There were childeren playing in the green grass, bathing in the sunshine. Laughter and small girls singing... a soft breeze swept over her bare arms as she rocked her baby to sleep. She looked down at her, so peaceful-- so unaware of what her life might would bring. She rested her back up against the old oak tree and stroked her daughter's cheek with a gentle finger. The baby's eyes opened slowly to look at her mother. Deep brown eyes, so unlike her own, smiled to her... so beautiful....

The cold floor send shivers up her spine, as her bare feet are dragged acrossed it.

A familiar voice called her name and she lifted her eyes from the precious bundle in her arms to the silly man in front of them. He held his camera up and took a picture. He must have taken at least sixty films since she came home from the hospital.

Sixty films in six months.

She smiled for him as his large frame crouched down in front of her. He reached out a hand to stroke her cheek, with those soft yet so powerful fingers. His thumb brushed against her lips, and she kissed it briefly before he leaned his head forward and kissed her. His lips, she loved them so much-- she loved him so much.

They had gone through so much together. So many horrible and wonderful things. His support when she was down, feeling life at its worst, was more than she ever could ask for. More than she ever could have hoped for. The day he said those three magic words, her world became complete.

She was his and he was hers....

He pulled back his magnificant lips and rested his forehead against hers. She licked her lips slowly, savouring his taste. Lying down on his side, he propped himself up on his elbow. His incredible mercury eyes, covered by black lenses, looked away from hers and rested on his daughter... their daughter. She could feel his happiness and the love he felt for her. It filled her senses completely until all that mattered was him and their baby girl... their safety. Nothing in all the worlds could take their love away. Nothing... nothing....

The thin blade runs over her throat, down over her ripped shirt, circling a swollen nipple, before coming to a rest on her stomach. It traces the marks of life before making a mark of death. A warm tongue that runs over the cut, wiping the blood away, makes a series of shudders rush through her defenseless body.

Suddenly, he rose to his feet, his smile falling from his face. He leaned down and kissed her, not saying a word. Something was wrong-- very wrong. Her eyes shifted to a man sitting on the bench beside them and her heart skipped a beat.

How did he find them? How? WHY?!

She could feel his hateful green eyes burning holes into hers, stripping away her safety. She quickly looked up at the man she loved as he turned to walk towards the ghost from their past. Tears ran down her cheeks as she cried in silence while she cradled her baby, trying to call on what strength she could find. Her entire world had just crumbled before her... this wasn't supposed to happen.

He said they were safe. Safe from that man's anger and hate....

She rocked back and forth, her tear-filled eyes shifting from the men to the little girl in her arms. She couldn't let anything happen to her... never. She rose to her feet, trying to find the courage that had been swept away from her.

Her mind screamed for her to run... 'Save yourself and your baby girl'.

She had to get away. Find a place where she could hide. A place that only the man she loved knew about... the place where he found her three years ago... the place she hadn't been back to since....

Her lips spread into a small smile. He would find her, she knew he would. She would be safe again when he did.

Pain. Hurt. Exhaustion. Before her tired eyes closed, they caught a glimpse of flowers printed on silk. Her hand ran over the snake of silk, constricting itself tighter and tighter around her neck. The flowers wilted.

She made her decision.

Turning around to look at them, her eyes rested on his face. No words spoken and still he knew exactly how she felt and what she wanted to do. He gave her the slightest nod of his head and a sad smile crept up on his lips. She knew he understood....

Her eyes flew open as the world reasserted itself and no amount of grasping or clinging could hold her to the memory.

She couldn't breath, it hurt to much, as if a thousand knives had cut into her skin, inflaming her senses past the point of aching and into the realm of agony.

She lowered her eyes and turned her back to him. With one hesitant step after another she increased the gap between them... but she knew someday... someday they would be together again.

"Riddick..." She whispered, as a shaky breath escaped her body.

Her eyes closed. She was safe... free.

*************

Chapter: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 (Incomplete)