I looked up at Riddick. His eyes flashing in the light. What can he see? Riddick nodded while everyone else began to gather things up that could be used for light. I stood and looked at him.

"Are you sure Riddick? This isn't something you would normally do," I whispered to him in the darkness. His gaze fell down to me. His left hand came around my back and pulled me toward him. His body pulsated with heat. His smile was devilish and gave me the urge to giggle. He leaned down to me and whispered in my left ear. "I'm sure. I don't want you dying before you can feel me again." He kissed my neck, letting shivers run through my body.

Johns walked up then and pulled me away. He stood between me and Riddick, with his gun at Riddick's throat.

"Liz, you don't know anything about this son-of-a-bitch. Stay away from him, or I'll kill him myself."

With those words, Johns whipped around and grabbed me around the waist and pulled me away. I looked back at Riddick, who was just standing there. He looked so calm, but if I know anything it's this: looks can be deceiving.

Everyone watched as Johns pushed me into the group, knocking me into Jack in the process. "My little slave girl here was disobeying me again. Don't concern yourselves with her, she needs to be punished."

Those last words were directed at me. I could feel Johns blue eyes looking at me up and down, knowing what he meant by "punished."

Fry lead the way out of the ship and over to the other piece of the ship. We couldn't see any monsters around, of course we wouldn't cause the light burns them. Riddick went to the front of the group to inspect the ship.

He took a minute to look around before turning his head slightly to the right and saying, "Looks clear."

Johns took this moment to move forward with his gun. Then a large bird-like creature flew out at us. Everyone hit the ground. Johns turned to Riddick and yelled, "You said 'Clear.'" Riddick shook his head. "I said it looks clear." "What does it look like now?" Riddick turned his head back to the ship at Johns' question. Then he looked back at Johns and smiled. "Looks clear."

I had moved my way slowly up the group, using a small glow stick I had found in my jacket pocket to ward off the monsters, in order to get closer to Riddick and see what was going on. As soon as I was close enough to touch him, Johns grabbed my wrist and pulled me up. I gasped, helpless to stop him. Johns smiled at Riddick as he pushed me into the ship, using me as bait for any other creatures Riddick might have "missed." Riddick stood and quickly followed, as did the others. Once inside, everyone began searching for any lights we could use.

Fry demanded Riddick's attention to see what he would need on the way. I went over to help Jack untangle some lights he had found. "I want light on my back, but not in my eyes," I heard Riddick say to Fry. "Check for cuts. These bastards know our blood now."

At those last few words, Jack looked up. He looked afraid.

"What's wrong?" I asked trying to help. Jack turned to me, his eyes filled with terror. "Don't tell anyone, but...but…" "Spit it out Jack. What's wrong?" Jack leaned closer to me and whispered, "I'm bleeding."

I looked the boy over quickly looking for any cuts. "No, you're not." Jack shook his head and whispered again. "I'm a girl and trust me when I say I am." I smiled and shook my head. "No, Jack you can't be a …" I stopped and thought back. He did have girlish qualities. When formulating a plan, he looked so scared and had a girlish tone to his voice. I quickly looked over Jack's face, taking in every detail. I gasped. He is a girl!

I looked around to see if anyone could hear before leaning in closer to whisper to Jack. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

Jack's eyes began to fill with tears as she explained. "I didn't want anyone to mess with me. I was scared and figured it would be better for me if everyone thought I was a boy. I didn't think it would matter…I…I'm sorry."

She placed her head on my shoulder. I held her close telling her things like "It'll be alright," and "I won't tell, I promise." When I finally had Jack's confidence, she went back to work on the lights.

Everyone was ready to go. The last four energy cells were loaded up and ready to be pulled and all the lights had some sort of energy keeping them on. I walked forward and put my hand on Riddick's shoulder. He turned and looked at me. I smiled at him. "Don't worry about me. I won't let anything happen to you," he said, cupping my face in his hands.

I closed my eyes and smiled. I looked back up at him after a few moments, my heart beating wildly.

"Riddick," I said in a quiet voice, "if one of us doesn't make it, I want you to know that…I love you." I turned from him and headed back to the others, getting ready to make a run for it.