She walked around the husks and laid the last one on the end. Not people anymore.
Serenity was crying, hungry and alone. She wasn't a husk yet but it was only a matter of time. She wasn't entirely alone and River would hold her hand to the end. She made her way back to Serenity's head, slowly passing the friend shaped shells that were not friends.
It used to be Mal shot himself…
It used to be Zoe shot by Jayne…
It used to be Jayne shot by Zoe….
It used to be Book stopped by her…
The last made her heart hurt. He hadn't said it but he wanted it. Escape without pain, without blame, without fear. It still hurt.
"You can't hide forever…" An irritated voice said from behind her. "You have to sleep…"
"Am I awake?" She mused as she climbed the stairs.
"You heard me?" The ugly man appeared in front of her but she kept walking - he had no substance. He was the opposite of the husks but still not a friend. "How are you doing that?!"
She looked down at the long blades protruding from her chest. She felt nothing. They waved back and forth as he tried to hurt her but it did nothing.
"She doesn't like your tone and will not cooperate."
"What?" The agitated man demanded as he continued following her.
River ignored him and changed the coordinates.
Gas. The only way to make him stop. Lots of gas.
She turned Serenity toward a large star and sat back in the seat to watch it draw closer, one hand resting lightly on the control panel. She didn't want to be a husk but the angry man would follow her and leave everyone around her broken and empty… it was the only way.