Ch. 2

Walk Away From

     Turning our attention, we move now to the opposite side of the relationship. . .Riddick.  Slowly, and most carefully we regress from the bathroom and make our way into the bedroom Riddick and Jack share.  To any normal person when you enter the room you see a prone, Riddick sleeping peacefully on a bed but to the trained eye one would know he's wide awake. . .his mind is working overtime.  If you were an expert you'd see the conflict etched in his expression but if you  were Riddick you'd  see the battle that rages inside his mind.  Let us just listen, hear the other side of this sad story. . .

     He knew what he did was wrong.  He knew he hurt Jack.  He knew every single time he hit that girl-that WOMAN- a little piece of what she once was disappears.  He hated himself for it, for every second and every movement he made against her.  Riddick knew if he kept it up eventually the beast inside him would completely overtake him and then there would be no more 'Riddick and Jack' because Jack would be dead. . .by his hands.  Riddick wanted to stop more than anything but something inside him found pure pleasure in the feel of his hand slamming against Jack's fragile face.

     Riddick wanted to cry, wanted to scream, wanted to bleed. . .something-ANYTHING.  What he was doing was wrong but no matter what he tried he couldn't stop.  When he hit Jack he was once again in control of himself and his life, it was addicting.  Why couldn't he just STOP?!  Why couldn't he just put his hand down and walk away?  Riddick opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling and then shut them again.  Staring at the ceiling would get him a whole hell of a lot of nowhere in a short time.  

'Because you idiot!  You live this!  This is YOU!  Destruction of a beautiful creature. . .it is what you are.  It is what you do.  You are an animal a beast, don't ever forget this'  The evil voice in his head spoke in its normal evil tone of voice. . .HIS voice.

'No!'  Riddick put his hands to his head. . .he didn't need this not now.  Sighing, he couldn't help but fight back with his other half,  'I'm not like that!  That is not me!  It never will be.  Jack loves me.  I will never destroy her.'  The better side of Riddick defended.

'You already are. . .' The voice snickered.  'Look at what you've done to her.  You know she's in the bathroom crying. . .sulking over what she's become.  You should just kill her.  Put her out of the misery.'  The voice hissed.

Riddick turned his head in the direction of the bathroom door.  The voice was right, he could hear Jack crying. . .he could always hear her.  'No!  No!  No!  Its fine.  She's okay and I will be.  Its my fault.  I can stop this.  I hurt her. . . I love her.  I can't do this.'  Riddick closed his eyes again, wanting to forget. . .wanting to end the battles of his mind.

'Oh shut up you insolent fool!  Don't you understand. . .it's HER fault.  She made you like this.  She makes you hit her.  It is her that put you in the position you're in.  Pussy whipped is what you are!'

'I don't care!  Its not her fault.  I love her.'

'She made you give up what you love, killing.  You don't love her. . .you love killing her.'  The voice whispered in its dark velvet way, it was getting to Riddick. . .he could feel it wrapping around his thoughts.

Riddick's better half tried desperately to defend. . .but it was nearly futile.  'I will never kill her.  Never.'

'Oh but you already are.  You are a predator. . .you will never fail to do what is in your nature to do.'

'No. . .it isn't.  No. . .I'm not.  It's not her fault.  I'm just a sick fuck up.'  Riddick opened his eyes and sat up in bed, rubbing his hands over his head but like always he shut his eyes once more, and continued his debate with his other half.

'Always remember, Dickey boy. . .remember SHE was the one that took you away from killing.'

'No.'

'She was the one that has caged you like an animal and is fattening you up like a prized fucking heifer.'

'No.  Not true.'

'You've become soft and weak.  She has taken the MAN out of you.'

'Liar.'  Riddick tried to deny what the voice was saying but he could see truth in what the voice was saying.  No.  It wasn't true.

'How can I lie?  I am you and you are me.  We are the same you and I, Dickey.'

'Never.'

'Only I'm the evil side and well. . .so are you.'

'No.'  Riddick shook his head almost violently.

'Remember. . .I know what you are thinking.  I am you.  You will end Jack.  You will see.  I've always been right.'

Riddick put his head in his hands, 'Fuck off.' 

'She's worse than Johns, my boy. . .she's the chains that are keeping you from going anywhere.  You will never be like her.'

"No!"  Riddick finally spoke aloud this time, the conversation was ended.  He won. . .at least so he thought.

*********

     Riddick had just finally laid back down in the bed when Jack emerged from the bathroom.  He watched silently as she walked to her dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of shorts.  He watched as with her back turned to him she let the towel drop from her body revealing fresh, clean skin. . .only it was marred with terrible bruising along her ribs and back, he could only imagine what the front of her body looked like.

     As Jack turned around he closed his eyes and waited for her to enter the bed.  As Jack laid down Riddick listened in pain as a strained whimper escaped her lips. 

Riddick turned on his side, "Jack are you okay?"

Jack immediately stopped moving. . .completely frozen like a deer in headlights and finally spoke, "I'm sorry. . .Did, did. . . I wake you?"

The tinge of fear in Jack's voice hurt him deeply, "No. . .I've been awake.  Are you okay sweetie?"

Jack closed her eyes and them opened them, "Yes. . .I'm fine Richard."

Riddick smiled sadly, "I'm sorry Jack."

"Don't be.  Its okay.  Its not your fault."

"Yes it is.  Here. . ."  Slowly Riddick eased Jack back onto the bed, "Let me make it better."

     Jack could do nothing but lay back and comply.  She watched as Riddick slowly lifted her shirt and pulled in gingerly over her head.  He then dipped his head down to Jack's freshly bruised ribs and kissed each bruise softly.  Her heart slowly melted to mush as his lips worked their magic on her.  'I love him so much. . .I can't leave him.  I don't know how to live without him.'  

     Slowly Riddick worked his way up Jack's body and pressed his lips to Jack's.  The feeling of Jack there by him was so intoxicating.  He loved her so much.  Riddick carefully rolled on top of Jack. . .he wanted her so much but how could he take her after what he'd already done to her.  He felt compelled to ask.

"Jack. . .can I. . .shit, can we. . .do you want to. . .Jack-"

Jack pressed a finger to Riddick's lips, "Yes.  Make love to me Riddick."  Jack smiled softly.

     Riddick needed no more encouragement, slowly he removed Jack's short followed by his own.  Riddick rolled completely onto Jack and most gingerly eased himself into Jack.  'This feels so beautiful.'

"Jack. . .I love you."  Riddick panted softly.

Jack put her hand to Riddick's cheek, "I love you too, Richard.  More than anything."

     Riddick reached his head down and captured Jack's lips with his own.  Things were okay. . .at least for now.