Dark Eyes (A Riddick Story)

A Rigged Hotel Room

His name was Riddick.

            I was forced into the slot beside him as they hooked the handcuffed that completely covered my hands to the metal behind me. The man had discarded his gun to the floor as he latched the bars in front of me and looked at me with a sorrowful frown. I could barely keep my eyes open, and I would have closed them if it wasn’t for the fact that Riddick was beside me.

            I had heard only stories of him. I didn’t know how many of them were true. I had heard that he had stolen unimaginable things, killed unimaginable people, become king of a planet, didn’t believe in love, escaped from an unescapable prison, tamed wild beasts, could see effortlessly in the dark, and so much more. He is known everywhere, and one of the best criminals in the world. He would kill me on the spot if he had a chance.

            “You should lower your breathing.” I heard his deep voice sound beside me. It was warm, soothing almost, but freighting at the same time. I hadn’t even realized I was breathing hard. I took in one big breath, and felt the pang of my broken rib. I winced slightly and started taking short breaths so that it wouldn’t hurt as bad. He was right, the faster I breather, the faster my blood would pump, which could also cause infection to injuries left untreated.

            “You’re afraid to look at me.” He stated, and I could hear a small chuckle escape his massive chest. I looked down, and knew that he was right. What would I see in those eyes? Would I be able to see every unimaginable thing that he had done? I raised my head slightly, and could feel every bone in my cheek ache in agony. I decided to lie.

            “I’m not afraid.” I said, feeling the pain in my ribs ache more—damn, it hurt to breathe, it hurt to talk, and it hurt to move. “I don’t even know if I can turn my head.” I added, knowing that he had to have seen what had happened to me.

            “Anyone would be in pain after that.” I heard his chains rustle as he adjusted his stance.

            “Even you?” I asked boldly, curious about his answer.

            He laughed this time, “yes, even me. The difference between you and me though, is that I wouldn’t have stopped.” His laughing ceased after the first sentence.

            I felt a shiver run up my spine. “You two pipe down or I’ll gag you both.” One of the bounty hunters spoke up from their seat as the ship continued to move forward. I lifted up slightly, pulling my eyes over, trying to get a glimpse of the dark eyes that I could feel were watching all of us. I felt my heart beat quicken as I met Riddick’s eyes. I stared into them, the darkness of those eyes, and the hint of flow that hit them when the light did. Did they always glow like that?    

            I licked my dry lips as I strained to turn my head toward him. As far as health went, he was definitely up there compared to me. “W-why did you get captured then?” I asked as I looked at him. His bald head was curved perfectly; his large jaw was molded by strength much like the rest of his body. There was some sort of handsomeness about him, something I couldn’t explain.

            “I could ask you the same question.” He looked at me with a blank expression, and was nearly impossible to read. I looked down, frustrated by the way he held himself. “You put up quite a fight.” He added to my surprise.

            “I like to cause trouble…I figure,” I paused frightened I was about to break out into a terrible coughing fit. “I figure that if I’m going to go down, I might as well go down swinging.”