RE: The story in series: Chapter Two
Here is my suggestion for what happens next:
Chapter 3
Marcus has no idea what has occurred. He realises that he has gravely upset Zoe. He wonders whether he has made a big mistake. He goes inside. There follows a horrible day as his father quizzes him on what has occurred, but he has no idea. The next day is Sunday, and matins begin at 8.30. Marcus walks behind his parents, Joseph and Martha. Kneeling before the icons, he glances up and something about the three ornate doors behind the altar triggers a memory. As he turns to take up a place to listen to the liturgy, he spies Zoe Sorras. She is angry and looks away. He bows his head and frowns. He looks behind to check what his mother and father are doing, and seeing they have already taken a position and have their backs to him, he curves through the worshippers and comes to stand behind Zoe. He fingers the satyr in his pocket and touches her on the shoulder. She leans back. “I don’t know what’s happened, but can I see you later?” She hesitates. Marcus has already brought her much grief. Her father thinks she has been smoking weed and having hallucinations. She has a doctor’s appointment in a few days in the city to determine whether she is mad, or on drugs. Her mother and father will both be attending, to hear the prognosis. Zoe nods. “I’ll meet you tonight, at the cave.” Marcus agrees and slips back into the crowd.
After lunch, Marcus takes the flock back up the hill, and as night falls, he makes his way towards the cave. He leaves the dog in charge of the flock and edges inside. He has already spotted Zoe ascending from the creek line. She is trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. As she approaches, he steps to the mouth of the cave so that only she can see him. She rushes inside. “Marcus, how could you?” she asks. “I can’t believe that you could play such a trick on me. And where is my phone?” She feels like striking him, but resists. She has seen her mother strike her father about the head many times and it always makes her feel uncomfortable. One day, she was sure he would snap and hit her back, and then there would be hell to pay. She knew that other villagers felt that her father, George, was henpecked by his wife. She would not strike Marcus. But she had got all of that off her chest, and now she would listen to his response, and it had better be good. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Zoe,” answered Marcus. “What?” asked Zoe. She was thinking, “Oh, God, not Marcus, too.” She sat down and shook her head. There must be a way to explain. Meanwhile, Marcus had taken the satyr from his pocket. “When I awoke, I found this in my pocket,” he showed her the figurine. Zoe took it in her hand. “Look, Marcus,” she said. “I’ve brought my camping rucksack. Let’s explore that cave. You came back from it, so we know there’s a way out, but I’ve got a rope ladder, and we can avoid hurting ourselves.” Marcus thinks it over, and agrees. He wants to know what has happened, too, and besides, Zoe is very beautiful and when he looks at her face, he can’t think straight. They head to the cave, and lower the ladder.
Next: they find the phone & the 3 doors, and Zoe chooses one….please pick any door – to write what happens next. I look forward to reading Chapter 3