Fiona knelt down and buckled her boots. Her shaking fingers showing her unease.
The eclipsing planet had long dominated half the sky, the suns blocked completely. An impactful darkness was all around them, trying to leak in and snuff out all of the light. Johns had finally given in and the plan had been set into motion. After a fearful two-minute walk to the cargo bay they all found themselves surrounded by makeshift light and a new confidence.
Fiona felt helpless. She tried to aid, tried to contribution in hooking up the generator and positioning it on the sled, but the captain only pushed her away. Her efforts were denied, eyes telling her she wasn't wanted, wasn't needed, wasn't welcome.
Riddick had become the newly appointed leader, his orders direct and to the point. They followed him obediently, the only one that didn't like it being Johns. He didn't speak his mind anymore; rather he kept to himself, gun ready and waiting. The hours ticked by, scratching and squalling all around them a reminder of the impending doom that waited just outside.
Fiona felt putout. She couldn't put words to what she was thinking, but fiery hatred for them all was all that ran its way through her veins. She didn't like their sudden loyalty, their undying need to show Riddick that he was in fact in charge. They were jumping into her world, trying to take her place, and she didn't want it.
She gathered what little things she did have and made her way towards the man in question. He was finishing up the connects in front, helping Imam strap himself into the handmade lead that connected to the sled. The other one was meant for Johns, the blue-eyed devil waiting patiently for his turn.
Grabbing hold of the chain invention, Fiona stood in front of his, waiting. Johns sized up the situation, looking down at her hands and at the symbol of future stress that was held in them. He unshouldered his gun, leaning it against the generator before turning back to Fiona and extending his arms. She did what she had watched Riddick do, helping her captor into chains and straps. The irony wasn't lost on either of them, the fleeting looks shared full of anger and frustration.
"You ok big blue?"
Johns hands were shaking, his forehead covered in sweat. He reached up and whipped it away, nodding his head before scooping up his gun.
"I've had worse." Their conversation was hushed, a whisper over the skuttering frenzy of the others as they prepared for the trek.
"Don't I know it."
He watched as she hooked in the last of the shackles, pulling on the chain that connected the harness to the sled to make sure it held. He spoke no thanks, only nodded, taking a few steps back from her and focusing his attention just behind her.
Fiona turned her attention around and back to the front. Fry was busy helping Riddick strap into a belt of light that wrapped across his chest. The bulbs were positioned on his back, leaving the front open and dark. The captain was swaddling the man, Fiona irritated by her sudden need to be close to the strength in the group. She was just the first though, as everyone would eventually turn their full attention to the serial killer that was saving them.
Fiona felt no need to continue giving them their secretive moment. She moved up beside them, keeping quiet and prepared.
"Paris needs help flanking the back." The captain regarded Paris, returning her eyes seconds later to Fiona.
"He'll be fine alone."
The woman wanted to buck back, her eyes closing in tightly at the obvious disobedience. Fiona could see the orders turning over in her head, the words she wanted to say but wouldn't. It only made her smile. Riddick didn't intervene, rather watched for a moment before turning his attention to Fiona. He handed over a knapsack, helping her wrap it over her shoulder and made sure it was secure. He reached down to tug on it, helping her make the strap tighter. It wasn't up to his standards and she let him fiddle with it, watching as his hands meddled with the buckle. The captain watched too, stepping back after a minute of being ignored.
"I don't like her." Fiona watched the woman round the generator, observing the other survivors before taking her place. Riddick's hands grazed over her neck fingers feather soft on the strap as he ran over it, checking it one last time for strength. Everyone was lost in their own worlds, eyes focusing on the only source of light that was to get them to their destination.
"Now now. She's not all that bad."
Fiona pulled away from him, refusing to have this conversation with him. His chuckle was deep, strangely placed in the moment.
"Lets get going." Fry called out, a trace of a smile there. She was hopeful, something that only the gullible felt. Fiona felt bad for her. The seconds of silence lapsed, they all took in their last thoughts, said their last prayers, pushed off their last fears, and then they were moving.
BREAK -
It felt like days. Fiona kept pace with the giant man beside her as they pushed about ten feet in front of the others. The bumbling light source behind them was holding strong, Johns and Imam pulling it like mules. Jack and Fry were on second flank, Imam's remaining sons and him on third, Paris taking up the rear.
The darkness was looming, winged beasts just on the outside of the light. Waiting. She caught glimpses of them from time to time, so far away from the large light source that she could see only their silhouettes just outside Riddick's light range.
"That girl back there is bleeding." Riddick's voice broke through the darkness so quietly. Fiona went through her mental inventory thinking of when Fry may or may not have gotten cut and couldn't piece it together. She fretted for a moment longer before remembering the age of Jack, and what could very well be happening to her.
"They can smell her." Her own voice sounded weak, Riddick didn't seem to notice.
"Got our scent now. Shoulda blown the cap on that bluff from the get-go, saved ourselves this struggle."
"She's just a child."
"Doesn't stop her from being a struggle. They smell her." Riddick glanced back, slowing his pace to a walk. "They want to devour her."
Fiona stared at the man beside her, trying to decipher exactly what he meant. So much meaning hidden behind his words, things unsaid, unfinished. Maybe though, maybe there wasn't all this meaning that she was searching for. Maybe he meant it the way he did. Maybe he would bump off Jack and call it a night, leave the body behind for bait, string her up and drag her.
But what had stopped him before? She's only a child...
She furrowed her brows, clutching onto the bag tightly.
"Riddick, Riddick." Fry's call out to him pulled both of them to a stop as they turned around and awaited the small group to join them. Riddick quickly lowered his goggles over his eyes.
"Where are the sand-cat tracks? Why aren't we still following them?"
"Saw something I didn't like." Riddick kicked at the sand, settling a bored stare on the worried captain.
"Such as?" Johns shifted his gun from shoulder to hand, looking into the darkness around them for any sign of distress. But there was nothing, just silence. They were there though, in the blanketed hush, waiting for someone to slip. Hungry.
"Hard to tell, sometimes... even for me... but looked like a bunch of those big boys chewin' each other's gonads off. Thought we'd swing wide. Okay by you?"
"We went around what?" Paris swung wide, throwing himself around, the torch in his hand. He was in the back because he was the most skittish. Each movement was a flail, and if he wasn't left by himself he would likely kill someone before one of those beasts got a chance to.
"Let's move." Fry held onto the small girl beside her, latching onto the bleeding child, completely unaware of the danger she was in.
Fiona turned her back to the large group of people, deciding rather to watch the darkness just inches from her and Riddick. She could see the animal there, a large one, balancing on the edge of the light. It swayed from left to right, watching precariously, waiting for someone to step into the darkness. She thought maybe he was testing the boundaries, pushing closer in, trying to figure out exactly how much of the halogen glow he could take before it hurt too much.
When it stepped closer Fiona grabbed Riddick's arm. He was alert instantly, turning towards her and pulling her closer as he looked from the survivors and into the darkness.
"Can we switch?"
"What?" Fry turned around, looking back at Paris. "Switch what?"
They were unaware of the beasts that had stepped up on the edges. Fiona's tongue was stuck in her throat as she looked from in front to her left, watching as another one stepped up on the edge of the light. Their faint outlines were enough to chill her blood, their size twice that of Riddick.
"I think I twisted my ankle running backwards like that. And I'm not sure I can..."
Their argument took the back seat as Riddick and Fiona looked to the right and saw yet another one. Fiona didn't struggle as Riddick pulled her flush to him, a shiv in one hand, the other around her and buried in the fabric of her shirt. She could feel the erratic spray of his heartbeat, his eyes seeing more than what she could. She looked away from the creatures and up to him, watching as his glowing eyes bounced back and forth, from creature to creature.
It happened so quickly.
An incoming spray of wings, a loud squeal, the slice of scythe blades. Fiona was pushed to the side, Riddick letting go and slicing at the creature. It swerved to the side and missed his reach, slamming into the generator and knocking it to the edge. As the light slowly faded the screams picked up. Fiona huddled close to the ground, watching as the blue glow dissipated. She picked herself up quickly, fishing in the bag for something useful. Her fingers tipped over a blade and she quickly pulled it out, putting the bag on her back and crouching low.
The residual light was enough to see in. She moved forward, running towards the generator and tipping it back over. The bodies around her reaching out attempting to help, but they were of no use. Fry kept commanding orders, demanding that they huddle in close, but the chaos drove everyone to their own solace.
Fiona used all the power that she had to pick the beast of a generator up and slide it back onto the sled. Her fingers fumbled with the switches, finding the reset there at the bottom. Paris' scream did not go unnoticed but she refused to be devoured in the night. With haste she flipped the switch and stood up quickly, pulling the chain to start up the genny.
As the light slowly slid back into the tubes the knowledge that one was gone spread over them all. Fiona stood stoically, the blade in her hand, eyes bouncing around the area, looking for another one of those winged terrors to shoot out of the sky.
"This thing ain't going to last another ten minutes." She looked to Fry as she took a few steps around the device and moved back towards Riddick. The captain nodded, gathering the other bodies around the generator and quickly formulating the second stage to the plan.
Johns was just feet from Riddick, gun pointed into the darkness, both of them watching a spot just outside the reach of light.
"What is it Riddick?" Fiona stepped up beside him, tucking the blade he had stored in her bag in the waistline of her pants.
"60 years of hunger."
BREAK -
"Canyon ahead." Riddick's breath was labored, the others running ragged. The generator had been tossed aside hours ago, the only light they had, alcohol bottles, currently burning bright in their hands. Fiona had refused to take a torch when offered. She kept herself close to Riddick, just a few feet out from his side, eyes trained on the isolation in front of them.
The sound was picking up. What was once silence had slowly grown into a sweep of fluttering wings and squalls. They were closing in, their shifting in the shadows more notable and in higher numbers. A few of the babies that didn't know any better had attempted to move closer but the light caught them off guard, sending them squealing into the vastness.
"Lets go." Fry was lingering just behind them, Riddick stalled in a stance of contemplation. Fiona was secretly happy he had taken a moment, her lungs on fire. There was a pain growing in her side, hitching her lungs and making each step agonizing.
"I've been thinking." Riddick put his back to the darkness. Fiona kept herself alert, knowing he was dividing up his attention. The silhouettes had all but vanished in the last few clicks, the entrance to the canyon bare. He had told her though, that the canyon was going to be a do or die situation, and she refused to let this moment get the best of her.
"About?" Fry entertained him, Johns scoffing just in the distance. Fiona looked over at him, watching as he moved towards the bone shelter six feet in front of them. He used his gun light to inspect before leaning a hand on the edifice and letting some of his weight shift into comfort.
"The girl, she's bleeding."
"She ain't fuckin' bleedin." Johns snapped, turning around and strolled back into the circle. He looked Fry over for extra measure but found no cuts, eyes returning to Riddick for an explanation.
"Not her, you dumbass." Fiona sneered, looking back at the young Jack who was slowly giving herself away. The tremor in the young girl was enough to make them all aware, her down cast eyes and blush the cherry on top.
"This isn't working..." Fry turned to Riddick, hoping maybe he would understand. "We're going to have to go back."
"Come again?" Fiona spat out the words without hesitation, advancing on the woman. Riddick caught the edge of her shirt however, pulling her back into him. She met his flesh, not thinking to address the fact that he was openly wrapping his arm around her waist and keeping her held back in front of the others. "You want to go back after all of that? Probably shoulda fuckin' thought about that a long fucking time ago!"
"It's just not working. We need to regroup, get more light..."
"Woman you're fuckin' insane." Johns returned again, giving up on keeping to himself. He stepped up in front of Fry, gun over his shoulder, eyes steady on her. Fiona was fuming, her hand reaching down to grip Riddick's arm. She let out a deep sigh, her head landing back on his chest, eyes darting up to his face. He only shook his head, giving her one last tight squeeze before letting her go.
"We ain't going fucking back." Johns pulled his gun in front of him, leering down at Fry. The woman looked back at Riddick, hoping to find some help in him. She was sorely mistaken however, his attention being held by the petite woman in his arms, their eyes locked for a moment before parting ways. "Verdicts in. We're moving forward."
Fry had nothing to say, her eyes traveling down into the sand. The others huddled around her for support as Johns took Riddick by the arm and lead him out, away from them all.
Fiona found herself following, keeping just behind them. Johns glanced back to look at the survivors, eyes fixing on her for a moment. Whatever he wanted to say to Riddick he felt should be kept in private, those eyes demanding an audience with the big prize alone. She drifted back a little, granting him his little wish, making sure however to keep within listening distance. The others trailed behind her, doubling the distance even more, their chatter caught up in the wind.
"Ain't all of us gonna make it." Johns spoke delicately. Fiona wanted to be up there, beside Riddick, mixed in this deal. She wanted those words to be for her ears, not just lost syllables that happened to be heard. She was frustrated, irritated, and above all confused. She needed stability, the world around her closing in with a surrounding darkness. Hope was stupid, hope was useless, but stability she could stomach desiring.
"Just realized that, huh?" Riddick pulled on his belt, the lights catching Fiona in the eyes. She squinted, looking away.
"Seven of us left. If we could get through that canyon and lose just two, that'd be quite a fucking feat, huh? A good thing right?"
"Not if I'm one of those two."
"What if you're one of five?"
"I'm listening."
They stepped around the first ribcage, their voices bouncing off the surface, getting lost in the space. Fiona kept herself as quiet as possible, picking up her pace to move in closer.
"...travel with them. There's a cable on the sled. We can drag the bodies behind us."
"Nice embellishment." Riddick found himself chuckling. They slowed just ahead, standing on the other side of a giant skull, eyes locking. Everyone else was fifty yards away, in plain sight but at a distance, enough for them to talk about their deaths like they weren't even there. Fiona pressed closer to the ribcage, keeping herself hidden, eyes ensnared on Riddick's face, as he looked deep into Johns.
"Don't wanna feed these land-sharks, just keep 'em off our scent."
"So which two caught your eye?" Riddick enticed a glance, his eyes mistakenly looking at the group. Fiona could feel him staring at her though, those eyes, his eyes, imprisoned behind goggles. He could see her easily, trying to hide in the darkness, trying to listen in on his big boy conversation. She wondered what he thought about that, if he would be angry that she didn't trust him, angry that she felt like she was privy to his business.
"Don' look for Christ's sakes." Johns shook his head, glaring at Riddick who had returned his attention back to their conversation. "You do the little girl and your tag along and I'll keep the rest off your back. Lord knows you need to drop some unneeded weight."
Fiona felt the ground shift out from under her. Her lungs caught, eyes moving sharply to the group behind her. They had stopped, mutters just barely heard among them. Fry's distant face was full of confusion, her hold on the young girl a sign that she knew what might be happening. Fiona felt the tremble, eyes darting back towards Johns and Riddick.
"What's her name, anyway?"
"What do you care."
Riddick shrugged, "I don't."
Fiona felt her stomach churn. He hadn't even asked why, hadn't even argued. She closed her eyes, her fatigue getting the best of her as her body swayed.
"Then let's not name the Thanksgiving turkey, okay? I assume you still got a shiv."
"What, you 'spect me to do it?"
"It's your whore after all. What's two more to you? Like these are the ones that gonna send you to Hell?"
The silence from Riddick didn't sit well with Johns. The gun-toting lunatic fretted, shifting his weight, eyes darting back to the group, hands stressing through his hair. He was nerved, his impatience showing. "You losing your touch Riddick?"
"Just wonderin' if we don't need a bigger piece of chum."
Fiona pushed forward, watching as the two men came to a silent agreement. Johns didn't see her, didn't realize she was there. She toppled him instantly, landing on his body and throwing him to the ground. The shiv Riddick had lent her was out and buried deep in the mans back. He screamed out but her strength was no match for his, his weight throwing her off him as he rolled over and tried to shoot.
Riddick picked her up off the ground, bullets landing in the sand seconds after she left it. She struggled in his hold, wanting more than anything to end John's life. She had to show him who was weak; she had to show him and everyone else that she was worthy. Not only to be beside Riddick but worthy enough to be alive. She wasn't just a toy to string along but her own kind of trouble. She had to prove that she wasn't to be messed with.
When she lunged again she managed to knock the gun out of his hands. Riddick kicked it further away, the flare now between her and Johns.
"Fucking little bitch. I shoulda killed you when I had the chance."
The darkness was stifling. Fiona kept her distance from the merc, watching as he pulled out his own knife, gripping it and moving towards her. She stepped out of his path like Riddick had taught her, dancing in the sand to avoid attach. Johns flailed, the wound in his back getting the best of him.
Fiona took her chance and picked up the flare, tossing it far into the darkness. Johns lunged, knocking her to the ground and digging the knife into her arm. She let out a paralyzing scream, kicking at him angrily, sending him backwards. His body bounded into the darkness and when he turned to continue to fight a long spear was thrust into his body.
Riddick helped her to her feet, pushing her back behind him as they moved back towards the light. He helped her sit just next to the flair, eyes bouncing back towards the merc.
"Is he...?"
"Had it coming."