Chapter Two

VERONICA: How can you not know?

MARGUERITE: I think I'd remember falling into a stream.

MALONE: Who said you fell into a stream?

MARGUERITE: I couldn't have gotten wet any other way.

VERONICA: But...

ROXTON: We should get moving.

Marguerite smiles at Roxton silently thanking him for defending her. Veronica, Malone and Challanger start walking Marguerite moves to follow them when Roxton pulls her back.

ROXTON: How did you get wet?

MARGUERITE: I don't know.

Knowing shes telling the truth he lete her go. He follows closely behind when he stops and turns around.

MARGUERITE: What is it?

ROXTON: I'm sure I just heard laughter.

She walks back over to him and listens.

MARGUERITE: Where from?

He points to some bushes to the left of them.

MARGUERITE: I don't hear anything.

ROXTON: Must've been imagining it.

He rubs his eyes.

MARGUERITE: You need some more sleep.

ROXTON: I'm fine.

Malone runs over to them.

MALONE: Are you two coming?

They start walking.

ROXTON: Of course.

MALONE: What are you two doing anyway...Picking roses?

He runs over to veronica and Challanger not waiting for an answer. Marguerite blushes whilst Roxton stares after Malone confused by his words.

ROXTON: What did he mean by that?

She shrugs and walks a little faster.

* * * * * *

Challanger walks to the edge of a cliff to look at an unusual flower growing there.

CHALLANGER: Here it is!

MARGUERITE: Finally! Get it and lets go back.

VERONICA: What's the hurry? Someone waiting for you?

MARGUERITE: What's that supposed to mean?

VERONICA: Well you've been wanting to get back to the treehouse ever since we set out, then roses, wine...

MARGUERITE: I already told you I don't know about that.

VERONICA: Whatever you say.

She wanders over to the cliff to help Challanger and Malone to collect the plants.

MARGUERITE: Where's Roxton?

CHALLANGER: Looking for a place to make camp.

MARGUERITE: We're staying here tonight!

VERONICA: What's wrong? Does that alter your plans?

Marguerite turns away not letting the others see her anger.

MARGUERITE: Which way did he go?

Malone points to the east.

MALONE: He's looking for a cave I think.

MARGUERITE: (Sarcastic) oh that helps.

Sge thinks of all the caves they'd passed in the last eight hours then ignoring Malone's look goes in search of Roxton.

* * * * * *

She walks into one of the caves it's full of bones and cobwebs, she looks around in disgust.

MARGUERITE: I hope we're not sleeping here!

Someone coughs behind her she turns gun drawn.

TITHIA: Would it matter? It's not like you'd be getting much sleep anyway.

MARGUERITE: You!

TITHIA: Me, I'm sensing some hostilaty.

MARGUERITE: What are you doing here?

TITHIA: Visiting an old customer, seeing if I can help you again.

MARGUERITE: Again? You didn't help me last time.

TITHIA: And I regret that, which is why I should try again.

MARGUERITE: I'm not going to let you mess up my life again...But you already have, haven't you? The dreams, the rose and wine, the water.

TITHIA: The dreams we're my work yes, but the rest...That was all you...And Roxton. And it's about to get a whole lot better.

MARGUERITE: You little hag...

She moves towards Tithia who knowing the danger shes in at the moment disappears from sight.

ROXTON: What are you doing in here?

She turns to see Roxton standing at the entrance to the cave.

MARGUERITE: I was looking for you, Malone and Veronica said we were staying here tonight.

ROXTON: That's right...Here wouldn't be my first choice though, but...

MARGUERITE: Did you find somewhere else?

He nods and she follows him out of the cave where they find the others.

VERONICA: We'll have to be careful around here, we're unfamiliar with this territory.

MARGUERITE: Yes, we know the drill.

She roles her eyes and turns away as Roxton leads them to their home for the night.

* * * * * *

Later that night while Challanger kept watch the others slept soundly except Marguerite who went and sat next to Challanger.

CHALLANGER: What's wrong?

MARGUERITE: Nothing, I couldn't sleep.

CHALLANGER: You should try we'll be setting out early tomorrow.

MARGUERITE: I suppose your right.

She walks away and sits down trying to stay awake until sleep finally took over.

Marguerite pulled Roxton away from the stream.

MARGUERITE: It's nothing.

ROXTON: There's someone there.

She stood on a rock in the middle of the stream to get a closer looks at where he was pointing.

MARGUERITE: It's your imagination.

Roxton follows her into the stream.

ROXTON: Be careful on the rocks.

MARGUERITE: I'm...

As she moved towards him she slipped on the rock falling into the stream, Roxton tried to catch her but he too fell over. They started laughing as the water flowed over them.

MARGUERITE: Is this what you had in mind?

ROXTON:Not quite but I can improvise.

Marguerite wakes up and looks over at Roxton whose smiling in his sleep then she falls asleep again.

MARGUERITE: Your breaking your own rules.

He walks towards her.

ROXTON: What rules that?

MARGUERITE: Don't wander around outside on your own, especially not at night.

He stops in front of her.

ROXTON: Rules were made to be broken, besides your not alone.

He leans in to kiss her when he jumps back in surprise.

MARGUERITE: What is it? What's wrong?

He begins to gasp for breath, he stumbles backwards. Marguerite grabs hold of him and lowers him to the ground. He lies on the floor his breathing laboured. She strokes his cheek and face calming him down.

MARGUERITE: Roxton?

He starts convulsing, she holds him tight trying to stop his shaking. He closes his eyes.

MARGUERITE: Wake up, Please, Roxton?

She sits up sweating and breathing heavily.

MARGUERITE: Oh God.

She looks around trying to stay focused, she see's everyone staring at her.

CHALLANGER: You were having a nighmare.

ROXTON: (Worried) your shaking.

MARGUERITE: I'm fine, just a nighmare.

ROXTON: Must've been one hell of a nightmare.

MARGUERITE: Can we go back now?

CHALLANGER: Of course, we're all set.

She stands up shaking and follows the others outside, Roxton not leaving her side. The last thing she see's as she leaves the clearing near the cliff is a small unusual insect on the ground where she saw Roxton Die.

To be continued...