Disclaimer: I own no rights to the lost world or any of the characters, except the one's you don't recognise.

NOTE: This is set in season three after True Spirit.

LOST SOULS

Marguerite walks out of the tent and walks over to Veronica whose packing up supplies they'd gathered the day before.

MARGUERITE: Where's Malone?

VERONICA: He went to the stream.

Veronica looks into the tree's looking slightly distracted, Marguerite notices the look of frustration on her face.

MARGUERITE: You let him alone?

VERONICA: I told him it was fifteen minutes walk away and I should go with him in case he runs into trouble but...He's been acting like he's invincible ever since he...

MARGUERITE: Came back from the dead, he'll be fine just give him some time.

A loud scream in the distance catches their attention, they look at each other.

MARGUERITE: At least it's not Malone.

They run through the tree's directed by the sound of the continuous shouting. Someone runs past them almost knocking them to the ground.

VERONICA: Malone!

They follow him closely behind.

Malone rushes into a clearing and stops, he quickly surveys the area and see's an old woman sitting back against a tree breathing heavily.

WOMAN: Look out!

He turns and is knocked to the floor by a charging raptor as it positions itself to attack he shoots it. He stands and takes a few steps towards the woman, he shoots another raptor as it runs past, Veronica and Marguerite come into view.

VERONICA: (To Malone) are you alright?

MALONE: Why wouldn't I be?

Marguerite watches as the remaining raptor skulks around in the bushes, she puts her hand to the holster when a cold breeze passes through her and she shivers. The raptor moves through the bushes and Marguerite stands motionless as it walks towards the woman. Veronica follows her gaze and throws her knife as it lunges for the woman. The raptor falls in front of her.

VERONICA: (To Marguerite) what the hell where you doing!

MARGUERITE: Nothing!

Malone helps her to her feet, she looks up at him smiling.

MALONE: How are you feeling?

WOMAN: I do believe you just saved my life young man.

Veronica looks at Marguerite angrily.

VERONICA: That's exactly my point, that woman could've been killed!

MARGUERITE: And?

She looks at Marguerite confused by her attitude, she walks over to the woman.

VERONICA: Are you alright?

WOMAN: Perfectly alright.

Marguerite looks at her suspisiously.

MARGUERITE: Who are you?

WOMAN: My name is Alura...

Alura walks over to Marguerite and shakes her hand.

ALURA: (Whispers) but why do I get the feeling you already knew that?

Marguerite withdraws her hand and starts walking away.

VERONICA: Lets get back to the treehouse.

* * * * * *

On the way back home Marguerite takes the lead with Malone behind her questioning Alura while Veronica walks behind him, she runs in front to catch up with Marguerite.

VERONICA: What is with you today? You've been acting strangely ever since Alura joined us.

MARGUERITE: I don't trust her.

VERONICA: She's done nothing to make you distrust her.

MARGUERITE: And she's done nothing to make you trust her either...Remember the last time you trusted a little old lady?

VERONICA: I don't think tricking me into setting a giant free is at the top of her to do list.

MARGUERITE: Well when she does try something, don't say I didn't try to warn you.

* * * * * *

Roxton turns to face the elevator as her hears it creakily ascend.

ROXTON: Their back Challanger.

Marguerite walks out of the elevator.

ROXTON: You should've been back hours ago.

MARGUERITE: We were held up.

CHALLANGER: Where are Malone and Veronica?

ROXTON: Held up by what?

Marguerite walks to the balcony and points to Alura.

MARGUERITE: By that!

Roxton looks at her.

ROXTON: You were held up by an old lady?

MARGUERITE: She's more than that, trust me.

* * * * * *

Alura pushes the cup of coffee away and leans back in the chair, she smiles at each of the explorers except Marguerite whose stayed in her room during dinner, despite protests from the rest of the explorers.

ALURA: Where is you're other friend?

CHALLANGER: She's...Asleep.

Alura shakes her head sadly.

ALURA: I'm afraid she doesn't like me.

MALONE: That's because she doesn't know you, yet.

VERONICA: She just has to get used to you.

Marguerite stands behind the door listening to their conversation.

ALURA: I feel like I should give you something for saving my life.

MALONE: You don't need to give us anything.

Her eyes light up suddenly and she turns to Malone.

ALURA: Let me tell you you're future my child.

Malone holds out his arm and Alura grasps his hand, Marguerite silently walks out of her room and stands behind Roxton.

ALURA: I see good things coming you're way.

MARGUERITE: All I see is a load of bloody crap!

They turn to Marguerite in suprise not hearing her walk in.

ROXTON: So nice of you to grace us with you're presence.

Alura turns her attention back to Malone.

ALURA: I see water.

MARGUERITE:That's not unusual this is a jungle.

ALURA: Shiny water, a pool of...

MARGUERITE: Shiny water?

ALURA: Not water, a pool of gold...You'll discover a pool of gold.

Marguerite rolls her eyes.

MARGUERITE: Of course he will, and will he find this before or after he dicovers El Dorado?

Alura lets go of Malone's hand and turns her attention to Marguerite.

ALURA: Why don't I tell you you're fortune.

She stands and walks to her.

ALURA: I'll show you what you're future holds.

She reaches for Marguerite's hand, she pulls her hand back abruptly and steps back.

MARGUERITE: Stay away from me old woman.

CHALLANGER: Marguerite?

MARGUERITE: You don't want her to stay here.

VERONICA: She's a guest Marguerite.

ALURA: I should be leaving.

MARGUERITE: The sooner the better.

VERONICA: Alura, you're a guest in my home.

ALURA: If you insist.

She sits back down.

MARGUERITE: You are making a huge mistake letting her stay here.

She walks into her room and slams the door.

MALONE: What's got into her?

Roxton excuses himself and walks into Marguerite's room.

MARGUERITE: The door was closed, next time you want to barge in here you might try knocking on it first.

ROXTON: What is wrong with you today?

MARGUERITE: She's up to something, and if you'd stop being so fascinated by her for one second you'd realise that!

ROXTON: Usually I'd trust you're judgement but I see no reason to distrust Alura, to see her as a threat.

She ignores him so he turns to walk out.

MARGUERITE: Roxton.

He faces her but she keeps her back to him.

MARGUERITE: Keep you're gun close at hand and don't sleep without you're rifle close-by tonight.

ROXTON: I'll uh, I'll keep that in mind.

He walks out leaving her alone in the room.

* * * * * *

Later that night while everyone else sleeps Margueriteis woken by the sound of footsteps in the next room, she creeps to her door and watches Alura walk to the elevator, she makes her way to the balcony and watches Alura disappear into the trees.

MARGUERITE: Good riddance.

* * * * * *

Alura stands before the still body of her latest victim, she looks to the sky and her eyes turn a smouldering black, a savage wind moves in and a thick fog appears out of nowhere. Alura chants silently and she stretches her arms out above the victims body, a scream errupts and echos through the trees. The face becomes contorted in a mixture of fear, sadness and pain. The lifeless body levitates for a few seconds as a black mist rises out of the body and disappears into Alura, her eyes shine like glass caught in sunlight and she smiles then looks to the sky once more as calmness sets in again.

She licks her lips and looks towards the treehouse hungrily.

ALURA: Next please.

To be continued...

Please R and R.