Light. I have always been fascinated with light. How we can't survive without it, how it always surrounds us even in the darkness. It had the ability to save us, yet the light from the sun also comes with heat, so it could also kill us. A double bladed weapon.

There was nothing left for me back home. My family were dead. Shot dead, in fact and I should be dead too but I had not been home to save them, to protect them. My little brothers and sisters, they'd been all shot through the head after my mother had been raped and my father tortured all because we owed these men money. They were my adopted family but my family all the same. They had no idea where I had come from or who my real parents were, I had just been left on their doorstep and they were too kind hearted to turn me away. Apparently I had been a very sweet baby. Anyway, they were dead now, all because we didn't have the money to pay up to some loaners.

You know the worse part? I had just got my payment from work to cover the last of the debt. Yeah, they died for nothing all because I had not run home fast enough. Now I was being a coward and running away from the only place I had ever called home, Earth, to find somewhere new. I was running away from my memories, from my fears. Well, the planet was dying anyway. I wanted to find somewhere with grass and waterfalls, like in the books I used to read as a child. I wanted to find nature. Real nature. Not the artificial stuff they made in labs.

Taking a deep breath I turned away from my home planet and boarded the ship called the Hunter-Gratsner, whatever the hell that meant. There were a few people bustling about, loading cargo and making sure their valuables were secured but all I had was my single survival pack with everything that was of value to me.

I looked at the cryostasis chambers trying to find my name but I passed one which sparked an interest. It was larger than some others with a muscular man inside, chained down like a dog and for a moment I frowned, unable to see his eyes because of the goggles but somehow, despite the chamber being fully active, I knew he was awake.

Curiously I tilted my head to the side, looking at the sign that warned me that this guy was dangerous. Well, it kind of goes without saying. I doubt you'd lock up a guy so tightly if he was only a celibate priest. I inched a little closer, my curiosity getting the better of me as I tried to get a better look, though I felt rude for staring. He was completely clean shaven and, as I said before, had a few pounds muscle going spare but apart from that I couldn't tell much else.

A hand clapped my shoulder and I instantly whipped around, gripping the offending wrist with my right hand whilst grabbing a fistful of shirt with my other, preparing to pummel the guy before I saw his uniform. Galactic police. Oh crap. I'm in trouble.

"Sorry." I quickly said as he laughed. I let him go then stepped back but he merely smirked and folded his arms across his chest.

"You lost girl?" I arched an eyebrow then lifted my chin.

"I am hardly a girl. I wouldn't be on this ship if I was just a girl, would I? Intergalactic rules, you know. No females under the age of twenty one to board a deep space vessel of any kind without escort. I have no escort, so I must be a woman of age." I could have sworn I heard a deep throaty chuckle and I instantly looked to the man in the chamber, tilting my head curiously towards him. "Who's this?"

"Now, little lady." At least he has learned his lesson not to call me girl. "Shouldn't you be asking my name first?" I did not like him. He was lean, well presented and clean shaven but there was something off about him, my primal instincts warning to back away but I held my ground as he got closer. He smelled wrong too, you know? Like when someone has this underlying bad smell they just tried to cover up with too much deodorant? That was the vibe I was getting from this guy and I seriously did not like it. "It's polite you know." I jerked my thumb at the prisoner.

"He interests me more." Again a chuckle, this time a little louder but still, this guy seemed oblivious.

"He's called Riddick. Cut throat killer and highly dangerous. You'd do well to stay away from him. I doubt he'll care if you got too close and he chose to snap your neck. It would be easy, almost too easy for him. Not even a challenge." I arched an eyebrow then snorted.

"I fight back. I'll give the jackass a damn challenge if he wants one." I muttered bitterly but as I turned around, the officer made the unwise move of grabbing my arm again. Out of pure instinct I gripped his arm, twisted it over my head then pressed my other hand against his shoulder, holding him down as he crumbled to his knees with a yelp of pain. "Didn't you learn last time? I don't like being grabbed. Now what do you want?" He smirked as I gripped his hand then hauled him to his feet, slinging my pack more squarely on my shoulder as I exhaled slowly.

"William J. Johns, at your service ma'am." He gave a little salute and I arched an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"Is that supposed to charm me?" I questioned and he smirked dangerously.

"A little." He admitted freely then yawned, stretching up to try and make his muscles look bigger so I looked away down at my old booted feet. "Where you headed?" I paused before shrugging.

"Anywhere but here. See you at the end of the flight." I gave him a mock salute then turned, continuing my search for the chamber with my details on it until I found it further up the other end. Evangeline Cooper, Female, Twenty-five and yeah, a few other details and stats. I looked at my bag then to the chamber before sighing and stepping in, anchoring it on my back so that there wasn't a chance of me losing it.

The moment the door closed I was surrounded by a burst of freezing cold smoky looking gas which instantly sent me into a cold, silent sleep. I could not tell whether I was awake or asleep completely, I felt stuck between the two, in limbo as it were which was better, because I only dreamed when in deep sleep, this was much better as I could rest without seeing my family's accusing faces.

There were moments when I could hear voices around me until they were silent, moments when I heard the rushing of engines until they too were silent. Everything simply fell into quietness until I could no longer feel anything. No pain, no grief, no regret just…nothing.