Permanent Mark

Chapter 27

In silent screams, and wildest dreams

I never dreamed of this

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Rey's face softens as a light returns in the eyes of her lost friend. She places her hand on his cheek and smiles. 

It's him. All of him. 

"Yes Ben, it's me, Rey. I thought….I thought you forgot about me."

Kylo struggles inside. He can't hurt her with the truth. He deflects. 

"Well….you've changed a bit," he says, still smiling at her. 

Her tears finally escape her eyes and Kylo wipes them away with his thumb. 

Finn looks on, still wrapped in Chewie's massive frame. 

"What the actual fuck is happening?? Rey?? You know Kylo Ren??"

Without looking away from Ben, she nods. 

"Yes, Finn, I do. He was my best friend."

Before  the former stormtrooper can respond, alarms tear through the ship. Kylo jerks back, brought violently into reality. 

"Rey, Dad, you have to leave here. Now."

Rey's eyes are wide with fear and she looks to Han, who is unholstering his blaster. She quickly looks back to Ben. 

"No Ben. No!! Not without you!" Rey shouts. 

Kylo looks over his shoulder, hearing familiar boots hitting the durasteel floors.

Hux.

Snoke is sending Hux after him. 

"Shit. Just go Rey!" Kylo shouts. 

Rey grabs at him, desperate. 

"Please Ben, don't do this. I thought you were dead! Don't make me leave!"

Kylo suddenly looks back at Rey. 

"You what?? You thought I was dead?"

Rey points at Han, who is pointing his blaster towards the oncoming general, preparing to shoot him on sight. 

"He told me you were dead!"

More boots are hitting the floors. Troopers.

Hux's guard are the best of the best troopers. Kylo's guard, the Knights of Ren, unfortunately aren't here. 

Kylo spins and looks at his father. 

"You told her I was…..Dad! Put the damn blaster away! Take Rey and go! You can't shoot all of them!"

Han looks back at Kylo as Hux hollers to him again. 

"Son, come with us. Please!!" 

Kylo has never heard his Dad say please. It's quite jarring. 

Rey suddenly looks at Finn and Chewie. 

"Go!" she yells at them. 

"Not without you Rey!" Finn shouts, getting his blaster ready. Chewie arms his crossbow. 

"And I'm not leaving without Ben!" Rey shouts back at her friend. 

"Who's Ben????" Finn shouts.

"Kylo is Ben!!" Rey shouts back at him. 

Kylo's head is rapidly turning from Hux to Rey to Han, in a state of panic. 

At one time, well, even earlier today, he wanted to assassinate his father. But now, he knows he can't. He needs Han to get Rey the fuck out of here. Now.