The Sun's Radiance

Chapter Six

Johns is pulling me by a rope binding my hands, speaking to Fry. "I know what happened—he went off on the guy, buried him on the hill somewhere, and now he's trying to—"

" —Let's just be sure."

"I am sure. Look, murders aside, Riddick belongs in the Asshole Hall of Fame. He loves the jaw-jackin', loves making you afraid, 'cuz that's all he has. And you're playing right into—"

Fry cuts him off, "we're gonna find the body, Johns. Christ, you're a cop. Why am I tellin' you this? We gotta go down and find it."

Not a cop. I glare into the backs of their heads. How can they not see?

He shakes his head. "Well, don't ask me to. And don't risk your life. If you're so set on this, she'll go." He tugs roughly on the rope as we come to a stop.

Mouth taped and not willing to use more magic than necessary in front of them, I growl.

"Thought you didn't believe his story."

"I don't. But that ground looked none too stable, and I don't want anyone—"

Jack pipes up from behind me, "if you're afraid, I'll go."

Fry and John tell the kid 'no' at the same time before Fry continues, "you'll stay with Shazza or Imam."

It's unnaturally silent aside from the labored breathing from the others. Everyone is tense as they work to connect a wire to my belt, unbind my hands, rip the tape off of my mouth, and shove a flashlight in my general direction.

"Scream if you need anything," Johns shoves his gun into my abdomen to get me to move down the hole.

Whatever is down there is underground for a reason. Perhaps an aversion to light? It'll be dark enough anyways, light will be better. I let photonic energy begin to gather around me as I step towards the hole, forming a knife in my hand without the flashlight. I crawl through a short tunnel before it opens to a larger chamber. Beams of light dimly illuminate the chamber, dust slowly circling in the air. The presence and scent of so many creatures is nearly oppressive, suffocating.

The atmosphere is nice enough, though, putting everything else aside.

Until I notice the bloodied and fleshy remains of a boot.

And then the clicking starts. And the creatures start circling. Quickly. Quicker. Hungrier.

The light inside me begins to pulse faster, brighter, with my rising adrenaline. It makes the creatures shrink back and scream in pain.

They get braver as I begin to move towards one of the shafts of light.

As one gets within arms reach, nicking me with its tail, I expel the energy in a small star. "Not so fast. You all can stay down here a while longer. And I," I reach for my gun, which is gone, "I am going to leave." I start climbing what I now recognize as one of the spires with the star shining below me and the creatures tugging at the wire around my waist every so often.

Growling, I slice the rope off of me before digging a hole in the spire. I tumble out of the spire, onto my back. "Whoever is holding that wire, I suggest you let go. And I would really like my gun back now." I let the knife fall out of my hand and fade as the group rushes over.

Multiple people ask, "What'd you find?"

"You really don't want to know. Let's hope those things stay there. And before you ask, Shazza. I don't think you're getting your lover back." I stand with a stinging pain in my side. Fuck.

Jack pulls my hand away from my ribs. Seeing the blood, "you're hurt. We should go back to the ship."