Section one: A Year Later
The Challenge in the Market
Jack stood on a stage as crowds of people passed by. Some would stop and look her over. She would receive a poke here and a prod there. Deep down inside she prayed for Riddick to suddenly appear and save her from this humiliating experience. No…he would not come. Only pure luck would bring him to her and luck seemed to spite her.
"You're in one hell of a mess, Jack B. Bad..." She muttered before she pondered about that name. It wasn't even her real name...it was, in fact, Audrey. So, of course she changed it to Jack. Yes...she had made that name up when she had first stepped on that ship, the Hunter-Gratzner. That was where she had first met him...actually she first met him after they had crashed on that planet. She frowned at the memory of all those people dying. Fry...Carolyn of all the people who shouldn't have died. Jack could sense Riddick's pain. Somehow, she felt it. Jack closed her eyes and puffed out a sigh.
"Bored already?" Tryc sneered. "Perhaps we should sign you up for the challenge."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jack demanded gritting her teeth.
"Brother..." Triit approached Tryc. "I don't think he could make it."
"That's the point. Let's teach him a lesson." Tryc's grin broadened.
"I don't th-" Triit was interrupted by Tryc's glare.
"Remember who you're with. This kid is our cargo. You are my partner. So I suggest you shut the fuck up." Tryc screamed so ferociously, spit sprayed his taller brother.
"I'm sorry." Triit backed down once again to his brother's demands.
"Now sign her up for the challenge." Tryc ordered as he turned to walk to the end of the stage.
"Please forgive me, Jack." Triit whispered walking by her to leave the stage. Jack was pretty sure she wasn't going to like what this "challenge" was. Well, she was alone now. Had she not been chained to the stage she would have made an escape or at least an attempt at one. The best she could do to relieve herself from boredom was to study her surroundings. The market was inside the belly of a cavern lit by torches. The other slaves were varied from young to old, frail to burly, scared to untouched. There were different races of both genders. Some struggled and others accepted their fate but one thing was clear. There was no one who had goggles or eyes that helped them see in the dark. Jack looked at the slavers who inspected each slave. They, too, differed from each other but they all had one thing in common. Freedom to buy slaves. Jack wrinkled her nose and looked away from the crowd. It was at that time that Triit returned with a grim expression on his face.
"Jack...you act as if you are a survivor. Let's hope that you are." He whispered.
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"I hate the both of you! I hope you die the most painful death ever imaginable!" Jack screamed at the brothers over the roaring thunder as they stood at the entrance of the cavern,
"I say it gives you a chance to shake off this enslaving fate." Tryc smiled evilly.
"What do you mean?" Though she was quite curious, her glare never wavered.
"Anyone who passes this challenge is a free man." Tryc shrugged matter-of-factly. "Which means…" He gestured her to finish the sentence."
"If I survive this, then I won't be a slave." Jack set her eyes outside of the cave. A bunch of other slaves were facing the challenge. "So tell me, what is the challenge?"
"You're going to be running out there. There is a mercenary ship at the far end. If you can make it to the ship, then you will become and automatic crew." Triit explained.
"And what do you get out of this?" Jack quirked a brow. "I find it hard to believe that you would risk losing your 'cargo' without benefiting in some way."
"You're right." Tryc's smile never left his face. "I sold you to the master of this game. You are like a racehorse. They pay good money for the young ones. It means they have more energy."
"Enjoy your pay." Jack hissed. "I will come for you." She made a gesture as if she were slitting her throat. "To give you the payment you deserve." Tryc's response was laughter. Triit furrowed his brows and mouthed "Good luck" before she was dragged to off to her position for the race. Her chains were removed and she was pushed outside of the cave. The firing of a gunshot signaled her to start running and running is just what she did. Triit called out her name and she slowed her pace to hear what he had to say. A bolt of lightning would have hit her but she tripped thus she was safe for then. Jack scrambled up and ran onward avoiding bolts of lightning.
"Sorry, Triit." She mumbled. "I can't talk to you in this position." It didn't take long for her to learn that listening to the rumble of the thunder aided her in keeping clear of the lightning. The thunder drowned out the cheers of those who looked on. The benefit of the storm was the flashing helped her to see the ship ahead. One man pushed he down to slow her down so that he would reach the ship first. Unfortunately a burst of karma punished him with a strike form the lightning. That was when Jack learned how strong it was. The man was singed in an instant. Jack swallowed hard and pushed herself up off the ground to continue her travel. When she arrived to the safety of the ship she was out of breath and wheezing. The ship was odd looking but it didn't really matter to her. She was free. Or so she thought. Her eyes shot back to the cavern where she saw Triit trying to capture her attention. He was so far away so it was impossible to here him especially over the thunder's murmur. Something about his frantic waving made her a tad bit nervous and she found out why as she turned to the owners of the ship. She felt the blood drain from her face as she saw tow men stitched by the limbs so they were back to back. What frightened her the most were their eyes. It looked as though daggers had poked them out. She had heard stories of these kinds of people known as Rykengolls. Tryc had deceived her yet again and Triit was trying to warn her. Before she could run away, the Rykengoll took a hold of her and brought her on to the ship. Jack cried out but no one could hear her or they did not want to. Only Triit listened but what could he do? The storm was getting worse and Tryc was keeping an eye on him.
"C'mon, Triit." Tryc turned to return to the cavern. "It's time we get back on the ship."
"Yeah..."Triit looked longingly at the Rykengoll ship as it started to take off as he whispered under her breath. "Please, Jack...survive through this..."
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Jack sat in a cell on the ship with her head in her hands. She was mad...enraged. Mad at Tryc for obvious reasons. Yet enraged with herself for her behavior to Triit, for falling into this trap that was set up. She knew she should have suspected something. Tryc was certainly named well.
"You seem distraught." A female voice whispered to her. Jack lifted her head up and studied her cellmate. A red-haired girl with ice blue eyes sort of smiled at her. Jack took note that she looked about her age and thought that she would trust her for now.
"I see you're a quick one..." She couldn't help but be sarcastic.
"What's the problem?" The girl ignored Jack's attitude which took her aback.
"I-uh...isn't it obvious?" Jack stammered.
"True...I was just hoping there was something more to it." The girl sighed. "I wanted to be a psychologist and I figured I could help you through your problems."
"You're an odd one." Jack muttered.
"Sorry if I weird you out." The girl laughed. "My name is Alxia."
"Alxia...alright." Jack sighed. "Why are you here?"
"To be part of the Rykengoll cult, you need to be stitched to another person." Alxia scratched her scalp to think harder. "If I'm not wrong…I think we're going to be Siamese twins."
"But I don't look like you." Jack blinked her eyes.
"You don't have to look like someone to be a twin!" Alxia snapped with some laughter in her voice. "I like you-uh...I didn't quite catch your name."
"Jack."
"Oh! Ahahahahaha! I must apologize. I thought you were a girl."
"I am..."
"Shit...this is a rough start."
"I enjoy seeing you stumble over yourself." Jack smiled for the first time since she was captured.
"Well at least we're getting somewhere, eh?" Alxia took a hold of her hand and shook it firmly.
"I'm sure I'd enjoy getting to know you but being stitched to you doesn't exactly appeal to me."
"I agree." Alxia sighed. "We'll let's make a pact!"
"A pact?" Jack was tried not to look interested but her voice gave it all away.
"Yes! Let's promise that we'll escape together so we can become the best of friends" Alxia spoke with passion. Jack's eyebrow twitched.
"A little on the sappy side, aren't we?" Jack spoke in that monotonous voice.
"Jack! Come on!" Alxia pleaded with her eyes.
"Fine fine!" Jack laughed and held out her hand. "I promise!" Alxia took her hand and pulled her into a hug. Jack cocked her head to the side and smiled a lopsided smile.
"You've made me the happiest!" Alxia cried with joy in her expression. Jack expected this year to be the longest year of her life.
The Challenge in the Market
Jack stood on a stage as crowds of people passed by. Some would stop and look her over. She would receive a poke here and a prod there. Deep down inside she prayed for Riddick to suddenly appear and save her from this humiliating experience. No…he would not come. Only pure luck would bring him to her and luck seemed to spite her.
"You're in one hell of a mess, Jack B. Bad..." She muttered before she pondered about that name. It wasn't even her real name...it was, in fact, Audrey. So, of course she changed it to Jack. Yes...she had made that name up when she had first stepped on that ship, the Hunter-Gratzner. That was where she had first met him...actually she first met him after they had crashed on that planet. She frowned at the memory of all those people dying. Fry...Carolyn of all the people who shouldn't have died. Jack could sense Riddick's pain. Somehow, she felt it. Jack closed her eyes and puffed out a sigh.
"Bored already?" Tryc sneered. "Perhaps we should sign you up for the challenge."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jack demanded gritting her teeth.
"Brother..." Triit approached Tryc. "I don't think he could make it."
"That's the point. Let's teach him a lesson." Tryc's grin broadened.
"I don't th-" Triit was interrupted by Tryc's glare.
"Remember who you're with. This kid is our cargo. You are my partner. So I suggest you shut the fuck up." Tryc screamed so ferociously, spit sprayed his taller brother.
"I'm sorry." Triit backed down once again to his brother's demands.
"Now sign her up for the challenge." Tryc ordered as he turned to walk to the end of the stage.
"Please forgive me, Jack." Triit whispered walking by her to leave the stage. Jack was pretty sure she wasn't going to like what this "challenge" was. Well, she was alone now. Had she not been chained to the stage she would have made an escape or at least an attempt at one. The best she could do to relieve herself from boredom was to study her surroundings. The market was inside the belly of a cavern lit by torches. The other slaves were varied from young to old, frail to burly, scared to untouched. There were different races of both genders. Some struggled and others accepted their fate but one thing was clear. There was no one who had goggles or eyes that helped them see in the dark. Jack looked at the slavers who inspected each slave. They, too, differed from each other but they all had one thing in common. Freedom to buy slaves. Jack wrinkled her nose and looked away from the crowd. It was at that time that Triit returned with a grim expression on his face.
"Jack...you act as if you are a survivor. Let's hope that you are." He whispered.
..................................................................................................................................................
"I hate the both of you! I hope you die the most painful death ever imaginable!" Jack screamed at the brothers over the roaring thunder as they stood at the entrance of the cavern,
"I say it gives you a chance to shake off this enslaving fate." Tryc smiled evilly.
"What do you mean?" Though she was quite curious, her glare never wavered.
"Anyone who passes this challenge is a free man." Tryc shrugged matter-of-factly. "Which means…" He gestured her to finish the sentence."
"If I survive this, then I won't be a slave." Jack set her eyes outside of the cave. A bunch of other slaves were facing the challenge. "So tell me, what is the challenge?"
"You're going to be running out there. There is a mercenary ship at the far end. If you can make it to the ship, then you will become and automatic crew." Triit explained.
"And what do you get out of this?" Jack quirked a brow. "I find it hard to believe that you would risk losing your 'cargo' without benefiting in some way."
"You're right." Tryc's smile never left his face. "I sold you to the master of this game. You are like a racehorse. They pay good money for the young ones. It means they have more energy."
"Enjoy your pay." Jack hissed. "I will come for you." She made a gesture as if she were slitting her throat. "To give you the payment you deserve." Tryc's response was laughter. Triit furrowed his brows and mouthed "Good luck" before she was dragged to off to her position for the race. Her chains were removed and she was pushed outside of the cave. The firing of a gunshot signaled her to start running and running is just what she did. Triit called out her name and she slowed her pace to hear what he had to say. A bolt of lightning would have hit her but she tripped thus she was safe for then. Jack scrambled up and ran onward avoiding bolts of lightning.
"Sorry, Triit." She mumbled. "I can't talk to you in this position." It didn't take long for her to learn that listening to the rumble of the thunder aided her in keeping clear of the lightning. The thunder drowned out the cheers of those who looked on. The benefit of the storm was the flashing helped her to see the ship ahead. One man pushed he down to slow her down so that he would reach the ship first. Unfortunately a burst of karma punished him with a strike form the lightning. That was when Jack learned how strong it was. The man was singed in an instant. Jack swallowed hard and pushed herself up off the ground to continue her travel. When she arrived to the safety of the ship she was out of breath and wheezing. The ship was odd looking but it didn't really matter to her. She was free. Or so she thought. Her eyes shot back to the cavern where she saw Triit trying to capture her attention. He was so far away so it was impossible to here him especially over the thunder's murmur. Something about his frantic waving made her a tad bit nervous and she found out why as she turned to the owners of the ship. She felt the blood drain from her face as she saw tow men stitched by the limbs so they were back to back. What frightened her the most were their eyes. It looked as though daggers had poked them out. She had heard stories of these kinds of people known as Rykengolls. Tryc had deceived her yet again and Triit was trying to warn her. Before she could run away, the Rykengoll took a hold of her and brought her on to the ship. Jack cried out but no one could hear her or they did not want to. Only Triit listened but what could he do? The storm was getting worse and Tryc was keeping an eye on him.
"C'mon, Triit." Tryc turned to return to the cavern. "It's time we get back on the ship."
"Yeah..."Triit looked longingly at the Rykengoll ship as it started to take off as he whispered under her breath. "Please, Jack...survive through this..."
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Jack sat in a cell on the ship with her head in her hands. She was mad...enraged. Mad at Tryc for obvious reasons. Yet enraged with herself for her behavior to Triit, for falling into this trap that was set up. She knew she should have suspected something. Tryc was certainly named well.
"You seem distraught." A female voice whispered to her. Jack lifted her head up and studied her cellmate. A red-haired girl with ice blue eyes sort of smiled at her. Jack took note that she looked about her age and thought that she would trust her for now.
"I see you're a quick one..." She couldn't help but be sarcastic.
"What's the problem?" The girl ignored Jack's attitude which took her aback.
"I-uh...isn't it obvious?" Jack stammered.
"True...I was just hoping there was something more to it." The girl sighed. "I wanted to be a psychologist and I figured I could help you through your problems."
"You're an odd one." Jack muttered.
"Sorry if I weird you out." The girl laughed. "My name is Alxia."
"Alxia...alright." Jack sighed. "Why are you here?"
"To be part of the Rykengoll cult, you need to be stitched to another person." Alxia scratched her scalp to think harder. "If I'm not wrong…I think we're going to be Siamese twins."
"But I don't look like you." Jack blinked her eyes.
"You don't have to look like someone to be a twin!" Alxia snapped with some laughter in her voice. "I like you-uh...I didn't quite catch your name."
"Jack."
"Oh! Ahahahahaha! I must apologize. I thought you were a girl."
"I am..."
"Shit...this is a rough start."
"I enjoy seeing you stumble over yourself." Jack smiled for the first time since she was captured.
"Well at least we're getting somewhere, eh?" Alxia took a hold of her hand and shook it firmly.
"I'm sure I'd enjoy getting to know you but being stitched to you doesn't exactly appeal to me."
"I agree." Alxia sighed. "We'll let's make a pact!"
"A pact?" Jack was tried not to look interested but her voice gave it all away.
"Yes! Let's promise that we'll escape together so we can become the best of friends" Alxia spoke with passion. Jack's eyebrow twitched.
"A little on the sappy side, aren't we?" Jack spoke in that monotonous voice.
"Jack! Come on!" Alxia pleaded with her eyes.
"Fine fine!" Jack laughed and held out her hand. "I promise!" Alxia took her hand and pulled her into a hug. Jack cocked her head to the side and smiled a lopsided smile.
"You've made me the happiest!" Alxia cried with joy in her expression. Jack expected this year to be the longest year of her life.