Thanks to Ally and Dallas my beta readers. You were a great help ladies.

The reflection in the mirror was no longer recognizable. When was the last time her real self looked back at her? A distant alien stared back with faded green eyes. Her skin and chapped lips seemed equally faded. It was as if color itself had been washed out of the once exuberant girl. No, woman. She was a woman now, right? A tangled and damaged mass of dirty-dishwater blond hair barely clung to life as it draped limply on her naked shoulders. The ivory colored shiv raised skyward seeming to pull her trembling hand along for the ride.

The swallow echoed in her ears. She brushed fingers through the mass one last time before the shiv performed it melodic dance. Almost regretfully, it eased across the first lock, slicing away slowly. Tears stung her eyes, but not even anguish could reach her mind through the shiv's barrier. The second severed lock fluttered to the sink. Shortly after the third was forgotten. Dancing around her head the shiv ended her hair's misery. Furiously her hands pulled and yanked at the shiv's command. Locks and chunks of hair were strewn about covering the dim room in a blanket of itchy death. Tears glided down her cheeks unnoticed.

She stained her hand with a nameless, thick, gooey substance. Its purpose, to drain life from everything it touched. Her hand sluggishly raised to her head. The goop oozed over her scalp, smothering it. Active again, the shiv caressed her skin in a slow fluid movement from her forehead back. The shiv scraped so carefully, so lovingly. The slow dance continued until nothing but raw skin and traces of smeared blood remained.

She didn't remember pulling on clothes, but they were on her scarred body, regardless. Dressed as she had chosen to be years earlier, with the proof of her self-mutilation and suicide attempt plainly visible. She sharpened the shiv at its demand. The razor-sharp edge soothed her, numbing her raw nerves. Her mind was nearly silent. Only vague memories surfaced. His voice roused a few of her senses. A deep rumble in his chest resounded in her head.

"Plannin' on ghostin' me, kid?"

Her child self was bested easily in the game. She was trapped beneath Riddick's monstrous body. The face of her protector skewed and became mutilated; it had grown hair and changed into her violator, Eric Cold. His eyes were so fittingly cold. He trapped her on the alley ground. He had broken her while grunting. The man melted into Riddick again. He held her tenderly. Riddick promised to do what was best for her.

Her head jerked and the memories' smoke cleared. The shiv stayed firmly in her grasp even as she walked to her destination. She crouched in the light. Hid from her best friend, in the light. All she had to do was wait. Memories nearly a decade old intruded again.

She ran at dawn. The sun rose and bathed her in its cold light. What should have been a rebirth was only another death in disguise. She ran away from herself. She ran away from Riddick to protect the life that grew inside of her. How could she stay? His promise to take care of her, to take care of 'it' drove her away. Its 'father' deserved his death. Her unborn child was innocent, a victim of circumstance.

The door creaked and protested its use. She remained still, coiled like a snake. She watched his well-built silhouette enter. He paused, but then continued moving. She almost smiled to herself. He had to know she was there. She watched his every move, mesmerized by her snake charmer. Her teeth tugged the dead layer from her chapped lip. He was in striking range, back turned. Positive that he was just teasing, she waited. Sure enough, he turned and she struck.

With the reflexes of a snake, she attacked and recoiled. She grinned in satisfaction; she drew first blood. He growled and attacked catching her blood, only flesh wounds. She slithered away into the light.

"Face me, man to woman." He bellowed. She shivered, but didn't respond. "Ain't scared are ya'?"

Her charmer played his instrument and she followed it. She found his reflexes to be better than she remembered. She was thrown on the floor after her attack was blocked. His eyes studied her; she could feel them while she rolled away and recoiled.

"Jack?" Riddick croaked.

Jack never responded as she continued to lash out at him. Together they danced. They expanded and contracted, attacking and defending with perfect rhythm. Their bodies swayed in tune for an eternity. Riddick took the lead. She rose up to strike, but he trapped her. Their bodies' collision with the floor bounced a loud thud. Right where she had planned to be. Her venom was poised to infect his body; she moved to stab him. His survival instincts that she had always counted on didn't fail her. Riddick's shiv penetrated her chest. The snake stilled for death. Stilled to comply with the charmer.

The smile crept over her lips when she faced his wide-eyed shock. "Jack." She barely heard the hoarse whisper. Her arms snaked around his neck. She struggled to breathe as her lungs filled with blood.

"Had a girl, Riddick." She choked out. His mouth was open to speak but nothing traveled to her ears. The warmth and security of his arms was once more hers to enjoy, but for the last time. "Pretend she's y-yours."

"I love you." Words and shock seemed to choke him.

Jack smiled, mouthing the words in return. She fought to hold on to the last of her physical feelings: the weight of his forehead against hers, the feel of his arms cradling her body, and the cool tear drops that landed on her cheeks. The world faded away with a sigh of relief.