Chapter 1: Lies

Evanescence

Bound at every limb by my shackles of fear
Sealed with lies through so many tears

Riddick shifted in his sleep. A light sheen of sweat glistened against his dark skin. A muscle in his arm twitched as his breathing accelerated. It was an old dream, but every time it visited him it seemed the first as the power of it washed over him:

This was more than just a dream.

A small boy of three or four sat huddled alone on the floor of a dark closet. Tears ran down his cheeks as a lock of curling hair fell onto his forehead. Yells and screams were echoing throughout the house; falling onto small, terrified ears – suddenly, one of the voices went silent.


Lost from within and pursuing the end
I fight for the chance to be lied to again

Suddenly the vision changed: A boy of no more then seven years stood before a large, angry man; trying to calm the shaking in his hands. His small shoulders were held stiffly from the effort.

You will never be strong enough
You will never be good enough
You were never conceived in love
You will not rise above

The man screamed curses and horrible things at the boy. Taunting him cruelly about his birth; how his mother must have been a whoring slut to get herself knocked up with such a worthless piece of shit like him and how even a slut like her hadn't wanted him; how his own mother had tried to murder him with his umbilical cord.

With face blank and eyes cast on the floor, hiding all emotion the boy refused to break down under the cruel onslaught of words. At this sign of rebellion and strength the man grabbed him roughly and began to beat him.

They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me

The horrible scene faded from Riddick's dreaming mind as another took its place: The boy lay on a bare mattress staring up at the ceiling. Harsh bruises and cuts marked his smooth, dark skin. The man had thrown him into this barren room – the boy's room – after he had tired of beating him. Daily the abuse was escalating as the boy refused to cry and sate the man's blood lust.

Beneath the garish bruises and dried blood was an expression that seemed foreign and eerie on a face of one so young. Pure hate and anger was there, but what made it so unusual for a child his age was the tight control visibly held over these powerful emotions. The young boy looked like a man biding his time, controlling his hatred and anger, allowing it to fill him and give him the strength he would need when he took action.

But through my tears breaks a blinding light
Birthing a dawn to this endless night
Arms outstretched, awaiting me
An open embrace upon a bleeding tree

Riddick's sleeping form had completely stilled as he took in short, shallow breaths; powerful fists clenching at his sides.

Suddenly every muscle in his body tensed and stood out like steel cords under his skin and he gasped.

His dream had changed once more, adding a new vision to the familiar torments. Now he saw a small, slight form dressed in long black robes impaled against the towering monstrosity that rose from the floor to the ceiling of the Necropolis. The girl's beautiful face paled as her eyes rose towards the heavens and she struggled for the breath that would not save her.

Now covered in sweat, Riddick jerked awake in his small ship.

Rest in me and I'll comfort you
I have lived and I died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you

He stood and left his small room. Crossing the dark hall that stretched the length of the ship, he slid open a heavy metallic door and let his gaze fall on the sleeping form in the darkness. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically as she slept; her pale face just beginning to fill out again and a soft color graced her cheeks.

Entering the room he crouched down by her bed to look at her; watching as her dreams caused her eyes to dart back and forth beneath her closed eyelids. An expression of terror suddenly tore the peaceful expression from her beautiful face. She began to gasp violently as the nightmare took her over. Reaching out, Riddick laid a large, deadly hand against her slender neck; his thumb reaching up and gently caressing her smooth cheek, comforting her. As he watched, her face relaxed and her breathing once more became even and deep; eventually peace fell back into her expression.

Night after night, Kyra was plagued by her night terrors and night after night, without fail, Riddick would be there to ease them away. He had once before failed her, and he would never do it again. He would never again leave her to her fate.

He would do everything in his power to protect her.

They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me