Chapter 53.

Black... Nothing but black...

Was she sleeping?... No... No, this wasn't sleep...

She tried to wake herself, her own groggy, lazy voice screamed at her mind to wake up...But her head was throbbing, and her cheek burned...

What had happened? Rey asked herself over and over as her muscles began to warm again, her eyelids slowly drifting open, blinking the burn away as the lights above her brightened her vision.

Inhaling sharply, she sat up straight from the medical bed she had been placed on, her neck sore from the spot the needle pressed into.

The needle...

Her hand flew up to rest at the spot as she remembered the events that led her here. How long had she been out?

She couldn't tell since there were no windows...

As she looked around the room, her anger rising, she realized then how small the room actually was, her reflection staring back at her from the mirrored walls all around her, unsure where the door even was.

"You're safe here." a silky voice said to her.

Rey's head whipped to the side, just now realizing Caleo sat there in a chair, studying her. His eyebrows shot up, his hands in the air as a slow smile crept onto his lips.

"Truly, I come in peace." He chuckled, though Rey was not amused in the slightest. She moved to the edge of the bed, wanting so badly to get up and move, but she still felt groggy and out of sorts.

So instead, she sat there and glared at him with a throbbing headache.

"If that were true, you wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to get me here." Rey seethed, her small hand held to her temple.

"My apologies my lady, I just wanted to talk." Caleo cooed as he settled back into his chair, his leg resting atop the other.

"Not sure how it is on Naboo, but on Jakku, when someone wanted to talk, they just simply said so. They didn't take the cowards way out by drugging and kidnapping a person." Rey bit, her tone of voice just as harsh as the cold look she was giving him.

Caleo snickered, watching her in silence.

After a moment, her anger rising, she demanded answers. "What happened? And where is Be-... Where is Kylo?"

He shook his head at her, hushing her before she could finish her questions. "It's just a little dose of truth serum. You are safe as long as you don't act out, and so is he... How odd it is to see someone with such... concern... over the Supreme Leader of the First Order..." His gaze drifted away to the ground before shooting back to her face to catch her reaction.

Rey's furrowed brows relaxed before he could spot any detection of her worries for Kylo.

Moving to stand, Rey again glanced around to find the door, still no luck.

Her irritation was vastly growing, and Rey was unable to determine if it was because of Caleo or Kylo.

Caleo chuckled once more, scratching at his beard aimlessly. "I assure you, you are safe-"

Rey cut him off, a hard scowl aimed directly at him. "What is it you want?"

At this, he grinned, his eyebrow cocking high. He was warned of her temper, and she was in no way letting him down.

"Just a few answers to a few questions."

( X )

From the other side of the mirrored walls, Lando, Kylo, and a few of Caleo's guards watched the exchange.

Each of their faces were frozen, the air thick with anticipation, as if watching a lion circle its prey, though only Kylo knew which was the predator in this situation.

He was against this plan of action, highly against it, in fact he nearly blew their entire plan when Caleo had demanded this route, the events of the morning replaying in his head as Caleo had sat on his throne, surrounded by guards.

His breathing grew harder, his rage filling his blood and heating his skin as he watched Rey and Caleo speak behind the mirror walls.

"And what questions can I answer for you? Or should I drug you first before I answer? You know, to be fair." Rey said sarcastically, her eyes cold and fixated on him.

Beside Kylo, Lando chuckled softly. "I like this girl." he whispered.

Kylo couldn't help his mind when he agreed, hoping that she wouldn't feel betrayed by his actions, feeling that he had no choice without messing everything up.

Stone faced, he continued to watch.

Caleo's smile faded, watching Rey for any sign of dishonesty.

"What are you doing here, in Naboo, with Kylo Ren?" Caleo asked, his voice stern and expectant of her answer.

Rey remained quiet, her narrowed eyes still pouring daggers at him, yet her mind was elsewhere as she wondered what Kylo had told him, what she was allowed to say.

"I don't..." her stomach flipped, pausing her answer. Unsure of the sudden nausea, she tried again. "I'm not s..." her mouth shut quickly, her heartbeat quickening as Caleo smirked.

"Truth serum."

Rey's head began to throb harder as her nerves worked hastily to cool her down, and she assumed, only activating this serum further. With the lie at the tip of her tongue, Rey doubled over and vomited at the other side of the bed.

In the background, Caleo laughed as Rey threw up the remainder of the contents in her stomach, coughing once she was done.

Rey fell to the ground as her stomach pulled with a painful cramp, pressing her back against the mirrors as she tried to catch her breath.