Hope POV

As soon as everyone had our belongings gathered, we put it on the sled. With a nod, Johns turned around and started walking away. The other survivors followed closely behind.

Jack went over to me and placed herself next to me. With a smile I placed my good arm around her shoulder and together we started walking/limping after the others.

Slowly the group traveled through the dry desert. At the front were Johns and Shazza, with Fry and Paris next up. After them came Imam with his charges who were talking in Arabic to each other. Frostie followed after them. Jack and I were right before Blade, Peter, and Riddick, who were walking last.

We had been walking for half an hour now. The suns burned down on us all from all sides, making us all sweaty and slightly agitated.

Jack and I were having difficulty keeping up with the others. The fact that I could barely walk was no fun at all. Not to mention that the thin air made the humans take a hit of their breathers every few minutes.

Suddenly, Paris dropped one of his bottles. "Blast," he muttered while rolling his eyes up to the sky before turning around to get it. I watch the man pass before I force Jackie to stop.

"What's the matter?" she asks curiously but I shake my head, not wanting to answer. I watch the man land on his knees while making a grab for his bottle. But before he could touch it, a large hand grabbed it.

Paris paled when he saw who it was. Gulping, he slowly stood while Riddick righted himself to a stand. Licking his lips and rubbing his hands on his shirt, Paris then shakily held out his hand.

"Paris P. Ogilvie. Antiquities dealer, entrepreneur," introduced the man with a tremor of nervousness.

Riddick glanced down at the held out hand and then grabbed it with a smirk. "Richard B. Riddick. Escaped convict, murderer," he introduced himself, making the man pale even more. Riddick pulled the cork out of the bottle.

"T-that's a particularly good Shiraz. It's a lovely drop," stammered Paris.

When I saw Riddick grab the bottle, old memories of my boyfriend come up. The way he always kicked the shit out of me and yelling at me that it was my fault. I felt scared, like I had then, and panic washes over me.

Thinking quickly, I stumbled towards the duo and smack the bottle out of Riddick's hand. The big convict stared at me blankly, obviously surprised by my actions. Even he could be.

"I don't think that belongs to you Mister Riddick." I said, hands on my hips.

"Why, thank you, Hope, I might need that, yes." Paris said to her as he picked up the bottle.

"No, you don't," I snap and snatch the bottles from his hands.

Paris gulped and tried to pry them back. "Whatever do you think you're doing?"

"Alcohol is a vile drink that turns even the best of men into disgusting creatures," I say through gritted teeth while I tug on the bag. Then, being the girl I am, I kick him in the shin, and he let go with a yelp. I huff and make to leave with the bag as quickly as possible, leaving a dumbfounded Riddick behind.

Blade chuckled behind them in amusement. Though he was also a bit confused by my actions, he had a suspicion as to why I did that. Riddick shook his head and went back to the sled where he grabbed his rope from Blade's outstretched hand.

I came hopping over to Jack and wrapped an arm around her again. "Let's go." I order and start limping while Jack helps me.

"Why did you do that?" asked the girl half confused and half curious.

I sigh. "My boyfriend was a drinker. When I was sixteen, he started to drink really hard. I was afraid of my boyfriend for what he did to me, Unfortunately, drinking made him become more aggressive than he usually was, and I was used as the outlet for it." I shook my head.

"He just kept on abusing me until I finally got enough courage and told my parents, he's now in jail for domestic abuse. Thanks to him, I learned to hate alcohol. I've seen what it does to people, and it isn't pretty. I was with him from when I was sixteen to when I was eighteen." I explain.

Jack frowned "What a bastard! If I ever see him, I'll pay him back for what he did to you." exclaimed the young girl.

I smiled, touched by her words and hugged her a bit closer with my arm. "Aww, thanks Jack. I appreciate that." I told her. Jack blushed slightly and smiled before she glanced at the bag that hung over her other shoulder.

"What are you gonna do with that? You gonna throw that away?" he asked curiously while pointing at it.

I frown. That's what I want to do, but I knew we would need them for when the darkness would come. "Yeah, something like that." I mutter.

Blade and Riddick frowned. Both had easily overheard the little conversation with their sharp hearing. Now they knew why she had done that.

"Seems there's more to her then she lets on." murmured Riddick softly. Blade grunted in agreement.

Both wondered what else I was hiding. They knew that I hadn't told them everything. Another thing they wanted answers about was how I got a ticket to be on the ship. Last time they asked I didn't give an answer.

After another half an hour of walking the group arrived by the settlement. Everyone stopped to look around for a moment before they all went off to do our own thing. The mercs turned to their prisoners and told them to stay in sight before Frostie walked away, leaving Johns to watch the duo.

The two convicts went off on their own, making sure to keep Johns off their backs.