked up at Rey and she shifted, hurt by Finns words but more than aware that they were true.

Rey sat down again heavily, her eyes filling with tears, glazing over at the memory.  "He did nothing to me" she muttered, and her mind went back over that day for the millionth time.

"Then what's wrong Rey?  We're all worried about you" Rose said, reaching across the table and softly touching her arm. 

Rey shrugged and an errant tear slid from her right eye, "There are things that have happened, that are still happening that you don't know about, that I can't tell you.  I'm sorry for the way I've been acting.  Rose",  the dark haired girl looked at her then, a wary look in her eyes, "thank you for offering to hang about with me here, but I'm good", she glanced then at Finn and Poe, "I want to go, the change is what I need". 

They nodded simultaneously and then Poe lifted his cup "Here's to finding supplies".  Rey smiled, bringing her cup up to meet the others, the glass clinking. 

Poe gulped his drink back and then Rey watched with amusement as he spat it out again, his eyes wide, "What the hell is this muck?". 

Finn was smirking as he leant across the table, "Sap water"

Poe sniffed the cup and pulled a face, "What goon thought this would be a good idea?" He cried, spitting again into his cup.

Finn pointed to Chewbacca, who was watching from the other side of the room, "Might want to rethink the name calling" Finn said, just managing to suppress a smile. 

Chewie roared and Poe held up his hands in mock surrender.

"Never upset a Wookie" Rey said to Poe as she got to her feet, "especially when he's going to be your copilot"