Some walls are thicker than stone….

The sky was a peculiar shade of purple that night, and staring up at it I felt almost lost in the world. I sat on my chaise, leaning back, legs crossed. The air was thick, yet there was a slight breeze, and it made the trees rustle almost impatiently. This was one of the only planets that could still boast the harvesting of living trees. Candles flickered and created shadows, which danced on the stone floor of the patio. I knew that I was safe here, behind the 10ft stonewalls of my garden. Safe from the world I had known, safe from the prying eyes on the other side. They didn't keep me in, but they kept all else out. Until tonight, that is.

I'm not sure why he didn't come to the door. He couldn't have thought that I would turn him away. But he came over the wall nonetheless, moving like no other animal I have ever encountered. He moved stealthily, but didn't try to hide from me. I had never seen him before, not with my own eyes. But I knew him without a doubt. How could I not?

His gait slowed as he approached me, and for some reason this caused my heart to quicken with fear. But I knew he couldn't tell, not unless he was a mind reader. There was no way I was going to let him smell emotion on me. Just as slowly I rose from my seat.

"I thought that you would have come sooner." My voice did not waver. "I've been waiting for you."

He didn't bother to respond, but instead lifted his goggles and removed them.

I could attempt to explain his eyes, but I wouldn't know where to begin… or how to end.

He began to give me a thorough once-over, which he made no attempt to hide. It wasn't sexual, but rather the sizing up of one whom you are determined not to trust. I could feel his eyes moving over me, with a cruel scrutiny that a mirror could not rival. My dark unruly curls were pinned up, but undoubtedly some had fallen around the crown of my head. I always wore makeup, I felt battered without it, but it was simply a mild coat of camouflage. A couple of ragged scars peeked through, but no wrinkles yet. My eyes were still the focal point of my face. Huge and brown and bottomless, or so I was once told. I knew that I still had much beauty left, but he wasn't looking for it, and made no indication that he had found it.

"You have been waiting for me?" Like gravel under heavy boots. "I don't get that too often.."

I motioned for him to sit in one of the chairs facing mine. He looked at me like an insect he wished to crush. Time seemed to stand still, and I fought my breath not to catch in my throat. Finally I found speech.

"I don't know exactly what happened to her, I only know that she is gone."

He didn't flinch, didn't move. But I was observant, and I saw the muscles in his neck tighten. I still fought back the fear. I knew if I let myself feel it he would smell it on me like an animal.

"I want to know everything you know about her. Everything."

I didn't' bother gesturing again, I simply took my seat and waited. Finally he sat as well, but in kept the stance of one ready to strike – legs apart, back rigid, as if ready to pounce at any moment. The gravity of the situation was beginning to hit me. I knew that this day would come, or at least I thought it would. The Riddick that I had heard of would come looking for the girl one day, this I knew. And if he was as clever as I'd been told, he would find me. Nonetheless, sitting across from this infamous individual was much more intense than I could have imagined. I'm not sure how much time I spent thinking about this, but he was getting impatient.

" I need to know about Kyra. Let's go."

I took a moment before I responded.

"The first time I met her, her name was Jack."

He couldn't hide it this time. He clenched his jaw and his brow wrinkled. I might as well have threw the words at him and hit him in the face.

"When you bought her from a merc," he spit at me.

I had known this would be coming, but still hadn't expected the bitterness in his voice. Could I explain? Would he believe me?

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