CHAPTER TWO
Roxton runs through the trees trying to catch up with the fleeing figure in front of him; he stops when he looses sight of here and kneels to examine the footprints, unmistakably Marguerite's.
He looks up and in the split second he'd looked away he can't see her. He listens but can't hear a thing, looking through the darkness of the overgrown area he sees nothing. Marguerite has gone.
* * * * * *
Veronica puts down the book she's reading and looks across at Malone whose deeply engrossed in writing in his journal.
VERONICA: Roxton and Marguerite should be back by now.
MALONE: Uh huh.
VERONICA: Malone!
He sits upright and looks around sheepishly.
MALONE: Sorry; what were you saying?
VERONICA: Roxton and Marguerite should be back by now.
MALONE: Their probably making up.
VERONICA: But they weren't arguing.
MALONE: I'm sure their fine Veronica.
A gunshot in the distance makes him out a liar and they jump up out of their chairs and run towards the elevator.
* * * * * *
Roxton looks at Marguerite angrily, his smoking rifle still aimed at the now motionless raptor. She swims to the edge of the lake and looks up at him.
MARGUERITE: That raptor was after you, not me. I was perfectly safe…Now turn around while I get dressed.
He turns around and waits impatiently; she stands in front of him a few minutes later.
MARGUERITE: You wouldn't have been in any danger if you hadn't followed me.
ROXTON: Well…I…I, what are you doing here alone!
MARGUERITE: I told you getting some air.
Veronica and Malone arrive in time to stop them from beginning another argument.
VERONICA: What happened!
MARGUERITE: A raptor nearly attacked Roxton.
ROXTON: It was after you!
MARGUERITE: I was in the water…You were stood right next to it.
MALONE: You two need to cool off.
ROXTON: Why were you in that village earlier?
MARGUERITE: W…What village?
ROXTON: How many have you been to today?
MARGUERITE: I was here all the time.
She pushes past him and ignoring their call's hurries back to the treehouse.
* * * * * *
Marguerite finally walks out of her room later that day after talking to no one since the incident at the lake, Veronica looks at her as she walks in, noticing that she's looking around…
VERONICA: Roxton's outside.
MARGUERITE: Why would I want to know that?
VERONICA: What village did you visit today?
MARGUERITE: None!
ROXTON: Roxton was pretty adamant that you did…
Marguerite suddenly falls forward she grabs the chair for support, Veronica hurries over.
VERONICA: What just happened!
MARGUERITE: I just went a bit dizzy that's all…
Veronica looks at her worried.
VERONICA: No, you're eyes just went black!
MARGUERITE: Your hallucinating.
She shouts out in pain and falls to her knees, Veronica helps her up.
VERONICA: You're burning up!
MARGUERITE: Just something I ate…
Veronica notices her grab her stomach.
VERONICA: Does your stomach hurt?
She helps Marguerite stand.
MARGUERITE: It's nothing.
VERONICA: Let me look, something might have bitten you…
Marguerite turns away, and Veronica grabs her arm.
VERONICA: Mar…
Marguerite looks at her, eyes blazing, she throws Veronica back against the table. She walks towards her as the elevator begins to ascend. She grabs a knife of the table.
VERONICA: What is with you.
Roxton and Malone exit the elevator as Marguerite grabs Veronica by the neck putting the knife to her throat.
ROXTON: Marguerite? Put down the knife…
They move's cautiously over to her, she throws the knife and grips Veronica effortlessly round the neck. Veronica hangs limply.
MALONE: What the hell are you doing!
ROXTON: This has gone far enough…Put her down!
She gloats at them, then without warning drops her roughly on the floor, she lies there as Marguerite takes a step forward. Malone rushes to Veronica's side; he rolls her on to her back and she opens her eyes.
MALONE: Can you stand?
She nods slightly and he helps her to her feet. Roxton hesitantly steps forward, she looks at him her eye's normal now.
MARGUERITE: It hurts John.
He grabs her as she falls forward again; gripping her stomach in pain.
MARGUERITE: I didn't mean to…
He speaks to her more gently now.
ROXTON: Didn't mean to do what?
VERONICA: (To Malone) where's Challanger?
MARGUERITE: Kill that man…
MALONE: What man?
MARGUERITE: She made me...I couldn't stop her; she's too strong.
VERONICA: You're talking in riddles; what's going on?
ROXTON: The Shaman? At the village?
MARGUERITE: The Maena village.
VERONICA: What were you doing there?
MARGUERITE: I had to make sure…I can't tell…
MALONE: You have to.
She speaks in a quiet voice.
MARGUERITE: I'm pregnant John…
They all stand in uncomfortable silence for the next few minutes, neither knowing what to say, not giving them a chance to she walks towards her room. She looks at her stomach where the Shaman had pressed the talisman and sees a glowing orange symbolic imprint of the talisman burning on her stomach, the talisman that without the finished chant was killing her baby and in the process killing her.
TBC