A Dark Retreat

Peach Creek

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Pitch Black, Riddick, and music assets used. I only own any original characters I include.
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~ Time Break ~ 2 pm the next day. ~

~ Quinn ~

I wake up feeling very warm, I start to roll over under my blanket and feel a weight across my stomach. I froze as I remembered last night. There is only one bed in the house. I wasn't going to make Riddick sleep on the floor, so we shared the bed and the blankets I had brought with me. 

I pulled up Pitch Black last night and watched it with him. He seemed to be shocked that there was a movie about him, lost in thought as we settled into sleep.

I had fallen asleep last night with several inches between us, he must have pulled me close at some point, as I am using one arm as a pillow while the other holds me close.

'Was I shivering in my sleep?'

I lie in his arms for several minutes until I feel him start to move. I roll over on my back and glance over at him. "Good mornin' Riddick." He pulls his arm back as I sit up and stretch. I get a grunt as an answer. It is still dark in the bedroom due to the boarded windows, but I can hear birds singing.

I grab my duffle bag and head outside, it's early enough in winter that it is still warm out, and I toss Riddick a breakfast bar as I go.

I eat one as I walk through the underbrush. It's a lot more overgrown out here since the last time I was here. Turning back I grab the machete. 

I work my way over a small hill clearing a path as I go. Down at the creek at the back of the property, a fallen tree from a long-ago storm is still stretching across the banks.

Looking back towards the house, Riddick is standing at the crest of the hill, leaning against a tree watching me. I turn back and climb onto the tree and cross the creek. I make my way through the new growth. I find a bend in the creek where it grows shallow. 

After some searching and quickly relieving myself, I find an old park bench covered in vines up against a tree.

'I remember when Rain stole this bench and put it here.' 

I clear away the vines and place my duffle bag down.
 'It was hilarious…  but Dad was pissed.' 

Testing the wood slats of the bench to see if they can hold my weight, I find them solid and sit down. 

'He wanted to return it, but we managed to convince him to let us keep it since she wasn't caught and it was so well hidden on the creek. I miss them both so much, it's been too long since I visited Rain.' 

Pulling out a bathing suit, camping soap, and towel I change quickly. It was cold last night but it's in the 80s today. 

'It's bittersweet being back here. Soooo many memories…  both good and bad.  I think I'll make a plaque for Dad and put it here. He died near this patch of land we loved so much.'

Walking into the creek, the water is cool against my skin. I sit on the sand bar and wash. 

'I think we'll stop by Rain's apartment in town once we leave here.' 

After washing I lay back across the sandbar, and soak with my eyes closed. A shadow falls across my face fifteen minutes in.

"Can I help you?” I ask without opening my eyes.

"We need to hunt, we have three days of rations left if we eat twice a day."

'Hunting will be fun.' 
I opened my eyes to look at him upside down from where I lay in the water.

"Ok, let's go." I offer my hand to him and he moves around in front of me. He pulls me up with a bit more force than I expected. Yelping, I crash into his chest. I start to fall again, and Riddick grabs my hips and pulls me back to his chest until I gain my balance. 

He doesn't let go immediately. Instead, he walks me backward out of the creek, stopping next to the bench. He removes his glasses in the shade and places them on top of my bag. I start to fidget nervously, playing with the hem of my shirt, not meeting his eyes. He grabs me by the back of my neck and forces my head up to meet his gaze. After several minutes of examining my face, he pulls me impossibly closer. 

Riddick lowers his mouth over mine stopping before they meet. Long enough for me to come to my senses. I realize at some point I braced a hand on his chest. After several seconds I pull away. With my hand on his chest and pushing him to arm's length.

"Didn't you want to hunt?” I ask pointedly. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it over the running water. I lift my hand off his chest and move away.

"Yes," His voice is deeper than normal. He drops his arms taking a few steps back.

‘Why does he fuck with me like this? There's no way he's interested in me is there? I'm kinda plain, my only features that I like are my tips and have everything else is mediocre in my opinion. Ugh I don't know. ‘

I grab my towel, dry off, and hand Riddick his sunglasses. He doesn't bother to look away. I put my back to him and stripped out of my bathing suit and dress. I toss my bathing suit and towel over my shoulder.

Calling out behind me as I close up my bag and walk away, "You coming?"

He shakes himself out of whatever is on his mind as he follows me. I hang my bathing suit and towel to dry on an old rope ladder strung between two trees. 

Back at the house. I put my bag inside the doors, off to the side. I pull out a matching pair of daggers and place them on my belt. I pass Riddick another long dagger.

~

Updated: 08/21/24 ~

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