The atmosphere in the room was so nauseate from what Marguerite had said.
Me: let me explain!
Veronica: There's nothing else to explain!
Me: Yes there is! Just because I told them I would kill you that does not
mean...
At that point, Roxton got up and left. I did not know what to do but I thought it was best that I don't follow him right now.
Me: I had plans of my own. I decided that if I found Atlantis, I'd stay behind. And if I did not, I wanted to run away before they can get to me. See I never wanted to hurt any one of you especially you Summerlee.
Me: please listen! Things changed right at the lecture when I met...John... and it became harder for me to do this as I grew with all of you.
Veronica: Stop your crocodile tears Marguerite. Since you came this far you can drop the act!
Me: No, No! I never had anyone and then I met you all. All of you were like family to me. Summerlee, Challenger, Melone, You and Roxton. All of you gave my dying sprit a life and you did not know how hard for me to accept it knowing what I am doing! Each night I would wonder when I would be able to get out of this terrible life, when I would be free. But all I had were more questions. For the first time in my life, I did not know what to do.
Veronica: Please Marguerite, we know you better than that. You are one woman who would do anything to get your way. You are one woman who never had a conscious. We gave you so much Marguerite, and you turned it to something so ugly and so terrible. You turned them into lies. You traded our thrust to lies! And I don't think you deserve our forgiveness.
Me: No. I...
Challenger: Marguerite, we have heard enough.
Me: But...
Challenger: It is better that you leave Marguerite!
Me: No...Summerlee?
Summerlee: Marguerite, we will see you at the gate.
I stood there for a while and looked at each and every one of them. Everyone I loved, everything I had was lost. They were stolen away by my greed and sold to my lies. During my time in the plateau, I had a will to live. Now it was gone. With slow purposeless steps, I went to my room. I closed the door and leaned against it looking at heaven.
Me: You took my parents away from me. You took my sprit away from me. You took my friend away from me. You took my life and twisted it into something so unpleasant. You gave me five wonderful people and you just took that away from me too. Oh God, I'm not mad. But I just wish you would tell me why! I wish you would tell me why!
I sank down and cried. That's all I can do now, cry.
The others stood dumbfounded at this truth that it was very hard even to know how they are to react.
Veronica: Summerlee, are you okay?
Summerlee: I'm fine child...just a little shocked.
Veronica: I know. I mean, I knew she had something to hide but not something
as grave as this. God I could just...
Challenger: No point getting angry over it, we'll just burn our blood out. Let's just pack up and get out of here. I doubt she will join us.
Veronica: Yes, she told that herself, she wants to stay. I can't believe how a person could be so cruel!
Melone: I for one have no idea how she is going to face us.
Challenger: I just can't believe this. I just can't. Do you know that my
life will be in danger...all our lives actually if we tell of our findings?
We find the greatest gift of knowledge in this world and it will all have
to be sacrificed because of one person's selfishness.
Summerlee: Don't judge her like that.
Veronica: How can you shield her?!
Summerlee: Because she can't help what she is Veronica. Lies, betrayal and
abandonment surrounded her whole life and that's what she has become and if
we are to give her that same treatment, we will become as terrible as those
people!
Everyone stood there in silence not knowing if to feel guilty or sorry at this situation.
Melone: wander how Roxton's feeling?
Veronica: Oh God Roxton! Summerlee, that's your section.
Summerlee got up and went towards Roxton's room and knocked at the door. As there was no answer, Summerlee went in.
Summerlee: I invited myself in.
Roxton stood facing the balcony with out a word to say.
Summerlee: You did not say a word at all there when you should have. You could have...
Roxton: I don't know.
Summerlee went ant sat next Roxton.
Summerlee: You don't know what John?
Roxton: I don't know what to feel so I did not say a thing. At first, I was
guilty because I accused her of a will she was not in control. Then I was
so shocked at what she told. I felt, I felt my body just go numb.I don't
know how I should feel, Summerlee.
Summerlee: What do you want to feel John?
Roxton rubbed his face so as to hide the tears and walked towards the balcony.
Roxton: I want to feel that this is okay. I want to feel that this can be solved that his problem has a solution.
Summerlee: Then you convince yourself that that is the way you feel.
Roxton: But I'm so shocked. It's like...it's like someone took a part of me
away.
Summerlee: John if you feel this way, can you imagine how Marguerite feels?
Roxton: Oh she must be feeling very happy! She got what she wanted didn't
she?! She has everything now. And she traded all of us for that Summerlee!
How can a person be so...
Summerlee: Confused?
Roxton: more like cruel.
Summerlee: No Roxton, she is confused. She has never been exposed to so much
care that she was all upset. But we should be understanding, look at her
past and then respond. It's better to wait of a while then have a talk. Not
now. Both of you are confused and it may end badly. But do it before we
leave.
Summerlee got up to leave but at the door, he turned and called Roxton.
Summerlee: John, your heart feels that this problem has a solution. It's your mind that is confused.
With that, Summerlee left Roxton to ponder on his response. But then he made a grave mistake. He told himself that he would talk to her...when they get back to the tree house. But that's too late.
By sunset, we were all ready to leave and the dead silence just killed me. No one looked at me, spoke to me and their faces held such disgust that I could have just died. I often stole glances at John but he was no different from the rest. Oh how I hoped that he would try to help me, to console me. But no.
We were at our journey's end. They had thanked the priest for the hospitality and took one last glance at Atlantis. I laid my hands on the rock and started chanting. As before, the rock grew lukewarm. Soft and now a mist covered me. The others proceeded forward but I hidden by the mist, stood there. I looked at each one of them and I remembered their dreams. I hoped they attained them and I thanked God for them. Lastly, I looked at John, my most treasured. No matter what, I'll always hold him close to my heart. He deserves much, much more than me. Goodbye all.
I saw them disappear into the mist and I smiled to myself. At least, for the first time in my life, I had done right. Before long, I was standing in front of the rock with the surrounding looking as if nothing had taken place. I looked at Atlantis, the wind pounding at me.
Me: I guess it's just you and me.
End of part One.
