It was late and Riddick had still not returned. He usually came home before dinner and that had been hours ago. He said he didn't like spending anymore time with the Necromongers than necessary and he usually hurried home. She was getting worried.
For a brief moment she thought that perhaps he had been killed, that a Necromonger had risen against him in pursuit of power. But he was Riddick, after all. She could not picture him so easily defeated.
It was far more likely that he had simply gone. He'd said the only reason he stayed on with the Necros was to "clean-up the mess." To end the destruction the last Lord Marshal had orchestrated. Li thought he did it because of Kira and because of the man Imam, who had been killed. But maybe Riddick had finally given-up and cleared-out leaving Li behind.
She had begun to trust him, to believe him when he said he wouldn't get tired of her. After being abandoned so many times, it had been hard to give him that trust.
She sat down on the couch and stared at the door. Maybe he really had left her, or maybe she was just being paranoid. Either way, all she could do was wait.
"Li listen to me. I have to go away. I have to leave to make some money for us. When I have enough I'll come and get you and we'll be together. I'll take care of you"
She looked at her brother with tears in her eyes. It was raining heavily outside in the night while she watched him pack his few belonging in a black trunk. It was like a coffin in which he was burying her nice, secure life.
"Deric, no! You don't need to leave! Stay here and take care of me now. When mom gets better"
He turned and looked at his little sister, his face forcibly strict.
"Mom isn't getting better Li. She's going to die and she doesn't want us around when she does it." His expression softened a little. "I know it's hard, but the sooner you get used to it the better"
"Why can't we just live together then?" she asked.
"I don't have enough money to support the two of us. You're going to have to go live with your father while I work. I'll come and get you as soon as I possibly can." He closed the trunk and fastened it securely.