Sorry for not updating last week. It was a crazy time and while I had this chapter mostly written, there was some difficulty in it for me. One problem and I would like your input on, is have Alex POV parts when Lara is not around. This was to try to give perspective into Alex and what was going on that we (the players) never saw. Because of this I had a hard time letting this chapter be posted. However, here is the next installment. As always, I don't own Tomb Raider, etc etc etc…

On to Review Replies…

Kit: Many thanks for your kindness and support! I know I missed the upload time so please forgive me. Hopefully this chapter will continue to be enjoyable for you. I know I could improve a lot. :P

Jim: Glad you like it! As for the # of reviews, if you guys are enjoying the story its worth it to me. I had really low expectations on if anyone would like it because the game is 5 years old. Keep reading if you enjoy and let me know what I can do better! :)

Guest: Sorry for not updating regularly, but don't worry. If I stopped only after the prologue that would definitely make me a douchebag… and I don't want to be that. ;)

As always, please read and review. I appreciate everyone's thoughts and will reply to reviews in the following chapters. If I forget yours… yell at me in all caps…

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Cave

Drip…drip…drip…drip…

The sound of water falling from a great height into a pool was the first noise that Lara heard. Groaning as her head felt like an anvil a particularly enthusiastic blacksmith had been working on. She felt this heaviness in her head as if it was stuffy from a cold or flu. She cracked open her eyes only to see the strangest thing. Fire falling from the ceiling? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever! She looked around slowing because any sudden movement caused her to wince as her head kept pounding. Wait! Her eyes widened. Am I dreaming? Impossible. My dreams generally don't hurt this much. My ankles feel like there is a vise on them and why cant I move my arms? Lara blinked the tiredness and the pain away. No… I am very much awake. What's going on? She turned her head only for her hair to fall in her face. Shaking her head to free it of her own offending hair, she suddenly realized the truth. I'm upside down? I am hanging! Lara started to really take in her surrounds.

There was cold dark stone all around her, though most was lit up by hundreds of candles and a bright fire roaring by one of the walls. She was tied up in some sort of burlap sack and was hanging by her feet. All around her were three other wrapped burlap sacks. There was no noise coming from them. Near the fire that was burning she saw that the wall was painted with some white substance, that picture what appeared to be flames around a solitary figure. Straight below her was a giant hole, which the bottom of looked to be around five meters down. There was rubble all over the place and this had to be the most unkept dwelling she had every seen. Which is saying something… I rent with Sam. Lara smiled to herself despite the terrible situation she was in until the horrible thought entered her mind. Are my friends also in the burlap sacks? Is Alex here? Did Sam make it off the Endurance? What about Roth? Fear gripped at her throat and she felt she couldn't breathe. She closed her eyes willing herself to calm down, Having a panic attack is not going to help with this situation. First off, find out if my friends are here.

Lara looked over at the closest burlap hanging sack. "Alex?" She rasped out, her throat protesting its use after such a long time of respite. My voice doesn't even sound like me. Gods! How long have I been down here? Hours? Days? No matter, I must get out of here. "Alex?" Her voice sounded better but still dry and rough. "Sam? Roth? Jonah? Reyes? Grim?"

Drip… drip… drip… drip…

That was her answer, nothing but the emptiness of the cave. Nothing but aloneness. "Hello? Can anyone hear me? Help!"

Drip… drip… drip… drip…

Well, Lara thought to herself. If all I am going to get is silence, then I need to get out of here. At least I know my friends aren't in the same fate as me. She looked around at the burlap sacks. Hopefully not a worse one though. How to get down though? I can't move my arms, or legs. I could… She turned her gaze on the fire.

No! The Rational Lara stated coldly and calmly, that is a terrible idea.

How else are we going to get out? The Realistic Lara replied. I have to get down to get out of here.

Putting yourself on fire is just stupid! You have no guarantee that this will work, also, you might just burn yourself to death before the burlap.

What else am I to do? Wait until whoever put me up here comes back?

Drip… drip… drip… drip…

That's what I thought. Realistic Lara started to sway her body, pushing against the burlap and ropes holding her. She started to sway and picked up momentum until she collided with the nearest 'bundle' between her and the flames. The sack quickly burst into flames showing two very concerning things. First, the flames must be extremely hot. Second, the burlap must be incredibly flammable. Lara gaped in horror as the sack burned the flames were so bright and suddenly the bottom of the sack burst open as the upper half of a skeleton body fell colliding with the platform below breaking it and falling the remaining distance.

"Shit!" Lara murmured as she looked around. So far, the flames had spread and if she was really going to go along with this she would need to suck it up and risk it all. Time to do this now.

Again, she started to rock toward the flames next to her, this is going to really hurt. Lara hit the burning beam, but was not there long enough to catch fire to the burlap. Not long enough, got to try again. Lara closed her eyes as she felt the intense heat on her face as she came next to the beam again. She could feel the heat and burning. Looking up she saw that indeed; her senses had not been lying. Her legs were on fire and while the burlap was burning, it wasn't the only thing. Lara's painful cry could not help as the burning sensation started traveling up her legs. Lara gritted her teeth as each painful second dragged on. I wonder if this is what Hell is supposed to be like. Suddenly she felt the sense of falling. Lara's eyes snapped open as Realistic Lara projected into her mind a problem. Now that we are falling. Have you thought about where we would go? Like where we are going to land? "NO!"

As she fell the five meters to the ground she tried to turn to land on her back instead of her neck. Suddenly, she felt what was like the most profound pain she had ever felt. What is wrong with my leg? She looked down at her left thigh, what she saw was like nothing she had every imagined before. Sticking up through her thigh was about four inches of metal rebar. "O My God!" Lara stared in abject horror as her leg pulsed around the offending metal that was trying to be a new addition to her body. She leaned up to get a grip on the rebar, she prepared to pull it out. Hold on, Lara thought to herself. Once I pull this out I will need to have something to bandage this, so I don't bleed out. She moved up her left foot up, down, rotating her ankle. Okay, haven't cut my nerves, and it would seem like I didn't damage the bone. Lets just hope that I haven't pierced femoral artery. If so, there is nothing I can do.

Lara groaned, gritting her teeth as she slowing pulled the rebar out. She was about halfway before the pain was just too much. Her vision was starting to blur, and she realized, it was now of never… she yanked hard causing the rebar to move and the squishy slurping sound that accompanied the action made her want to just vomit. She suddenly felt the shooting pain subside as it was replaced with a dull ache. Leaning up again she pulled her grey tank top up, she ripped a strip of her white undershirt. Quickly she wrapped it over and around her thigh tightening it as she moaned because of the pain. She looked down at the red stain slowly growing on the white bandage. She noted that the stain was a dark red. Good, means I didn't hit the artery. She looked around, both wanting and not to get up and try to escape this horror. All around her were bones and all of them looked human. What the hell is going on here. This is horrible. Slowly she got up, testing her leg. While it hurt like crazy she realized she could walk. If hobbling could be called walking that is. She moved around, though she was trying to be careful of all the bones that littered the ground around her. She saw a crack in the walk and moved over to it. Sliding through she saw something ghastly, she bent over gagging and would have thrown up if she had anything in her stomach. She could feel the acid in her throat though as she turned back to the horror.

It was obviously a girl. Was being the key word. She had been hung by her hands and feet suspended before what was a ghostly shrine. There were candles everywhere and behind her painted on the wall was a white figure. It looked similar to a woman but almost more like the ghost of a woman. The girls skeleton wasn't very old as there was still quite a lot of rotting flesh still on her bones. She looked to be in her late teens.

Its like someone was sacrificing her to their gods. Lara though as she approached the figure. What sort of monsters would do this to someone? Lara looked over and saw in a container a torch. Perfect! I'll take that. She grabbed it and continued on, there was nothing she could do for that girl. Also, escape was still her highest priority. Besides the constant dripping that she could hear, she started to hear the roar of water.

"What is this place?

She moved on, but as she was moving she brushed against some buoys and she stumbled as they rattled creating a really load noise. "Shit! That was loud! I hope no one heard that."

She looked around and noticed that her path was blocked by some sort of barrier. "Looks like I could burn this down. Lara moved her torch and lit the pile, which surprisingly caught fire and burnt quickly. Well that went a lot better then I thought it would. Lara continued on, she slid through a tight crevice and which went through a sheet of water causing her torch to go out. "Oh damn it." Thankfully there was a blazer that she was able to reignite her torch.

Wow… this must be someone's storage shed. There were tons of bottles filled with a bunchof strange color liquids but there was a way out. Again, something she would have to burn down. Lara moved over and was about to light the pile.

Hold it! Is that a gas barrel? Lara walked back slowly, trying to ignore the pain in her leg. Not something I want to get close too. Her gaze turned to the blazer. I could just use that instead.

She walked over grabbing it and throwing it quickly toward the pile, and then quickly head behind a corner.

Drip… drip… drip… drip…

Lara looked over again, there was nothing. She could see that the flames were licking the barrel but nothing happened. Damn it all. Lara sighed in frustration. Looks like there isn't any gas in the barrel after all. She stood favoring her leg when the massive explosions knocked her onto her ass. Gasping, Lara could see all the gaping hole with what looked like a reinforced tunnel. She scrambled over to it and getting on her hands and knees she started going through the tunnel.

Suddenly, felt someone grab her by the legs and forcefully pulled her back. Screaming Lara rolled over kicking with all of her strength at the man. Lara noticed his unkept beard and hair and appearance.

"Let go!" Screamed Lara as she continued to kick at the man.

"Stand still, stop it!" He yelled grabbing at her.

Lara kicked his hands from her and scrambled deeper in. "Get off me!"

His voice followed desperately after her. "Come back! Come back!"

The tunnel roof gave way cutting off the man from Lara, as she crawled on her back away looking towards where the man had been just moments ago.

"I'm just trying to help you!"

"That was close." Lara panted to herself resting for a moment as her leg screamed at her for the sudden stress forced on it.

The man sounded like he was trying to reason with her. "Come on, I'm just trying to help you."

Lara turned grabbing her torch and starting to creep through the dark small tunnel. Realized just how lucky she had been. "Oh shit, that was close… come back!"

"Come back! Come…" the man's voice sounded further away now. Must be the stone muffling he voice. I just need to keep moving. If I keep moving I will find a way out of here. Lara could see water up ahead in the tunnel. Mostlikely the reason why it was closed off, something collapsed or maybe it flooded in here.

"Come… just come back!" No way in hell. Lara thought as she continued moving. The floor of the tunnel was sloping down and she started to stand up in the water. It was beastly cold as it seeped through her clothes. She kept her face above the water, but was on her toes moving. The cold actually felt good to her leg as she continued.

The man's voice continued to haunt her, causing Lara to wonder if she was hearing it with her ears or if her mind was relieving it.

"I'm just trying to help you! Come on!" What was strange Lara thought was the man sounded genuine about it. Of course his opinions of helping her might not be the same as the rest of the worlds and Lara didn't have the time to find out if the man was honest or not. Something Alex had told her on the boat floated up to her mind. She pushed it aside though as she scrambled on her toes as she bobbed with her head barely over the water. She kept going until she found sure footing and climbed out. The tunnel lead her to a waterfall that as she passed through extinguished her torch.

She looked around in wonder. There was a pretty good stream flowing though but what she noticed the most was the wreaks. Airplanes boats and all sorts of things were littering the cave but mostly she noticed that the path down stream was blocked by a ton of wreckage. Though there were some gas containers there as well. She knew again that the torch would not be a good idea for how cause the explosion. I need to find a way to light this. Lara noticed that there was a cage like pulley system that was in the stream. Kinda strange but whatever. If I got some debris on that I could get it onto the ramp that I would then be able to light it and send it into the barrier. What could possibly go wrong?

Don't say that. Realistic Lara replied. I agree that this should work but don't wish trouble on yourself. It will just cause worse things to happen.

Lara sighed, Time to get to work.

In total everything did work. Maybe a little to well. Well the explosion that rocked the cavern was massive and things that had been stationary for years if not decades there were suddenly allowed to be in motion. Things were falling from the ceiling crashing all around her as Lara hurriedly rushed through the hole she created only to have a lot of chaos for no reason. She kept running as the ceiling was collapsing in the tunnel she was hurriedly running though. Suddenly the floor gave out beneath her. "Shit!" Lara started sliding down crashing though piles of rubble until she landed on her hands and knees in the puddle of water. Light! Natural light! Lara felt a thrill go through her as she saw the beautiful sight. She continued running no matter the aches and pains that were shooting through her body. The cavern was crumbling around her as she ran, Lara could feel the panic rising in her as she kept moving, jumping, dodging as she made her way closer and closer to the light. Suddenly the path in front of her fell half way. Now or never! Lara through herself on her stomach as she crawled under the massive rock while she prayed it would fall and crush her.

Again, Lara suddenly felt something grab her painfully by the legs. No! Not again. She spun around kicking as she screamed at the hairy monster. "Let go, you bastard!"

He kept grabbing at her still yelling. "Help you!" Lara kicked him in the face and then through her torch in his face. The man screamed clutching at his face as Lara scrambled free and raced away. She looked over her shoulder to see the man disappear under the falling rock. All that was left was his arm stretched out. Lara gaged. "That was too close." She kept running, she saw the light high above her. But in front was a gorge that she realized she would have to jump it. She did, and made it she scrambled on all fours until as she climbed up until she was able to pull herself out of the mouth of the cave. Lara gasped as she collapsed on the ground groaning as she finally allowed herself a moment to relax. You need to keep moving.

Lara raised her head rising to her feet despite the intense pain she was experiencing from her leg and body. She looked around, I don't think I have seen a more beautiful sight in my life. The ocean's waves crashed against the rocky coast and all around were wreaks some looked over three hundred years old. Lara could see storm clouds in the distance, but the sun still broke through warming Lara's face after all the time she had been in the damp caves. She looked around and noticed that there was over a path along the cliff side. As she turned and headed that way, she looked down. She felt happiness flood her being. There, on the beach, was a life boat. It looked identical to the lifeboats from the Endurance.

Lara looked around. "There is the lifeboat. But where are they? They must have gone inland. They probably needed shelter. Damn, I could use that right now." Lara followed the cliff and came to a beautiful waterfall directly in front of her. However, the only way across was on a very flimsy looking tree that had fallen across the gorge. "Okay, just take it slow and steady." Lara continued moving though the tree was rocking back and forth and Lara could feel her legs trembling as she continued. Suddenly losing her balance Lara feel onto the log. She gazed down at the death drop beneath her as she muttered to herself. "Oh God…" Slowly she crawled across on the long until she made it back to firm ground. She continued to run along the path it was amazing scenery, but she realized that everything around her could kill her. Not to mention the light rain was making her incredibly cold. How she kept moving no one would ever understand. The need to survive, to keep moving, to not die to some crappy island, to continue the life that she really wants. So she kept moving, kept living and kept surviving. She could feel herself pushing what really did she want anyway? Lara stopped leaning against the wall. She smiled to herself walking with a man, in between them was a little kid holding their hands and chatting. I want what my parents had. Someday, maybe someday soon. However, I got to get to the others and get off this island.

She looked over and gaped in astonishment. There, hanging on the cliff in front of here was a giant airplane. What did Alex call them again… Flying Fortress, that's an American bomber… must have crashed here when World War II was happening. She gazed at the airplane for a while. I'll have to cross over using the plane.

Easier said then done. By the time Lara had reached the other end she was sure that she would have a heart attack. As she continued on despite all she felt her leg starting to pain her with each step and from constantly falling her knees felt like they were reduced to bone grinding on bone. The worst though, was the deep cold. It penetrated her very soul, or so it seemed as she continued to move slowly. She stopped gazing in wonder. There before her was Sam's satchel, she ran over turning the bag over as she dumped its contents out. She stood up, yelling as loudly as she could. "Sam!" She turned back to the bag. "They must have come this way. Although, why would she have left her bag." She looked at the box of matches, the camera recorder. Of course the bane of my existence would still survive. Lastly, she saw the radio, grabbing it she turned it on. It's light blinked showing that it still had tons of battery left. Lucky break for me. She activated the radio. "Sam? Roth? Alex? Reyes? Can anyone hear me?" Lara stood up looking around. "I've got to find them." She saw where they had gone, but it was a long jump. Got to try. She ran and jumped, but as she sprang forward her injured leg gave out. Lara screamed as she fell sliding down until she landed coming to a stop amongst a bunch of bushes. Groaning she staggered to her feet. She looked at her leg. Only to see the dark stain on the bandages were growing. Damn, I think I am bleeding again. Must have opened the wound during some of my falls. She slowly hobbled along though the woods, I have to find shelter or I will freeze to death out here. She kept moving until she found an out cropping in the cliff as she made her way through. Stopping she let out a chopping laugh as she shivered. An abandoned campsite. She hurried over gathering a couple twigs and grasses as she kept working trying to get the fire started. She stopped as she coughed. The sound almost as painful as it was in actuality. Water. I need water. She got up and walked to the edge. She gathered some water in her hands and drank. She tried to ignore the metallic taste though in all honesty it was some of the best tasting water she had ever experienced. She turned back to the campsite and pulling out the matches she noted she only had five chances. Lets hope the first one works.

Thankfully the first match was all she needed as she got the fire going and nurtured it to produce some heat. Lara relaxed and turned to looking at her bandages again. Retying it and making sure it wasn't infected. So far so good. Hopefully I can find some medicine to make sure though. Lara tucked her legs up despite the pain as she leaned against her knees. She looked at the radio wishing that someone would respond. That they crew would be alive, was her greatest hope at this point. Despite the pain and her hunger, she felt, she could slowly feel herself nodding off to sleep. Unfortunately, even sleep was avoiding her. Oh, I wish had some food. Even a sandwich would be wonderful. Sandwich? Lara laughed to herself. Oh Alex, I wish you were here. Lara thought about the brief moment of happiness. I wish I could go back to the moment. Lara reached over to the camera. Did Sam save it? Lara smiled. It's Sam of course she saved it.

Lara turned on the camera and lost herself in the memory playing out before her.

They had been discussing the pain in the neck that Dr. Whitman was in the mess hall. Alex had just been working on his algorithm for some reason or other. Lara had just made herself a sandwich and was walking over to the table. Alex had just turned back to his computer and stated "Honestly Lara, there are very few things that a man won't do for what he loves. We care not for how much destruction, pain, suffering we must endure to ourselves or others to protect the ones, or things, we love." Alex looked her in the eye again smiling that easy grin of his as he laughed. "You could call it our greatest flaw."

"Doesn't sound like such a flaw to me." Lara smiled back perching on the table next to Alex's laptop. "Can you give me an example?" She took a bit from her sandwich and watched him. He's fascinating to watch when he's thinking. It's like I can see the process of his mind. Which, I wish I understood in some… particular areas.

Alex had leaned back with his eyes staring at the ceiling. Slowly he drawled, "Well, consider one of the most amazing men in American history. Robert E. Lee, he loved his home state so much and his fellow southerners that he supported them. Fought for his state, in its right to have slavery, to own people." Alex sadly shook his head. "It's estimated that over six hundred thousand soldiers died in that war. A war that if Robert Lee hadn't been on the South's side would have ended very quickly." Alex turned gazed straight into Lara's eyes and continued. "How many would have been saved if Lee had loved his state just a little less?"

Lara just stared at Alex. He just shrugged to himself and continued. "He loved his state. How about an example closer to your home?" He grimaced. "Good old Henry VIII. He just wanted a male heir to his throne. So, he had six wives, two, potentially three, of them murdered for not granting them his heart's desire. He created his own church to allow for his excesses and in the end got what he wanted. Two girls and one boy. What happened? He died, and the Kingdom of England entered a bloody time of religious civil war. The boy died, the oldest died and the younger girl became one of the strongest queen's England has ever known. Yet, because of one man's passion for a legacy, his kingdom was through into chaos and thousands died."

Shallowing, Lara looked at the grief written on Alex's face. "And with our Dr. Whitman?"

Alex shook himself looking at his laptop again. "Well, I would say that Dr. Whitman loves… fame? the spotlight? renown?" He gazed at his program and sighed. "Yamatai is all he has left. From what I have heard his wife is divorcing him, his career is in shambles. Not sure what is left for him, but his name. His name, and Yamatai." Alex gazed at her sandwich, which lay forgotten on her lap. "However," Alex's eyes sparkled. "I must say that sandwich looks delicious. I must make myself one now." He got up and walked toward the refrigerator.

Lara jumped up eagerly, desperate to show she knew her way around a kitchen not just someone who knew about myths and old dead legends. "Let me make you one."

Smirking Alex body blocked her and as she tried to pass around him hip checked her. Gently knocking her against the island. "You mean in the common trope of 'get in the kitchen woman and make me a sandwich!' no thanks!" Alex started laughing at Lara's indignant face. "I've lived alone long enough to know how to make a sandwich."

Lara smirked back, grabbing her own sandwich and taking a massive bite. Moaning exaggeratedly for effect which it certainly had as Alex blushed red before turning to the fridge. "You don't know how good my sandwiches are though." She could hear Alex muttering something to himself that she wished she could make out. Lara just started laughing as Alex tried to concentrate on getting the necessary items. She got up and quietly walked behind him got extremely close to his ear before moaning again. "Oh SO GOOD!"

Alex stiffened, hands in the fridge as he pulled away from her turning his head slightly. He gave her one of the most disbelieving looks she had every seen on him. He looked like he was about to say something, opening his mouth but nothing came out. Lara giggled softly, thinking about the next teasing thing she could do to the poor engineer when…

"Ah come on guys!" Sam's voice called over shocking them both into action. Which, caused both of them to butt heads. Alex and Lara let out a collective groan. Lara rubbing her head as she glared at Sam, who just continued. "If you guys are going to get into sexy action you were supposed to tell me, so I could get it on film! Did you both read the Terms and Conditions?"

Lara could feel the anger rising in her, but was caught off guard by Alex grim and frustrated laugh. "Haha Sam! Just so you know, I did read the Terms and Conditions. And the answer is no, you don't get the rights to my personal life in them."

Pouting Sam batted her eyes at him, for some reason making Lara get an angry hot feeling in her stomach. "Oh Alex, you know I only want what is best for you. It will help you relax, everyone is so stressed anyway."

Alex rolled his eyes as he walked over to his laptop. He picking it up he started to leave. Lara felt panic for a brief moment. "Wait Alex! What about your sandwich?"

"Sandwich?!" Sam starting to laugh. "That's the best code word you two could come up with?"

Lara blushed turning away, but looked back hearing Alex growl at Sam making back up. "Listen Sam, cut this shit up right now. I have had enough of your insinuations and innuendos." Damn straight. Lara thought. Though from that growl I think he might be hanging out with Grim a little too much. Although the thought made her smile. She knew Alex would never hurt Sam, always treating her like a little sister but Sam didn't know that. And anyway. Sam does deserve some scaring out of acting like a hormonal teenager.

Lara closed off the video. Though she realized that she hadn't needed it to remember. That had happened only the day before the storm. Only a day before she had royally screwed up her friendship with Alex. Again, because of Alex. Lara sighed. It wasn't right, to put all the blame on Sam, but she did deserve a lot of it.

I should try to get some sleep. Lara closed her eyes as the most restless sleep she had ever had took her into its dark embrace.

Thank you for reading. Please leave a review as you guys inspire me.

This chapter was really hard for me as there were a lot of things that I needed to sort out. Mostly, things were fixed by making the Rebar not pierce her side. I watched that scene over 10 times trying to find a way around it. I looked up Human Anatomy books and I realized Lara would be died in under an hour if that happened. (Which would be really bad fanfiction) So I changed it to her leg and it will impact her throughout the rest of the story.

Also, I needed to end this on a little less stressful note. Let me know what you all think. Look for the next chapter hopefully next Wednesday.