Darkness Within

Remember

"Ben, where are the kids?" Rey asks as she walks back into the room, a full glass of water in her hand.

Ben lifts his head from his pillow, his face mostly shaded in by the dark red light, his face clearly contorted in confusion. "What?"

"The kids, they're both gone," Rey restates with more emphasis.

"Probably out for a walk," Ben says with a yawn and lays his head back down.

"Kira is grounded and Zyan knows it, they shouldn't be out walking. Not to mention what it is, it's a little late for a walk if you ask me."

"I'm sure everything is fine," Ben assures, still practically asleep in the early morning hours.

"I'm going to find them," Rey announces as she slips her nightgown off and starts to collect clothes to pull on over top.

"Orrr..." Ben whispers as he gets up quickly from the bed only wearing his boxer briefs. "You could come back to bed like that," he says with a sly grin and wraps his arms around her stomach from behind while peppering kisses on her shoulder.

"Ben our kids are missing," Rey whispers and leans back into him, her eyes fluttering shut at the feeling of his lips sucking lightly up the sensitive skin of her neck.

"They're practically adults," he retorts with a soft nip on her shoulder. "Plus, we could probably blow off some steam after the events of tonight."

"These are all good points but-"

"Nooo, no but," Ben says in a fake whiny voice and wraps his arms even tighter around Rey's midsection.

"Mom! Dad!" Zyan's voice breaks through the quiet of the quarters and Rey perks up at the sound of his voice, the feeling of concern returning at the sound of his urgent tone.

"Moment ruined," Ben sighs and releases Rey, both of them reaching for clothes quickly before their teenage son busts through the door.

"Mom!" Zyan says and knocks on the door harder than is necessary. "Dad!"

"What?" Ben snaps clearly annoyed and rips the door open as Rey finishes slipping her jacket on. "What happened to your face?"

Rey turns quickly and watches Ben step out to the hallway, her fingers shaking as she tries to fasten the buttons, her nerves making it harder than necessary to loop the small plastic circles through the small slits.

"She's gone," Zyan sobs slightly and Rey reaches for the wall to balance herself as he knees go momentarily weak. Her entire world feels like it is crashing down around her and she can barely breathe as she processes those words. Time seems to move in slow motion as she steps towards the door to join the two of them, feeling like she's in a dream where she's trying to get somewhere but can never reach the desired destination.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Rey asks quietly and with concern as she finally reaches the door and steps out into the hallway. She looks up at Zyan, observing the cut on his face that reaches across his right eyebrow and down his cheek, just narrowing missing his eye. "Honey, what happened?"

"The trooper, he took her and they escaped," Zyan explains, his movements erratic and his tone breaking from emotions. Tears stream down his face and Rey watches the trail of salty water mix with hit cut, marveling at how much that must hurt. "I tried to stop them mom, but he attacked me."

"Where did they go?" Ben asks and steps into the bathroom to dig for first aide supplies, his own tone clipped and strained, his walls up to keep his emotions hidden.

"I don't know," Zyan whines a little as Rey leads him into the large bathroom and instructs him to sit on the edge of the tub while she sets down a towel. "They took a fighter from bay 4 on the lower level."