Paul Kane - Arrowhead

Mark wondered what was happening back at the camp, whether they were aware of the massacre yet? Did Robert know – and what would he do when he found out? Contrary to what Sophie, and many others, believed, he wasn't some kind of superman. The state he'd been in the last time Mark had seen him proved that.

But, nevertheless, Mark had faith. He'd seen Robert do amazing things since he'd met him.

The Hooded Man, as he'd come to be known, was really and truly their only hope.

And Mark wouldn't – couldn't – give up on that hope.

By the time they got back from the village, the rest of Robert's men already knew what had happened. A sombre Bill had radioed and told Jack he could stop trying to raise Green Five. On the return drive, the atmosphere was tense. Bill and Robert only had one brief conversation, which turned into an argument.

"You should never have let Mark go with them," Robert said again.

"I've known the lad longer than you have," Bill had retorted, "and when Mark sets his mind on somethin'… Anyway, ye can talk – never really wanted him around in the first place. Didn't want any of us, if the truth be told."

"Shut your mouth."

"It's true – look at ye, playin' the hero. Didn't want to get involved, though. Not really. Wanted to hide and hope everything would go away."

"I said, shut your mouth or God help me I-"

"Boys, boys," broke in Mary, who was trying to concentrate on the dirt track ahead of her. "We're all on the same side, right? I know you're both worried sick about Mark, but how is fighting among yourselves going to help?"

Robert and Bill settled back into their respective seats, sulking.

"We need to keep a level head," advised Mary, not even sure if they were listening to her, "figure out what to do next."

"Didn't hardly know the lad," Bill took great pleasure in pointing out.

"Maybe not, but I've seen the way things work in that forest; you're a team, and if one of you is in trouble, the rest rally round."

"Reckon you're part a the team, now, eh? Only bin 'ere five minutes, lookin' after lover boy there."

It was Mary's turn to answer him back. "Look, I didn't ask to be dragged into this. But the Sheriff's men destroyed my home, I very nearly ended up like Mark – I think that entitles me to be a member of your exclusive little club, don't you?"

Bill said nothing.

Silence reigned then, but what Bill had said played on Mary's mind. What right did she have to interfere? Yes, she'd saved Robert's life – but he'd saved hers as well, just by showing up. And sure, she'd gone with them to look after their leader, but wasn't there a huge part of her that tagged along because she wanted to fit in somewhere again. Because she was tired of being alone, tired of talking to an imaginary dead brother in her head?

Hey, I object to the word imaginary. I'm as real as you are, Moo-Moo.

Mary ignored the voice, focussing on her driving and getting them all back to the camp before a scrap broke out.

When they returned, Tate was to the first to greet them. "So?"

Robert waited for the rest of the question.

"Are we finally going to do something about this Sheriff, once and for all? Are we finally going to go in there and get those people out?"

"Like your Gwen, you mean?"

"Who's Gwen?" Mary wanted to know.

"Someone I failed," explained Tate. "Someone else the Frenchman took, like Mark – except she's been there so much longer. They took her to be with him." His face fell at the thought. Mary's hand went to her mouth and he saw it. "What, child?"

"It's just… just something that Colonel said, the one who came to my home with his soldiers."

Robert and Tate frowned.

"What did he say to you?" Robert asked.

"I was to be her replacement, I think."

"What?" Tate moved forwards.

"He told me that the Sheriff, De Falaise, was growing bored of the woman he has… He called her a 'companion'."

"I think we all know what's meant by that," said Bill, not helping matters.

"What exactly did he say, Mary?" Robert coaxed. "It might be important."

"Something along the lines of De Falaise needing fresh female company, and he thought he'd found it. I was a little too 'headstrong' though, apparently – maybe he can't handle strong women?"

"This is gettin' us nowhere," Bill moaned, "what're we goin' to do about Mark?"

Robert rubbed his neck. "I need time to think."

As he walked off, pulling the hood over his head, Bill called out after him, "Time's summat we don't have. You heard what that there Mills said: the weekend. We need a plan, bloody quick."

But Robert was already disappearing into the foliage. Bill looked like he was going to go after him, but Jack stopped him. "Ease up on him, eh, fella? Let the guy do his thinking." Bill didn't argue, just gave him a stern look and tramped off.

Mary watched Robert go. She'd heard Jack's words, too, but something was nagging at her to follow. As the rest of the group went back to the fire, in preparation for the night ahead of them, they left her gazing out into the forest.

Then, once she was alone, she disappeared into it herself.

Mary soon regretted her decision. The further inside the forest she went, and the darker it became, the more her imagination began to play tricks.

There was no sign of Robert. He was like a spirit who'd suddenly decided to leave this plane of existence. Mary blundered onwards, pushing back leaves and banging into tree trunks. Though she'd spent much of her life outdoors, these surroundings were alien to her – nothing like the open fields she was used to.

There was a strange noise off to her left. She looked down and found that she'd instinctively drawn her Peacekeeper.

Another sound, and Mary turned again – her gun hand shaking. She had absolutely no idea where the camp was now, and couldn't find it again even if she tried. Light was waning and the shadows the trees cast in the moonlight made her shiver.

Crack! – off to her right, this time. She cocked the pistol, but stopped herself from firing. What if it was someone from the camp, someone who'd had the same idea? It might even be Robert for all she knew.

Or someone else, Moo-Moo. Could be one of De Falaise's men.

They wouldn't be that stupid, she told him. Mary had been told about the times they'd been totally humiliated by Robert. Now that he had more men on his side – some of them the very soldiers that were sent in to catch him – they wouldn't dare enter. Especially at night.

But are you sure? Better be sure, Sis.

Mary headed in the direction of the noise. David was right. What if it was one of their enemies creeping through the forest, on a mission to kill them all? She couldn't just let them get on with it.

"Reckon you're part a the team, now, eh? Only bin 'ere five minutes…" Bill's offhand comment came back to her, reminding her that she barely knew these madmen living out in the back of beyond. Yet she'd felt a kinship with them from very early on; even Bill. They were banding together to fight a common foe, one that she'd had a run-in with herself. She felt a loyalty to them, even if this place was yet to feel like any sort of home.

Mary tried to be as quiet as she could, heading in the direction of a clearing. The trees were parting, offering her a view of something ahead: the thing that had been making all the noise. It looked like something out of a horror movie, dark horns, a snout: demon-like in its appearance.

She let out a gasp, startled by the shape no more than a few metres away. Her gun hand was shaking as she brought it up to aim.

There was someone beside her, at her ear – someone she hadn't heard approaching. Someone raising her gun arm into the air and snatching the Peacekeeper from her in one quick movement. Mary looked sideways, terrified, seeing only another dark shape there.