Chapter 35: Darkness Falls

Kyra awoke slowly, finding herself lying heavily on her stomach which was now incredibly uncomfortable. She pressed her torn palms against the heavy dust and pushed herself upward, cringing as sore muscles and ripped skin were stretched. Finally she staggered to her feet and looked around.

The canyon she found herself in was much different from the one where the ship had landed. Where that one was round and barren, this one was long and narrow with some spongy looking plant life growing at the base of the cliff walls. A now familiar roaring continued to fill the air and she glanced up seeing the dust storm blowing by overhead. She was amazed; hardly any of the dust and none of the wind made its way down into the canyon. It was the perfect storm shelter.

She was shaken from her thoughts as a wave of dizziness washed over her, causing her to stumble and remember that she needed water, and fast. Again she picked up a small rounded pebble to suck on; it would help keep the gnawing thirst at bay. Kyra glanced back and forth trying to decide which direction to head. The plant life seemed more abundant to her left, so she turned and began stumbling down the canyon.

Riddick was angry. His girl was out there somewhere alone and she needed him. He didn't have time to work out this escape. He had to get off this planet NOW.

His anger kept him moving all through the night and well into the next morning when he finally reached the edge of the forest. All he could see ahead of him was fields and emptiness. He wanted to keep moving but knew that he had to get some sleep. It had been several days since he had gotten any and even then it had been for only a few short hours. He forced himself to lie down under a huge tree and close his eyes. He remained alert to the sounds around him as he rested and tried to calm the thoughts that were spiraling through his mind:

There was more than one merc, he knew. No one in their right mind would try to take him on alone. He was guessing at least a four man crew…Maybe – probably - more. They knew what they were doing; their bomb technology had been first rate, so he couldn't count on ignorant amateurs.

Riddick had continued in this direction through the forest because it followed the same general direction the bomber had been heading before Riddick had picked him off. He knew the bomber had thought he had been successful in killing Riddick by the ease with which Riddick had caught him. If the merc had had any question that Riddick might still be alive, he would have covered his tracks more completely.

Their plan must have been to ghost him as he returned to his ship and then come back at their leisure to collect the body. Riddick took that as a compliment; he had obviously become too much of a risk for the mercs to attempt a live snatch.

But now, since the bomber wouldn't talk, all Riddick could do was continue on in the same direction and look for the other bastards who were going to use him as their next payday.

Shit. He didn't have the time for this.

Giving up trying to force himself to sleep he stood and continued on through some more fucking fields.

Kyra's hopes began to rise as she continued down the canyon; more and more plant life was springing up everywhere. The sponge like plants were now covering the ground, making the ground springy as she walked and some strange stunted tree-like plants were beginning to become more and more numerous. Water must be nearby.

The sun must have been setting on the surface because the light was quickly beginning to fade within the canyon. In the dimming light, Kyra noticed that the walls of the canyon had gradually begun to spread, and soon she was entering a field of sorts surrounded by the canyon wall on three sides. Riddick's training kicked in and she pressed herself back against the canyon wall, keeping out of sight as best as she could until she secured the area. Slowly she leaned her head out and glanced around. The valley appeared empty.

Then she saw it; near the center of the field a small spring bubbled to the surface creating a crystal clear pond. Abandoning all caution, she made for it as quickly as she could and dropped to her knees on its banks. She knew it would be idiotic to just dive in and drink an unknown liquid from an unknown planet so, with huge effort, she held of her thirst and tested it; it smelled okay and after dipping her hand in and bringing a small amount to her lips she found that it was, indeed, water. She gave in and drank as though she could never get enough. Finally satiated, she lay back and let sleep overcome her once more.

Kyra awoke to the thick blackness of night and it took her several minutes to remember where she was. She stood and stretched out her increasingly sore and abused back as she looked around the field, wishing again that she had Riddick's eyes.

She could still hear the storm roaring overhead, masking out any other noise and making her rely even heavier on her near useless vision. She felt vulnerable standing in the center of a field she could hardly see so, after getting one more drink she made her way to the cliff wall, protecting her back from any attack that may come.

She sat alone with her torn back pressed against the still warm stone of the cliff face as the night wore on. Loneliness, anxiety, fear, anger, hatred, and emotions she couldn't name all took turns holding her in their grasp as the dark hours passed. She felt the coldness, the fury, which she had become so accustomed to on Crematoria creep back into her soul. It was poisoning her, but she embraced it. It gave her strength and the pain, the ever gnawing agony of it, let her know she was still alive.

Leaning forward against her bent knees, she covered her face in her hands and began to rock gently forwards and backwards expending the nervous energy that her choice of poison gave her. If she held still, she felt as though she would explode; scream until her throat was raw and bleeding at the injustice of it all, at the raw pain that had built itself up inside her. All she let escape was one word, uttered in a soft whisper that was lost in the roar of the storm, "Riddick!"

Riddick stopped. He was standing in the middle of yet another field, surrounded by a tall, thick plant of some kind. Anitra 2 rotated quickly on its axis making a day last less than sixteen hours so once again, Riddick found himself in the darkness that he welcomed.

He had covered miles already, stopping only to eat and drink when the opportunity presented itself. But now he stopped again, listening. He had heard someone call his name, or rather he felt someone call his name as though it had passed through his soul. "Kyra." He said softly, knowing who it was he felt calling him; the only person who had ever, and could ever touch his soul. His mind filled with thoughts of her when suddenly he heard a snap. Quickly he turned and crouched, his shiv appearing in his hand as though by magic.

Without warning a bullet slammed into his lower right side, tearing through his thick muscles and spinning him sideways, dropping him to his knees.

Riddick jumped quickly back onto his feet as men poured out of the thick plants, surrounding him. Weakened by the loss of blood, Riddick fought feverishly. Many men fell until the ground was littered with their bodies: Then slowly, by shear power of numbers, they overcame him and darkness fell before those silver eyes