Disclaimer: Despite four months, still no own, but still love writing it!
A/N: Hey, everybody, I am BACK! (you all 'cheer') That's what I like to hear. Well, those who know me will think 'crazy girl's back'; those who have come back for a second helping of my stories are probably thinking 'it's about time!' and to those innocent newbies...be warned. I would read 'Lily Pad' and/or play Tomb Raider Legend first (must particularly emphasise the first) or this will make less sense than it probably already does (even with the summary of the last story)
Anyway, to my faithful readers (if there are any) 'Of Moss and Daisies' has finally...surfaced, for lack of a better metaphor. All I can say is, thanks to those who have stuck by me since the starts (The Third Demi-God and Timeless4Life); since near enough the start (Team-chaser) and everyone else who has reviewed regularly since reading (jacoblove and Sweet Christabel). I hope you like this story as much as the first! (Even if the summary doesn't seem to promise much, but take no notice of that!)
Previously, in 'Lily Pad';
More of Lara's past was revealed when her estranged nineteen year old daughter-Lily-shows up, and she finally began to resolve matters with her…Kurtis returned looking for Lara, very much alive, but then left again after Anaya's funeral, with whom he was once in a relationship with…Alister confessed his love for Lara, but it backfired when she cheated on him with Kurtis-who she had fallen for in Prague-and then he discovered he had got Marina pregnant, a nurse and his previous girlfriend…Alister's sister, Emma, came for a visit during her holiday granted by her boss, James Rutland Senior…Alister discovered some scrolls that he believes may have come from Avalon, where Lara is still desperately searching for to find her mother…
Lara's POV
"Lara, I really don't think this is the best way for you to go," Zip warns me, over the headset. "This place is a freaking deathtrap!"
"Oh, you say that about everywhere I love, Zip-now why don't you just pipe down and let the adults get on with it?" He goes silent, in a huff. I slowly tread on, across the very ambiguous looking floor. I can hear humming. "Zip?"
"I'm not saying anything!" he protests.
"No, you've disastrously found a way to annoy us without even moving your lips!" I sigh. "What have I told you about distracting me?"
"That you're more likely to plummet to your death if I do?"
"Yes, so unless you're on some secret mission to attempt to kill me-which I must admit, I have missed-do you think you could tone it down?"
"How much?"
"Completely." I sigh deeply and look down, staring at the edge of the dark floor. I'm not certain this is such a good idea now!
"Is that hesitation I detect?" Zip teases.
"So would you if you were about to walk on to what you know will trigger a trap."
"Well, there was an alternative route," he states matter of factly. I raise my eyebrows, even though there are none to see it. Mind you, with Zip always going on in my ear, it's very easy to forget.
"Oh, you mean the corridor with blades coming from all sides?" I check sceptically.
"It would have presented you with a challenge! At least there, you knew what was coming," he mutters.
"True-but where would the suspense be if you knew what was ahead?"
"No thanks, I choose life," he comments.
"Which is why I'm here and you're not-or at least won't be for much longer if you don't shut up." He goes silent again. I look down at the floor again, the familiar rush of adrenaline building up. 'It's nothing you haven't done before,' I tell myself.
I take a deep breath and step onto the dark platform…
For a moment, nothing happened, until…as I feared, the floor begins to give way, revealing a rather uninviting pit of spikes below.
"Lara, move!" Zip shouts over the headset, as I begin to run to a part of the floor that hasn't yet begun to disappear into the wall. I dash all over the place, sprinting where possible, but time is running out, the floor's disappearing with more and more speed, and the next stable floor is a good hundred metres away!
I begin to sprint, having to stick to the wall so as not to fall into the spike pit below. Seeing the ledge not too far away-and the floor pretty much gone-I am forced to take a running jump in an attempt to grab the edge.
I flail through the air, arms outstretched to their peak, trying to move myself along to increase my chances of reaching it. 'Come on!' I think desperately.
I begin to descend, and I'm not close enough…not close enough. I kick desperately and uselessly, but it's too late. I pass by the ledge, my very nails outstretched…and miss.
"LARA!" Alister shouts
"Zip, you've been watching this tape since it was recorded-aren't you bored of it yet?" I sigh, hearing the familiar shouts on the tape. "You'll be adding dramatic music next!"
"Cool-why didn't I think of that?" Zip smirks. I just give him 'the look'. "Hey, Kurtis is gone and he was the only one I could get to play 'War' with me and there's not much else to do around here."
"Go for a walk," I suggest, and he just bursts out laughing. At my confused expression, he says;
"Oh, you were serious." I nod obviously. "Thanks, Lara, but I think I'll stick with the tape."
"Not if I burn the bloody thing!" I growl irritably.
"Why do you think I got copies?" Oh dear lord, he hasn't? Actually, that doesn't sound too far-fetched for him. "Anyway, you love me too much to take it away from me."
"Do I now?" He nods.
"Of course you do-why else would you put up with me 24/7?"
"A good point," I agree. "Especially if I'm paying you for it! This must have been what my father meant when he said I'd go mad one day." Zip snorts.
"I'll take that as a compliment." I sigh. I've got a headache and I'm too tired to argue with him. I don't know if he does it deliberately or if he really doesn't know what I mean sometimes. Personally, I think it's a mixture of both, but you never know. "Where'd Alister go?"
"How should I know?" He gives me a confused look.
"Jeez," he said, raising his hands in defence. "What's the matter with you?"
"Do you really want to open that can of worms?"
"On second thoughts, maybe not," he smirks.
"I've just got a headache, that's all," I tell him.
"Yeah, you don't look good," he agrees. "Have you been sick, honey?"
"Not today," I confess. "Yesterday's a different story."
"Maybe you should go see a doctor." Are there doctors for my condition?
"It's just a bug, Zip," I assure him. "It's nothing."
"But you're never sick-"
"Well maybe some very clever person decided it was time I was-will you let it go, please?" He shrugs and resumes the tape. I groan and stand up. I can't take much more of this same sodding film!
Suddenly-just as I reach the stairs, I feel a stabbing pain in my stomach. I clutch my stomach, grimacing, thankful Zip's too engrossed in the telly to notice. I groan silently, and continue to walk upstairs, the pain slowly starting to subside. I grip onto the banister, trying to support myself as it comes back again. Jesus, I'm only walking up the stairs!
'Shit!' I gasp silently as it returns with a huge stab in the middle of my abdomen. Tears springing to my eyes, I collapse to the floor, breathing heavily. 'Shit, shit, shit!'
"Lara, you okay?" Zip calls from downstairs, not taking his eyes off the screen.
"Fine, Zip," I call out, though my voice is strained.
"You don't sound fine-you feeling sick, honey?" he asks sympathetically, though still looking at the bloody screen!
"Just a bit."
"Well you get yourself to bed, I'll bring you a cup of cocoa, okay? With perhaps an aspirin to go with it?"
"Since when did chocolate and aspirins mix?" I mutter sarcastically.
"That would be great, Zip," I say to him, loud enough for him to hear, and gripping the banister, I force myself up again. I almost fall over with the effort I put into it, but steady myself and begin the painful ascent once more.
Glancing down, I notice Zip has risen from his chair and has disappeared. I suppose he must have gone to the kitchen.
I gasp in pain as the huge shooting, stabbing pain returns. My eyes widen through the pain, and I literally double over clutching my stomach. I force myself to move regardless, though finding even pushing down the door handle too much effort right now. I force it open and push the door as hard as I can, only to invite in more cramps.
I trudge down the corridor, slowly as possible, hand pressed against the wall to manoeuvre myself along, taking deep breaths, desperately concentrating on that to keep the pain at bay.
I finally crawl into bed, huddling under the covers, shivering yet feeling hot at the same time. I close my eyes, feeling sleepy, when it is interrupted by Zip opening the door, a mug of cocoa in one hand and a glass of water in the other.
"I figured I'd do the aspirin for you," he tells me, putting the glass down. I nod gratefully, giving him the biggest smile I can muster, but it's more like a grimace. He smiles down at me comfortingly. "You'll feel better tomorrow, Lara," he assures me, stroking my forehead tenderly…almost maternally. "Jesus, you're hot!"
"Why thank you for that assessment, Zip, but it has been said-wait, aren't you gay?" He frowns in confusion. I struggle not to laugh, and then he finally nods and says 'oh!' as he finally realises what I meant. "Caught up, did you?" I laugh, and then clutching my stomach again. "Shit," I mutter.
"Your stomach?" I nod. "Do you feel like you're gonna throw up again?"
"Maybe," I say. He nods and gets up. "Where are you going?"
"Honey if you're in enough pain you can't laugh, I figured you're not gonna want to get up to throw up in the toilet."
"The door's right there, Zip," I point to it.
"That can feel like a hundred miles when you're sick, honey," he tells me, heading off into the bathroom. I lie back in bed, sighing. I feel tired, but also as if I couldn't sleep to save my life. My stomach…God, it hasn't hurt this much since-
"What the hell is that?" I say, as he emerges from the bathroom with a bucket in his hand.
"So you don't spoil your pretty carpet."
"Thank you, Zip, but don't you think you're going a bit overboard? I think I can manage to get to the toilet in time!"
"It's just a precaution-"
"Look, who died and made you Chief Consultant?" I snap. "Thank you, Zip, you've been very helpful but can you please just leave me alone now?" He nods.
"Sure," but still leaves the bucket by my bed, against my wishes. Oh, what's the bloody use in arguing with him? "Good night." He turns and walks out, closing the door behind him. I take an obligatory sip of my cocoa, but it tastes awful. I spit it back into the mug. I can't even bring myself to swallow it. I lied earlier, when I said I hadn't thrown up today. Well, sort of. I gagged but it never came. I was empty because I couldn't keep anything I'd eaten yesterday (or the day before I expect) down.
I switch the light off, flooding the room with darkness. Why does being ill make you so lonely? It's all you can do to huddle under the covers and squeeze your eyes shut hoping that sleep will come, that temporary relief from the sickness. Letting your subconscious take over…or not, as the case often is.
I've never been a good sleeper. I would usually lie awake for hours, even as a child, just staring into the darkness, taking in the unnamed shapes as my eyes adjusted. Of course, I grew out of that, but the insomnia has been harder to shift. It's been more of a recent problem, really. Since…well, you know.
Anyway, why am I still babbling? It's late. And I'm feeling a bit woozy…
I close my eyes, feeling that drift of unconsciousness flow over me. One movement could break it, I need to stay still…still...
Zip's POV
Man, I'm shattered! I never knew watching movies in Spanish could be so tiring! I rub my eyes, making them water a little.
"Have you been listening to those Korean tapes again?" a voice mutters sarcastically.
"Actually, no-I've moved on to Spanish movies," I say cheerfully. I look up into the face of a frowning Alister. "And just for the record, they were Japanese."
"Do I even need to ask?"
"You could-but if it's anything like the other six times, you'll just sigh and reach for your little cup of cocoa and see it as a release." True to my word, he does sigh but I guess there's no cocoa around. Oh that's right, I gave the last of it to Lara. "So what's up with you, dude? You look like Winston in a white sheet." He frowns at the metaphor but makes no comment. You mean I've finally worn him down?
"Nothing you would understand, Zip."
"Now why would you assume that?" Alister just shakes his head. "Whatever, man-you just wait till six months later."
"Six months-what's happening in six months?" he says panickedly. Jeez, did someone flick ink on his book?
"You know-the birth."
"Oh," he nods. "Right-I forgot."
"Again, you wait six months, my friend. You're never gonna forget again."
"And how exactly would you know?" he asks sceptically. I just tap my finger to my nose. He'll either stress about it for like six months when something new'll come up that he has to stress about…or could I just blame it on TV. "No, tell me," he says, not letting me down.
"I wouldn't-I just saw it on TV," I lie.
"You and that bloody television," he sighs.
"Don't mock the television!" I snap. He recoils in shock.
"I'm very sorry, I'll consider my actions more carefully next time."
"You better-and apologise to the TV next time, too."
"Apolo-I am not saying sorry to a bloody television!"
"What did we just discuss?" Alister rolls his eyes.
"I'm going to the maze to have a meaningful conversation with the hedge," he mutters.
"Okay-but if you pass the TV-"
"I am not apologising to your bloody television!" I cackle silently. He is just too easy sometimes.
Lara's POV
"Lara? Lara?" a voice whispers. "Wake up, Lara." Images slowly start to fade from my mind as my eyelids stir. "Come on, Mother-time to wake up." My eyes snap open. Did she just say 'mother?' Is she here, is she-?
My eyes focus on someone looking down at me, dark brown curls cascading onto my face. The figure smiles. "It's good to see you awake, Mom-we were getting worried about you." I blink. As my eyes focus, the figure becomes clear…Lily.
I try to sit up, but find myself paralysed. I wriggle my arms, and upon glancing around, see I am tied to the bed with restraints. "The nurse said you were fitting last night," Lily continues. I can see clearer now. I am in a clean, white hospital room, and not even in my own clothes anymore-instead, in a hospital gown.
Lily is wearing a white doctor's coat and hasn't taken her eyes off me since I woke up.
"How's the patient?" a new voice interrupts, also American.
"The nurse said she was fitting last night," Lily repeats, and this nurse suddenly enters behind the second doctor-Zip?
"That's right-but she seemed to calm down after I pushed one milligram of epi-on the orders of Dr Fletcher of course." Fletcher…Alister? "But he couldn't be here today-apparently Marina is having a crisis with their youngest and needed him home."
"Well, that's okay," the new doctor says. "I might not be the specialist, but you're in good hands, Miss Croft." Lily moves out of the way and the new doctor leans down to examine me. Kurtis?! I struggle against my restraints, trying to free myself. "Best not to do that just yet, Miss Croft. We still need to ascertain how much of a risk you are to yourself or others-it's simply procedure, I'm sure you understand." He looks pointedly down at my left wrist as he says this, and for the first time, I notice a huge, clotted gash there…as if a knife had slashed at it.
"I'm Dr Trent," he continues. "Dr Wickets here has been filling me in on your case." Lily hands him the file from my door. I try to move again, but it's useless.
'Kurtis!' I shout, but no-one looks up, and I realise I have said it in my head. 'Kurtis!' I try to say it aloud, try to make my lips move…but they don't. They're just as paralysed as the rest of me.
"I think the patient is in distress," Zip says suddenly.
"That's okay, just slip her a sedative," Kurtis says.
'Kurtis…' I think desperately.
"I'm not cleared to administer that shot, doctor."
"Dr Wickets?" Kurtis turns to Lily, who nods. She picks up a large syringe containing dark red fluid-is that blood?
"This might sting a bit," Lily warns, as she presses the needle against my flesh, ignoring all struggles. "I'm sorry for this, Lara." The needle pierces my vein and I lurch forward as far as I can, in an attempt to stop her. I'm not crazy-I don't need this bloody sedative!
Lily looks surprised at my outburst. "That was a very strong reaction," she comments.
"She's never done anything like that before, has she?"
"You've got her chart, Dr Trent," Lily smirks, looking down at me. I close my eyes shut, trying to block it out. Let me go! Let me-!
"It's okay, Miss Croft," I hear Kurtis whisper. "You've done great today-you can relax." He turns to Zip and Lily. "I know Dr Fletcher wasn't very optimistic, but I think we may have made a breakthrough. She might communicate with us yet." He looks back at me as he says this, a doctor's smug sympathy evident on his face. I struggle against my restraints again but none of them are looking.
Kurtis. "Kurtis!" I shriek.
…………………………………
My eyes open slowly as my mind arouses from the dream. I half expect to see a white, spotless ceiling-the mark of a psychiatric ward. But there is nothing-only my own patterned ceiling and the posts of my four poster.
I glance around the room, again half expecting to see someone there, but there is no-one. I'm alone. I sit up slowly, feeling an aching pain in my stomach again. I emit a loud gagging cough, and quickly duck over to the bucket. God, I didn't know I still had anything in my stomach!
I wait for a few moments, waiting for the urge to subside and the tears of sickness to stop being produced.
I stand up groaning, but at least the pain has gone. I haven't felt this bad since I had chronic flu last year. Zip keeps insisting I should see a doctor, but I didn't need one then and I don't need one now. He knows better than to argue-I might be ill, but in no way disorientated as to where my guns are kept!
I let out a loud shriek as I look up and see someone has been here the whole time.
"Morning," they greet pleasantly.
"Morning."
"Zip says you're still unwell?"
"Well do you want to see the bucket or take his word for it?" He sniggers.
"I think I'll stand down and take his word for it."
"That's a first," I smile weakly. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm still your friend-I can come and check up on you, can't I? Or is only Zip granted that privilege now?"
"I just-" I begin quietly. "-thought you might be at the hospital."
"I'm not the one who's ill, Lara."
"I meant Marina," I clarify.
"She doesn't need me to hold her hand 24/7, you know," Alister sighs. "Anyway, she'll call if she needs help." Fair enough, I suppose. "Any plans for today?" he asks stupidly.
'Oh yes, I thought I'd take a flight to Australia and research those Aboriginal texts-with a bucket on board of course,' I think weakly.
"Not really," I mumble. "Perhaps swimming?" Alister laughs, but at my expression he stops. "What?"
"Lara, I'm not sure you're in the best condition to go swimming."
"It's not like I'm jumping from the beam, Alister."
"No, but if you can barely whisper, I hardly think you could go swimming."
"I promise I'll be careful," I smile. "I am feeling a bit better today."
"You just threw up," he counters.
"Well, let me take advantage of the fact the pain is now gone, then."
Taking a deep breath, I slip slowly into the pool. The beam was tempting, but I figured it would be too easy to slip and fall on the ground and that's the last thing I need now!
The icy waters feel so cool, soothing almost. Oh yes, I've missed this. I brush my way through the water, and allow it to glide over me. This is so relaxing-why haven't I done this more often?
I turn on my back and proceed to backstroke. Oh, this is lovely…
"Ah!" I gasp as a pain sharper than I've felt before stabs at my stomach. I double over in the water, panting slightly, waiting for it to subside. I groan in pain, and try to move towards the edge, but any movement feels like my stomach is being eaten away at my insides. Shit!
"She's in distress. Give her this-it should calm her down," I hear Kurtis's voice echo in my mind.
Unwilling tears stream out of my eyes, as I force myself to keep moving, each movement a dagger hacking at my already flesh-eaten stomach.
"It's okay, Lara-just close your eyes and sleep. It's been a hard day-you did great," Lily soothes.
Please…please… My heart rate increases as the edge seems to move further away from me. Grey fills my vision repeatedly, until the whole room is just a blur of a mixture of indistinguishable colours and shapes. My limbs start to shake-through fear or from the cold? I feel so woozy…so very weak.
My eyes close involuntarily. Oh how I want to sleep…
My instincts snap them open again, and I am suddenly aware of the pain that I was suppressing in my dreamlike state. I attempt to move forward, the pain gradually beginning to fade. I'm so tired…
"Ow!" I cry, grabbing my abdomen with my left hand, using the other to try to keep me afloat. Shit, shit, shit! I start to cry through frustration, fear and desperation. Please…let me go…let me out…
"Just calm down, Miss Croft-this will only sting a little bit, and then you'll be back in twilight world…which, let's face it, is where you belong in your condition," Alister says, muttering the last bit tauntingly.
Grey fills my vision again and the pain is sharper than ever. My head sinks back onto the water uncontrollably, and I close my eyes through sheer exhaustion. The water level seems to rise, flowing over my mouth and occasionally into my nose. I feebly attempt to raise my head, but it's too heavy…it's too much…
It's so beautiful…the light makes the ripples above shine in all their glory. It looks almost heavenly…the light at the end of the tunnel, the gateway to a new dimension.
It's amazing how far light can penetrate and what effects it can have when you look at it from underwater…especially when you squint, and it's the last thing you see, before your eyes close and that menacing, dooming black oblivion swallows you once more.
Ah, I've missed this...well, I will when I see your reviews. You will, right? You have a comment (anything) or just want to say hi, hit the button to your...left? Well, you know which one I mean! Lolx-will be back within two weeks hopefully, as am going away for nine days (yay!) so obviously can't update. Bye! x13BlacKAnGELsx
