Chapter 9 – Child's Innocence

The heat intensifies as the day progresses. Lina continues onward in a rush as if her life depended on it.

Riddick easily keeps up and grabs her by the arm catching her unaware. His strength pulls her in reverse and she almost stumbles back into him.

"What's the sudden rush?" He asks in a low voice.

Lina is nearly out of breath and almost doesn't register what he said. "W-What?" She replies looking frantically at the ground then the sky.

Riddick grabs her face in his hand and forces her to look at him. She calms down somewhat mesmerised by the reflection of herself in his dark goggles.

"I have a daughter." She states as if the fact just came to her. "My daughter," she repeats, "I must get to her."

"Just hold on there a minute. You never mentioned a kid before."

I can't believe those bastards made me forget my own freak'n daughter.

Lina looks at Riddick, eyes swelling, tears forming and rather irrationally pleas, "I'll tell you everything you want to know, just please," she pauses, "help me get my daughter."

"What makes you think I'm even here to help you? Huh!?" His voice angers and his grip tightens.

Lina doesn't even struggle. There is no time to argue. "Then leave." She mutters.

"Excuse me!?" He answers tossing her back slightly and creaking his neck. "I don't think you quite grasp the situation here."

"No?" She replies with a hint of cockiness in her voice.

"No." He confirms, "Let's see. If I'm not mistaken, you owe me. So why should I help you?" He begins his slow movement forward and draws a blade Lina didn't even know he had on him. "You see, I'm thinking, the last few days have been interesting but I'm losing patience."

"Tell me why I shouldn't just bring you in myself? With a reward like that, a man can live out his days rather comfortably."

Don't be intimidated Lina. Sam needs you. Don't loose your head.

"I don't know much about you Riddick and if you're not going help, I'll accept that." She tenses as he steps even closer, "But if you stand in my way, I will have to hurt you."

Riddick pulls the blade up to her throat in an instant and can smell her fear and her determination. "You won't get the chance but I'm listening."

"Help me get my daughter and I'll help you disappear. I mean, I figured you're hiding from something right? And as long as it's not a current issue, I don't wanna know."

Riddick removes his goggles and looks deeper into her eyes. She can feel him stare almost piercing her soul.

Suddenly he drops the intimidation routine and hides his blade. "Lady, it's always an issue in my life." Putting back his goggles he continues, "I'm not promising anything."

Lina begins to move continuing in the direction she was originally heading and replies, "Neither am I."