CHAPTER FIVE
'Marguerite' is the first to wake the next day she looks across at the sleeping figures of her companions; Roxton, Veronica, Challanger…She turns towards the fallen tree and sees Malone leaning back with his head slumped forward onto his chest. She grins and sneaks forward, she grabs him by the shoulder and starts laughing as she watches him hurriedly jump to his feet and grab hold of the rifle that lay on his lap. He faces her an angry look on his face.
MALONE: That wasn't funny!
MARGUERITE: Not for you.
He walks to where the others are sleeping and wakes each of them up.
MALONE: You're up early.
MARGUERITE: Why wouldn't I be?
MALONE: You're usually the last to wake up.
She looks at him coldly.
MARGUERITE: What's with all the questions Malone?
He shrugs innocently and walks back to the fallen tree.
MALONE: Just curious.
She smirks at him as the others walk over.
MARGUERITE: Curiosity killed the cat.
CHALLANGER: Is everything all right?
Marguerite starts laughing causing her companions to look at her strangely.
MARGUERITE: You people are pathetic.
VERONICA: Not again.
Roxton steps in front of Challanger and Malone.
ROXTON: You let her go! You hear me? Leave her alone!
MARGUERITE: Oh, is Lord John Roxton worried about his poor Marguerite? You want to stop me from harming Marguerite but you can't do that with out hurting her…Life's a bitch, isn't it?
Roxton takes a step forward.
MARGUERITE: She's already gone Roxton, before I took her she told me not to hurt you…But its not like I promised not to do anything.
Malone and Challanger grab her by the arms as she lunges toward Roxton, he turns away as he sees her struggling to get away from them, acting like a tormented animal.
VERONICA: We'll get to the shaman in time Roxton.
He looks at her.
ROXTON: Oh I know we will.
* * * * * *
The group walks close together, Roxton in front with Marguerite behind him walking with her hands tied behind her back. Behind her Veronica watches her every movement like a hawk then Malone and Challanger bringing up the rear.
MALONE: How long until we reach the mountains?
CHALLANGER: Another day at least.
MALONE: …How long do you think Marguerite can last?
CHALLANGER: She won't give up without a fight.
MALONE: How long?
CHALLANGER: To tell you the truth I don't know…The stronger Alura becomes the weaker Marguerite gets…
Veronica upon hearing their conversation turns around.
VERONICA: She has to make it, If not for her sake then for Roxton's.
Marguerite fought as hard as possible to gain control over Alura, but it seemed the harder she tried the more helpless the situation becomes. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement in the bushes, then a bronze body snaking through the thick undergrowth. The man turns his attentions to the hunter-keeping stride in front of the group. The warrior whistles long and low alerting his comrades. Roxton stops walking.
ROXTON: Did you hear that?
VERONICA: Yes, I can't tell where it came from though.
Marguerite watches as the warrior creeps up behind the unsuspecting Roxton as he surveys the bushes. The warrior takes a dagger from its sheath…
MARGUERITE: (Shouts) John!
He turns around in time to see the warrior rush him from the side. He grabs the man by the arm and using his momentum throws him in a somersault to the ground, he lands flat on his back in the mud. Roxton puts his rifle to the warrior's chest and takes the dagger from his hand, he tucks it into his belt and drags the warrior to his feet. A whistling sound whizzes past his ear, he follows the sound and sees Marguerite fall to the ground. The warrior struggles to get away and Roxton hits him across the face with the butt of his rifle before running to the fallen woman.
He kneels beside her as Veronica, Malone and Challanger reach them. She raises her head off the ground.
MARGUERITE: That hurt.
Veronica pulls a small dart from Marguerite's neck, Challanger takes it from her and sniffs it.
CHALLANGER: Poison.
ROXTON: No!
MARGUERITE: I feel fine.
A group of six Headhunters gather around the group their spears keeping them at bay. The walk forward…
MALONE: I thought their poison kills almost instantly.
A Headhunter raises his spear above Malone as Marguerite gets to her feet, The Headhunters fall back, speaking to each other in a scared tone of voice.
MARGUERITE: They think I'm immortal.
They run back into the bushes as she walks towards them.
ROXTON: You're back.
MARGUERITE: She's strong I don't know how long I can keep her at bay.
ROXTON: You can do anything.
CHALLANGER: If that poison had have effected you it would have killed you and the baby…Alura needs you to survive to have the baby…
MALONE: So you are immortal.
CHALLANGER: In a way.
VERONICA: We'd better keep moving the Headhunters won't stay away forever.
Veronica, Malone and Challanger continue to walk, Roxton holds back with Marguerite.
ROXTON: You are stronger than Alura, she was in control but you overpowered her, to warn me I was in danger.
MARGUERITE: She wants you dead, so I can't very well let her have her way…I'm only alive because Alura needs me to stay alive but once this is over, what's going to stop that poison from killing me…It's already in my bloodstream…
ROXTON: We'll find a way…
MARGUERITE: If we don't get to the shaman in time it's over, if we do I won't be…'Immortal' so the poison will kill me and it'll be over.
He looks her in the eyes.
ROXTON: I will get you through this Marguerite no matter what it takes I won't lose you.
She turns away and looks to where the others are waiting.
MARGUERITE: I hope your right.
ROXTON: Would I lie to you?
She smiles at him knowingly before continuing on the journey.
TO BE CONTINUED…