Chapter 3 - Derelict - Side A

"I vaguely remember... this woman that used to live with us. I won't... I can't be at peace until I know for sure who she is. I must find her, Sam."

"I see, but where do you plan on searching first?"

"There's only one place, of course... The Manor." Replied I.

"The Manor... Didn't your uncl-I mean, didn't Atlas close it down?" Asked Sam.

Memory flashes flooded my mind for an instant. "I had forgotten about that." Muttered I, absently touching my throbbing forehead with my fingers.

Sam's face turned into one of preoccupation. "Lara... Maybe it's not such a good idea for you to go up digging past memories, I mean, I don't think you're even in the condition-"

"Ah, not you too, Sam." Said I, disappointed. "Spare me that bollocks, I've had enough from the docs. You know I need to do this." I paused. Her expression remained the same. Looking down, I added, in a whisper: "I thought you were on my side."

Sam took a startled inhale and straightened up on the chair. In a sigh, she uttered: "Of course... I'm just looking out for you."

"Then that's that." I rushed to say. "You can keep your looking out when you come along." Affirmed I, stressing the foreign expression.

"You mean... All the way to England..." She seemed deep in thought. For a moment, I doubted her resolve.

'If she said no...' Thought I. 'Do I even have the right to ask such a thing of Sam, after all the trouble I brought on her?' "I mean... I'll be okay by myself, I'll be discharged tomorrow after all, either way, I..."

"I have a feeling..." Started she. "That you're just gonna get into trouble again." She calmly stated. I frowned involuntarily. Then I felt a cold in my hand. It was hers. She grabbed my hand tight just like she always did. 'I'm glad I didn't forget that.' "It's just one more reason for me to go."

"Thanks, Sam. I... I'm just really confused right now, but I know that place houses the answers that I seek. Or at least the means to find them."

"I believe in you." Said she. I smiled.

Chapter 3 - Derelict - Side B

"You never told me about her."

"I didn't? I thought I used to tell you everything."

I smiled. "Well, yeah, but... It's okay, maybe you've never liked her."

"Indeed, that would make sense. I mean, a stranger in the house, so soon after mother..." She stopped as her voice fell.

"Lara?" I motioned towards her. She was holding an old photograph taken in a gravesite. There were several people in it.

"I can't even tell how she looked like. I... know nothing about these people." Said she, putting the photo away.

I touched her arms and pulled her away from the archive boxes. We fell into an embrace as she lowly cursed in a sad wail.

"Come on, there's no need to torment yourself further, we already have what we came here for." Said I, trying to soothe her. "Let's just go talk to this Ana. You're still planning on that, right?"

"Yes." Replied she. "Yes, we must." Asserted she. Then she looked at me in surprise. "You... will you..." Started she, in a pleading voice.

"Lara... I'm with you all the way. Of course I'm going." And again she smiled. And again we embraced.

"You're the best, Sam."

'No, I'm the worst. Taking advantage of you while you're like this... in this state. One day... one day I... But it never comes. Neither the day nor the courage. Nor the time. It's never right. It never feels right. To use someone else's suffering to fuel my emotions. These feelings, this... curse. Lara, forgive me, I think I... I think I'm... Somehow, I can only bring misfortune, somehow, no matter what I did, or what I do, I'm only making things worse. One day, this whole deal is gonna blow up in my face. I just hope I don't drag you down with me when it happens.'

'To be close, yet not close enough. Am I sufficiently strong?'