Chapter Three

Roxton keeps an eye on Marguerite for the remainder of the journey knowing something is wrong, she keeps glancing in his direction every so often as if to see if he's all right. The others picked up on this Challanger thought nothing of it but all ways the reporter, Malone kept asking why. She starts walking faster as they near the treehouse.

ROXTON: Is anything wrong?

MARGUERITE: Why would anything be wrong?

ROXTON: You've been acting strangely all the way here. And you keep looking around as if I'm going to disappear.

Marguerite snaps at him to hide that she's worried about something.

MARGUERITE: We were unfamiliar with the territory back there I was just making sure everyone was okay.

ROXTON: It didn't look that way to me.

MARGUERITE: Drop it Roxton, I'm fine, your fine, everyone's fine now we're back and everything's all right so just drop it.

She storms off towards the lake. The others catch up to them.

MALONE: Oh yeah, something's wrong.

Roxton ignores him goes inside

VERONICA: What's going on with those two?

CHALLANGER: Let them sort out their own problems, I need you two to help me with something.

VERONICA: I'll be right there professor.

Malone and Challanger go into the treehouse while Veronica goes to find Marguerite.

* * * * * *

Marguerite is sat by the water when Tithia appears next to her.

MARGUERITE: Get lost.

TITHIA: I can't do that.

Veronica hides behind some bushes.

MARGUERITE: What did I do to deserve this?

TITHIA: I'm just trying to give you what you want.

MARGUERITE: Stop meddling in my life old woman none of what you've done is what I wanted.

Veronica steps out of the bushes and stands behind her.

VERONICA: Talking to yourself Marguerite?

MARGUERITE: No!

Tithia appears before Veronica.

TITHIA: It's rude to listen in on other people's conversations girl.

VERONICA: Who are you?

Marguerite stands up and faces them both.

TITHIA: Shall I make her disappear?

MARGUERITE: The only person you can make disappear is yourself.

TITHIA: That's gratitude for you.

She laughs and disappears.

VERONICA: You know that old woman?

MARGUERITE: Not really.

She starts to walk away when Veronica stops her.

VERONICA: What's going on?

MARGUERITE: That's none of your business.

VERONICA: If it concerns my friends it concerns me.

MARGUERITE: Well it doesn't concern any of your friends so it's none of your business...It's my problem and I'll deal with it.

Veronica follows her back to the treehouse but doesn't pry any more. Once back Veronica goes to the lab.

VERONICA: Something's going on.

CHALLANGER: What?

VERONICA: I don't know exactly but something's not right.

MALONE: What makes you say that?

VERONICA: When I went after Marguerite I saw her talking to thin air...

MALONE: Okay.

VERONICA: Then an old lady appeared in front of me.

CHALLANGER: Just appeared?

VERONICA: She claimed to know Marguerite...And from what I heard she's been causing trouble and Marguerite wasn't happy about it.

MALONE: Did she say what was wrong?

VERONICA: No, she said she could handle it.

CHALLANGER: Maybe we should ask her what's going on.

VERONICA: It didn't sound like she was willing to confess everything.

CHALLANGER: She doesn't have a choice.

Roxton was sleeping soundly when Marguerite walks past. She decides to have a read but soon she too was sleeping, minutes later the others walk into the living area.

Marguerite shook Roxton trying to wake him up, she was frantic now panicking. She felt his pulse it was weakening by the second and a fever was setting in.

Veronica, Malone and Challanger watch as Roxton starts shaking, they rush to his side.

MARGUERITE: Roxton?

ROXTON: Help, I..I can't br...Breath.

MARGUERITE: Calm down please, just stay awake.

Marguerite opens her eyes and sits up right and Roxton stops shaking.

MARGUERITE: Roxton?

She turns and sees the others gathered near him.

MARGUERITE: What happened?

VERONICA: He's stopped.

CHALLANGER: His pulse is coming back...A mild fever though.

MARGUERITE: He's still alive?

The others turn to her as Roxton opens his eyes.

MALONE: What do you mean still? Were you expecting otherwise?

ROXTON: Why do I feel so tired?

He stands up and almost falls to his feet, Marguerite rushes to his side.

MARGUERITE: Wait a second.

She examines the side of his neck and sees a small mark slightly inflamed.

MARGUERITE: Oh no!

ROXTON: What is it?

MARGUERITE: It's happening!

CHALLANGER: What the hell is going on?

MARGUERITE: Your dying.

ROXTON: I feel fine.

VERONICA: It's about time you give us some answers.

MARGUERITE: I can't.

MALONE: Why not?

MARGUERITE: Because, I don't know what's going on myself.

Roxton sits down in the chair, he's slightly woozy.

MARGUERITE: I dreamt that this would happen…

CHALLANGER: You dreamt that Roxton would die?

MARGUERITE: Yes, but it wasn't me.

VERONICA: The old woman? You said that she was messing with your life, she did this?

MARGUERITE: She's been getting into my dreams, it sounds crazy, impossible even.

CHALLANGER: And how did Roxton die?

ROXTON: (Irritated) I told you I'm fine.

MARGUERITE: We were…he was stung by something when we were…By the cave.

CHALLANGER: That was hours ago.

MARGUERITE: What happens in my dreams happens in life.

CHALLANGER: Then he's already been stung.

VERONICA: He was shaking a minute ago when you were asleep.

MARGUERITE: I saw some more of what happened…

CHALLANGER: When you're both asleep, that's when it happens?

Roxton starts seeing double.

MARGUERITE: Yes, but what do you expect us to do? Never sleep…That's the stupidest idea you've ever come up with.

CHALLANGER: I need to think about this.

MARGUERITE: Roxton is dying and you need to time to think of ideas?

CHALLANGER: If he dies in your dreams he dies in life too?

MALONE: And this old woman is controlling your dreams?

MARGUERITE: I'll be walking around or something and I'll just feel tired then I'll dream.

MALONE: So you just need to keep awake.

Marguerite gives him a look.

MARGUERITE: Easy for you say, you have control of your actions.

VERONICA: What if you give Roxton something for the fever in your dream?

MARGUERITE: (Sarcastic) and why don't we fly off the plateau at the same time.

CHALLANGER: No that's a good idea, if you give him the new medicine in your dream then he should get better.

They realise that Roxton has been quiet all through the conversation, when they turn to the chair he's gone.

To be continued…