The Darkness Calls

The Darkness Calls

Title: The dark

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the craziness that spews out of my head. All characters belong to their respective owners. That means I own nothing and have zero money. . .
Author notes & Warnings: M/M fanfic. No Beta. Be afraid. My mood affects my writing.

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They pulled up to the crash site and everyone started milling around picking up this and that. Useless things that Xander knew they could live without. Xander ground his teeth together in annoyance as he listened to Paris prattle on about getting his booze and old antique weapons, then he let a little hiss of breath pass his lips, Fry and Johns are still determined to get the cells for the shuttle. Xander stood by the sand-cat rocking little Oren and just watched the others gather junk. There was hardly any room to began with but now with the travel bags it would be a tight uncomfortable ride.

While standing to the side and not helping at all Xander felt a tingle go up his back. Something was wrong. Malevolent energy crashed against Xander’s shields making him weak at the knees. Turning around very slowly Xander looked up into the sky and watched large rings of rock start to claim the sky, snatching the light. The other planet was closing in claiming the light and the survivor’s fragile safety. In his very bones Xander could feel the lizard creatures croon with happiness and hunger. 'We need to go. Now.' Xander mumbled to himself as he watched the sky darken.

Grabbing Johns’ arm with more force then needed Xander pulled him toward Hassan. “What?!”

“Help me with Hassan! We need to get inside.” Xander gently pulled the carrier out and with Johns slightly unwilling help, Xander set the injured boy on the ground. The boy didn’t move or whimper. Xander sighed with unhappiness. “I’ll be lucky if he lives for another hour.”

For once Johns didn’t act like a total bitch, he said nothing and just helped Xander get the boy inside were the cells are. Setting Hassan down Xander pulled a cell of his own from the grid. Pulled wires Xander started twisting them about trying to get the light he was fiddling with to power up. When the lights go out they need something to see with, need to know which way to run.

“What are you doing Xander?” Asked Imam as he sat down by his injured child.

“Look outside Imam . . . we won’t make it back to the cave. We’re all fucked.” Xander mumbled as he twisted wires and cursed. Little sparks started flying burning Xander’s fingers. To much power. Grabbing a couple more lights Xander started to connect them, he was almost done when the cold zing of fear hit him. Everyone was afraid and looking at the sky with horror painted across his or her faces. Except Riddick, the man was impressed with what he was seeing and with his exceptional hearing Xander heard Riddick utter ‘Beautiful’. The man wasn’t worried at all, he liked the challenge.

Xander could feel the shadows surrounding him, circling him, trapping him like prey. In his head Xander snarled . . . and he could feel the faintest of echoes back from an even stronger predator. Subconsciously Xander heard the call from his mate and knew at least he and his would survive. “This is so fucked up.” Xander muttered to himself.

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Fry looked up at the sky her eyes so wide and wet they almost looked innocent like a child’s eyes. Xander curled his nose up in disgust. The woman’s emotional scent so cold and fearful, tangled in shit smelling guilt, and bitter regret. Xander didn’t like regret either, like sugarless chocolate stuck under his tongue. Xander could almost read Fry’s thoughts. Her fear of dying, and of failing everyone around her strong on her mind, making her look sick and pale.

‘Should have listened to me!’ Xander thought bitterly. “Imam. You and your son take Hassan. That cargo crate is the only thing we can close ourselves in. My idea for light isn’t working!”
The little monsters started crawling out of the ground, flew like a swarm in the sky, whooping their freedom and hunger. Xander could feel the lizards zeroing in on them, teeth ready to cut into flesh and bellies ready to be filled.

Xander wanted to run. Instinct told him to . . . but he would never abandon pack . . . not if he had a choice.

“Run!” Fry said at last, no long frozen with guilt and bone chilling fear. Her survival instincts strong.

Imam did as Xander asked and he and Suleiman were the first to start running. Fry was second, then the others ran along, all wanting the false safety the cargo holds walls could provide. Holding Ali’s hand in his Xander ran slowly, he did not want Ali to trip and hurt himself. Behind him Xander could feel the creatures coming, their need to feed so strong it made Xander dizzy with sympathy hunger and fear.

“GET DOWN!” Riddick yelled behind Xander, Xander didn’t hesitate. Falling to the sand Xander made sure to cover Ali and Oren, Kept them both safe in his arms. As the creatures passed over their heads Ali cried out for Imam and Oren just cried in general and nuzzled at Xander’s chest. Xander wanted to laugh and cry too. ‘Really Oren right this minute is not a good time for a feeding!’

When all the creatures passed by Xander was about to get up and run for it but Riddick growled a warning and Xander understood. ‘Stay.’ Flattening himself onto the ground again Xander held the two children with him tightly, he could hear the creatures going for another pass.

“Shezza! No! Stay down Shezza! Just stay there!” Yelled Jack as the kid struggled to get away from Paris’ hold, the need to help the others strong.

Xander lifted his head just a little as the last of the creatures passed him by. He watched Shezza as she started to run for the cargo hold, watched a creature land on her head. Watched as the team of baby monsters brought down a full-grown woman, couldn’t look away as they ripped into her so fast she didn’t have time to scream. Xander felt Shezza’s short lived pain, heard her mental call for help but could do nothing to aid her. Xander watched as the creatures took off taking Shezza with them. Taking the dying shark of Shezza’s life force Xander felt her slip away fear and Zeke her last thoughts.

Standing on shaky legs Xander lead Ali to Imam and left the older man to comfort the boy. He may not be able to see but there was nothing wrong with his hearing.

Xander looked at Riddick and Fry, wondering what they were speaking of and why they were standing so close. Xander didn’t want to look outside, didn’t want to see the creatures flying in the sky toward them. He had to, wanted to know their chances of survival. Looking out into the night Xander gasped, and watched for just a moment as thousands of large creatures rose from the earth. Hugging Oren closer to himself Xander started to growl, he felt helpless.

Inside the dark Xander knew many would die and there would be nothing he could do to stop it. Letting little Oren latch onto his nipple Xander hoped this wouldn’t be the baby’s last feeding.

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“If only she would have stayed down she would be okay. She wouldn’t have died.” Jack said sadly in the dark of the hallway they were all gathered into.

Xander smiled sadly. “Someone was going to die out there Jack. Those creatures were so hungry and they were playing with us.”

Jack’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”

Xander tapped his head. “Empathy. Felt there needs as clear as you can feel you own.”

“Wow.”

“Is this all the light we have? Is t-this e-everything?!” Yelled Paris in the grips of panic his hands shaking and eyes wide.

“No there’s a cutting torch on the floor I just need to find it!” Fry said as she crawled along the floor. Xander smirked and looked towards Riddick who was holding the torch but frowned when he followed Riddick’s gaze. Xander let out a little hiss of breath, Riddick was checking out Fry’s ass. Xander wanted to hit the bald man upside the head and rip Fry to pieces for tempting what is Xander’s. Xander was about to do just that when echo-like calls started sounding just outside their hiding place.

‘Eeeeerrrrrrruh!’ it was almost like a whale call, an unusual sound you just can forget. It was a haunting sound that Xander could live a million years without hearing again. When Imam, Jack, and Fry put their ear to the wall to hear the sounds the monsters were making more clearly Xander wanted to pull them away. It wasn’t a safe thing to do! But then a crashing sound was heard in the cargo hold making everyone jump.

Standing behind Riddick and Johns, Xander stared into the dark and waited for the beast to come out and attack. “Go on Johns you have the big gauge.” Riddick smirked.

“I’d rather piss glass.” Johns mumbled as he took a step back.

“I’m not staying here a moment longer!” Yelped Paris as he made a run for the door. There was a struggle between Paris, Imam, and Fry but they managed to keep the fool from running outside to his certain death.

When the sounds got louder Imam stood and started opening a closet door. When it was opened he rushed everyone inside and locked it again. Everyone seemed to sigh in relief, even Xander was ashamed of the comfort he found in a locked door. Imam leaned against the door, his breathing fast but Xander could feel his fear starting to lessen. Just as everyone was truly feeling safe in the small room a sharp claw stabbed through the thin door next to Iman’s head. Screams echoed in the small room, people pushed at each other, Johns shot at the door, Oren cried, and Riddick lit his fire torch.

Oren’s crying seemed to excite the creature because they called back and the noise was deafening. “Shut that kid up!” Yelled Johns as he kept firing at the door.

Xander bared his teeth at the gun wielding maniac but did try and calm the frightened baby. He didn’t want Oren to make himself sick with all the tears he was shedding. When Riddick was done making the hole Xander made sure the to be one of the first ones out, he didn’t want to get stuck with Johns longer then he had to.

The other room was just as dark and dangerous; Xander could sense the creatures in the dark just beyond the light. Grabbing little Davi’s hand Xander pulled the boy along; he could feel the child’s curiosity. Too much curiosity and not enough fear. Taking the child to Imam he sat Davi down by Ali.

“Davi stay with Ali be his eyes.” The boy nodded and clasped hands with the blind Arab child.

Walking around the edge of the light Xander tried to pinpoint where the creatures were. But with all the fear in the air he couldn’t get a good readout. Spotting Riddick head into the dark Xander started to follow him only to remember little Oren in the snuggly against his chest. Standing at the edge of the light Xander waited for Riddick.

“Davi? Ali? My children where are my children?!” Imam cried out as he searched around the lit circle they were in.

Cursing curiosity Xander scanned for the boys with his empathy. Feeling them in the dark Xander growled, handing Imam the baby Xander marched down the same path Riddick took. ‘When I find them I’m going to give Davi a spanking!’ But Xander knew he wouldn’t, he should have told Davi to stay with Imam, Xander had seen the awe in Davi’s eyes when he looked at Riddick. He should have told him the monsters were inside with them. “I can at least yell a little . . .”

Xander found the two little boy’s standing very still next to Riddick and had to let out a relieved sigh. He was going to start yelled at them like a banshee but then he felt the hungry presence around them. ‘Shit!’

Following Riddick and Davi’s eyes Xander spotted the large beast eating a small one. ”Extremely bad timing kitty . . . do you have any light?”

“Only what I was born with.” Xander mumbled back.

“Use it.”

“Not a nightlight Riddick. Can’t someone needs to be hurt, can’t turn it off and on like other’s.” Xander said as he slowly started to move the children behind him.

“Alright.” With that said Riddick stabbed himself through the hand with his shiv, blood gushed out exciting the creatures around them.

Xander growled at Riddick as he placed a hand on the wound. “You didn’t have to do that!”

Riddick only grunted.

The creatures screamed in pain when Xander’s light flashed into life, they scattered like leaves. Slowly Xander, Riddick, and the kids made it back to the wielding torches light.

Running up to the returning group Imam embraced the children. “Never leave my side again!”

Healing the cut in Riddick’s hand Xander sighed, that small bit of healing cost him a lot of energy. He could feel it in his bones, he felt weighted down. Looking at Imam the milithre frowned, Imam didn’t have Oren.

“Imam? Who has Oren?”

“He sleeps my friend . . .The captain insisted she get to hold him.”

Xander growled and marched right over to Fry. She was holding Oren and rocking him like a mother would her own child. “Give him here.” Xander held out his arms.

Fry glared at Xander and kept rocking the baby. “He’s not yours.”

Xander wasn’t sure if Fry was talking about Oren or Riddick because she was holding Oren but her eyes were on the bald man. ‘I take care of him so that MAKES him MINE!” Snatching the infant from Fry Xander walked back over to where Imam sat with the children.

“So what do we do now?” Jack asked fearfully.

“We’re safe in the light Jack, the light hurts them.” Xander gave the frightened kid a reassuring smile.

Jack nodded some of her fear leaving her eyes. “But how are we going to get to the ships?”

That Xander did not know so he didn’t answer.


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Moonkat: Review please! I wasn't going to post this till next week because I felt it was too short but then I thought why not just put it up. Hope you all liked it.