I wait as long as I can, my eyes scanning the hall and my ears listening back in the cell. 'So bored, cant focus.' I look into the darkness of the cell and slowly stand up. I back out of the cell and head down the hall towards the door, refusing the instinct to look into the cells but continuously looking over my shoulder. I open the door and stride down the hall, reminding me of when I was little and would wander around the loading docks. It only takes a few turns to get into memorable atmosphere. It is relatively well lit compared to the cells where Riddick stays and I follow the same steps I took the first day to find the mess hall. A long line of inmates wraps around the outside of the crowded room. 'You can take being hungry for a while longer.' I wander around the tables, feeling tons of eyes watching me as I move. 'Its about time I found a familiar face.' I smile and move quietly to the last table, taking a seat beside a tall guy, watching him eat and ignore me. His light skin shows a few scars along his hands and arms but I know that those don't have anything to do with why he's here. His short black hair is cut close to his head, but not quite as close as Riddick's, and his eyelids keep closed, keeping me from seeing his dark brown eyes. He is still young, probably in his early twenties, his dark skin looking darker than it really is against his white shirt and light pants. I sigh trying to make him look at me but he doesn't even budge. 'A bit to sure of himself.' I peer into the bowl in front of him, not quiet knowing what it is. 'Looks kinda like those Raman Noodles I use to make. Hum.' "So? Can I have some or not? I mean I thought I could get some well deserved food from an old friend instead of standing in that long ass line." His eyes open and he looks over at me. 'At least that got his attention.'

"It's about time you got back here." He pushes the bowl over to me and I pick up the fork, pushing the contents around in the liquid.

I take a huge mouthful and force myself to swallow. I cringe, "Well, it looked good."

"You'll get use to it." He says pushing the bowl to me when I try to give it beck. He looks at me weird before lightly grabbing my chin and turning my head to get a better look at my face. "What happened to you?"

"I tried to make a name for myself and it didn't really work."

"Who did it to you?" He asks, brushing a thumb over the bruised skin lightly.

I laugh, "Which time?"

He looks at me seriously, "Who has hurt you? All of them."

"Take it easy Aaron, most of them are either dead or really hurt." 'Or still asleep.'

You should stay with me tonight or until you find somewhere else. Where were you staying?"

"Oh, down in the heavy security which as a matter of fact doesn't have very good security."

"You were alone in the dark?! For how long?!"

"A few hours, I don't know. I was asleep." He gives me a shocked look. "Its alright. Nothing bad happened, see I'm still in one piece." I take another bite of noodles, "Hum, not so bad the second time. Out of place movement catches my eye. 'Riddick.' I keep my head down as he walk towards me but he just passes behind me. I let out a breath I was holding and continue eating.

"His names Riddick." Aaron says. "The guy who just passed by."

"Never heard of him." I lie, seeming uninterested.

Aaron seems surprised, "Really? Wow, you're the first. That guy has killed more people then any one else in this hell hole." He glances over at Riddick who is sitting alone eating his food.

'Sit and listen, Arc. Learn all you can.' "Really?" I say, uninterested.

"Word is, they found him as a babe in a liquor store dumpster, his own cord wrapped around his neck." I shoot a quick glance at Riddick. "Too bad whoever did it didn't finish the job. Would have saved the lives of a ton of people."

I grin, "And you've always cared about others, huh Aaron?"

"Hey, I'm one of the few here who's never killed anyone. I've never had a problem with people." He states defensively.

"Yeah, you're just a money hungry loser who will do anything for a buck." I laugh. "Even grab a few hundred people's life savings straight from the bank. Then you take the bank it came from."

"Shut the fuck up!" he lunges at me in the rage that got him sent here but I stand up and grab his arm, pulling him off balance and grabbing the base of his skull, slamming his forehead once hard against the table. I let go of him and he holds himself up, one hand on the table and the other holding his head.

'A little concussed are we?' "You watch yourself Aaron, don't let that temper get the better of you." I sigh and help him back into his chair, only then noticing everyone is looking at me. Everyone but Riddick. 'Where is Riddick?' His bowl and seat had been abandoned. 'Oh well, at least he didn't see this.' I look at Aaron, "Are you ok?"

"I don't know. Are you going to do that again?"

"Not unless you attack me. Got to watch my ass. No show of weakness in this place." I look around at a few guys who are looking me over, eyes stopping over my ass and chest. "What is with the guys here? Are they all pervs?"

Aaron stands, "Think of it this way, its not often a young woman gets sent here. Especially since you're so sexy." He rolls his eyes teasingly. We walk down out of the mess hall laughing, the people around us looking at us like we are more insane then they are.

"Oh come on Aaron. You know you want me." I walk ahead of him and turn around, to face him, moving my hands down my sides slowly and resting them on my hips.

"You wish. You're the opposite of my taste." He keeps walking and I just walk backwards in front of him.

"Don't be coy. I see how you long for me." I laugh, unable to stop. I just keep laughing and walking backwards until he starts laughing too.

"I long for you? You must be crazier then they thought. Maybe you should be in an asylum."

"Nah, if they sent me to an asylum, the way I act would drive they patients sane and they would loose all their business." He stops laughing and pulls me back to him, putting his arm over my shoulders.

"What the? Aaron?" I look up and see Riddick up ahead leaning against a wall, looking at his shiv. He tilts the metal catching the light just right to reflect it at me. I swallow hard, freaked out. 'Holy shit. How can he be so fuckin scary?'

Aaron stops and starts to turn. I look over at him but he just whispers in my ear, "We'll go around. I don't want him near you, even if it looks like you're mine, he might not care and take you."

I shake my head, suddenly annoyed, "Come on Aaron, quit being a baby." I pull away from him and walk towards Riddick. I keep the same pace I had before Aaron stopped. I look up at Riddick as I get closer, his dark goggles over his eyes but I can tell he is watching me. I smile and shake my head. "You really know how to kill a party, Riddick." He gives me an amused look, and I think for a moment, "So to speak."