Chapter two


Riddick took one look at the nice little house where Imam lived and a grin graced his lips. Getting inside the house was easier than he would have liked. The hair that was dangling around his eyes reminding him that it needed cut. Aw he couldn't wait to see Jacks face...


Kyra was shaken awake as the ship started to move. Everyone was rushing about, and she signed. She stretched and walked over to the small pouch of silk she made from her bedding. Inside were seven pieces of leathery beef jerky,and some nuts and dried fruit, she took only a little to eat. How many times had she felt a plants death. Twenty maybe more. This plightful thought took her to warm sky's with white stone buildings, her friends. All those she had enjoyed everyday were gone, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Letting it out, the perpetual numbness at the base of her skull returned. Soon enough these hall would be cleared and she would sleep.


The house smelled of fine sandal wood and spice, Riddick sat in the shadows and waited. A picture sat on the wall of two girls, one no older than seven, and the other was around 17. She had long hair and bright eyes, so beautiful. A chill covered Riddicks skin, Jack wasn't suppose to be...attractive. The front door opened revealing Imam, now Riddick would get the answers he sought. He would sort all this out and enjoy some time with humanity, with Jack


Silence lined the hall where Kyra resided, they were like drones with there pale dead face. Every once in a while she would she one pass, one she had known before, her school nurse. All they did was mummer about the underverse and the new converts, it was disgusting Maybe they were keeping her here to torture her, show her how they will slowly pick apart the universe . Bring before her all the new recruits, cold and scared and covered in filth. Just to spit them out clean and cooled, unfeeling, absent of any needs or wants. A tune came to her lips, soft and sad. Her choir teacher had made her sing, and when she did it was known that she was good. The mournful song could never be taken away from her.

"Why does the caged bird sing?" Kyra jumped at the voice, a man leaning against the pillar. She was rarely spoken to, and did know if it would be wise to respond. He approached her metal crypt, "My lowest priest has forgotten about you my dear, very unkind of him." The priest climbed the steps that circled the base of the cage and went to the door. " He is less than worthy to care for you my dear." He looked completely at home in her cell, he placed a nice sized bundle on her table that sat about a foot from the grow in the corner. " Now we must speak while everyone is distracted with conversion. I see the power of the now and the potential of tomorrow. You my dear are not going to be here much longer." He spoke so softly Kyra moved closer to hear, unafraid. "Will I die?" Her voice sounded foreign, afraid and broken. " No my dear, do you know why you were put in this cage? You were put here because you are one of the few beings that would not survive being converted. You will is just to strong, and this will not be you ending place. You may never view the underverse" He walked to the door , then turned back. " That is the best food I could find and you will be getting a new dress. Soon we will be on a new planet and the food will get better. My sister was like you, she to stayed here."

He opened the door and locked it. Just for a second Kyra thought about trying to run, but she would be stopped by her lack of energy. "Why didn't you help your sister?" Kyra whispered, and when he started to answer Kyra was suprized he heard her. "I did" Kyra approached the bundle and began to go through it contents, the food was good, almost old but go enough to eat. She believed him, so she ate with out portioning the food out, with no thought of the future. Kyra easing going to end here...


"What do you mean you lost contact?" Riddick was furious. Not only had he been sold out by his old friend but now this bitch elemental wanted him to win a war for them. Like her was some sorta hero, and they didn't even think Jack had survived ...her planet had been destroyed. She had been in boarding school studying, being a good kid just like he had told her too, and these creeps came and ruined that. " Long have you been with out contact?" He asked. Imam's voice sounded like a prayer. " Almost 8 months now, you must understand I didn't know this would happpen" The man was grieving. " I thought you would protect her, keep her close by, take care if her." " This is what she wanted, Kyra was a gifted and this school offered a scholarship. She just wanted so badly to do good, she always hoped you would come back." Imam had loved Jack like a daughter, losing her had been the moving force for helping Aereon. " There is still a chance she could be alive, if she was converted she could be with them. If you were to find her, she could be helped." Aereon suggested. The sounds of solders approaching got Riddick's attention. Why was he always so lucky.


Kyra felt the ship get ready to land, she had over heard talk of Helion Prime. Imam use to tell her that death is a debt all humans must pay to live such a wonderful life, but what about now Imam. why would people have to pay to live such a live with no joy? Will I see you though these doors, or will you hold out? Kyra though to herself. Her fingers laced through ice cold bars of onyx, her slender arms covered in frayed sleeves. She often thought about if this is what Riddick felt like when he was locked away. Not like Riddick wouldn't have escaped months ago,he would have strong enough...He would have fought back