Chapter Two

The slavers spread out across the hillside, searching through every bush and looking behind every rock, up every tree. Dirkon is standing at the top of the hill, a good vantagepoint to see everyone below him. Everyone that is except Marguerite, She's hiding around two hundred meters behind him crouched down behind a large rock. She looks around for an escape route but finds none.

DIRKON: If you don't find her in ten minutes I'll shoot you all!

They know Dirkon means what he says so they begin to look harder and faster.

Marguerite hears footsteps behind her and she reaches for the dagger. She cautiously turns around being careful not to make too much noise for fear of alerting the other slavers. A rugged man stands in front of her gun in his hand and poised to attack if need be, he walks slowly towards her.

RUGGED MAN: Dirkon will be pleased.

MARGUERITE: I'm not going to give him anything to be pleased about.

He stares at the dagger in her hand.

RUGGED MAN: You won't use that dagger, you can't stab me.

MARGUERITE: You'd be surprised what I can and can't do.

RUGGED MAN: Dirkon wouldn't want me to bruise that pretty face of yours, it might lower the price...But if you attack me I think he might make an exception.

He lunges for her, she ducks out of the way and he trips, he recovers quickly and grabs her in a choke hold.

RUGGED MAN: That dagger won't help you know.

She tries to pry his arms off her but to no avail, she puts the dagger to his arm and slices it, he cries out and lets go. She turns to run when he kicks the dagger from her hand and knocks her to the floor, She takes the gun from it's holster snd shoots him as he moves forward. The gunshot alerts the other slavers who run towards the top of the hill. Marguerite grabs the dagger and runs.

DIRKON: (Shouts) You can't get away!

He turns to the his men.

DIRKON: Wait here, I'll deal with this one myself.

He runs after her leaving the others behind.

* * * * * *

Roxton runs towards the cave, he shouts for Marguerite hoping for an answer but there's no reply. He enters the cave and looks around, Samun's body is gone as is the dagger and Marguerite. He walks out of the cave and looks up sadly as the others catch up to him.

MALONE: Well! Where is she?

ROXTON: She's gone.

CHALLANGER: We said she might have left...She can't have gotten far.

ROXTON: Unless she left last night, if she did she could be miles away by now.

VERONICA: Evem this Marguerite would figure out it's too dangerous to travel at night.

Roxton turns to her angry.

ROXTON: What do you mean, this Marguerite? Shes the same person...Just with different memories.

MALONE: You don't need to keep shouting at us.

Roxton turns away.

ROXTON: I'm just worried about her.

CHALLANGER: We all are.

ROXTON: It's too dangerous for her to be out there.

VERONICA: The we'd better hurry up and find her.

Malone turns to the hill, he motions to the others to look in that direction and they can just make out people standing there in the distance.

VERONICA: Slave Traders.

ROXTON: There looking for someone, Marguerite?

CHALLANGER: If they are we need to find her before they do.

Roxton starts to walk away.

ROXTON: Spread out and see if you can spot her around here, I'll look nearer to the hill.

CHALLANGER: Don't do anything foolish.

ROXTON: If it means saving Marguerite I'll do whatever it takes.

* * * * * *

Marguerite runs through the trees her heart almost beating out of her chest as she zig zags through the trees and bushes that stand in front of her, her breathing becomes more laboured as she runs faster and she hears Dirkon getting nearer and nearer.

DIRKON: You can't escape me, I'll find you.

The trees begin to spread out and the tree cover becomes limited, she stops to try and catch her bearings, looking for somewhere to hide. She listens and can't hear Dirkon anymore his voice or his footsteps.

No more than a hundred miles ahead she sees a sandy path leading down a small incline. She starts to run again and sees a small beach and water, she runs down but can see no way out. She turns and sees Dirkon standing on top of a large mound of sand.

DIRKON: I said you wouldn't escape.

He aims his gun at her from where she's stood.

DIRKON: I don't have to shoot you, if you just come with me.

She instinctively reaches for the gun, he shakes his head and tuts.

DIRKON: That wouldn't be clever.

MARGUERITE: Well you've got to give me bonus points for trying.

* * * * * *

Roxton stops as he hears voices in front of him, he silently walks forwards not making a sound. He stands not to far away from Dirkon, he watches as the slaver walks forwards down the mound and in front of him he see's Marguerite standing on the beach. Hie spirits soar and his eyes light up when he sees she's all right.

Marguerite watches as Roxton smiles when he see's her, she's unsure of how to react, her feelings for this man mixed.

DIRKON: Come on I'm not going to hurt you.

She yells in pain as images flash before her again, Roxton being attacked by a dinosaur. She looks up at Roxton whose begins to walk towards her, to help her. A dinosaur hides in a bush not far from Roxton ready to pounce.

MARGUERITE: (Shouts) look out!

Roxton turns as the dinosaur attacks, he shoots it in mid air causing Dirkon to turn around, the dinosaur falls knocking Roxton to the sandy floor. Marguerite runs towards him but Dirkon catches her and pulls her back, she struggles to break loose from his grip.

DIRKON: He's dead by now, what I'd like to know is...How I'd you know that dinosaur was going to attack?

MARGUERITE: I don't know.

DIRKON: You're lying and I don't take too kindly to lyers.

He takes her dagger and puts it to her throat.

DIRKON: How did you know?

MARGUERITE: I told you, I have no idea.

DIRKON: You are going to make me a lot of money.

He drags her off the beach, he kicks Roxton's limp arm and laughs. Roxton grabs Dirkon's ankle causing him to fall to the floor knocking Marguerite too. He grabs Dirkon by the neck.

ROXTON: What's so funny?

He goes to punch Dirkon who clutches his fist and pushes Roxton back against the sand.

He lunges for Roxton dagger in hand, he grabs Dirkon's wrist and pushes the dagger away from his kneck and towards Dirkon. The dagger moves closer to Dirkon's stomach.

DIRKON: You can't kill me...

Marguerite suddenly appears behind them, she stands with a stick in her hands, she hits Dirkon over the head with the stick, he falls forwards on top of the dagger. Roxton pushes him onto the sand and takes out the dagger. Marguerite helps him up, he stands in front of her happiness showing all over his face.

ROXTON: Marguerite, I've never been so happy to see you.

She looks at him her face showing no emotion.

MARGUERITE: But I'm not Marguerite.

ROXTON: What!

She hits him with the stick.

MARGUERITE: It's Samun.

The last thing Roxton sees before he falls to the floor is Samun walking away carrying a tied up, unconscious Marguerite and then Roxton closes his eyes.

To be continued...