One More Hurdle

### **Summary**

The gang escape to Willingthon Forest with everyone angry at Abraham for endangering their lives. Abraham is remorseful of his actions. Worse still, the gang must detour to get to Saint Marina which will be easier said than done

#### **Plot**

**North Willington Forest**

Abraham finally comes to in the car. He holds his head, asking where they are. Patrick, in an angry tone says they are driving south. Abraham looks behind them as Patrick berates Abraham for being goaded into Fabian's challenge. Abraham counters saying he could have beaten him. Patrick stops the car and gets out. He pulls Abraham out and throws him to the ground, further berating him, telling him he is out of practice and how he even lost to Jeffers. The girls watch as Abraham argues some more but Patrick strikes him down. He shouts more telling Abraham each of them are risking their lives so he can get back his position. Abraham asks why. Patrick replies that they all owe each other and that Michael has them all marked for death and they need to stop him to get their lives back. Abraham takes a moment and stands, admitting to Patrick he was wrong and apologizes to everyone. Patrick accepts as do the others. Abraham asks what the plan is. Riley looks at a map telling them are under 1000 miles from Saint Marina and that at 80mph they can make it 12.5 hours. Abraham is surprised at her maths skills. Riley smiles mockingly saying she's more than a pretty face. The gang get back in the car and drive on

**Lessia**

Fabian is sitting in Boris old office as Lara enters. Fabian mocks her for being captured, but she mocks him for losing Abraham. Fabian doesn't respond as Lara asks where the gang is now. Fabian tells her they are heading south through the forest. Lara turns to leave but Fabian asks where she is going. Lara tells him he's going to kill them all. Fabian demands she stay but Lara replies she doesn't work for him, or the King and that all she cares about is Abraham. She further warns him he is a also a Kemiya and may find himself on her hit list before she leaves. The man speaks to Fabian, suggesting she may become a future problem. Fabian agrees but for the time being, she is useful. Fabian tells him to have someone follow her and track her. The man reminds Fabian she's a hunter and she won't be easily tricked. Fabian also reminds the man she was tricked last night. The man smiles and leaves the office

**Mulrey Ocean**

The gang leave the forest and are driving across the grasslands of the Mulrey Ocean. Aurora looks out over the vast grasslands wondering how empty it seems to be. Riley tells her its not empty as such. Just no large cities but small towns and local communities Abraham admits it'll not be easy to be spotted. He then asks if the jeep will make it 1000 miles. Patrick isn't worried about the car and more about the desert they will have to cross. Riley and Aurora look worried but Patrick assures them as long as they have the jeep and plenty of water, they will make it. The girls settle as Abraham looks at his watch and suggests they each 4 hours drive time but asks Aurora if she can drive. She says she can. Abraham is glad as he turned on the radio but Patrick slaps his hand off, saying the driver picks the station

**Southern Desert**

The Gang drive and drive, occasionally stopping for food and gas. They stop at a town just on the border of the desert. Patrick and Abraham step out with 2 large tanks of water, adding it to the ones they already have. Aurora asks if it will be enough. Patrick suggests it will be. Riley says the car is filled and asks if they will still charge it to the Gold Empire. Abraham admits it is a risky move, but Aurora smiles, showing a wallet. Riley's face lights up as Aurora explains it was her former Masters. The boys also smile as they jump into the jeep and drive off into the desert. Riley takes off her jacket, already complaining about the heat. Abraham comments Wolves must like cooler climates. Aurora seems to enjoy the sun, noting how little she got in the colder north. Abraham and Patrick both agree heat is the worst conditions for combat. Aurora rolls her eyes, stating how it always comes back to combat with Kemiya's. Patrick reminds her its their bread and butter, just like magic and spell books are hers.

After a few more hours, its night, Patrick is driving, Abraham and Aurora are asleep while Riley is awake. Riley asks Patrick why he's really helping Abraham. Patrick tells her he wants to set the country free but Riley scoffs at that but Patrick admits that Abraham made a promise to him and he wants to make sure the promise is kept. Riley sighs, admitting Aurora was right about Kemiya's being all about honour but Patrick retorts about her reasons. Riley replies she is indebted to Abraham and him. Patrick admits that if it was his choice, Riley wouldn't be alive and that at the time he felt his debt to her was repaid. Riley is slightly angered by his words, telling Patrick that he cares about no one, asking what happened to him. Patrick replies his parents were murdered and even after his training he sought revenge, but he never got it. Riley tries to console him but Patrick isn't interested, telling her she can't know how it feels. He turns to look at her in the back seat but his arm knocks the steering over. The jeeps swerves slightly veering slightly off the road, striking a rock on the under carriage. Patrick manages to right the car. Riley tells him to keep his eyes on the road. Patrick composes himself but stops the Jeep. He tells Rileys its her turn to drive. She swaps places with Patrick and drives on

The sun begins to rise. Abraham wakes up as Patrick and Aurora are sleeping. Abraham looks at his watch and asks how long she's been driving. She says 3 hours and that they should be 240 miles into the desert. Abraham takes a drink of water then notices Riley is quiet. Abraham asks what is wrong. She tells him Patrick and her got into an argument. When Abraham asks what it was about, she tells him it was nothing. Abraham then notices the fuel gauge, seeing its only a quarter full. He asks how it could only be a quarter full. Even Riley is confused that they should have gas. Riley stops the car, waking up Patrick and Aurora. Abraham steps out and looks under the car, seeing a small leak in the gas tank. He presses his hand to the tank and reforms it. He tells Riley the tank was ruptured. Riley looks to Patrick, saying he almost spun the car, letting the tank hit a large rock. Patrick defends himself but Abraham defuses the situation quickly, telling them it was an accident but now they won't be able to get through the desert in the car. They can only go as far as they can. Aurora chimes in, saying they won't make it, not without all the water. Abraham agrees but they have no choice. Everyone gets back into the car and drive on

**Saint Marina**

Lara steps off the train of Saint Marina. She walks off the platform and up some stairs to a border patrol. She gives in her passport and tells the guards she wants to see Saint Marina's beaches. She is allowed through and steps out into the streets. She dials a number and speaks to her hunter colleague, telling him where she is and what she's doing. Her colleague tells her she is crazy for trusting the Gold Emperor but she tells him she doesn't trust him and that she'll kill him once he brings him Abraham's head. Two men watch as Lara makes her call and start to follow her

**Southern Desert**

Abraham is constantly looking at the fuel gauge, Riley tells him there isn't any point as it will run out eventually. Abraham agrees but tells her it should be any minute now. Abraham asks Patrick how far to Saint Marina. Patrick estimates they are about 15 miles from the city. Abraham looks down as the car starts to stutter. He tries a few times before the car grinds to a halt. He sighs and looks to the others before getting out. He picks up some sand and reforms it into a silver flask. He hands the first one to Aurora, then forms another 3 for Patrick and Riley. He tells them all to fill up from the water tanks in the jeep and take only enough for the trip. No excess baggage. He then forms a large metal sheet over their heads. Patricks tells him that will only delay the dehydration but Abraham tells him that maybe all they need. The gang then start to walk

**Saint Marina**

Back in Saint Marina, Lara is having a coffee when she notices her charm glow. She thinks for a moment then looks around, seeing man enter the coffee shop. She manages to catch something on his hand. She smiles and takes her coffee to the bar area and sits a little further down from him. He waits before he looks to where Lara is sitting. She pretends not to notice but eventually she looks to him. He asks if she is new in town to which she admits. The asks her purpose and she tells him she's here for the beaches. The two flirt back and forth but he then asks, why she decided to move from her booth seat to sit at the counter when he entered, and why he can't sense her. She smirks as the man throws his coffee at her, stunning her before he tackles her. He manages to get in a few punches but she rolls him over and lays in some punches of her own before pulling out a knife. The two men enter and hold her at gunpoint. She tells them he is a Kemiya but the two men arrest her, despite her protests

**Southern Desert**

The gang are still walking in the desert. Riley asks how it can be so hot despite being so far north in the world. Abraham reminds her its the curse that makes the land so strange. Riley starts to stumble but Patrick helps her up and tells her its only been 5 miles. Riley reminds Patrick she doesn't do well in hot climates and shrugs him off, telling him she's fine. Patrick checks her water but she's empty. Patrick gives her some of his. Aurora tells him to be careful but Patrick tells her he'll be fine. Its not long before Aurora starts to stumble as well, despite the cooling of the panel of their heads. Abraham himself is exhausted. Patrick tells him he can reform the panel as its draining his strength. Abraham agrees as the panel vanishes and Patrick makes his own silver panel appear. The gang keep walking along the road Riley comments about how they haven't seen any cars. Abraham tells him no one uses the road. Riley collapses. Patrick tries to help her up and uses the last of his water. Riley tells Patrick she can't go on. Abraham asks Aurora to help her, but she tells him she's too worn out before she too starts to fall unconscious. Abraham tries to rouse her. The two Kemiya's look at each other.

**Unknown Location**

Lara is brought into a dark room and pushed down unto a flat surface, her wrists and ankles strapped down as she continues to protest but she looks down, seeing a man inject a white liquid into her arm. She becomes quieter, as a set of headphones are placed unto her head and a message starts playing, telling her she is safe and that there is no war. Lara struggles a bit but the man looks down at her, his hand sliding along her skin, getting lower and lower, a grin seeping over his face as Lara screams

**Quotes**

**Abraham:** "What happened? Where are we?"

**Patrick:** "We are driving south. And what happened, is that you almost got us all killed!"

**Abraham:** "What?"

**Patrick:** "Don't play dumb you son of a bitch! Fabian goaded you into that fight!"

**Abraham:** "I could have beaten him"

(Patrick stops the car. He steps out and opens the passenger door and pulls Abraham out, throwing him to the ground)

**Patrick:** "Really?! You seem to forget, you're out of practice! Jeffers kicked your ass and now you think you can take on Michael's apprentice!"

(Abraham tries to get up but Patrick punches him down)

**Patrick:** "Remember, each of us is putting our lives on the lines just so you can sit your ass on your throne!"

**Abraham:** "Why are you?!"

**Patrick:** "Cause we each owe our lives to you! Not to mention...Michael is after all of us and the only way we get back to our lives is to take him down"

(Abraham takes a moment)

**Abraham:** "I'm....I'm sorry"

**Fabian:** "Well, well. Little Miss getting captured"

**Lara:** "Mr losing things. I heard you lost Abraham last night"

(Fabian scoffs)

**Lara:** "Where are they now?"

**Fabian:** "Last I heard, heading South"

(Lara turns to leave)

**Fabian:** "Where are you going?"

**Lara:** "To kill them"

**Fabian:** "Michael demands you stay here"

**Lara:** "I don't work for him. We have a temporary alliance. Difference. I only care about killing Abraham"

(Lara turns away but stops)

**Lara:** "And remember. You and Michael are Kemiya's. Once my business is done with Abraham, you both may find yourselves on my hit list"

(Lara leaves the room)

**Man:** "She may become a future problem"

**Fabian:** "Agreed. But for now she is useful. Have someone follow her"

**Man:** "At once Sir, but she may spot the tail. She's a Hunter and they aren't easily fooled"

**Fabian:** "Well...she was last night"

**Aurora:** "Its...so vast"

**Riley:** "The grasslands? I'd have to agree. No big cities. Just a huge flat area of land to run across"

**Aurora:** "Sounds like your ideal place"

**Riley:** "Forests are more to my liking"

**Abraham:** "Its perfect. Its so large it'll be hard to find out"

**Aurora:** "You think this car can go 1000 miles?"

**Patrick:** "Oh its not the car I'm worried about. More the desert"

(Aurora and Riley look at each other)

**Patrick:** "Relax ladies. As long as we have gas and water we'll make it"

**Abraham:** "I suggest 4 hour driving shifts. Aurora...you can drive yes?"

**Aurora:** "Of course I can drive"

**Riley:** "Why are you really helping Abraham?"

**Patrick:** "I'd rather see him on the throne than some tyrant"

**Riley:** "Want to try that again?"

**Patrick:** "What? I didn't exactly have a good time under Michael's rule"

**Riley:** "You couldn't give a damn who sits on the throne. You'll do you no matter who's on the throne"

**Patrick:** "And you know me so well after less than 2 weeks"

**Riley:** "I can tell you're lying"

**Patrick:** "I owe him...just like you do. And this is me repaying the favour. And when its all said and done, he's going to deliver on a promise he made to"

**Riley:** "Aurora was right about you Kemiya's. It always comes down to that honour crap"

(Riley looks out the window)

**Patrick:** "And what about you? Why are you even here? Not like you care about the throne either"

**Riley:** "Same reason as you Patrick. I owe him my life, as well as you"

(Patrick looks at her in the mirror)

**Patrick:** "...Yeah"

(Riley looks at him)

**Riley:** "What?"

**Patrick:** "What nothing. We all owe him"

**Riley:** "But you just lied to me...again!"

(Patrick sighs)

**Patrick:** "Ok fine...if it was up to me...you wouldn't be here"

(Riley is slightly angered)

**Riley:** "You don't care about anyone do you? What happened to you?"

**Patrick:** "Simple. My parents were murdered. And after I was trained I sough revenge, but I never got it"

(Riley is quiet for a moment)

**Riley:** "I'm sorry Patrick"

**Patrick:** "What would you know? You couldn't know how it feels"

(Patrick looks at her in the back seat but knocks the steering slightly. He turns and rights the car, feeling the under carriage hit something.)

**Riley:** "What the hell?"

(Patrick then stops the car and gets out, telling Riley to take over. Riley and Patrick swap places before she drives on)

**Abraham:** "Morning"

**Riley:** "Hey"

**Abraham:** "How long you been driving?"

**Riley:** "3 hours. Should be about 240 miles into the desert by now"

(Abraham notices she's quiet)

**Abraham:** "Something wrong?"

**Riley:** "No...why?"

(Abraham looks at her)

**Abraham:** "You're not the only one who can detect bullshit"

**Riley:** "Patrick and I...got into an argument last night"

**Abraham:** "What about?"

**Riley:** "It was nothing"

(Abraham notices the fuel gauge)

**Abraham:** "What happened to the fuel?"

**Riley:** "What?"

**Abraham:** "Its only a quarter full. Shouldn't be that low"

(Riley stops the car, waking Patrick and Aurora up as she steps out along with Abraham. Abraham looks under the car, seeing a small leak of fuel)

**Patrick:** "What's going on?"

**Riley:** "That little swerve you made? You damaged the fuel tank and now we're leaking!"

**Patrick:** "Thanks to your distraction!"

**Abraham:** "Enough!

(Abraham reaches down and repairs the leak with his power)

**Abraham:** "Simply put guys, we now have a problem and we can't make it through the desert in a car"

**Lara:** "Lenny"

**Lenny:** "Lara. Where the hell are you?!"

**Lara:** "Saint Marina"

**Lenny:** "What the hell are you doing there?"

**Lara:** "Abraham is coming this way"

**Lenny:** "Please don't tell me this rumour is true. That you made an alliance with the Gold Emperor"

**Lara:** "Its true"

**Lenny:** "Are you nuts?!"

**Lara:** "Its only temporary Lenny. Once I get Abraham, he and his little apprentice are next"

**Lenny:** "Ever consider that is how they are thinking as well?"

**Lara:** "Oh no Lenny. Thought never entered my mind"

**Riley:** "There is no point constantly looking at the fuel. It will run out"

**Abraham:** "I know. I'd just like to know when. How far out are we?"

**Patrick:** "I'd say about 30 miles"

(Car starts to stutter)

**Abraham:** "And there she goes"

(The car eventually stops. Abraham steps out then places his hand on the sand, forming 4 silver flasks. He hands one to each of the others)

**Abraham:** "Fill them up from the water tanks. I can form a metal roof to keep the sun away from us...but it will only buy us some time. Take only essentials"