REY

I can't see anything. That's the first thing I notice. The second is searing pain like a vice around my head, thumping painfully in time with my heartbeat. Every inch of my body aches like a happabore had stepped on me, then sat on me. Then stepped on me again.

I'm vaguely aware of voices arguing somewhere near me, but I can't make out what they're saying. It's muffled, sounding as if someone has their hands over my ears. I feel my toe twitch, and slowly my senses return, along with a sense of déjà vu. Except this time instead of being tied to a torture chair inside an interrogation room, I'm cuffed and lying on my side on a cold floor.

"I knew it was bullshit! We never should have let him out of his cell." That sounded like Poe.

"Who's the traitor now, Ren?" Finn. I fight to open my eyes, and a throne room comes in to focus. The walls are bathed in vibrant red that reflects off the polished obsidian floors, casting a scarlet hue on the faces of the room's occupants. In the center of the room is a throne, atop of which sits a disfigured, spindly form in resplendent golden robes. Snoke.

His beady eyes find mine across the room and fear immediately seizes me. "Ren, I do believe your protégé is awake," he croons in a deep, gritty voice. The same voice I'd heard numerous times in my head.

I try to sit up and the world spins sickeningly around me. Fear coats the room like soot after a fire, leaving a bad taste in my mouth. The room finally comes into focus and I see Finn and Poe, bloodied and bruised, on their knees several yards to my right. Their hands are cuffed behind their backs, and two guards dressed in red stand to either side of them, wielding weapons I've never seen before.

Poe looks over at me and gasps. "Rey! Are you oka-" He's cut off by a boot in his back, knocking him to the floor. His pained groan fuels my fury, and I fight to stand.

"Don't move, I'll get us out of this," I growl, looking around the room for Ben. Maybe he's already working on a plan to free us. Maybe he-

But he's not. He's standing at Snoke's right hand, the red of the walls reflecting off the silver and gold of my lightsaber in his uncuffed hand. "Ben?" My voice is weak and pleading, but I can't help it. He couldn't have betrayed us. He wouldn't. Not now.

His gaze snaps to mine and something akin to regret flickers in his hazel eyes. It's gone as quickly as it appeared, and he looks down at my saber in his hands. "I made a deal. It was the only way for us to live. Both of us," he says, quieter than I've ever heard him.

My stomach drops and the room spins furiously, sending me crashing to my knees with an agonizing thud. This has to be a dream, it has to be a dream. I would have seen this coming. The claws of betrayal dig deep into my heart and I can't breathe, I can't breathe. "What kind of deal?" I pant hoarsely.

"He came to his senses, as I knew he would. Your little plan to, how do you say, restore the light in him?" Snoke lets out a vicious, grinding laugh. "He is beyond redemption. His destiny lies with me."

Ice creeps up my spine and sends chills through my entire body. I've never felt so many conflicting emotions at once, and it's paralyzing me. "He would...he would never--" I gasp for air, feeling panic setting in. "You betrayed him, tried to kill him! He would never return, I know it!" I look at Ben, at the uninterpretable expression marring his handsome face, feeling desperation clawing its way to the surface. "I know it."

Snoke gasps, feigning shock. "Have you seen something? A weakness in my apprentice? Is that why you came?" He pauses and the shock turns to a vile smirk. "Young fool," he laughs, "it was I who bridged your minds." Ben's head snaps up and he looks at me, but there's no surprise in his expression. He knew. "I stoked Ren's conflicted soul. I knew he was not strong enough to hide it from you, and you were not wise enough to resist the bait."

Dread pools heavy in my stomach. I stagger forward, each step more steady than the last despite everything. "You have made a mistake that will be your downfall," I challenge in the strongest voice I can muster. "Ben Solo has already redeemed himself. By connecting us you have restored the light that was always there. You lost."

Snoke laughs again, the sound like knives driving into my ears. "You are more naive than I had expected, young Rey," he growls. "Ben Solo died many years ago. The light you think you saw was a result of my intervention. My apprentice was manipulating you from the start. And now, you're both mine." He twists his gnarled hand and my cuffs fall to the ground with a clatter. I rub my wrists, trying to get blood circulating there.

I hear muffled cursing and the sound of a struggle behind me, but I can't tear my eyes away from Snoke to make sure my friends are okay. "You're wrong. I'll never join you," I spit.

"I find it amusing you think you have a choice in the matter," Snoke snarls. "Join me, become my apprentice. You and Ren will rule the galaxy, and we will not fail as the Empire once did. You will know strength, the likes of which you've never imagined. You will be feared and respected. For you, now, all is lost. But not if you accept my offer."

"And if I don't?"

"Then I will kill you with the cruelest stroke."

"NO!" Finn cries, struggling against his captor. "Rey, we can find a way out of this!"

"Finn, stop, stop!" Poe shouts in desperation.

I'm paralyzed again, each breath ragged and painful in my chest. "Ben, please," I whisper as a final plea.

Snoke's laugh is cruel. "You think you can turn him?" He scoffs. "Pathetic child. I cannot be betrayed, I cannot be beaten. I see his mind, I see his every intent. His decision has been made, and you cannot stop it."

Ben's face is unreadable. I feel defeat in my bones, and it aches. Then I remember his words from before, in the hall of the Colossus.

"Do you accept this as your fate?" He'd said.

"No. Never."

"Then fight it!"

Fight it. I have to fight this. This is not how my story will end. A sudden burst of adrenaline sparks the animosity simmering inside me.

"Go ahead and kill me, then," I hiss, "for I will not bow to a throne studded with the jewels of every life it has ended. You can call me weak, call me a naive child, but I carry within me the wisdom of a thousand generations and I will not be intimidated by a coward who binds the galaxy in chains and calls it obedience. There have been countless evils like you and there will be countless more. Your fate will be the same as theirs."

Snoke's eyes glitter with delight. "Such spunk," he says, grinning.

I snap my hand out and my lightsaber flies out of Ben's hand. His eyes meet mine across the throne room, and the fire of my anger burns brighter. He betrayed me. He betrayed all of us. But my saber never finds my outstretched hand. I feel my grip on the hilt loosen, and it turns back toward Snoke before it ever reaches me. The Supreme Leader holds out his long, crooked fingers, and my lightsaber comes to rest gently there. He places it on the wide armrest of his throne.

"Still that fiery spit of hope! You have the spirit of a true Jedi!" He snarls, spitting the words with disgust. "And because of that, you must die."

I feel rage, stronger and hotter than I've ever felt, and this time I'm faster. Ben's lightsaber hurtles across the room and slams into my open palm, igniting in a flash of sputtering red. My feet carry me across the throne room, saber raised, a frenzied scream ripping from my raw throat.

Snoke tosses me aside with a flick of one long, bony hand. His expression is a mixture of boredom and irritation, and I know I'm running out of time to save myself, to save us.

An invisible vice clamps my arms to my sides and suddenly I'm on my knees in front of Ben, his saber lying on the floor at his feet. He stares down at me and I can't read him. The walls are back up, like before.

Power oozes from Snoke like poison. His voice booms through the room and reverberates in my head. "My worthy apprentice, son of darkness, heir apparent to Lord Vader. Where there was conflict I now sense resolve. Where there was weakness, strength. Now, complete your training, and fulfill your destiny!"

Ben picks up his lightsaber and slowly turns it in his hand, and I can't tell what he's thinking.

He points it at my chest and rests his finger on the activation switch, eyes boring into mine with the intensity of a thousand suns. "I know what I have to do," he says simply, voice void of emotion.

"I trusted you," I say quietly, the sting of his betrayal like needles in my skin. Emotion chokes me and tears burn in my eyes as I watch him, wait for a reaction, but he says nothing. His finger presses the switch and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying in vain to fight the grip Snoke has on my body.

"Wait!" Poe cries. My eyes open and Ben's finger has lifted from the switch. "Kill me instead. Let her go, please," he begs. I can't see him but I can feel the terror and heartbreak in him from across the room. My heart is pounding painfully in my chest and fear turns my blood to ice.

Snoke releases me and I fall against the floor, turning to look at Poe. There are tears in his eyes, and Finn is staring at him in silent horror, mouth agape in shock.

The Supreme Leader stands from his throne. I hadn't noticed his imposing height before, but now he towers over Ben and I'm more afraid than ever.

"Ah, an interesting proposal," Snoke murmurs, sauntering toward my pilot. "Your life, for the life of the girl you love." Poe looks at me now and I can't help the tears that fall swiftly down my face.

"Poe, don't do this," I beg him, voice breaking. "I can't lose you, I need you. The Resistance needs you."

"And the galaxy needs you," he replies, a small smile lifting his lips.

Snoke stops and turns to look back at Ben. "Kylo Ren, I do believe I have your final test as my apprentice. Come."

Ben grips the hilt of his saber and brushes past me without a glance. He stands before Snoke, expression solemn, awaiting orders. He's lost to me, then. This is the end. "What am I to do?"

Snoke smiles wickedly at me as he speaks to his apprentice. "Let's make this interesting, shall we? Choose one. You may kill either, take your pick. Traitor or pilot." He pauses, still watching me. "Or slaughter them both, if you like. The same way you did the scavenger's parents."

Everything stops. The emotions running rampant in my exhausted body stand still. The Force surges through my veins and in the air around me, keeping me grounded and steady. Ben's eyes go wide and he spins to look at me, expression pleading.

"What is he talking about?" I growl, standing slowly, feeling every cell come alive in the Force. Ben opens his mouth to respond but nothing comes out.

"Oh, you didn't tell her?" Snoke laughs.

Ben stares at me, now frantic.

"Tell me. Now." My voice doesn't sound like my own. Fury sweeps into my heart and my hands tremble with rage.

He doesn't say anything.

"He killed your parents," Snoke says almost gleefully. "That's why you were left on Jakku. They were his first mission as my new apprentice. They were too important to be kept alive, so I had them...taken care of."

"You said they were nobody," I hiss at Ben, and he backs away from me.

"Oh, quite the contrary!" Snoke crows. "Your parents came from quite powerful families."

"Who. Were. They?" I spit through gritted teeth. Ben maintains his silence and looks to his Master to answer.

Snoke makes his way back to his throne and casually drapes himself in it. "Your mother was a captain in the Rebel Alliance, a girl of little importance. Your father, however, was the son of The Emperor." A wicked smile curls his scarred lips.

Electricity shoots through my body, leaving aching pain in its wake. It can't be. Yet somehow his words ring true. I look at Ben and he's staring at me with newfound wonder. This must be news to him as well.

Snoke continues as if we were carrying on a casual conversation. "That kind of darkness gets passed on. It was in your father, despite his eventual betrayal, and now it's in you. It's why my apprentice was drawn to you. He saw your potential for greatness. The blood of Vader, longing for the blood of Palpatine." The smile on Snoke's face sends chills down my spine.

"You killed my parents," I mumble, unable to feel much of anything as I stalk toward my almost ally. "You killed them, you lied to me, and you betrayed me."

"I had to!" He shouts, anger flashing in his eyes. "You would have done the same!"

I shake my head, taking another step toward him as Snoke lounges on his throne, watching the drama unfold. "No, I wouldn't have done the same. I'm not a heartless monster like you," I snap. "You're nothing more than a coward, a man so weak he has to kill those he cares about just to prove he can. You're not what I thought you were, in the beginning. You're so much worse."

A myriad of emotions cross his face, and I know I've struck a nerve. After all our conversations, all the dreams and the progress we'd made, after all the times I told him he was worth saving...but I was wrong. This, all of it, was his fault. I hate him for it.

"Well this certainly took an amusing turn, but I've grown tired of the games. Ren, kill them all," Snoke commands.

The sound of his saber igniting is distinctive and my body reacts immediately. The Force surges to the surface and I reach out. This time my saber finds my hand, sending electricity in blue sparks through my fingertips, an extension of my body and of the Force that hums in my veins. I ignite the blade and red light washes over the horrified faces of Finn and Poe.

"I did this for you!" Ben shouts, face contorted in anger. "I did all of it to save you, to give you the chance to be more!"

"More lies," I seethe, and make the first strike. I fight like I've never fought before, letting the Force guide me, letting my body do what it was always meant to do. Ben blocks me, over and over, frustration giving way to madness as he finally strikes back. Our blades meet between us in a vicious clash of red, sending sparks flying all around us. Adrenaline rushes through me and I shove him off long enough to spin away and attack again.

"Do it," Ben barks. "Show them what you're capable of. Let the darkness consume you." He blocks me again and slashes at my neck. I barely block him in time.

"Never. I'm not like you."

"Lies," he mocks me. "I won't hold back. You will die this time." He swings again and again and the second time his blade drags across the my abdomen, burning a path through my clothes. The pain is blinding and I cry out, my hand clutching at the now-cauterized wound across my stomach. Rage is there, and it consumes me. It tastes like blood and iron and fills me like fire. I cry out again, in pain and in fury, and launch myself at my enemy.

"I HATE YOU!" I scream, striking over and over as I feel power rising within me. I've never felt a high like this. He sees it and grins, and it fuels my fire.

"I know," he smirks and then all amusement is gone. In its place is fierce determination, and his eyes flash red in the reflection of his crackling blade. The fight turns animalistic, like two predators with nothing to lose. Something is different this time. He's fighting harder than he did before, in the forest. I can't seem to get to him.

My body begins to fatigue. Fear and doubt creep in and I falter. He sees the opportunity and comes at me, landing blow after blow until I'm a bleeding, whimpering heap on the floor. I can barely hold him off now. Snoke's laughter fills the room and my head. My hand fumbles for my lightsaber but it slips out of reach and into Snoke's outstretched hand.

"Ben," I whisper, but he doesn't care. He turns his back on me, knowing I'm too weak to go after him, and walks in a slow circle around his prey.

"You goddamn coward," Poe pants, sweating after struggling to break free from his cuffs. The guards that had been guarding him and Finn had disappeared. I look around and notice heavily armored figures in red stationed all around the room, blending in with the blood-colored walls. Not storm troopers, but something else. Something worse.

"She hasn't even finished her training!" Finn shouts, fighting his restraints. "You really wanna be smug about beating a girl who's barely been trained?"

Ben rolls his eyes and lets out an exasperated shout. "She is not who you think she is! Her heart is as black as mine," he sneers. I ignore him and crawl toward my friends, hoping to free them. I won't have them die like this.

"Bullshit," Poe hisses between clenched teeth, grimacing in pain as he tries to move again. His jaw is tight. Veins bulge in his forehead and sweat gleams on his flushed face, turning pink as it mixes with the blood trickling down from his wounds. His breaths are labored and harsh.

"I can prove it." Ben, Kylo, is confident. "You believe in the Force, yes?" Poe's silence is confirmation. "See, when a Force-sensitive individual such as Rey forms a connection with someone, a part of her soul is forever bonded to theirs."

"Like intuition, yeah, I know that," Poe growls impatiently.

Ren laughs without humor. "No, pilot. That is only the beginning."

"Don't do this," I plead, to no avail. My fingers tremble against Poe's chest, and my tears mix with his. "Poe, don't listen to him."

"Stop LYING!" Ren's shout is like an ice pick hammering away at my ears. It hurts, I want it to stop, and it's all I can focus on. "You are no better than them, the First Order cowards you slaughtered! Pick a damn side, Scavenger. Stop lying to yourself and everyone you care about. You are not you anymore, but you refuse to accept it!" He's no longer yelling, but his voice still carries, echoing loudly all around me and in my head.

"What is he talking about?" Poe looks up at me, dark eyes full of pain and confusion.

Kylo Ren says the one thing I never wanted my friends to hear, and it shatters my heart. As the words leave his mouth, his lips turn up in a snarl and his eyes sparkle with malicious mirth. "She is no Jedi. She never will be, never can be. She has too much darkness within her. And she relishes in the darkness."

"You're wrong," I whisper, but my voice betrays me. I glance at Snoke and he's sitting on the edge of his throne, enraptured by all that is unfolding.

Poe's eyes are stone cold and focused on his enemy, who now stands above him wearing an expression of some kind of twisted pride.

"Go. To. Hell." His words are strong, considering the weak state of his body.

"The Force connection goes beyond family," Ren ignores him. His voice is as bored and bland as if he were speaking to a room full of politicians. "When a Force-sensitive person forms an intense, emotional connection with another, the strength of the bond is relative to the strength of their feelings."

The burst of red light from his saber startles me. The hum is like an insect in my ear, the electricity like an approaching storm. Heat radiates from the beam of light pointed directly at Poe's chest. My heart stops and a whimper escapes. Poe's face is bathed in flickering red, his eyes reflecting fear and lightning.

"You don't scare me," my brave pilot growls at the Knights' Master.

"I don't have to." Suddenly the tip of the lightsaber is embedded in Poe's thigh and he cries out in pain, the sound like a dagger through my heart. Tears well in my eyes and spill over, and a sob catches in my throat. I feel his pain like fire in my veins. The hairs on my arm stand up, our connection tugging at me, telling me Poe is in danger.

The saber deactivates and Poe shudders in relief. "Look at her now, pilot." Ren's voice is cold.

Poe turns to face me. His face is contorted in agony, but he shows only concern for me. He knows his pain caused me pain.

"See? She can't be evil. She cares about me," he tells his tormentor with bravado. My mind flashes to the time he told me of his mother's death, and I realize why he sounds so desperate for love.

Kylo Ren smirks, then ignites the saber again. "Maybe. But she doesn't love you. She can't love you, Commander Dameron. She's in love with someone else."

I watch in slow motion as his hand turns one crossguard blade toward his own hip. My nerve endings are alive with electricity. Poe watches him intently, eyes alight with rage. I know what's about to happen, and there's nothing I can do about it. I can't keep him from hurting my pilot, my daring rescuer, my hero.

All I can hear is my heard thudding in my chest. The only sound in the room is the hum of the saber. Breaths are held in nervous anticipation. The silence is cut by the sound of cloth being singed. Then everything comes rushing back. I feel the heat against my hip, against his hip. Heat, followed by excruciating, bone-crushing, mind-numbing pain.

The scream that rips from my throat isn't as terrible as the look of horror on Poe's face, or the sheer joy on our enemy's.

He knows. My biggest secret, the one thing I never said out loud because I never wanted to admit the truth. I see it in his eyes, the devastation and betrayal.

Snoke's laugh echoes once more, cruel and merciless. The last thing I see before the world fades to black is a single tear on Poe's cheek, shining in the light of the red lightsaber as it swings in an arch toward my pilot's exposed throat.