Hey there. Sorry it has taken so long. I've had a lot of homework lately and Wednesday I've got to take the ACT's so I've been studying a lot. Please forgive me! This chapter is sort of short. Sorry. I just wanted to get something out to you before I lost my readers. I hope you enjoy. And sorry for the spelling errors! I don't have time to check for them but I'm too impatient to wait until later and then post. So I shall just post now:)

Fitmama: Yea, I thought it would make sense too. Cuz let's face it, he ain't a real compassionate/nice sort of a guy. Ooh, I hope Taren doesn't get raped too:) Thanks for the review!

S.A. Pride: Yea! I'm glad you like it too! Yea, I liked the food sequence too. :)

Reader: Don't worry, I won't make him soft. If you are really picky, you might say he goes sort of soft here but don't worry. Before the end you're going to want to kick his ass for being so mean. I'm sorry this isn't very long! I've been busy!

Merilyneb:Yea! Keep reading please!

Irene: It doesn't matter if you aren't a writer. Some of the best feedback is just from readers! Thanks!

Dazzler420:Yea, I am glad you like it. Yes I love cliff hangers. This one doesn't have one though so no worries. :)

Megara2: Yea!

Person: Tee hee. The one person who got me to hurry up. I have a feeling you are the same peron who sent me the "yello" review. Well, here is the cahpater for you. It's sort of short and not that great but I wanted to get it out just as much as you wanted to read more. Please don't flame me. I am tickled at how much you like this story. You are awesome! Thanks!

Chapter 5: Tired

He was in a shitty mood. He was exhausted, sore, and hungry. Man was he hungry. Taren was supposed to have brought in food for him and then they were going to talk. He wasn't one for talking, but for some odd reason he felt comfortable conversing with her. Maybe because she didn't take any of his shit. Who knew? He shouldn't have been surprised that she hadn't come though. He could have kicked himself for putting some faith in someone. She couldn't offer up a little conversation with a murderer, huh? Her loss. But besides that little factor which he could live without, he really wanted some food. He picked himself up and off of the tiny cot which was his bed and walked out of his cell that had been unlocked a few minutes before. He continued down the hallway slowly and then down the stairs. He took a deep breath as he descended the last few steps and braced himself. He straightened to his full height. He hid his grimace as he couldn't help but mumble to himself, "Fuck that hurt."

In a quick and hurried pace he made his way toward the kitchen at the other end of the food hall. His fellow inmates stared in awe at him. He had been in the Hole for two weeks and it hadn't even fazed him. The demon didn't feel anything. They watched with a certain respect one would only understand if they had occupied a slam at one time or another. He looked just as he usually did. The perfect example of the quiet before the storm. There was fury in him they knew, but he didn't show it openly. They admired him for his cool. They watched as he pushed a younger inmate out of line and took his tray. The great beast then left as quickly as he had come, giving out a few glares at novice inmates openly staring at him. The ones who knew him more knew not to make eye contact. When they looked back up again he was gone, and the quiet that had filled the room was filled with a sound like a thousand bees buzzing as all began to speak at once.

Riddick made it to the top of the staircase before he had to lean against the wall to rest a moment. Fuck he was getting sick of keeping up his image. For a moment he wondered why he even cared, but then like so many times before, the answer shot up to him quickly. Survival. Ah, yes. He grunted and pushed off of the wall and walked slowly back to his cell, feeling like an old man. His muscles ached and groaned in protest, very much like his sorry piece of an excuse of a cot did as he sat down on it. He shifted around a bit trying to get comfortable, the cot squeaking under his weight. Once he was settled, he began to chew on the rubbery textured food as he gazed at Taren's empty cell across the corridor.

The day before, he had watched two of the guards lead her from her cell. He had felt a slight sense of foreboding but had brushed it aside. Taren would be able to handle herself he was sure. But 24 hours had now come and gone and he had not seen or heard from her. He convinced himself he wasn't worried about her, only slightly curious as to what had happened. If anything he should be pissed at her because she had been inconsiderate and had forgotten about him. He growled. What the hell was he saying? The guards had taken her off and there was nothing she could have done about it. He shoved his tray aside and watched it fall to the ground. He grumbled and lay his body down on the cot.

Slowly every few minutes, an inmate would shuffle by and peer past the bars and into Riddick's cell as they made their way to their own. Most were old, pot bellied, ugly son's of a bitches. Then you'd get a few young ones who acted like they were the shit but when confronted, quailed under your boot. They all stank of piss, shit, and sweat. Riddick was sure he was one of the few who actually cleaned themselves. Damn, they smelled awful. A community of sweaty, stinky bodies combined with the heat was almost unbearable. For the first time in his life Riddick thought wistfully of light. He always related light to cleanliness. Darkness brought with it filth. Jesus. Riddick rubbed his temples with his hands. What the fuck was he rambling on about? Being clean? He couldn't live like this anymore. He spent 30 minutes of his day thinking about hygene and being clean for fucks sake. This had to end. If he spent much longer in there he would be reduced to a pile of shit. He clenched his teeth in utter frusteration.

He was fucking tired. Tired of living the life of a convict. Tired of waiting for the opportune moment to get out. But that was all he could do and that pissed him off even more. So drowning in his growing fury he lay there.

Waiting.

Watching.

Suddenly, down the corridor the groan of rusted metal could be heard as one by one the doors to the cells shut. A chink sounded next, letting all know they were now locked in. Then all was quiet except for Leo six cells down who talked to his other half, "Jezzy." Yep, they had their share of bi-polar murderers down there. Poor bastards. One personality was your average,respectful citizen who was punished for their other personality who decided it might be fun to cut out people's heart and send it to the loved ones in the mail. Jezzy was a sick fuck.

The wool blanket beneath Riddick was itching his back and so he pulled it out from under him and threw it on the floor. No downy comforters for the likes of him. Voices echoed down the hall along with an odd scraping noise. Riddick sat up and watched as two guards dragged a body between them. Then, surprise filled Riddick as they stopped in front of Taren's cell. There was a chink and then her door was unlocked. Then Riddick felt something he had never felt before. Fear.

The guards threw the unconscious and battered body of Taren into the cell, locked the door, and left as quickly as they had come. Riddick stood up and rushed over to the bars of his cell. He peered between the cold steele and stared at Taren's still body. "Fuck."

She was a bloody mess. Literally. She looked like a herd of rhinos had run over her. Her face was covered in blood as well as her legs where he could see dried blood upon slits in her pants. He grimaced inside as he looked at the nearly black color of her bruised skin around her shoulders. Her shoulders were dislocated and when she woke up they would hurt like hell. He couldn't tell what the natural color of her skin was for all the bruising. Riddick could feel the anger pulse beneath his skin. Someone had beat the shit out of her. She had been...tortured. He squeezed the steele beneathe his fingers wishing it were the bastards neck.

Her groan brought him away from his vengeful thinking. He wanted to do something for her but couldn't because he was locked in. He would have to wait until lunch, when the doors would be unlocked again. He called out her name when she moaned again. Slowly she opened her eyes. Well, she did as best as she could seeing how one eye was swollen shut. Finally her gaze fell upon him. Riddick didn't know what to say. Finally, what he was thinking just flew out of his mouth. "You look terrible."

She smiled a bit, a little bit of blood rolling down her face as her dry lip split open. "No shit sherlock."

He smiled, releasing the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. They hadn't beat her spirit out of her and he thanked whatever god was out there for that. He watched as she shut her eyes again and could have sworn her body relaxed as if she felt safe all of a sudden. He couldn't help but feel as if he was the cause of that as he stood pacing the length of his cell while he waited for the doors to be unlocked again.

He grinned. He sure was a cocky son of a bitch.