Disclaimer: Same as always.

CHAPTER ONE

Marguerite walks slowly into the living room deathly white in colour; she frowns at the laughter coming from the kitchen and walks to the balcony and stands there ignoring the others.

ROXTON: So nice of you to grace us with your presence.

She turns around and faces them a scowl on her face.

MALONE: Whoa, you look like a ghost!

She walks towards them and sits down at the table.

MARGUERITE: (To Malone) well you should know…You were one.

VERONICA: Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

MARGUERITE: Yes, you really should take an attitude check before you come out of your room.

Veronica glares at her from across the table. Noticing the argument that's about to erupt Challanger intervenes.

CHALLANGER: Why don't we start this morning over?

Roxton grins cheerfully.

ROXTON: Yes, good morning Marguerite.

He pours her a cup of coffee and she takes it then stands up.

MARGUERITE: What's so good about it?

She walks back to her room.

MALONE: Was it something we said?

VERONICA: She's just being Marguerite.

ROXTON: I'll go talk to her.

CHALLANGER: Leave her be Roxton, she probably just wants some time to herself.

Roxton steps back away from the table.

ROXTON: She's been living like a hermit for the past week; it's about time she talked to someone.

Veronica grins as he walks toward her room.

VERONICA: Good luck.

He knocks before cautiously entering her room; he sees her sitting down on the edge of her bed.

ROXTON: You don't look too good.

She turns and glares at him.

MARGUERITE: You wouldn't either if…

She stops in mid-sentence and turns away.

ROXTON: If what?

She looks back towards him and smiles sweetly before standing.

MARGUERITE: Nothing. Just thinking out loud.

She tries to walk past him but he stops her and turns her face gently towards his.

ROXTON: What are you keeping from us?

MARGUERITE: Nothing!

He looks her in the eye and knows she's lying.

MARGUERITE: I think I ate something that turned my stomach; I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want to drink one of Challanger's medicinal concoctions…I think that's understandable.

She looks up at him innocently and can plainly see the look of concern in his eyes.

ROXTON: How are you feeling now?

She answers truthfully this time.

MARGUERITE: Better; I just need some air.

She looks relieved when he steps aside to let her pass.

ROXTON: I'll go with you.

MARGUERITE: No!

She says this a little too quickly and she can't help but notice the flicker of hurt that crosses his eyes.

MARGUERITE: Finish breakfast.

ROXTON: Why don't you join us?

MARGUERITE: I'm not hungry right now…I'll join you for dinner.

He nods and she walks past him towards the elevator; he waits until she's reached the ground before getting his rifle and following her.

* * * * *

Marguerite enters the Maena village nervously suddenly wishing she'd have gone to the Zanga's instead. Her hand moves to her gun when she sees a grubby looking man watching her from a nearby hut. He beckons to her and she carefully makes her way over to him.

MAN: You…See Shaman?

He struggles with his English so she answers in his own dialect; which seems to make him more comfortable.

MARGUERITE: Yes, where is he?

He signals for her to follow him and he leads her to a small-secluded hut in the middle of three overhanging trees. The man pushes back the curtain and she walks inside.

The sweet smelling incense almost suffocates her at first and she squints in the darkness to try and see the old bearded man in front of her.

MARGUERITE: Do you know why I'm here?

The shaman holds up his hand to silence her and he grunts a "yes" in answer to her question, he takes her hand in his and motions for her to stand. He leans forward and puts his hand on her stomach.

SHAMAN: You are with child?

She pauses for a second.

MARGUERITE: …Yes, but it isn't possible.

He grunts again and shuffles painfully slow over to a chest.

SHAMAN: It isn't you're doing…This thing was passed on to you when it's mother died, by you're friends hand. You give it life…

He moves towards her with a strange silver talisman.

SHAMAN: You will give birth to this demon child and you will die! You will be the first person it feeds off!

He eyes the talisman.

SHAMAN: Unless I save you!

He starts to chant in low voice, she steps back as he tries to press the talisman against her stomach. He points a bony finger at her unborn 'child'.

SHAMAN: If you wish to live it must die!

She looks at him with an evil smile.

MARGUERITE: So be it.

He nods and grins as he stretches out his arm to reach her, she grabs him by his wrist and twists it viciously to the side snapping the bone.

* * * * *

Roxton tries to explain to a Maena tribesman what he's doing at the village without any affect, he throws up his arms in frustration. A loud deathly scream puts his senses on full alert and runs towards the noise.

* * * * *

The Shaman lies on the floor; the talisman clutched in his hand. Marguerite stands over him, he opens his eyes wide and looks up at the woman standing before him.

SHAMAN: She has you!

He jumps up suprisingly quick for such an ancient man, he presses the talisman against her stomach and she cries out in pain before falling back.

Marguerite: You'll pay for that!

Outside Roxton runs towards the tent.

ROXTON: (Shouts) Marguerite!

She slips out of the hut unseen by anybody as Roxton reaches it; she runs into the trees. Roxton runs inside the hut and sees the Shaman on the ground.

ROXTON: What the hell have you done with her!

The tribe gathers by the entrance and looks inside, Roxton kneels by the man and turns him on to his back. He sees the pool of blood first then Marguerite's knife embedded in his chest.

To be continued…

Tell me what you think, r & r.