Chapter 8 – Damien

Defiance didn't last long.

Jack only had to wait until she was settled on the cruise shuttle back to New Mecca before misery gripped her. It shook through her body in violent waves, smashing memory after memory into her mind.

Visions of her and Damien on the beach together, smiling and lying together; laughing as they threw popcorn at each other in a darkened cinema, sneaking slow kisses and whispering "I love you" . Then the things they had not yet done; promises that would remain un-kept. Rings on their fingers as they walked down a velvet isle, days spent talking together in New Mecca, allowed to live as though they were alone, to do as they pleased. Dancing under the moon light, promising on the starts to stay together forever.

Now all was lost. A future. Her future.

It was impossible to console herself with dreams of running away with Riddick now. The aching space she felt in her torso burned, yearning for Damien's warmth. It felt like there was no air left in her, Jack was surprised to hear her heart beat, sure that it had been ripped from her. He had been her only distraction from life, only he took away the pain. The pain she had felt all her life, the pain of abandonment, of abuse, of loss and the nightmares that haunted her from her past; one that had become all too present with Riddick's return.

Sobs echoed through her, tears trickling down her face she remained silent her mouth opened to scream but no sound came, Jack choked back the urge to curl up on the floor. Her head pounded and the only peace she found came when she drifted into a dreamless sleep, exhausted by her despair.