The Lone Wolf

Chapter 6: Crematoria

When you arrive on Crematoria and your only previous knowledge of the place was based on what you've heard, you realise you haven't heard shit. The things you hear about Crematoria make it sound like a holiday destination compared to the cold hard truth.

Everything you hear is based purely on rumours that are spread to strike fear into the hearts of young troublemakers. "Be careful," their mothers would say sternly, "If you carry on behaving like that you'll end up in a detaining centre - and its Crematoria from there on out."

I stared out of the window by the ship's docking exit as I lay my eyes on the surface of the planet. The horizon was as bright as the sun, and the brightness went on as far as even my eyes could see. Nearby, the floor was coated in rocks and an array of dents from where previous merc ships have arrived and left.

Then, there was the graveyard. A graveyard would be a rather generous name for it, as it was more like a large stretch of dirt that was covered in the charred skeletons of prisoners that had tried to escape. Bones upon bones, mangled and oozing melted bone marrow. Femurs interlocked with ribcages and skulls cracked and smoking in the blazing heat.

I stepped precariously off the ship, surrounded by guards. If I ran, I wouldn't get away. I was immobilised with shackles and chains to the point where my arms were strapped and locked tightly around my torso and the only thing I could move was my legs.

Granted, I could take down some of these fools with my legs alone, but they're all armed. I could try to run, but where would I go? There's no where to hide on Crematoria - and if the guards and mercs don't find you first, you'll burn to death on the surface of the planet.

"We need to move quickly." Logan, the co-pilot, stressed to all of us, "For each of your own personal safety - the planet rotates at 5000 miles per hour. At midday the planet reaches 372 degrees, and at midnight it can drop to minus 182. If it catches up to you, you're dead. No question about it."

"We are on the midside of the planet - half way between day and night," The Engineer carried on, turning his attention to a small device in his hand, "Time goes by faster here due to the speed of the planet. Daylight is going to be on top of where we are right now in three hours. If sunlight begins to hit, you'll know. You will see the light on the floor moving towards you, but that isn't going to happen."

"That won't happen, because you are both going to cooperate with us, aren't you?" Drike growled at Riddick and I. I rolled my eyes in response, Riddick said nothing.

"Alright, the entrance to the security bay is North East from the door, and on three we move." A third man said, who I assumed was the ship navigator, who proceeded to count to three and slam his palm down on a large lever which lowered the docking bay down into a ramp that fell slowly to the ground outside.

The feeling of heat was instant, and hit us all through the opening in the ship with such a force that I, being near the front of the group, stumbled backwards, bumping into the hard chest of none of other than Riddick himself.

The next few minutes of my life were executed with military precision that had been planned by the seemingly incompetent men around me, but spoiler alert: I don't die, so I guess I can't complain.

Two men stood diagonally in front of me on either side, the navigator and the engineer, and led the pack. A third man stood behind me with a gun to the back of my skull. Drike and another of his crew were doing the same with Riddick, and the co-pilot was bringing up the rear.

We moved quickly and as one, reluctantly participating in a fucked up form of team work, but if this goes wrong, we all die; we were all entirely selfish beings and were only doing this to keep our own asses alive.

As we approached a small opening in a rocky wall I was pushed forward harshly by the barrel of the gun and I fell to the floor face first with my hands being unable to catch my fall.

I turned my head and spat dirt out as the ringing in my ears drowned out the arguing that was going on above my head. I raised my head from the dirt, unable to get up due to the chains that restrained me, but then I saw.

I saw what would usually bring joy and serenity to people, but what would bring my inevitable demise.

I saw the sun, rising in the distance.

[A.N:-

Holy shit two updates in two days I'm on a roll

Please tell me what you think so far because I'm running out of ideas to pull it along to the next major plot point

Anyway I hope you enjoy

Stay tuned for more!

~BioHazard xoxo]