Descent: 1) A downward incline or passage; a slope. 2) any passing from higher to lower in degree or state… 3) A sudden visit or attack; an onslaught.
Growing up in foster care, Riddick had never been exposed to others like him. He had never been taught how to merge seamlessly with the animalistic component of his heritage, consequently the primal inhuman being resided in his mind and personality as a separate entity. It had taken years for Riddick to understand and control the often violent urges that seized him; and over time he began to blend with the animal side … but it was still it's own entity and that part of him played the devil's advocate at every given opportunity.
As far as Riddick was concerned, there was no better therapy than beating the shit out of something for a couple of hours. The punching bag located in the Ishtar's gym had definitely seen better days but for the past two hours it had taken Riddick brutal beating without exploding and that's all that mattered. His arms, legs, and stomach burned from the exertion, but his thoughts were clear for the first time in weeks. There was no questioning or second guessing the situation. The bag was here, and he planned on beating the shit out of it. Plain and simple. Plain and simple was good…
…Jack's not plain and simple, a voice tempted from the depths of his mind, she's got that fire. She's rough around the edges…but we can break her in. Little Jack has tuned into quite the little lady…
"...not…happenin'…," he growled between blows.
So we're going to let the merc have her then, the beast countered, is that the plan?
Riddick punched the bag harder and tried to ignore it.
Jack paused outside the gym door listening to the sounds of his fists pounding into the bag. She silently hoped that it was Farris or even Gerod or Riley but she already knew it wasn't…none of them hit hard enough to make the bag swing of its chain like that.
Take it easy Jack, she told herself, play this right. You quit the game. If he doesn't care, then you don't either. She pressed the hand pad and the door slid open with a low hissing sound. The punches stopped.
Riddick was standing in front of her, shirtless, with his back to her. One hand was stilled the bag and the other hung loose at his side. She checked herself mentally – don't even let it phase you – but couldn't help but stare. He still seemed to dwarf her as much as he did when she was 14. His skin was still the same light shade of caramelized sugar and she couldn't help but wonder if he was the same color all over. She watched as a bead of sweat rolled leisurely down the smooth valley in the middle of his back.
"Something you need?"
She jumped at the sound of his voice but recovered quickly.
"Nothing that you have to offer," she replied icily as she threw her towel on one of the benches and started over to the treadmill in the opposite corner.
He chuckled darkly before turning his attention back to the bag.
"Bitchiness," he said coolly beginning to work the bag once more, "isn't exactly your best quality."
She ignored him. She started up the treadmill rolling her eyes, "Yeah, well I'm not here to please anyone."
"That's not what Davis said."
She whipped around almost falling off the moving treadmill. But turned her back on him once more. Don't let him see you off guard dammit! Play. It. Cool.
"And – uh – what did he say?"
His face was contorted in malicious pleasure as he turned to look at her, smirking.
"Oh. Nothing really. Just that you've become his stay-at-home-whore. I always knew you needed attention," he turned his back to her then, "…but damn Jack, I guess I expected a little more out of you."
She gaped at him. The word 'whore' echoing in her head. Need attention? Need ATTENTION? She didn't trust herself enough to speak . If that's how he wanted to play it then she would be more than happy to oblige.
"Told you about that did he," she forced a laugh and was pleased to hear that actually sounded real, he turned to look at her, "well, what can I say? I'm a woman…I have needs." She peeked over her shoulder coyly at him and smiled evilly, "And with dick that good, I don't mind stayin' home at all."
His face tightened with indescribable wrath and she saw something in his eyes flicker like a light going out…..but she turned away- point one for me motherfucker.
She slipped her headphones on and began to run.
The music flowed through her and around her and in her mind she was running through the sand in the dark.
Breathe, trust, bless me and release,
Climb, hard or never be seen.
Closed off, rescue to breathe.
Just bless me.
Two sided time,
Your rebirth can't hurt,
Branch out behind, the pain.
The faces of Shazza and Frye flashed in front of her closed eyes and she ran harder. She had no idea that less than twenty feet behind her Riddick was fighting his own losing battle against the beast…not that he was fighting too hard to begin with.
Closure has come to me myself,
You will never belong to me.
Closure has come to me myself,
You will never belong to me.
She reached out blindly in front of her and cranked up the speed. She wanted to run, she wanted to run until she couldn't remember who she was or where she came from. Her heart thudded and her breath hitched but she sped up all the same.
Had to turn, lay down,
Your sting of disease.
Phase you out, should've seen this coming.
Go on confusing the soul,
Hold my breath 'til you rupture.
Three days aside,
Your rebirth can't hurt,
Branch out behind, pride
Riddick stalked soundlessly up behind her. He knew she couldn't hear him but he was careful all the same, he wanted to have to element of surprise…and besides…Riddick wasn't really the one in control anymore.
Closure has come to me myself,
You will never belong to me.
Closure has come to me myself,
You will never belong to me.
Like a leach,
I hold on as if we belonged,
To some precious pure dream.
Cast off, you've seen what's beneath,
Now fail –
Her headphones were ripped from her head as she was pulled bodily from the still moving treadmill. Her eyes flew open and she swallowed a squeak when she saw that she was face to face with Riddick. She was wrapped in his arms with her feet dangling inches off the ground and her arms pinned to her side; it was like being mashed up against a brick wall.
She looked down to see her headphones on the ground near his feet, "You almost broke my damn headset, what are you doing?"
He never broke eye contact with her as he raised his foot and brought in down slowly over her headphones, crushing them beneath the heel of his training shoes. She jumped at the crunching sound and looked down again, "Hey asshole! Those were fucking expensive, what the hell are you doing. Put me down!"
He just continued to stare at her and she began to get uncomfortable..but not in a bad way. Having him pressed up on her like this was an…interesting…feeling. His scent was so unarguably masculine that it could only be his. It gave her a heady woozy feeling and she found herself unconsciously rubbing her legs against the material of his workout cargos. It created delicious friction…but she was determined to keep herself under control. She had a sneaking suspicion that she wasn't dealing with Richard Riddick the man anymore…it was intriguing. There was something about the blank detachedness of his gaze that made her stomach do flip flops. She felt a flush creeping up over her face and the hairs prickle on the back of her neck. And – oh god, he's not wearing a shirt.
"Do you like being a whore, Jack," he asked. His voice was a silky whisper but his words jerked her from her thoughts abruptly.
"What," she breathed, outraged, "what did you just say to me?" All the good feelings that she had been experiencing moments before evaporated in an instant. "Get off of me. Now."
He just cocked his head to the side and continued to stare. She began to struggle and continued to stare. "I bet you do," he said thoughtfully as if she weren't there in front of him, pressed painfully into his chest, "I bet you love getting on your knees for any man with a dick and a heartbeat."
"WHAT?!Let me GO," she demanded trying to kick his kneecaps. He didn't flinch, he just squeezed her tighter. Now she was really struggling for breath and it had nothing to do with being turned on. That shit hurt!
"Does it make you feel good Jackie," he asked. It almost sounded like her was gently teasing her and she would've thought so if it wasn't for the deadness of his eyes and the fact that her ribs were about two seconds away from puncturing her lungs. "You used to follow me around like a dog in heat," he smiled, "I never knew why until now. You wanted me to fuck you, Jack," he asked mockingly, "you wanted me to be your little boyfriend? I bet you did." He threw back his head laughed. The sound that came out wasn't his usually booming 'HA', it was gravel scraping gravel; nails against a chalkboard... it was the beast.
He lowered his head to her neck and inhaled deeply and she recoiled, "You smell like sex," he growled, " I would take your ass right here on this floor like the whore that you are…" he moved his lips up to her ear," … but I don't take sloppy seconds from any merc."
Jack was numb. She stared at him in disbelief. Her mouth hung open and she didn't even notice the tears that had begun to trickle down her face. He could've ripped her inside out and she wouldn't have noticed.
"You-you bastard," she seethed, face white with rage, "……you bastard! How dare you say that shit to me!?"
She was livid and incredibly hurt; but her pain was quickly replaced with hate that she had never known before. In some small part of her mind it surprised her that her hate was aimed towards him of all people – when did that happen? – but it surged to the surface nonetheless and she lashed out.
"A 'dog in heat' ? Fuck you, Riddick. I never cowed down to you, you stupid motherfucker, I looked up to you; but how stupid of me to look up to a pussy coward like you," she raged against him kicking and bucking.
"You're a bitch," she screamed, spit flying in his face, "Carolyn should've left your ass out there to die, you didn't deserve to live then and you sure as hell don't now. You are a fucking monster! I hate –"
She was cut short as Riddick threw her into her treadmill. Her kidney connected with corner of the rail and she bit her tongue hard enough to make it bleed; she grunted in pain before collapsing onto her knees.
"Get up," he commanded. She raised her eyes to him in a defiant glare.
"Get UP!"
She stood shakily wiping the blood from the side of her mouth.
When he stepped towards her she edged into the middle of the room. She crouched down into a defensive stance – a stance that he had taught her – and watched warily as he advanced towards her. If it was a fight he wanted hat was exactly what he was going to get, at that point she couldn't have cared less.
"You gonna fight me little girl," he mocked, cracking his neck to both sides.
She remained silent. He was trying to bait her, to distract her. He wanted her to attack first; but she wouldn't do it. He had trained her not to.
"You have no idea who you're fuckin with."
She cocked her head to the side – a habit she picked up from him. "I know that you're wasting my time, so why don't you shut the fuck up and let's do this."
Their eyes locked and for an insanely disappointing second she thought he was going to back down; but at that moment he struck out at her with lighting speed. He landed a solid punch that would have knocked her unconscious if she hadn't moved with the force of his blow. She hit the floor and rolled before springing back up and delivering a sharp well placed kick to his kidney.
Deep inside her was proud of her agility- but it wasn't time for that now.
Before she could regain her footing he hit her dead in her solar plexus; she flipped herself backwards and landed a bone jarring snap-kick to his jaw before landing gracefully gasping for breath. She came at him then. Feigning a right hook she dodged to the left and delivered an uppercut at the same moment the back of his left hand connected with the side of her face. He didn't pull his hit and she reeled sideways; he stooped low, snatched her right ankle in a vice like grip threw her into the wall on the other side of the gym.
Jacks head made a sick cracking noise against the steel wall and she slid down to the floor. She convulsed once and lay still.
The animal crowed victoriously deep inside Riddick. The rage and aggression of the past ten minutes ripped through his body like a live current. And still Jack hadn't moved. Why wasn't she moving? The adrenaline that had surged through Riddick and fueled the beast continued to flow as he approached her, but a seed of concern had begun to bloom as well. Why wasn't she moving? The hum in the back of his skull that signaled the approach of the beast subsided enough for him to listen carefully. Except for the beating of his heart and the whirring of the still moving treadmill band...the room was silent.
He crouched down beside her, "Get up." She didn't move. Adrenaline had been replaced concern laced with stomach turning fear.
I can't hear her breathing…what the fuck?
"Jack get up," he demanded. He reached out a shook her shoulder. And then a sharp coppery scent filled his senses. Blood.
Oh shit.
He fell to his knees and pulled her away from the wall and into his lap. As he reached out and turned her head towards him his fingers touched something warm and wet. He pulled his hand back and it glistened crimson with blood. Her blood.
"Jackie, c'mon," he lowered his head to her chest and listened. A heart beat, very faint and fading by the second. "Oh my god," he whispered, pulling her up and hugging her to his chest tightly. He was a collected person by nature, and years of military training and running for his life had only engrained that further into his persona…but when he saw the small puddle of blood on the floor panic overwhelmed him and he could do nothing more than clutch her to him like he was afraid she would fly away.
"C'mon kid…wake up Jackie, wake up," he muttered into her hair, "don't you do this shit."
What the fuck did I do? Jesus Christ kid, please!
He picked up her hand and pressed it to his lips. He let it go and it fell lifelessly back down to the floor.
"Oh my god…Jack."
