Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the lost world, etc etc.
Chapter One
Roxton walks to Marguerite smiling holding a flower, a rose and a bottle of wine.
ROXTON: I've been waiting for a special occasion to open this.
MARGUERITE: Yeah, well I've been waiting for a special occasion to drink this.
ROXTON: We should leave them some for the others.
MARGUERITE: We could but...they're not in my dream.
Marguerite woke breathing heavily.
MARGUERITE: Not again!
she looks outside and sees it's still dark, she sighs and gets out of bed making her way into the living area. She stands on the balcony letting the breeze wash over her waking her up, the dream slowly slipping from her mind. When she's sure she can sleep again without interruption she walks back into her room on her cabinet she sees a bottle of wine. Thinking it's just her imagination she falls asleep once again.
* * * * * *
Veronica walks over to Marguerite's room and gently knocks on the door.
VERONICA: Marguerite? Wake up, it's time to go.
She hears a loud smash in the room so she walks in. Marguerite is just getting out of bed but Veronica's attention is drawn to the smashed bottle on the floor and the rose in Marguerite's hand.
VERONICA: What happened? Where did the rose come from and the wine?
She looks up at Veronica dazed.
MARGUERITE: I don't know.
Marguerite looks at the rose in her hand her eyes widen as she remembers the dream, she throws the rose onto the floor.
VERONICA: Are you drunk?
MARGUERITE: No!
VERONICA: Why is the wine in here...
She looks at the lack of liquid on the floor.
VERONICA: Half a bottle of wine.
MARGUERITE: Well I didn't drink it.
She stands up and waits for Veronica to leave.
MARGUERITE: Give me a minute to get ready.
Veronica takes one last glance around the room then leaves, she joins the others outside.
MALONE: What's taking her so long?
CHALLANGER: Time is of the essence we can't wait around here all morning.
Marguerite walks over to them.
MARGUERITE: Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
CHALLANGER: Are we ready to go?
ROXTON: We're ready.
With Roxton taking the lead they start walking.
MALONE: What do you need this plant for anyway?
CHALLANGER: It's a very strong medicinal plant used for fevers. Mixed with water and various herbs that I have stored at the treehouse, it's very powerful.
Challanger and Malone carry on talking as Marguerite walks past them and joins Roxton at the front.
MARGUERITE: Are you all right?
ROXTON: Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?
MARGUERITE: You look tired.
ROXTON: Is that concern I hear in your voice Marguerite?
MARGUERITE: Why would I be concerned about your well being when you just told me your feeling fine?
ROXTON: Must have been my imagination then.
They carry on walking beside each other, Veronica is talking to Malone.
MALONE: Wine! Why would she have that in her room.
VERONICA: I don't know, and I'd like to know where she got the rose.
MALONE: Whoever gave it to her she didn't like it very much if she threw it on the floor.
VERONICA: She didn't even know she had hold of it though.
MALONE: It could've been an act.
VERONICA: It looked genuine...I wonder who gave it to her...Roxton perhaps.
They look at Marguerite and Roxton who have just begun to argue about something.
MALONE: They don't look like a couple of people who just exchanged wine and roses last night.
VERONICA: Then who? We'd have known if it were anybody else.
MALONE: Well...
VERONICA: What?
MALONE: We could ask her where she got it.
VERONICA: And she's really going to tell us...It could be Roxton after all I mean he does look really tired today.
* * * * * *
Challanger was hunched over some plants examining them while the others rested.
VERONICA: We should make camp next time we stop; it'll be dark soon.
ROXTON: We'll start walking again soon and try to get as far as we can...Challanger are you ready?
CHALLANGER: Yes.
They start walking again.
* * * * * *
Later that day the explorers set up camp and hours later all are asleep except Roxton who is on watch. Marguerite sleeps soundly and is only woken up by Malone walking past her to take over watch.
ROXTON: Three hours no more.
MALONE: Okay.
He sits down while Roxton goes over to the camp fire and lies down quickly falling into a deep sleep. Marguerite minutes later begins to toss and turn as her dreams begin to take over.
MARGUERITE: The wines almost gone.
ROXTON: We could leave some 'til tomorrow.
MARGEURITE: We could or we could just finish it now.
ROXTON: There's only a few more hours left until morning we should get some sleep.
He kisses her goodnight, then puts the rose into her hand.
MARGUERITE: Thank you.
She walks into her room putting the wine that she'd been carrying on the cabinet then she lay down the rose still in her hand. Marguerite stopped tossing as Malone gently shook her awake.
MARGUERITE: What's wrong?
MALONE: You were having a nightmare.
MARGUERITE: That's strange I don't feel like I was.
MALONE: Get some sleep we'll be setting out at first light.
He walks over to the tree resuming watch as Marguerite falls asleep.
Marguerite is sat by a stream watching the flowing water a hand pats her on the shoulder she turns round smiling knowing that it's Roxton.
MARGUERITE: I...
Roxton puts a finger to her lips to silence her.
ROXTON: We'll have to be quiet we don't want to wake anyone.
MARGUERITE: We don't want to let them spoil our fun.
ROXTON: We don't want them to end our fun either.
MARGUERITE: What do you have in mind?
ROXTON: What do you think?
MARGUERITE: Surprise me.
A shadow appears across the stream.
ROXTON: Who's there?
TITHIA: I could tell you what he's planning but then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it? Look out!
Tithia disappears and Roxton taps her on the shoulder.
ROXTON: Marguerite? Marguerite?
MARGUERITE: Yes?
ROXTON: Wake up.
MARGUERITE: What?
She wakes out of her dream to see Roxton standing over her, his eyes tired.
ROXTON: Wake up its time to go.
She sits up and stares at the others.
CHALLANGER: Are you okay?
MARGUERITE: Why wouldn't I be?
MALONE: Your wet.
She looks at her clothes and sees they're soaking wet.
VERONICA: How did that happen?
MARGUERITE: I...I don't know.
She looks at each of their faces and their expressions mirror her own, they too are mystified.
To be continued...
