Author's note. Warning! This chapter contains subjects that might be considered not suitable for people under 16 years old for mild violence, so consider yourself warned.
NJRD
Chapter 12: Let the party start.
The area surrounding the club was almost empty at that time of night. Mark was practically dragging Danielle along the street, she was very drunk. She had been celebrating Jack's new behaviour a little too much. She had been so happy, she had lost count of the drinks she had had. Mark saw an alley on the right hand side of the street and grinned. Perfect, he thought and headed to it.
Danielle was trying to walk straight, but between her heels and the drinks, it was almost impossible. Surely it didn't help that her world seemed to spinning around so fast that she was dizzy. Suddenly she felt sick and stopped so fast that she almost fell on her bottom.
"Hey, hey, Mark. I'm feeling sick honey. I want to go back home" she slurred as she grabbed his arm for support.
Mark pulled her by her waist and pressed his body against hers viciously. "Oh, come on, baby. The night is young" he said as he grabbed her ass with one hand and squeezed.
Danielle jumped and laughed. "No, I'm serious, sweetheart, Mark" she closed her eyes and opened them again slowly. The street was spinning around. Oh, shit, I'm drunk, she thought as she took a deep breath. "Lets finish this another time, ok?" she grinned, blinking several times trying to focus her vision.
She didn't realize they had already reached the dark alley. Mark looked around him and then kissed her deeply. "I'll make you feel better Danielle" he whispered into her ear as he pushed her farther into the darkness. "Trust me. You're going to enjoy this babe", he said as he rubbed his groin against her belly.
Danielle was so busy trying not to throw her dinner up, that it was too late when she realized that she was trapped between Mark's body and the wall. It didn't make too much difference to her, both, the wall and Mark's muscled body, were as hard as rock. "Let me go, Mark. I'm telling you I don't feel good. I want to go back home, now" she said as she tried to push him.
Mark kissed her on the neck. "Come on, don't fight me. I know what all you bitches want" he said in a low, menacing, tone of voice.
Danielle's eyes were wide, and she shuddered from head to toe. "Let me go, please" she said as she felt tears rising.
Mark took both her wrists in of one of his big hands and pulled them to the wall above her head. "Don't be shy, now. I've known you wanted this from the first time we met" he said as tried to kiss her again.
Danielle turned her head fast enough to avoid the last kiss. "Dammit! Let me go, you son of a bitch!" She hissed as she struggled against him. Mark just laughed so hard that Danielle flinched. "I wish Audrey would beat the shit out of you, fucker!" she yelled at him as she struggled harder.
Mark slapped her and tightened his grip on her wrist. "Audrey?" he asked. "That little bitch owns me one. When I'm done with you, she'll be the next. I'll show her what a real man is" he said as he grabbed Daniel's dress and pulled up. Danielle struggled even harder against him. There was no sign of the lovely and sweet trainer that she thought Mark was. "Mmmmm, that's right, Danielle. Let's have some fun" he laughed and Danielle's blood froze at the sound of his words. Oh, shit. How did I get myself into this! Oh, my God, help me! she cried as her tears fell free. "Yeah, you're gonna be so much fun, Danielle. I don't like the easy ones" he hissed as he pulled a handful of her hair and bit her shoulder.
Danielle cried out in pain and took a deep breath. Then she raised one knee, and with all her strength, she connected with his groin. Mark let go of her and fell to his knees. "Bastard!" she yelled and tried to run out of the alley screaming for help, but Mark grabbed her ankle and Danielle fell screaming to the ground with a loud thump. She felt as if she had been ripped apart and concentrated hard on breathing.
Mark got to his feet and bent over. He then grabbed her by the hair. "Nobody cares for a slut like you and your shy little friend Audrey", she could hear the sadism in his voice as Mark dragged her back, closer to the wall.
Riddick watched it all while standing at the end of the alley. He silently slid toward them, waiting for the perfect chance to play. Riddick could feel his inner beast growling with anger like a caged animal. Soon, he thought.
Danielle was screaming in pain and struggling with all her might. "Please, Mark. Don't do this, you're hurting me, please, please, let me go" she begged him.
Mark pushed her hard to the ground and crouched beside her. "I warned you, whore" he hissed, and thrust his tongue ruthlessly into her mouth. Danielle bit him. "You fucking whore!", he punched her. Danielle opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Then he lifted a hand to his lips, there was blood. "Fuck!" he growled as he kicked her in the ribs. Danielle felt an indescribable pain crossing through her body. Her mind wasn't registering the events anymore. "Your choice, Danielle. Now the hard way", she felt her hair grabbed by Mark's hand and her head pounded the ground. Clenching her teeth, she could only hear her heart beating inside of her head and then all went black. Mark watched her and moved his hand to unclasp his pants.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Mark turned around to find a man standing a few metres behind him. "And what the hell do you want?" Mark looked him up and down. "Mind your own fucking business" he hissed and proceeded to ignore him.
Riddick smirked. "Well, you see… what was your name? Ah, yes, Mark" he said as he stared at Mark from behind his goggles. "Problem is, she's my business. And nobody messes with my business, except myself.", he tilted his head to one side.
Mark, having turned when the man didn't leave, closed his hands into fists and tensed his body. "And who the hell are you, asshole?" he said scornfully.
Riddick cracked his neck. "Hmm. Maybe I should introduce myself, shouldn't I?" he said as he moved forward. "Richard B. Riddick, escaped convict and murderer", he said this in his more menacing tone of voice, and then he grinned.
Mark's eyes widened and his blood froze in his veins. Shit, he thought. Fuck, he said to himself. He wasn't expecting this sudden change of events. Mark had been searching for Audrey, to pay her back, but found Danielle. There was no difference to him. Mark wanted to make them pay for their little mess in his training classes. He wasn't thinking about dieing when he left his house earlier that night. And much less by the hand of the most dangerous killer in the galaxy. What does Riddick have to do with those two whores? he asked himself. Mark went motionless. Riddick slowly took off his goggles and looked directly at Mark's eyes. Mark gasped as he held his breath in fear. Without a doubt, this was the best part for Riddick. The beast with in him roared with pleasure. The smell of Mark's terror only served to increase the beast's thirst for blood. Mark's blood.
Mark moved a hand to his belt. He's just a man, he told to himself. No one's immortal, he thought as he grabbed his own shiv. "If you want her, come and get her" he said as he brandished the shiv in front of him.
Riddick arched a brow. He was amused. The stupidity of this man was as big as his desire for a painful death. "Tsk, Tsk, Tsk, you people will just never learn," he grabbed his own shiv as he shook his head, "keep your hands of what's mine, and none of you fucking bastards would get dead", and he tighten his grip.
Mark rushed toward Riddick in one fast move, unfortunately for him, not fast enough. Riddick avoided Mark's attack, and turning around himself, he cut Mark's arm in the process. Mark let out a scream and went to circle him. Riddick smiled to himself. He truly wasn't thinking of killing anyone, not after he promised Jack, but this guy was another story. Mark was a sadistic perv, and after glancing at Danielle's injured body, Riddick made his own decision. You're fucking dead Mark, he said to himself. Mark rushed him again, and with one smooth move he avoided Mark's shiv. With his left hand, Riddick launched his own attack and connected with Mark's thigh. At once, Mark's blood was shed along his leg and he fell on his knees. "Fuck!", Mark cried out as he grabbed his leg. Riddick watched him and growled. The beast within him was enjoying every second of this. Riddick then tilted his head and stared at Mark, who was trying to stand. With a lot of effort and pain, Mark finally stood up. Bleeding through his injuries, he was sweating and his breath was ragged. On the other hand, Riddick was just looking casually at him, with no expression on his face, not even a drop of sweat.
Jack arrived in time to see both men at the end of the alley. She saw Mark fall at Riddick's feet. She then saw Danielle's body lying on the street motionless behind them. Jack covered her mouth with her trembling hands and suppressed a scream of terror. Oh, my God, no! He won't be able, she thought, completely shocked for a few seconds as tears were running free. Jack didn't know what had happened there. She could sense the danger radiating from Riddick's body. She didn't know if she was feeling fear for him or because him. After a moment she yelled "Riddick!" and she took an uncertain step forward.
"Don't you fucking dare, kid!" he roared without looking at her. She froze in complete panic at the sound of his voice.
"Riddick?", she asked with a trembling voice as she unconsciously stepped forward a few metres.
Mark turned his head and his eyes widened as he recognized the girl. The sweet Audrey, he thought, how convenient. Then Mark stared at Riddick's eyes. "Audrey, little Riddick's bitch" he hissed in a sarcastic tone of voice.
Riddick roared and in one lithe move he had pushed Mark to the ground, landing with a knee pressing into the other mans chest, knocking the air out of him. As Mark fell to the ground his shiv flew from his hand, out of reach. Riddick then grabbed Mark's neck and started to squeeze. When Mark couldn't breath Riddick's beast growled with pleasure, time to play, it thought; causing an evil grin to spread across Riddick's face. Mark's eyes were bulging and he was shaking in terror, he knew he was going to die tonight. Riddick's could feel his inner beast wanted blood, wanted this scum to pay for even thinking about hurting his Jack. Just thinking about it caused him to squeeze even harder. Mark was gasping for air at this point, and Riddick's beast enjoyed it. Watching him struggle, trying to hold fast to life, Riddick just stared down at him and smirked.
Jack hadn't even seen him move. She shook her head and blinked several times. How had he moved so fast? she asked herself, shocked. "Riddick, please" Jack begged him as she moved another step in their direction. She didn't know what she was begging for though.
Without letting him go, Riddick turned his head slowly and looked at her. Jack's eyes were wide with fear. There was no trace of humanity left on Riddick's face. She could see death flashing through his eyes. Jack shivered at the sight, but stared into his cold eyes anyway. At that precise moment she sensed the presence of the beast, and without thinking twice she headed toward him; carefully, without loosing his gaze. In some indefinable way, Jack understood that only she could soothe the beast, so she softened her gaze and locked eyes with Riddick. He frowned and seemed shocked at her gaze. Riddick then felt his inner animal being soothed. Not in front of her, he said to himself. The beast roared in denial. He eased his grip and Mark's body went limp, unconscious. Riddick let go of him and stood with his eyes still locked on Jack's.
Jack let out a deep breath. Danielle stirred and frowned. She tried to stand but whimpered in pain, causing Jack to look at her. "Oh my God, Danielle!" she cried out but didn't move towards her. Jack looked back at Riddick and swallowed, waiting for some kind of permission. Riddick slowly nodded yes and Jack ran to her friend's side. She crouched beside Danielle and stroked her forehead carefully. "Are you ok, honey?" she asked with concern, her voice teary.
Danielle shut her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks. Her throat felt dry and her body ached with pain. "Audrey?" she asked weakly.
"I'm here Danielle." Jack took Danielle's hand in her trembling one. "You're going to be ok" she assured her. Danielle nodded slowly as a new whimper escaped her throat. She swallowed and gasped for air.
Riddick turned his head and looked at both girls. "I told you to stay at the club" he said as he kneeled beside Danielle's body, putting his shiv back in his jacket.
Jack ignored his tone of voice. "I was afraid" she said simply, as she looked at him. In Riddick's eyes there was still a cold hardness, Jack couldn't help but shiver at the site of it. Afraid of me? he thought. Of course, you asshole, who fucking else? Was his own answer. They went silent and their eyes locked once again.
Danielle opened her eyes and tried to turn her head to see them, but the movement was so painful; that she let out a pained whimper. Jack smiled sweetly at her. "Calm down, Danielle. Don't move yet, you're hurt" she said as she gently stroked her hair.
Riddick looked at Danielle and then started to pull on her dress to check her injuries. Danielle's arms flailed, trying to grab her torn up clothes in complete panic. Riddick's hands caught her arms in the air, "I need to know if anything's broke", his voice sounded cold, with no emotion in it.
Danielle looked to Jack, frightened. "It's ok, Danielle", she said with a weak smile on her lips. "Let him check you." Jack squeezed her hand gently.
Riddick growled and pressed his hand to Danielle's ribs. She winced and cried out in pain. There was a nasty, dark bruise starting to form on her right side, with a few scratches around it. "It's not broken" he said. He then checked the bruise on her jaw. Danielle's lips were bleeding, and on her right shoulder there was Mark's bite. One of her eyes was almost swollen shut, already starting to bruise. Jack let out a sigh and closed her eyes as a new wave of fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have made her bring me to this place, she thought as she shut her eyes tightly.
"Don't", Riddick said. Jack snapped her head up and locked eyes with him, frowning. The tears froze in her eyes. Riddick knew what she was thinking. "It's not your fault kid", he told her as he stroked her cheek with a gentle hand. Jack could see a slight trace of emotion forming in his eyes.
Mark's eyes snapped open and he shook his head. He blinked and slowly turned his head to one side, where he saw Riddick kneeling with his back to him. It appeared that Riddick was lost in thought while staring at that bitch Audrey. Now's my chance, he thought. Mark sat up slowly and looked around him in search of his shiv. Riddick tensed his body and his eyes flickered from Jack's. The beast was on guard, snarling. Mark saw his shiv a few metres away, and trying to make as little noise as possible, he reached for it. Jack was still a little unnerved by the evidence of Riddick's beast. Riddick grunted as he narrowed his eyes. As fast as he could, Mark rushed Riddick from behind. This wasn't his smartest decision. In one second, Riddick stood to his feet and grabbed Mark's arms, twisting them; a loud crack sounded. Mark let out a scream of pain and dropped the shiv. Riddick caught it before the shiv touched the ground, pressing it against Mark's neck. Mark fell to his knees with his eyes wide open. Riddick grinned. "No one fucks with Richard B. Riddick", he whispered in his most menacing tone of voice; he then slashed Mark's throat in a fast and powerful move. Mark's eyes were blank with shock as he fell dead at Riddick's feet.
Jack flinched and shut her eyes tightly. Danielle was oblivious to what just happened, she was wrapped up in her own pain, she just wanted to wake up from this nightmare. Riddick turned slowly and looked at Jack. He let out a sigh and cleaned the blade on Mark's pants, then put the shiv inside of his boot. Jack didn't move, not even to blink. Fuck, he thought. "Let's move on kid", he growled as he helped Jack stand. She was in shock and her vision was blurred with tears. Jack could only stare at Mark's lifeless body. "Jack, sweetheart", he said as he gently used a knuckle to lift her chin so she would meet his gaze. "We've got to get out of here, now" his voice was gentle but firm. Jack blinked several times, as if she was just waking, and looked at him. Riddick raised a brow as he waited for her reaction. Jack took a deep breath and nodded her head. With that, Riddick crouched to take Danielle's body in his muscular arms, lifting her from the ground effortlessly. Danielle whimpered and hissed. Riddick looked down at her and Danielle saw his eyes. The sight of the gleaming silver orbs staring at her caused her to tense with fear, it was too much for her abused body and she passed out with a gasp. Riddick let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
The people that were out on the streets were so busy enjoying their own Saturday night, that they didn't pay any attention to the three as they made their way back to North Hills. As soon as they reached the apartment, Riddick carried Danielle to her room and laid her down on the bed. Jack went to look for the first aid kit and gave it to him. Riddick carefully bandaged Danielle's ribs; while Jack gently went about tending the rest of her injuries. Afterwards, Riddick left both girls alone and headed back toward the alley to get rid of Mark's body. With that problem taken care of, he headed toward the space port and checked for the next launch time. Riddick knew that Jack wasn't going to leave Danielle in the state she was in, but he had to think on their own problem. Sooner rather than later, The Firm would discover that he hadn't killed his target; he had to figure out how they would handle it when it happened.
Jack took a seat in a chair beside Danielle's bed and stared at her. She began to cry silent tears. Danielle had almost been raped tonight by Mark. She didn't want to think about what would have happened if Riddick wouldn't have arrived in time to stop him. Mark probably would've killed her afterwards, she thought, scared. She suddenly felt guilty for her initial thoughts about Riddick. She had doubted him. Jack closed her eyes in an attempt to block her feelings. Taking a deep breath she tried to relax.
Flash back
"RIDDICK!" Jack yelled in complete panic. She knew he was going to leave them to die. She then turned her head and watched as Fry and Imam tried to help one of Imam's boys. She hesitated, but then headed toward Riddick. She had to convince him to come back and help them. A loud, chilling noise sounded over her head. Jack raised her head in time to see one creature flying directly towards her. She widened her eyes in panic and went to hide in the first place she saw.
The creature was banging against the fragile bone where Jack was hidden. She thought she was going to die, so she cried out for help. Suddenly Fry was there and tried to help her, but the creature was stronger and Fry couldn't hurt it with just a flame burning on the top of a bottle. Jack turned her head as she struggled to keep the creature off of her body. She was gasping for air and her heart was pounding so hard she couldn't think. The bone was about to give away with the weight of it when Jack heard Riddick's roar.
She then saw how he rushed the creature and began to fight with it. He slammed his head against the alien's head and with one hand he grabbed both hoofs of it and pulled them together in one of his hands. Riddick then took his shiv and slashed the creature one, two, three times, until its guts were splattered on the ground.
"Didn't know who you were fucking with", he growled as he stared down at Jack.
She could see the look on his face, and was shocked when she realized that Riddick had just saved her. He came back to save me, she thought as she fixed her gaze on him.
End flash back
She then went to her bedroom to change her clothes and a sound startled her; Riddick was back. I've got to tell him, she said to herself. She headed toward the living room and found him standing beside the window, staring out at the city. Jack cleared her throat and waited. Riddick didn't move or say anything, so Jack walked to his side and stopped behind his broad back. She then hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. Riddick tensed his body when he felt her hand. Jack took a deep breath. "Riddick?" she asked quietly.
Riddick relaxed his body but didn't turn around. Jack swallowed and pressed with her hand more firmly. "I'm sorry" she started, then went silent, searching for the right words. Riddick closed his eyes. "Once I told you, I never had a doubt, but I did have them Riddick, ...And, and tonight, I,...I did it again", Jack explained to him. Riddick sighed. He knew what she was talking about and he didn't want to think about it right now. He always had felt like a fucking shit for almost leaving her and Imam on that forsaken planet to die, and now she felt guilty for having doubts about him. Yeah, great, fucking great, Rick. Of all the things, she goes and remembers the fucking day you almost left her and the holy man to die, he said to himself. How fucking ironic, he thought. Jack then did something that left Riddick bemused beyond belief, she hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Riddick", she said as she leaned her head against his back.
Riddick's body stiffened and he looked down at his belly. Jack's hands were there, crossed over each other, and he could feel her body pressed against his back. Riddick felt guilt consume him and he heaved a deep breath. Don't thank me yet kid, he thought sadly. He slowly put one hand over hers. "It's nothing kid", he said as he stroked her hands. Jack let out a sigh and closed her eyes.
Minutes passed and both were silent. Riddick spoke first, after a long moment. "Jack?" he asked. Jack let go of him and Riddick turned around, but kept one of Jack's hands in his. "We've got to leave Thalion", he said. Jack looked at him in silently. "We're in danger here kid", he raised a hand slowly and stroked her hair gently.
Jack eyes were wide. "But,... I can't leave Danielle like that", she frowned.
Riddick sighed. "Listen, kid. She'll be ok in a couple of days", his voice sounded serious. "We've got a few hours. That's all. Be ready." His voice sounded cold, and with that he let go of her.
Jack arched both brows and shook her head. "What!", she retorted, raising her voice. "I'm not gonna do that, Riddick. You hear me?", she crossed her arms over her chest
Riddick headed toward the bathroom. "A few hours, kid. Period." He answered over his shoulder, opening the door of the bathroom and closing it behind him.
Jack clenched her jaw. She was momentarily infuriated by Riddick's words. He didn't give a shit about Danielle! she exclaimed to herself. She turned around and looked at the bathroom's door, she then heard the water running. Jack let out a deep sigh as she collapsed on the couch thinking.
Riddick stood in the shower under the stream of cold water. I'll bet you're going to take a lot of these Rick, he mocked. Riddick growled as he thought about his options. After a long moment he arched a brow and smirked to himself. Yeah, that would work, he grinned. She'll be mad as hell, but oh well, maybe not, he retorted to himself. But at least this won't be boring, maybe I'll get some of her fire back, he thought. Yeah, you can be fucking sure of that, he smiled an evil grin.
Out in the living room, Jack was silently recalling the events of the past days, especially concerning him. She didn't realize that the water wasn't running anymore. Jack trusted him, but she didn't want to leave Danielle alone and injured. She growled and headed towards the bathroom. You're always bossing me around, big guy, she said to herself a little annoyed. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she stopped in her tracks and froze. She saw Riddick in front of her. He was looking her up and down. What the hell? She frowned. "Riddick?" She narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
Riddick grinned. "Sorry kid", he said. The last thing Jack saw was a shadow in motion, Fuck, she thought, then everything went black.
So, how about you let me know your opinions? It would help me a lot to know that I'm doing fine.