Disclaimer: I don't own Pitch Black! But, I kinda own the OC in this fanfic.

I'm sorry this chapter took longer than normal, I've been stressed out about some stuff and my writing has taken a hit. :( Can you ever forgive me? Thank you for your kind reviews. This next chapter has an interesting twist, I really hope you like it! Please let me know in your reviews!

Italics = Inner most thoughts

Bold Italics =Thoughts of the 'Beast'

Chapter 15

Rain stands alone in the rain outside the skiff; where Jack had left her. She's still absorbed in the inner turmoil of her own mind; distracted, conflicted, lost. She's unaware of the others reaching the skiff, of being left behind. She only sees the darkness of her inner mindscape, hears the echoing silence, and feels the loneliness of nothing. But something inside Rain begins to awaken around her, in the void of her mind, something primitive, something primal, something beast-like.

I think it's time you let me take over, little one. Your hesitations are going to get us killed.

Huh? Who's there? Rain darts her eyes around her inner mindscape, trying to search for the origins of the strange echoing voice; a voice that sounds like Rain's own, except with more strength and force.

I am you.

That makes no sense. Rain gets the impression of teeth, of the voice grinning, but can see only darkness. Where are we? Where did you come from? Why are you here?

Inside you. I've been here all along, sleeping. I'm here to take the lead, to protect us. We're in danger, little one.

Danger? Rain thinks hard for the last thing she could remember. There are things trying to kill us. Things from the darkness.

Yes.

Sudden fear freezes Rain. But it's dark here. I can't see.

I can lead us out of the darkness.

A flash of muscle and sinew fills Rain's mind; the image focuses into Riddick. But wasn't Riddick doing that?

Outside. But he can't reach us here, inside. Yet. I can fix that as well.

Yet? Fix it?

Yes. We've not yet accepted him as our mate. He has to earn it. Only then, can he reach us here.

Um…okay…I think I'll leave that topic alone for later contemplation. Back to the first subject, how do we get out of the dark? What now?

The beast grins at Rain again. Now you relax, and let me lead.

Riddick is carrying Rain up the ramp of the skiff, when she gives him a sharp elbow to the face. Fuck!

He drops her reflexively, not expecting the blow. Rain twists, landing in a low crouch with her hair hiding her face; an unusual stillness overcomes her.

"Kitten?" Riddick sounds unsure, worried she might be throwing a tantrum. She's not crying is she?

Rain's head jerks up, eyes flashing to meet Riddick's gaze. There's a strange glow around her irises, but no tears.

"Not quite." She quirks her lips and straightens from her crouch. She's different; changed somehow. There's a confident glint in her eyes, as if she holds all the right cards in a high stakes game. Rain steps back, down the ramp, away from Riddick and the skiff.

"You're going the wrong way, darlin'." Riddick tilts his head, frowning at her. What is she playing at?

"Am I?" There's humor in her voice, and it's different, lower. Sexy.

"Yes." Riddick takes a step toward her, choosing to ignore the flash of heat from his beast. She matches his step, but backward, her smile growing.

"Don't." He growls, not liking her continued retreat from the safety of the skiff.

She's all out grinning, now. "You didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you?"

What the fuck is she talking about? Riddick's beast responds with a purr."Didn't think what was going to be easy?"

"The hunt." She whispers with finality, quickly spinning on her heel and darting into the darkness…away from Riddick…away from the skiff.

Rain!?

He's following. The voice of Rain's beast sounds smug inside Rain's mind.

Who's following? Is that a good thing? Rain is still caught in the darkness; but, it's a comforting darkness now. She doesn't have to do anything, her beast has taken charge. What's going on?

The Riddick. He's hunting us.

WHAT?! Why? Rain is suddenly alert; disturbed. What did you do!?

He must prove he's worthy. He must be able to catch us. We have to test him as alpha.

Is this about that whole mate thing!? I thought we were gonna talk about this later? You do realize there are creepy hammerhead monsters out here trying to eat us, don't you? Now is not a good time!

Now is a good time.

Oh, holy crap, I've made a mistake. There's something wrong with me. There is. Why did I ever think letting a strange voice inside my head take charge, was a good idea? This is insane. I'm insane. I'm talking to myself, so I must be insane. Yup, I've gone off the deep end. This whole freaking place is probably just in my head.

Rain's beast rumbles out a low growl. Will you stop rambling already? We'll be fine. I'm only doing what you should have done from the beginning.

And what's that; infuriate a convicted felon? Cuz' I'm pretty sure I've done that a few times already. No need to keep testing his patience.

No, I meant give him a proper challenge, a proper hunt. If we get on that skiff right now, you're going to submit to him without ever affirming him worthy. That's not how we work.

We? You speak for yourself crazy lady…uh…beast thingy. What the hell are you anyway; besides a figment of my crazy imagination? Do you have a name…or like…a title? I digress…What's wrong with just giving in?

I liked you better when you didn't know I existed. You babbled a lot less.

Hey, I take offense to that.

Riddick pursues Rain with near single-minded intensity, as she darts through the compound, water and mud splashing up with each quick stride. When did she get so fuckin' fast? Females have speed, males have strength. Now shut up and catch her. Riddick rolls his eyes. Already on it, fuck you very much.

He pushes more strength into running, scanning the surroundings for any creature that might go after Rain. Her safety is at the forefront of his mind; she doesn't have the benefit of a loop of lights around her torso. Riddick wishes she still had that bottle of glow worms with her; luckily, there are no creatures in sight. Why the hell is Rain running from us?

She already told you, it is the hunt. Sounds complicated.

She challenged us. We accepted. Now we catch her, claim her, make her ours. What I've been urging you to do all along. So you two are somehow on the same wavelength now? Interesting.

Up ahead, Rain turns a sharp corner around an outbuilding. Riddick makes a split decision, deciding to try to intercept her. He heads for the outer corner of the building, rounding the corner with an arm out to catch her…but she's not there. Where the…?

Riddick quickly scans the route she should have taken, scenting the air. There! A door on the side of the building is ajar. He swiftly shoves it open, tense and alert. She's in here somewhere. I can smell her.

Riddick enters the room, taking note that it's some sort of storage hanger/shop. The room is cluttered and dark, so Riddick proceeds forward cautiously, shoving his goggles in his back pocket.

Thick chains hang from the high ceiling in a few places, large tables and desks are placed randomly about, askew in an unorderly way, as if something large had gone through the room at some point, pushing things around. The faint stench of stale oil and grease permeates the air; however, the fresher fragrance of aroused female is what really catches Riddick's attention. Hmm, intriguing.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty." Riddick tries to lure Rain out. "Come out, come out, wherever you are."

Silence. No movement. Nothing.

"Come on, Rain. The others are waiting for us. Now's not the time for games." Riddick slowly picks his way around a desk, eyes alert for movement, nose open as he follows Rain's scent. "I promise your punishment for running won't be too bad." No, we'll definitely make it good.

Riddick halts when Rain's scent abruptly ceases. Huh? He turns left, then right, but the trail doesn't resume. It's almost as if it's going upwar…WHACK!

Rain drops onto Riddick from above, catching him in the temple with one booted heel. She had climbed one of the hanging chains and waited to catch him unawares. She lands sideways on a desk as he staggers back a few steps, her hip hitting it hard, wincing in pain.

Riddick quickly recovers, shaking off his disorientation and lunging for her. She scrambles backward on the desk, boots unable to get traction, and Riddick manages to snag her ankle and pull her back towards him.

He bends over the desk and crashes his front to hers, each of his hands securing her wrists. Her legs hang off the desk at the knee, and Riddick presses his weight into them to keep her from kicking him.

The look in his eyes is murderous as he snarls in her face. "What the fuck!?"

A/N: He's got her trapped now! What do you think he's going to do with her? Please Review, or I might make you wait longer to find out what happens. :P