Author's Notes: Hi guys! Sorry about the delay but the holidays can be crazy. You guys are the greatest fans a girl could have and I am deeply touched by your continued love and support. I get so excited when I see new reviews so keep 'em coming ;) Enjoy!

Pitch Black: Darkness Falls

Chapter 25: Hope

As Isis fed, she felt all of her strength returning. All of the fear and uncertainty that had hung over her future for the past few days disappeared. The Beast rumbled with satisfaction. The relief was instantaneous. Her soul was no longer at war with itself and she was, once again, in complete control. Isis finished the last bit of John's body save for the head. She looked upon his face, his countenance forever frozen in terror, and growled with satisfaction.

She noticed a group of creatures nearby. They were watching her with forlorn desperation. Their collective hunger assaulted her consciousness. Feeling a swell of pity for her fellow monsters, Isis gently lifted Johns' head in her mouth and tossed it to them. The creatures swarmed the head and Isis watched them fight over the remains. Did I look that desperate when I attacked Johns? She heard movement nearby and turned. Riddick emerged from behind a large boulder. He looked at the pool of blood and gore at Isis' feet and said, "Mighty uncivilized thing you just did there, Isis."

Riddick. She had forgotten that he was there and she suddenly felt self-conscious. No human had ever laid eyes on her in this form and lived to tell about it. Now, there he was just staring at her but making no effort to come any closer. Is he frightened? Or worse, disgusted by what he's just seen? Countless questions and uncertainties rushed through her troubled mind when he finally began to walk in her direction. This is it, she thought. I knew this day would come. Isis held her breath and began to pad, slowly, in his direction.

Riddick:

Riddick walked towards Isis as if he were in a trance. His voice had sounded confident but he hadn't been this nervous in a long time. Riddick's emotional response to her presence confused and troubled him. Gettin' in too deep, he thought and yet, he couldn't tell his feet to stop. He wanted her with every fiber of his being. But, he didn't think he could ever feel that way again. Not since Amy. He felt the familiar pang of heartache when he allowed himself to think her name but he no longer felt guilty. That was a lifetime ago and he'd been alone for so long. Too long.

But, he'd done so many terrible things in his life. He suspected that whoever Isis had killed, likely deserved it. Could he say the same? And if she ever found out that everything they say about him was true, would she still want him? When they were a yards apart, Riddick stopped. He wasn't sure who or what was in control of the massive beast before him so he decided it was best to wait and let her come to him.

Isis closed the distance between them. She lowered her great head and locked her silver eyes on his-a perfect match. They gazed at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, against his better judgment, Riddick slowly raised his hand and touched the side of Isis' face. A deep rumble resonated within her chest and she closed her eyes. They relished each other's company for a moment before they heard the frenzied calls of the creatures surrounding them.

Isis:

Isis stood to her full height and growled dangerously. She knew they were wasting time and that Jack could be in danger. So she gathered her courage and spoke, "The creatures grow restless. Their hunger will soon overcome their fear, no matter how strong I may be. And I don't have the strength to fight them all." Riddick looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. "I seriously doubt that," he rasped. The awe and admiration she saw in his eyes laid to rest the fear of rejection in her heart. He saw her true self and he accepted it, unconditionally. The realization of a life with a man who knew all of her secrets and loved her anyways filled Isis with immeasurable joy. At that moment, Isis allowed herself to feel the most fragile of emotions: Hope.