Eyes In Darkness

Chapter 3

I stepped through the doorway and froze.
Riddick was chained to a metal pole, wrists shackled above his head, the glow of the flashlight cutting across his face. Even bound, he looked dangerous—like a predator waiting for the door to open.

"What happened to Zeke?" I asked.

He smiled, slow and sharp. "You ever try cutting the metallic taste of blood with schnapps?"
It was meant to scare me. It didn't.

"Have I killed people? Sure." His tone was almost casual. "Did I kill Zeke? No. Look deeper."

"I know Fry's going to send me down there," I told him.

"Why you?" he asked, tilting his head. "Why not someone else?"

I just shrugged and turned away. The chains rattled behind me as I left.

⸻

Outside, the group waited. I told them what Riddick said—and Fry still wanted me to go down into the hole.
A rope was tied around my waist. Imam's hands were steady, but I could see the worry in his eyes.

"Pull me up fast if I yell," I said.

I lowered myself into the darkness. The air grew cooler, heavy with the smell of metal and dust. My flashlight beam danced over the ground—old bones, dry and splintered. Something shifted in the corner of my vision, but when I turned, nothing was there.

Then my foot caught on something. I fell, the light landing on a boot.
Zeke's boot. With his foot still inside.

A scratching sound echoed from deeper in the tunnel.
I turned the flashlight—but it flickered, then died.
Silence. Then movement. Fast.

Panic clawed up my throat. I backed toward the rope, found the cavern wall, and started climbing toward a thin slit of light above. The rope went taut—snagged on something below. I dug my nails into the rock, trying not to slip.

"Pull!" I shouted. "Up here!"

The line jerked violently. Dust rained down as the mound beneath me gave way. For a second the rope went slack—and then strong hands were hauling me out.

Imam, Shazza, and Jack dragged me to solid ground. I gasped for air.

"It wasn't Riddick," I managed. "There's something else down there. Something worse."

A hand settled on my shoulder. I turned—and there he was.
Riddick. Freed. Watching me with eyes that caught the light like an animal's, scanning me for injuries. It should have scared me. Instead, I felt oddly...safe.

The rope snapped tight again, yanking hard enough to nearly pull me back in. Riddick grabbed me, anchoring me with one arm while Imam sliced the rope. It hissed back into the pit.

Everyone started shouting at once. Questions, disbelief, fear.

"All I know," I said, still catching my breath, "is whatever's down there—it's hungry."

I scooped Ali into my arms and started toward the ship. Riddick fell into step behind me, silent as shadow.
When we reached the airlock, his voice was low, almost gentle.

"You hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine," I said, looking up at him. "But I was right about Fry."