A Hidden Truth
Chapter Two
Roxton paces up an down in in the small cell, obviously worried about Marguerite and wanting to know her whereabouts. Malone is sat on the dirty floor leaning back against the cold, wet wall and Challanger is trying to open the cell door, but with no light and limited objects to use as tools he isn't getting far.
MALONE: I wonder what he took Marguerite for.
It's a small effort at a conversation but better than nothing, Challanger can only shrug.
CHALLANGER: I have no idea, she's probably trying to talk her way out of this situation as we speak.
MALONE: Why did he put Veronica in the other cell?
ROXTON: Who knows what this son of a bitch is planning...
CHALLANGER: He'll have to talk to us at some point before the trial.
ROXTON: What the hell has Marguerite gotten herself into this time.
* * * * * *
Mandrake walks over to Marguerite, he moves his hand slightly and she starts to breathe normally.
MANDRAKE: You shouldn't test my patience, I can't kill you...Yet but I can make you're life a living hell before the trial.
She slowly stands and leans against the great oak door for support.
MARGUERITE: And how will you do that?
MANDRAKE: You're friends are very vulnerable at the moment...Roxton for instance if he tried to attack me to protect you I'd...
MARGUERITE: Leave him alone!
Her heart lurches and she starts to feel nauseous at the thought that he might hurt even kill Roxton.
MARGUERITE: They have done nothing, I have done nothing.
MANDRAKE: But no one believes that, and pretty soon you'll even begin to doubt yourself.
He moves his hand to the side of her face, she tries to move but can't, she closes her eyes. As she falls to the floor he catches her and carries her out of the comfortable room and towards the cell.
* * * * * *
The guard opens the door to Veronica's cell, he steps aside to let Mandrake enter. He lies Marguerite down on the bench.
VERONICA: What did you do to her?
MANDRAKE: Nothing, she's just...Sleeping.
Veronica shakes her but she stays asleep.
VERONICA: Then why won't she wake up?
He shrugs and smiles and walks out of the cell, Veronica rushes towards him but the door slams shut and they're left alone.
VERONICA: (Shouts) what are you up to!
Roxton , Malone and Challanger hear her from the next cell, they speak through the small cracks in the wall.
ROXTON: What's going on?
VERONICA: He brought Marguerite back, she's asleep but I can't wake her up!
CHALLANGER: He might have used some kind of sedative on her.
ROXTON: (Worried) is she hurt?
VERONICA: No. Not that I can see anyway.
Roxton bangs on the wall.
ROXTON: We need to get out of here!
MALONE: We will, we have to.
* * * * * *
Mandrake walks across the jungle floor, unarmed and without his guards to protect him. Raptors watch him from the bushes but never come forward to attack, the trees part suddenly and grassy floor becomes rocky. Cliffs and caves take the place of the trees and bushes. He walks into a tunnel he crouches down to fit ithrought it and keeps his hand on the walls for support.
A light shines at the end of the tunnel and the sun shines on the exit providing great warmth. He stands under the suns rays and looks looks at the high cliffs that surround him. A man dragging a huge box full of large rocks walks past, his follower falls to the rough ground suffering from heat exhaustion. A guard whose watching over them strikes the fallen man with the long leather whip he carries, the man reels in agony, screams in pain. Mandrake provides no mercy, he drags the man to his feet and pushes him on, he nods to the guard.
MANDRAKE: Keep up the good work.
The guard smiles and strikes the man again for good measure then continues on his way. A middle aged man , wrinkled and hunched over makes his way towards Mandrake.
LEESON: Master, what next for you're loyal subjects?
MANDRAKE: I want the weak killed they are of no use to me, drive the stronger one's harder...And get some more men from the village.
LEESON: Brilliant sire!
MANDRAKE: My brother should have listened to me, this is the future of my kingdom...
He motions to the work going on around him.
MANDRAKE: As soon as we have the...Gold, I will rule everyone.
LEESON: The tribes will fall at your feet.
MANDRAKE: The tribles don't even know I'm mining on in their caves.
LEESON: And what of the trial?
MANDRAKE: In two days time the woman will be punished for my crime, I will be safe...The evidence needed to convict her will present itself.
LEESON: What evidence?
MANDRAKE: The evidence that I created of course.
He starts to grin as he thinks about his flawless plan, he looks to the top of the cliffs at the people working hard, he laughs as two more workers drop to the floor, he ignores their pain and begins to walk back to the castle.
* * * * * *
Veronica puts a damp cloth on Marguerite's forehead in an effort to cool her down.
CHALLANGER: Is she all right?
VERONICA: She's burning up!
Marguerite tosses and turns on the bench, Veronica watches as she grabs hold of the edges of the bench, her knuckles white.
VERONICA: Marguerite wake up.
She shouts out in her sleep causing Veronica to jump in surprise.
MARGUERITE: I can't...
Veronica, thinking she's talking to her tries to rouse her from her deep sleep.
VERONICA: Yes you can, open your eyes.
MARGUERITE: I don't have a choice, I have to...
VERONICA: What do you mean?
CHALLANGER: What's she saying?
VERONICA: I don't know...
MARGUERITE: It will be better for both of us if you agree to this...Then there's no point in you being here...
Dream
The young man looks around on the floor for his weapon, Marguerite picks up the golden dagger off the floor.
MARGUERITE: Looking for this?
She stabs the young man as he tries to stand, he staggers then falls to the floor.
Reality
Marguerite sits up suddenly, her breathing hard, she looks around the cell wildly, disorientated. She grabs hold of Veronica by th arm.
VERONICA: What's wrong?
MARGUERITE: I, I killed him!
VERONICA: What? No, it wasn't..
MARGUERITE: It was me...
In the other cell Roxton steps back away from the wall, confused, shocked not believing what he heard.
MALONE: Roxton?
ROXTON: No...She wouldn't...
Outside the cells Mandrake smiles, his witnesses to the scene look at each other bewildered.
MANDRAKE: It has begun...
* * * * * *
Early the next day the explorers are put in a cell together while preperations are being made for the trial the next day. Malone and Veronica are sat in the corner, Challanger is stood by the door trying to hear what the guards are saying. Marguerite is sat on the bench, Roxton watches her from the door.
CHALLANGER: Maybe you should talk to her.
ROXTON: And what am I supposed to say? She's not talking to anybody.
Challanger pats him on the back encouragingly.
CHALLANGER: I'm sure you'll think of something.
The few steps it takes to reach her seems to take years, he feels the tension mounting up as he reaches her. She doesn't look up from her place on the bench.
MARGUERITE: What do you want John?
He sits down next to her, he shifts around uncomfertably.
ROXTON: I, I uh...We should talk.
MARGUERITE: There's nothing to talk about...
He looks at her, in a way understanding her pain, wanting to hug her, hold her and tell her everything will be all right. Wishing he could just kiss the pain away.
ROXTON: You've been quite about this since yesterday...
Outside Mandrake watches Roxton, he moves his hand slightly. Roxton shakes his head and looks confused for a moment, his features become hard and he stares coldly at Marguerite.
MARGUERITE: I don't even remember killing him...
She looks him in the eyes hoping to find some kind of answer.
ROXTON: Damn it Marguerite! You shouted it out in front of all of us!
She turns away from him. Everyone else stares at Roxton after his outburst.
MARGUERITE: I didn't do it...I think!
CHALLANGER: Roxton!
He motions for Roxton to come over, he looks at Roxton sharply.
CHALLANGER: Is that anyway to make her feel better?
ROXTON: Think about it Challanger, all the evidence points to her.
Malone joins them.
MALONE: You really believe that?
Roxton looks at them a distant look in his eyes, he hears a voice in his head.
"Think back, remember what you saw"
Flashback
Roxton watches Marguerite as she walks right past him lost in thought, she walks to her room. The look on her faces when she looks at him tells him somethings wrong.
He wonders where the blood on her neck came from it didn't take a genious to know the blood wasn't hers, no wound. But she wasn't saying a word.
Present Day
Roxton looks at Challanger and Malone.
ROXTON: I think I do.
Marguerite turns away from them the hurt from his words apparant in her eyes. Veronica stands up and sits on the bench.
VERONICA: Somethings going on here, Roxton didn't mean what he said.
MARGUERITE: Even if he didn't mean to say it, he probably thought it.
VERONICA: You can't believe that...Malone told me, Roxton is worried about you.
MARGUERITE: No, he's worried about what I'll do.
* * * * * *
Mandrake strolls outside into the courtyard watching the bustle of the market place, he watches as an old man sneaks into another part of the castle, He smiles to himself and shakes his head then strides across the courtyard towards him. Villagers jump out of his way to avoid crossing his path, he takes some fruit off a stand he passes, the owner stands not being able to do a thing about it.
He sees the old man fiddling with a lock on the door, attempting to open it. Mandrake coughs to get his attention. He turns around, his eyes widen when he sees Mandrake towering before him.
MANDRAKE: What are you doing?
The old man falls to his knees and looks up at Mandrake.
OLD MAN: I am not worthy of your...Kindness, strike me down and put my shame to an end.
He raises his hand to hit him then picks him up by his neck.
MANDRAKE: No, I have a job for you.
He throws the old man across the room.
OLD MAN: Yes sire?
MANDRAKE: I want you to free the prisoners.
He looks at Mandrake confused.
OLD MAN: But why?
MANDRAKE: I need them to help me with some work but I can't take them without a reason. if they supposedly escape and then I take them no one will be able to question me.
The old man turns to walk outside.
MANDRAKE: Except Marguerite, leave her to me...
To be continued...
PLEASE R & R
