| Chapter 2: Wake Up Call |
| Tessa stared at this "MacLeod" for a moment, not sure if she heard him right. "What are you talking about?" Seemingly ignoring her question, the gentleman set her sword aside and moved from the pile of dirt to the foot of the grave. He knelt down at the edge of the hole and offered his hand. Sitting in that grave was starting to creep her out, so Tessa took it, despite not being sure the man was trustworthy. As soon as she was back on solid ground, though, some of her confidence started to return. |
| She pulled away from his touch. "Thank you for the help Seņor...MacLeod, was it?...but I'm sure that this was just someone's idea of a practical joke. So, if it's all the same to you, I think I'll be getting home now. Marta's probably worried sick." Tessa started to walk away, snatching up her sword as she passed. |
| "I'm afraid that won't be possible." |
| Slowly, Tessa turned back around to face him. "Why wouldn't it be?" |
| "Because, everyone thinks you're dead. And, technically, you were." |
| "No...no, you're wrong! I can't be dead!" Shaking her head, Tessa started backing away from MacLeod, certain that he was loco. In her panic, she tripped over the dirt pile and was sent sprawling on her back in a rather undignified heap. "I...can't be dead" she repeated, softer this time. |
| "You're not...not anymore." |
| "But you said..." |
| "I said you WERE dead. Look, I know you must be panicking right now. It's a perfectly natural reaction. I did too when it first happened to me. But right now, I need you to focus, Tessa..." |
| "How...how do you know my name?" |
| A sympathetic look on his face, Duncan gestured toward the head of the now-empty grave. Tessa pushed herself to her feet, sheathed her sword, and crept over to where Duncan was pointing. At the head of the grave was a simple wooden cross. The crossbeam had "Tessa Alvarado" carved into it and someone had nailed a Queen of Swords card in the center. She knelt down next to it, her hand hovering over its surface. Afraid to touch it, because doing so would prove that this wasn't a nightmare after all. That this was really happening. Yet, at the same time she couldn't take her eyes off it. She felt a strong, yet gentle hand come to rest on her left shoulder. |
| "I'm sorry...I know what you must be feeling right now. Scared...confused...unsure if this is reality or some sort of fever dream. I've been there. And I promise you, there is an explanation for what happened. But right now, we have to get out of here." The hand disappeared from her shoulder, and Duncan came back a moment later with a small, unidentified bundle, which he held out in front of her. "Here...some clean clothes. They might be a little big on you, but it's all I have at the moment. There's a small shed just over there by the rear gate. Go change out of those bloodied clothes while I get this...hole filled back in. When you're done, find the horses I left back there and wait for me." Resigned to the fact that Duncan seemed to be the only one who could help her, Tessa took the bundle he offered and went to do as he'd told her. |
| Unfortunately, what MacLeod obviously didn't realize was that it was extremely difficult to remove a corset by oneself. After fumbling with the laces for what seemed like forever, Tessa noticed the light from the shed's small window glint off something that lay among the clothes Duncan had given her...a small dagger. Not her own, but it would do. She cut the already ruined corset off of her and, once that was done, the rest was fairly easy. Soon, she was clad in an outfit similar to what MacLeod was wearing. She buried her old, ruined costume under the dirt floor of the shed and then slowly pushed the door open. As she started to leave, Tessa saw someone coming from the other direction...Vera! What in God's name is she doing here? Quickly, she ducked back inside leaving the door open just enough for her to see what was going on. Tessa watched as her best friend knelt down in front of 'her' grave (which had thankfully already been filled back in), clutching some wildflowers to her chest. The woman's face was streaked with tears, and she was dressed all in black. Seeing her grief-stricken friend dashed whatever hopes Tessa had left of this being nothing but a horrible dream. Her instincts told her to run to Vera, to tell her friend that she was all right. But she didn't. Even as Vera started to speak, Tessa held back, forcing herself to merely eavesdrop. |
| "I...I can't believe you're gone. God, Tessa, this just seems so unreal to me. Just yesterday, we were gossiping, laughing, talking about men...and now...why did you have to be the hero, Tessa? Was your cause really worth...this? Everything is just so different now. Marcoos...Marcoos is gone, Tessa. He left sometime late last night. When el Coronel unmasked you, he was devastated. He really did have feelings for you. And if it wasn't for him...Montoya wanted to do the most horrible things to your body. Luckily, Gaspar and Marcoos stopped him, convinced him to bury you instead...although you really should be next to your father, rather than this...place. Where did Marcoos go? I don't know for sure, but the note he left said something about Texas. At least he's finally a free man...As for Marta and Dr. Helm, well, nobody knows where they are. The two of them disappeared during the commotion that followed the execution. There are rumors of them boarding a ship headed for England...I just hope that wherever they are, they're safe from el Coronel's wrath. I do know that your property is safe, at least. Gaspar bought it this morning, to keep it from falling into Montoya's hands. God, Tessa, what am I going to do without my best friend? What am I going to do..." Tessa watched as her friend broke down in tears and once again had to fight the urge to run to her side. That's when it really hit home...her life as she'd known it was over. Duncan was right. She could never go home again. A few tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped them away with her sleeve. Tessa looked outside again and saw that Vera was gone. The flowers she'd been clutching were now leaning against the wooden cross. Just as more tears threatened to emerge, Tessa's headache returned and, moments later, the door was opened the rest of the way and Duncan was standing there. |
| "You okay, Tessa?" |
| "No...not really. My life is over. Vera thinks I'm dead, as does everyone else. My property now belongs to her husband, and two of the people I care most about have fled the country for fear of being persecuted for my crimes. I have nothing left..." |
| "Maybe not here, but now you have all the time in the world to create a new one somewhere else. Now come on, let's get out of here and go someplace safe where we can talk." Tessa found Duncan's 'all the time in the world' statement confusing, yet oddly reassuring. She got up and followed him out of the graveyard to where the horses were waiting. Duncan had chosen a large white stallion for himself, leaving her with the bay colt...that reminded her of Chico. Shaking off the memory, Tessa mounted the horse and rode off with Duncan into the desert. No idea where he was taking her, only that when they arrived she'd finally get some real answers. |