| Fallen By Sway Chapter 1 Riddick crouched in the small alley behind a row of broken down crates, shiv in hand. He watched as his target came sauntering down the narrow aisle, bitch on one arm, a bottle in hand. how careless of you... Riddick thought to himself, smirking. His nose twitched as he took in the scent around him. The couple was drawing closer and he could easily pick out the familiar odors of whiskey, cheap perfum, and sweat. There was another aroma he couldn't decifer, however. One of anxiety. Quickly, he scanned the alley for another person, taking in the very real fact that someone could in fact be watching him even as he watched this man. Seeing no one, he concentrated once again on the filth heading his way, still keeping a third eye's watch for any other movements. Just as the figure started to pass the crates, Riddick shrank back into the shadows as a slight 'whoosh' and the sound of feet hitting the ground behind the couple stung his ears. He doubt they heard it over they're own laughter. Before he could react, the man fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood just in front of Riddick's feet, a sweeping gash up the center of his spine and the handle of a shiv protruding from the back of his neck. The woman started to scream and Riddick heard a sickening 'crack' and watched her body fall nearly on top of her 'trick's' corpse, her neck cleanly broken. Then silence. Riddick's ears strained to hear footsteps, breathing, something. Anything. Nothing. For the first time in years, his heartbeat sped up. He felt vulnerable. Was this a merc? An act of revenge? After a few minutes wait, he cautiously peered out from behind the crates. Once again, nothing. Something was very, very wrong. Slowly, he started to emerge from the shadows, his shiv clenched tightly in one hand. He began walking towards the street ahead of him. A cold breeze came from behind and a shiver ran the length of his spine as he stopped, shiv held against his chest. The scent lingered in the wind and he instinctually turned around. Nothing. He was starting to get very pissed off. Someone was trying to fuck with him. Sad part is, Dickie boy...is that it's working... the beast in the back of his mind laughed. Riddick stood, analyzing every movement, from newspapers blowing back and forth to the clothes on the lines above flailing in the wind. The scent was still among the musty air. He knew whoever this was was still here. Watching him. Perhaps waiting for him. Or...you're going fucking crazy...well....crazier... the demon continued to mock. His thoughts were obscured by a figure swinging between two fire escapes 1 story up. The sounds were inaudible aside from a faint playful laughter. "Afraid?" Riddick called, his voice a calm sort of growl. He heard laughter once more and sounds of movements he couldn't see. "Then show yourself, you piece of shit merc...I'm here for the taking...but you gotta come and fucking get it." He grasped the hand crafted shiv tightly, eyes scanning for further movement. Nothing. you wanna play games? i'll play....and i'll win... Riddick smiled to himself, falling back into the shadows. Chapter 2 Riddick waited. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there, or how many times he had snuck from place to place. He knew 'the other' was still present. He could smell the anticipation radiating from the unknown form. He was beginning to tire of the little game. He was comtemplating leaving, for he knew he'd run into this stranger again. He could feel it. Just as he decided to slip from the alley, he heard feet hit the ground and the sound of steps pounding towards the end of the alley. A smile came to his lips, for the man must be figuring he was still at the other end. big mistake, fucker... The figure shot past his hiding spot and in one easy motion, he had it trapped against the wall with a shiv against the base of it's skull. He was confused. Maybe he fucked up? This was no man. It was a small girl, no taller than 5'2 with long hair braided down to her hips. One thing, however, really bothered him. no fear....no fear....she's not scared.... Then, she started to laugh. He spun her around, shiv pressed into her throat and slammed her hard against the wall. She stared up into his goggled face, her smile slowly fading. He couldn't see through her sunglasses and could care less. It was always easier to kill a girl when you couldn't see her face, anyway. He still couldn't get over the fact that she wasn't scared and he pressed the shiv harder into her skin, drawing a thin stream of blood that trickled down her neck to her black tanktop. It was then that he caught the scent of something else. Something he never thought could come from a situation like this. Arousal. Want. His jaw clenched and he stared at her furiously when she began to speak. "What are you waiting for?" She asked, dragging her tongue across her lower lip. Riddick followed the motion and she knew he had, though she couldn't see. "Can't, can you?" He didn't respond. "Too many questions....not enough answers...it's eating at you....i can tell...." The tip of his shiv pressed harder into her flesh, bringing more blood to flow down his hand. She didn't flinch. He was shocked and his heartbeat once again betrayed the steel wall he had built around it. "Kill me, Riddick." What??! Riddick asked himself. she knows who you are, dickie....kill her...wait...no....fuck her then kill her....you need a good lay...c'mon dickie boy...you want it...you can smell it...take her.... the beast screamed. He fought for control and was shocked by her next statement. "Kill me Riddick....kill me before I kill you..." She smiled and Riddick stared at her for a second before he busted out in laughter. He looked down. big mistake, dude...she thought. Her leg swept out and with a 'thud' Riddick's body hit the ground, his legs kicked from beneath him. She was on top of him, shiv pressed into his throat. "Don't ever laugh at me..." She spat, standing straddled over him. Riddick smiled as he grabbed her ankles and pulled, sending her surprised figure falling backwards. She hit the ground hard, her head smacking into the wall behind her. She struggled to sit up as he stood, looking down at her. She rubbed at her eyes, her vision blurred. Her gaze drifted up to Riddick, her sunglasses knocked off in the impact. She squinted as she saw his arm draw back. In a split second, a deafening ring echoed in her head from the impact and everything went black. Riddick stared at her unconcious form. The monster in the back of his mind screamed things he refused to obey. But at the same time, he couldn't force himself to just kill her or leave her for someone else to find. She had been right. "...not enough answers..." He threw her over his shoulder, looking around the deserted alley. In fast pace, he headed back to his ship. |-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-| Riddick sat crouched on his haunches in the corner of the pitch black room. He knew that when she woke, he'd be able to see her and she wouldn't even know he was there. Maybe that'll fuckin scare her...he smirked. Two hours passed before she stirred. He watched with interest as she moved, realizing that her ankles and wrists were bound to the wooden bed she was laying on. Your bed, dickie....she's in your bed...take her....fuck her to death.... Riddick winced at the screaming thought in his head. His monsterous side. Fuck you... he scolded. He analyzed the scents and sounds. Her breathing was even. Dead even. To his surprise, her scent was not one of fear. For the first time, he couldn't tell what the fuck she was feeling. this is fucked up...he thought, shaking his head slightly to himself. Who the fuck wouldn't be scared in a situation like this? Tied to a bed in complete darkness in the constraints of a serial killer? He watched once more as she looked around. too bad...you'll have to do without seeing... he smiled to himself ."What the fuck are you lookin at?" She said in a parched voice, her eyes staring directly at him. His face crumpled into confusion as his mouth dropped slightly. she's fuckin with you...doesn't really know you're here....just thinks you might be....or does she?...should you talk? no... A thousand thoughts raked at his brain. She still stared at him. "Well?" She questioned, sitting up as far as she was allowed by the chains bounding her. Riddick remained silent. She became frustrated, falling back onto the bed. "You're sittin there thinkin I'm just guessing you're in here...laughin to yourself cause you think I have the notion that it's a possiblitly I'm talkin to myself." She laughed lightly, then looked back at him. "...sittin there in the corner, all confused....i see you....i see you Mr. Riddick..." She giggled in a sing song voice. She was partially delirious from the impact of his blow and he knew she was finding this amusing. Silently, Riddick stood and walked to the foot of the bed. Her eyes followed him and he figured she was telling the truth. He stared down at her, not sure of what to do. you know what you wanna do, dickie...go for it.....what can she do??.... Riddick fought the monster and turned to walk for the door. "Bye bye..." she called to him, laughing as he disappeared into a dark hallway. fuck...she thought to herself. Chapter 3 Could've been 4 hours. Could've been 4 days. She didn't know for sure. Every now and then, she drifted back into unconsciousness not knowing how long each bout lasted. Her attention moved to the door when she heard the faint footsteps approaching again. During the times she was awake, she heard him pace back and forth, each time just passing and never stopping. This time, however, the footsteps stopped in front of the door. Slowly, the knob turned and the door squeaked open, his large silohette filling the doorway. No light came in from the hall, only a lesser shade of darkness.Afterall, Riddick loved the darkness...it was his life. He pushed the door closed with the heavy 'thud' of his boot. He moved slowly across the room to her motionless form. Her breathing and scent suggested she was asleep."Hey there..." She said, causing him to jump as her eyes shot open, looking directly at him. He bitched at himself for letting her get to him. bitch thinks she's good....he thought. To her surprise, his hands came to the restraints on her ankles, undoing them and then redoing them to bind her feet together. She didn't fight him. Couldn't if she wanted to. He did the same to her wrists and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder. She didn't yell or protest. Instead, she concentrated on seeing straight. He sat her down with a 'thump' in a chair in the middle of a small dark kitchen. Roughly, he tied a blindfold around her face and fastened her restraints to bond her to the chair. He stepped back and grabbed the bottle of whiskey he'd been sucking on, taking a seat in a chair he placed in front of her. Still, he remained silent. "Drinking are we?" She asked. Now he knew he was dealing with something different. The bitch couldn't see the bottle. Or him. She could smell it. "May I?" she asked, her voice cracking. He stared at her as a smile came to her lips. She was thankful to feel the bottle against her mouth. He tilted it back, allowing a small amount of the rich brown liquid to fill her mouth. Abruptly, the bottle was drawn away and she swallowed, letting out an airy breath as the burn tingled in her throat. "Thank you.." she smiled. Riddick still wouldn't speak. She was getting pissed and he knew he was getting to her. He smiled to himself and took a long swig from the bottle. "Jesus fucking christ....for someone so big, you sure have nothing to say...." She mocked, her irritation becoming evident. Finally, the long awaited question came from his lips. "Who the fuck are you?" He asked in a low steady growl. A chill ran up her spine and a small smile came to her lips. "Wouldn't you like to know...." She retorted sarcastically. She heard a small laugh in response and his feet hit the floor. He picked something up. what? Riddick twirled the shiv between his fingers. He didn't want to resort to this, but the beast had won in that fight. His eyes gazed at the strip of skin her midriff tank revealed and, slowly, he stepped up to her and placed the tip of the thick, curved blade just above her bellybutton. Once again, a smile crawled to her dry lips. He put gentle pressure on the piece, drawing a dot of blood. She still smiled. "Honey...I'm way beyond physical pain....there are much worse things...and I've done most of em and seen all of em..." She tilted her head to the side, her smile fading. "...but you know all about that..." A smirk contorted Riddick's features as he slowly dragged the tip upwards, hooking it on the hem of her tank. She heard the fabric tear as he pulled back on the shiv. "Answer the question..." He growled. She remained silent for a few moments. "Give me another drink..." She heard him snort a laugh and heard more tearing of her shirt."Answer the question and I'll think about it..." He spat back."I...am..." She teased playfully. She doesn't know what she's fuckin with...His mind screamed. "...just like you...." Riddick's head tilted to the side. "....only better..." She started to laugh and Riddick drew up hard on the blade, cutting her shirt up the front completely. It drapped to her sides, revealing her tattooed flesh and pierced nipples to Riddick. He ran the shiv up her stomach to her neck and pressed it against the skin, his other hand bracing him against the counter behind her as he leaned down close."Stop the bullshit..." He drawled slowly, putting more pressure on the weapon clenched in a closed fist. "...who the fuck are you.." He said loudly, startling her slightly. Her smiled as he felt her jump and for an instant caught the lightest scent of fear. She sighed and he figured she was finally going to answer him. "But Riddick....we're having so much fun...." She said seductively before erupting into laughter. He was becoming very impatient and the impact of her comment was hitting home. "You have no clue who you are fuckin with..." Riddick snorted, standing back up and moving the shiv to her stomach once again and slightly nipping at the top of her black cargos. "...now answer me...." "You won't fuck me Riddick....you could never rape a girl....I sense your hesitation..." She informed in a very serious tone. "You wanna bet?" She sat there, silent for a few moments. For once, she was the one in contemplation. "Kiki..." She quietly stated. "...Kiki Benetti..." Riddick slowly removed the blade from her skin, sitting down and taking another large swig from his bottle. "...May I?" She asked again. He hesitated, but finally gave her a drink, this one bigger than the first. "You a merc?" He abruptly asked. Kiki smiled. "Farthest thing from it..." "That being?" Kiki shook her head, still grinning. "I'm the merc's payday..." Riddick shook his head, not content with her answer. He took another drink and stood back in front of her. He placed on hand on either side of her on the counter behind her. His face was an inch from hers and she could smell him. Smell herself on him. "Bullshit..." He whispered. "...why the fuck were you in that fuckin alley then? Why'd you take my hit?" Kiki smiled in his face, knowing he wasn't buying this. Shit, she probably wouldn't either if someone her size and weight were saying they were a convict. "Because...." She started, still smiling. "....that man....was a merc....trying to take me...and you if I might add, back to Slam....James Horwin....and mistress..." She finished very matter of factly. "...I knew you'd be there...I'm good like that..." Riddick just stared at her exposed flesh, barely hearing what she was saying. The beast inside him beginning to take over and the blood on her neck was calling to him. When he heard her say the man's name, his attention snapped to her words. He already knew the information she had just indulged him with. He was waiting to see if she knew. And she did. Kiki Benetti.... Where did he know that name from? "Back to Slam?" He questioned. Kiki nodded. "Was in for 3 years. Escaped 6 months ago." He couldn't believe what he was hearing. She had been the one they all talked about. The only woman to have been sentenced to Slam in 49 years. He had only heard her name once or twice among the mix, resulting in his lack of recognition. holy fuckin shit... "How many?" He asked, still in shock. "41." Kiki said simply. "Why the woman?" "Cause the bitch just wouldn't shut the hell up..." She shrugged, not caring. Chapter 4 Riddick questioned her for what seemed like hours. The whiskey was starting to get to him and he became a little calmer apon learning the information. She was 17 years old and her parents dead. She got caught up in gang life in the slums and eventually wanted out. But no one got out. Ever. So she killed. Killed 13 members and then ran like hell away from there. She star jumped for a year and was caught and sentenced to life in South Lateral Andrew Merrigee correctional population, the worst Slam in the galaxy perhaps. She escaped 3 years later and put her knowledge into saving her ass and getting by. So she kept killing and eventually found an employer. She was a merc of sorts, but not a convict hunter. Druggies, rapists, the scum of the galaxy were her targets. The same people that made her life hell for years. And anyone else who got in her way. Riddick sat on the counter leaning against the cabinets, bottle still in hand. She remained sitting with her chest fully exposed in front of him. "So...think you can take this shit off and let me get a fucking shirt now??" Kiki asked when she had finished her story. Riddick eyed her. "Will you be a good little girl or will you make me finish what I started?" Kiki laughed at that and a frown came to his face. "I think I can manage..." Riddick left the room and returned with a tshirt. He took the blindfold off of her and analyzed the bruises he had left on her cheek. The restraints came next and he handed her the oversized tee. "Thanks..." she mumbled. He stared at her form as she pulled the shirt over her head. Chapter 5 Riddick woke to a loud crashing sound. He sat straight up and darted silently to the door, shiv instantly in hand. He hit the release to open his door and cautiously stepped into the corridor. The room across from him, Kiki's room, was empty, the door wide open. Slowly, he traveled down the narrow hall towards the kitchen, where the noise had been heard. Then he saw it. A figure laying on the floor in a pool of blood. Kiki... he thought, for some reason feeling slightly panicked. He knew that if she was down, he very well could be soon as well. He silently walked to the corpse and realized it was not Kiki. But a young man. A big gauge lay on the floor by his hand. A sound drew Riddick's attention to the corridor once again. Kiki was standing there, shiv in hand and covered in blood. Her eyes flashed wildly at him. His mouth dropped when he realized she was nude."I think we need to get the fuck out of here." She stated, unaffected by her appearence. "Apparently, we gotta problem." With that, she walked into her room and Riddick darted to the cockpit, shutting the hatch and preparing for takeoff. "KIKI!!!" he yelled. "BETTER HOLD ON TO SOMETHIN'!" Riddick took off a few seconds later after gaining ground clearance. He sat back in the chair and ran a hand over his stubbled head. It was 3 am. He had been back to sleep for almost an hour. Fuck.... He had convinced himself to tell Kiki to go. That she needed to be as far away from him as possible. Now, they were stuck with 6 weeks journey to the nearest station with no cryo sleep. what the hell are you gonna do with yourself now, dickieboy??? just take her....fuck her.... His thoughts were shattered when Kiki kicked the door to the cockpit open. She dragged a body into the small space and looked at Riddick. It took him a minute to realize that it wasn't the dead body. "Found another one..." Kiki smiled, wiping a hand across her sweaty forehead. There was blood running down her arm. "You okay?" Riddick asked, rolling the man over. "I'll be aight...." She still smiled at him, still slightly out of breath from the tangle. "....I just figured you might want the pleasure of this one.....ask him who he is...." Kiki turned around to leave, laughing. "....you'll love it, I swear." Riddick pulled his shiv and pressed it into the man's neck. "Who the fuck are you?" Riddick asked. "Johns...Alex Johns...." The man answered, half in a beaten daze. Riddick's brow creased. Alex Johns? As in William Johns' brother? "Blue eyed devil...." Riddick muttered, staring at the identical eyes of his previous number one enemy. Alex choked as Riddick drove the blade through his neck until it hit the grate beneath. He looked up to see Kiki standing in the corridor, watching him, that same wild gleam in her eyes. "How did you know?" Riddick asked. "How did you know I wanted him?" Kiki just smiled. "I know a lot more than you think...." In an instant, Riddick was in front of her forcing her against a wall. "Tell me....now." He growled, wrapping a hand around her throat, causing the wound to break open, her blood once more trickling over his fingers. She smiled still and he became aware that she had a stab wound to her shoulder."Richard B. Riddick. In a space accident 4 years ago. 11 survivors. 3 got off that planet alive. The rest got ate the fuck up. Including Mr. William Johns, who was after you. You took the girl and the priest with you and dropped em on the next station. Left them there." Her smile faded."How do you know?" Riddick asked, his grip tightening. "Cause....I was there." She said seriously. Riddick's face contorted in confusion. "What the fuck are you talking about?" he asked, now sure that she was a lunatic. "It's me Riddick...Jack...." Riddick stared at her, shocked. can't be.... She returned his cold stare, sure that he was about to go off. Tell her it was bullshit. Before he got a chance, she continued. "Imam and me were with you for 9 weeks before you dropped us on Graizer 8. It was the worst fucking place I have ever been. It was kill or be killed. Imam left off to New Mecca when he heard that I was dead. I wanted him to leave. Couldn't afford to take me and I wasn't about to make him stay in that fucking shithole. Faked my death and got up with the only people that could keep me safe. That could teach me the concept of kill or be killed. People like you." Riddick couldn't believe what he was hearing. Slowly, he let go of her and backed up into the small living room. He sat on the couch, still staring at her, his arms limp at his sides. "That shit about Slam..." He finally said. "...was that true?" She sauntered over to the sofa and sat at the opposite end, facing him. "Sorry Riddick, but yeah....and please don't feed me the 'you're trying to be like me' bullshit either Riddick, cause I never wanted to end up like this no matter how bad I ever wanted to be with you...." Riddick was surprised by her revelation. "You wanted to be with me?" He said, still in shock and his mouth disobeying his mind. "Silly, I know..." Kiki laughed looking away. Neither one spoke for a while. Riddick just sat letting the chain of events sink in. No wonder she hadn't been afraid of him. It all made sense. "So....is Kiki your real name?" She nodded. Jack had been her alias aboard the hunter gratzner. "Why are you here?" Riddick asked abruptly. She stared at him and finally spoke. "I took that job because I knew you had taken it already. I was taking the off chance that I'd run into ya....get to catch up a little....looks like it worked. Just not how I thought it would..." She said, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "...I didn't wanna get you stuck dealin with me again....know how much you hated that...and I'm sorry...drop me wherever, I guess...." With that, she stood up, defeated and walked into the kitchen, picking up a bottle of whiskey. Riddick watched her. She thought he'd be happy to see her. But she had fucked up. Riddick was always alone and still didn't want her tagging along. She was serious when she said she just wanted to see him. She knew he'd never want her to stay around, anyway. She flopped back onto the sofa and took a large shot from the bottle. Riddick took it out of her hand and took a drink himself. Then he looked at her. "You think I'm not happy to see ya, kid?" He asked, a small smile coming to his lips. "Sure gotta great way of showin it, dickhead..." She joked. 'Dickhead' had been her nickname for him when they were trapped together on the skiff. He shook his head. "Damn girl. Woulda never thought you'd take this road...." Kiki shrugged. "Didn't really have a choice. Got raped twice and almost got stabbed to death before I made it....so it wasn't like a copycat thing..." she joked uneasily. Riddick felt the anger welling in his stomach and he took another drink. Kiki yawned. "If you don't mind, I'm gonna go get some more sleep...." She stood up and started to walk away. She turned to him. "...oh and...uh....sorry bout last night....i was pretty fucked up and shit...." She disappeared down the hall and Riddick knew she just wanted to let things be for the night. He sat there for an hour going over the fact that Jack was here again. How much she had changed. How much her body had changed. He couldn't believe any of it. He had developed a soft spot for the kid in the time they were on the skiff together, mostly because it was better talking to her than the holy man. She was like his sister and he could make fun of her and poke at her. But now....now he didn't think he could do those things without attacking her. He sighed and finished off the bottle, heading to his own bedroom. |