gone

There was no point in it anymore.

The Villainous Chaps had been searching for Sarah's body for hours - - it was doubtful she even survived.

They finally lost hope and gave up; they made the decision to make camp not far from where she was carried off.

In their vile heads, they questioned the state of the girl, unsure of how far the stream took her.

The current was strong and intense, and several times dragged her to the bottom.

Her survival was unlikely. . but strangely. . . there was a part of the Master that for some reason believed . .

She was tough, Sarah. Nothing could possibly knock her down that easily.

As Bane and the Master started a fire, Moriarty and the Joker attempted to locate some food.

Sarah was playing at the two villains' minds.

"What the bloody *censored* could have happened to her?"

". . . . . . ."

"Why. . . why did that girl have to be so stupid. . . ?"

". . . . Not stupid."

". . . She should have let us go first. . ."

"She is perfectly capable of making her own decisions."

Master glared at the brute. "And. . . ?"

After another failed attempt at the fire, for the magic of the forest was playing cruel tricks on the lot, Bane rose to his feet.

". . . And she chose to put our lives first."

He looked back at the Master.

"Where ever she is. . . . I am sure she is fine."

The villain turned and started to move away, mumbling to himself about the need of more firewood.

". . . Bane."

He stopped and looked at him.

". . . do you believe the girl's alive?"

The hooded fellow could not tell what Bane was doing, at first . . . then the brute stood still and gazed at him.

". . . . . . I believe miss Demens is a survivor. . . . . she is alive. . . . and she is out there somewhere. . . ."

". . You have a lot of loyalty for her. . . why is that?"

Bane suddenly looked away from his comrade to avoid appearing weak.

". . . She saved me. In a manner of speaking. She helped me while we were in the T.A.R.D.I.S. And she treated me. . . with such kindness. . . a kindness I have never seen before. . . a kindness I am not used to."

He shook his head and held it. He seemed to struggle for a moment. . .

Once he had recovered a little, he looked back at the Master.

"If she is not the Character Queen. . . how else has she gotten such a heavy hold on our hearts?"

The Master did not know how to answer that. . . so he avoided the question and turned his head away.

If the four were honest men, they would openly admit that they missed the girl.

But their villainy and cruel natures prevented such sympathy for her.

And what ever she was doing. . . they silently begged for it to be . . . she needed to be safe.