Chapter 14 – Quazar 9
Once in open space, Riddick looks to Lina who seems tired. Sam has fallen asleep.
She slowly undoes her restraints and carefully moves Sam onto a bunker and covers her with a blanket.
"Where to?" He asks and tries to keep his voice down.
"Quazar 9" She replies. It's a small inhabited moon not too far away.
"What's on Quazar 9?" He inquires.
"My home."
It's nightfall on the small moon when they arrive and have no trouble with the locals. They all know Lina and although they are wary of the stranger, who will remain nameless at his request, they grant her access to the surface.
Her home is secluded and they are pretty much left alone upon arrival.
An elderly woman runs up to greet them and asks very excited, "Is Sam with you?"
Lina nods and points inside the craft. The elderly lady fetches the still sleeping Sam and takes her back to the house.
Lina goes back inside the ship to fetch a bag of supplies and soon finds Riddick behind her.
"I've been thinking." Lina slowly begins an turns to face him.
"So have I." He replies leaning in. "Ditch the kid and come with me. We can disappear together."
Lina looks at him shocked at the mere thought. "Why you.." she responds raising her fist about to strike when Riddick catches it in midair and grins.
"No?" he comments. "That's a shame."
Lina pulls her hand free only because he allowed it. "Why must you taunt me so!?"
Riddick slides his arm around her and pulls her closer. "Because I don't really want to leave."
Without thinking about it, Lina relaxes and continues to move in closer until their bodies are pressed together.
"Then stay." She whispers looking into his conflicting silvery eyes.
Riddick tightens his hold on her and kisses her. Tender at first and then they embrace into a passionate kiss.
He pulls away. "I'm sorry."
Lina fixes her hair and clears her throat. "That's okay, it's not like I haven't thought about it," she suddenly realises her openness and tries to correct, "I mean…" but she doesn't know what to say – she's already put her foot in it.
Riddick looks at her raising a brow, rather flattered.
"Why, I do believe you're blushing." He adds.
Lina grabs the bag she came to collect and brushes past him smiling. Her brisk walk into the home gives away her embarrassment.
Riddick soon follows with more supplies.
Later that night Lina is unable to sleep and goes outside to the small porch the leads off from her room. She looks up at the stars and instinctively knows Riddick is there.
"Can't sleep?" She asks but there is no reply. Instead he reveals himself and joins her.
"I'm leaving in the morning." He states.
"But I promised I'd help you disappear." She adds. "Just give me a day or two."
Riddick moves in behind her and smells her hair. She stands still and allows the wave of desire run over her.
"No time." He replies moving his hand up her arm. "Don't want to put you two in any more danger. I'm on the run as well you forget."
Lina turns around slowly having little room to do so. She looks at him then looks away.
"Were you at least going to say goodbye?"
Riddick forces her to look at him and replies, "That's why I'm here."
He leans in and they kiss. She knows this probably isn't a good idea but all her senses are telling her to go for it.
Before they know it, they are in the room ripping off each other's cloths.
A few hours later Riddick wakes and looks at Lina asleep beside him on the bed.
He sits on the edge of the bed and contemplates if he's making the right decision or not.
Moments later, Lina sits up in a huff and looks around.
Gone. He's really gone.
Lina never knew why Riddick was on the run. She also didn't know if he'd ever come back.
Come to think of it, she didn't know him at all. Perhaps it's for the best. She can't really settle down anyway – might need to keep moving to stay ahead if the company.
Sam's safety is her first priority. They can never find her – they can never know.
The end.