A Hidden Truth
Chapter Three
Gazing at the dark nights sky usually makes Marguerite feels calm and at ease but tonight, she can't remember a time she felt more worried. Her thoughts all jumbled into one, not being able to make sense of anything. Pieces of her memory seem to have been blocked out, complete blanks where the information should be. She remember a man, Mandrake telling her something but she can't remember what, she remembers seeing him but she can't think where. She thinks she killed a man, a king but doesn't know why or when. A knock at the cell door interrupts her train of thought and causes the others to wake. The door slowly opens.
MALONE: You!
The old man that enters smiles and nods at Malone.
OLD MAN: Yes, I thank you for trying to help me and now I have come to repay you're kindness...Come, the guards won't sleep forever.
They cautiously walk out of the cell, looking around for the guards that once stood at the door. Marguerite comes last.
OLD MAN: There is nothing to fear...You are innocent...The magic will save you!
CHALLANGER: We should leave the chit chat while later the guards are waking up.
They turn to leave by the main door.
OLD MAN: No, there is another way.
* * * * * *
Outside the guards wait impatiently, Mandrake stands in front of them looking for the explorers.
MANDRAKE: I do believe that snivelling old man has decieved me!
He laughs in spit of the situation.
MANDRAKE: My, my, my now I'll have to kill him...What a terrible inconvenience.
GUARD: What shall we do sire?
MANDRAKE: Take a group of you're best men and wait by the hidden door, In will stay here and wake the castle...I do believe the execution will begin a lot earlier than expected, don't kill the men I can use them in the mine...Go now!
The guard signals to some of his men and they run towards the hidden door, while Mandrake walks over to a bell thats hung in the courtyard.
* * * * * *
The explorers and the old man run down the long, dark corridor going as fast as they can in such a small place with the once sleeping guards following behind them.
OLD MAN: Its not much further...There!
Malone tries to open the door.
MALONE: It's locked!
OLD MAN: I know.
He takes the key from a chain around his neck and opens the door, it's flung open from the outside and Malone and the old man are pulled to the floor, swords at their necks.
GUARD: Don't move!
They hear the bell ringing wildly accompained by the moans of the townsfolk being woken up by the racket outside. The old man reaches inside his pocket and takes out a grey powder he throws it into the air causing a momentary distraction. Challanger, Marguerite, Roxton and Veronica run outside. The guard brings down the sword towards Malone when he's kicked forward by Veronica they turn to run when Mandrake followed by a crowd of villagers stand before them, he holds Challanger at bay by the golden dagger.
MANDRAKE: If you value you're friends life you will surrender.
He looks around.
MANDRAKE: Speaking of friends, you seem to have some of your group missing.
He pushes Challanger forward and walks away.
MANDRAKE: Lock them up...In the cave.
The villagers look at each other confused as Malone, Veronica and Challanger are dragged away, the guard looks around for the old man but he's disappeared.
* * * * * *
The clouds become grey and black as Mandrake becomes angrier and angrier, lightening strikes in the distance and storm rolls in. His eyes cloud over and he raises his arms high above him and wind whistles all around. Marguerite and Roxton stop and look around.
MARGUERITE: Where are the others?
ROXTON: I don't know, we have to go back for them!
MARGUERITE: We have to save ourselves first, we can get the Zanga to help us but we can't fight him alone!
The rain falls heavily and the noise deafening making it hard to talk and be heard. They see Mandrake walking towrds them slowly. He points to Roxton.
MANDRAKE: You won't escape!
ROXTON: Try and stop me!
He grabs hold of Marguerite and they run blindly through the trees.
MANDRAKE: Okay.
Roxton stops suddenly and reels over in agony, he falls to his knees.
MARGUERITE: Roxton?
She takes his head in her arms and looks into his bloodshot eyes.
ROXTON: Go!
MARGUERITE: I'm not leaving you out here with that maniac!
She drags him to his feet.
ROXTON: You can't prove you're innocence if your in a cell.
She stops and faces him.
MARGUERITE: You do believe me.
ROXTON: I don't know how I could have doubted you...Go!
MARGUERITE: I can't.
His hand slips out of hers.
ROXTON: Please.
She slowly backs away as Roxton leans back against a tree and closes his eyes. She turns and runs, hating to leave him but knowing she has no choice. Mandrake stops beside Roxton and stares after Marguerite.
MANDRAKE: You can't leave.
He looks at Roxton then continues after Marguerite.
* * * * * *
She see's a faint light in the distance and runs towards it, not too far ahead she see's a barn, shelter, a place to hide. She reaches the barn and looks around for any signs of life, she tries the door and it opens easily, she reaches for her gun but it isn't there.
MARGUERITE: Damn it!
She steps inside and surveys her new surroundings, hay and grass is scattered across the barn floor, a sythe in the corner but nothing else.
MARGUERITE: Cosy.
"Isn't it"
She turns around and the warm barn suddenly becomes cold, Mandrake towers before her, she tries to step back but can't as he walks towards her, his arm outstretched, he whispers something but she can't hear what. She stands in the barn staring at Mandrake transfixed by his haunting gaze. He looks around the barn and backs away towards the door, she doesn't move as the barn set alight and the fire spreads trapping her inside.
* * * * * *
Mandrake appears before Roxton he grins at him as the storm begins to desist, Roxton looks up at Mandrake.
ROXTON: Where is she?
MANDRAKE: She's gone to a better place, which is more than I can say for you.
Roxton lunges for Mandrake but is thrown back against the tree.
ROXTON: I'll kill you, I swear it!
A bolt of light flashes into Roxton and he lies motionless on the ground.
MANDRAKE: Now I'll have to carry you!
* * * * * *
A force knocks Marguerite to the ground and she comes out of her trance, someone picks her up and carries her outside as the barn collapses, she struggles to get out of the persons grasp.
MARGUERITE: Let me...Go, please.
She hears a calming voice and chanting all around her before she drifts off to sleep.
* * * * * *
Roxton is dragged into the sunlight and wakes suddenly to see guards around him, he tries to stand but is forced to stay put, he looks around at the cliffs and squints in the bright light of the sun.
MANDRAKE: Welcome to you're new home.
ROXTON: Where the hell am I!
MANDRAKE: The caves, you and the many other people here are mining this area, you'll be trying to find the gold that's hidden around here somewhere...As soon as you have your bearings you can start work.
He leaves through the tunnel, the guards leave Roxton tied up leaning against a hot wall.
* * * * * *
"She's waking up" "Get her some water".
Marguerite yawns and slowly starts to wake up.
MARGUERITE: Roxton?
"Whose Roxton?" "The man we saw with Mandrake" "She's disorientated" "Give her some room..."
The voices starts to mingle into one as she opens her eyes and sits up slowly she notices all the strange people around her, she hurriedly gets off the bed and looks for an exit.
"Do you remember me?"
She turns around to see the old man standing before her, this time in elegant robes.
MARGUERITE: I remember...Who are you?
OLD MAN: Oh I'm the man you supposedly killed...
To be continued...
