The Guardians of Treasures Untold
Part One: 2/10
Author: Nefret24
Disclaimers and notes, see part 1.
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"Marguerite!" Veronica cried frantically. She raced to the elevator and reached it just as Challenger emerged from his lab and Roxton dashed into the living room, hurriedly snapping his straps into place.
"What is it?" he asked concerned, grabbing his rifle.
"Something's out there and it just attacked Marguerite," Veronica said, hitting the down lever with a considerable degree of force after Roxton lept into it to join her.
"She isn't moving," Challenger called from the balcony above. The two peered up at him, and saw that he was intent upon the surrounding jungle, training a rifle at the area near the fallen woman. "I don't see anything!"
Warily, Veronica and Roxton made their way to the edge of the fence. Veronica's knives were in her hands. Roxton held onto his rifle so hard that his knuckles turned white. As he tried to train every sense on the surrounding underbrush, all he could think of was Marguerite, lying there, so very still He hadn't even heard her scream for help.
He reached the gate and he couldn't stand it anymore. He rushed to her side, unheedful of any watching enemies. "Marguerite," he whimpered, half raising her into his arms. Her forehead was already beginning to bruise an angry purple. He clumsily shifted his arms and felt for a pulse.
"Is she?" asked Veronica tenatively, her eyes never leaving their surroundings.
"No- no, thank god," he managed, squeezing the fallen woman with relief. "But her pulse is weak. We need to get her upstairs."
"Go. I'll watch your back," Veronica replied with a ghost of a smile, still concerned about the presence of her attackers.
Roxton lifted Marguerite into his arms and walked back to the elevator. Her head was bleeding and he could feel her warm blood seeping through the thin fabric of his shirt. His gag reflex kicked it and he manfully suppressed it, crinkling his brow with worry.
Challenger had rightly sent Finn about fetching first aid supplies. They were ready when he stepped off the elevator with his precious burden. He laid her down on her own bed and stepped back to allow the scientist access.
"Head trauma," he muttered, and began to tear off strips of gauze.
"Will she be alright?" Finn asked, watching him wide-eyed and grabbing another roll of gauze to emulate his example.
"I truly hope so though two such sharp blows to the head, after hardly any recovery time" he grimaced and shrugged. Looking up from his work, he saw Roxton's concerned face and quickly amended his statement. "I have never known a more hard-headed woman than Marguerite Krux. She'll be fine."
Roxton's worries, however, did not seem to be alleviated by his little joke. Self-conscious, Challenger cleared his throat loudly and began to dress her wound.
He finished in silence, with Finn, Veronica and Roxton anxiously watching his movements. "There," he said, cutting the last strip. "Not nearly as fashionable as she would like, I'm sure, but it'll do it's job," he said, with forced cheer. "Come on now. Marguerite needs her sleep and so do we- I'm sure she'll be better in the morning," he said, ushering Finn and Veronica out of the room.
Roxton remained by the bed, immovable. Challenger stopped in the doorway, "John, don't worry. She'll be fine. Do try and get some sleep."
Roxton nodded dumbly at the professor but did not take his eyes away from her face. He didn't even notice when Challenger slowly shut the door behind him.
Eventually, he reached out and took one limp hand into his own. "Please," he said to whomever, or whatever, could listen. "Please" he broke off, his voice rasping and choked.
When Challenger entered the room in the morning, that's how he found him: still at her side, haggard and worn, his eyes bleary with care and lack of sleep. Feeling slightly awkward, he coughed loudly to announce his presence.
Roxton looked up, bewildered at Challenger's seemingly miraculous sudden appearance and nodding, stepped a scant distance away from the bed to allow the other man access.
"How is she?"
Challenger paused before replying, "She's still out of it. Her pulse seems strong enough still," he added, trying to remain optimistic. "All we have to do is wait."
Roxton's face became more grim. Still, nodding, he felt obligated to ask Challenger about the man what had Marguerite said his name was? Bochra? "And how is he?"
"Oh, that's right, our other invalid. I had quite forgotten him," Challenger said with a forced chuckle. "I suppose I ought to look in on him too."
"I'm coming with you."
When Challenger and Roxton approached the door to the spare bedroom, however, they heard low voices talking. Opening the door revealed Finn gesturing animatedly to the man who was now awake.
"My, my, my. Well, it's good to see you have regained consciousness," Challenger said, looking at the man's bandages.
"Welcome back to the land of the living Bochra," Roxton said pointedly watching the man's every move.
Instead of being shocked by his knowledge or offended by his tone, Bochra merely smiled at Roxton knowingly and replied, "It is good she confided in you. We will need all the help we can get."
"We? Who's we?" Finn asked suspicious, darting her eyes back and forth between the two men.
"My people," Bochra replied with a kind smile. "The Druids."
Challenger and Finn raised their eyebrows in astonishment.
"I don't remember you," Roxton said flatly, still glaring at the man.
"You weren't supposed to. Only the Chosen One can recall memories of the Other Realm."
"The Chosen One? What are you talking about?" Challenger asked.
"You mean Marguerite, don't you? That's why she was all funny yesterday!" Finn guessed, wide-eyed.
"Roxton, what is going on?" Challenger exclaimed.
"That's exactly what I'd like to know. Who attacked Marguerite, Bochra?" Roxton practically hissed at him.
"She was attacked?" he sat up quickly and gasped in pain. Challenger gently helped him lower himself but he had paled considerably. "Oh no. Is she alright?" he asked with genuine concern.
"We don't know yet," Challenger informed him.
"Oh no," he repeated again, his eyes welling with tears.
"Who attacked her, Bochra? Was it the same men who attacked you? Answer me, goddammit!" Roxton shouted, towering over Bochra's bed.
"It is the Shadow Men. They are not of your world but of mine. They came for me- for I would stand against their leader. You must keep them away from Marguerite," he said with terrified urgency, grabbing hold of Roxton's collar as if it were a lifeline. "She is our only hope."
"She could have been killed yesterday for helping you and your people," Roxton spat, ripping his hand from his collar.
"It is her destiny. Hers, yours and mine. As it is theirs to kill her, the Chosen One" he trailed off, fainting.
Challenger assessed the patient and determined him to be okay, simply a case of overexertion. "John, what is going on here? I think we are all due an explanation"
"Yeah- how is Marguerite's destiny tied to that old guy?" Finn asked, hands on her hips.
"I don't know, I-" Roxton began as Veronica rushed into the room.
"She's awake! But wait"
Bolting past Veronica expostulating, Roxton dashed into Marguerite's bedroom.
Marguerite herself clutched the covers to her as he entered, consternation writ clear upon her face.
"Oh Marguerite, you're okay, I was so worried" Roxton began, trying to take her hand.
She snatched it away from him and held the covers closer, glaring at him.
"Marguerite?"
Narrowing her eyes, she licked her lips and spoke, "I do not know you, sir, but if you do not remove yourself from my bedchamber this very instant, you will regret it til the end of your days."
"Marguerite, this really isn't funny" he said, worry beginning to appear on his face.
"I should say it's not! Bedraggled, scruffy individuals barging in on sleeping ladies! You should be ashamed of yourself! I will count to three
" she said warningly.
Roxton left just as she hurled a pitcher at him, yelling "three" as the door slammed.
Shooting a confused look at Veronica, she replied, "She's awake but she's lost her memory."
TBC
