After about spending at least twenty minutes in the shower, Lara switched the water off and wrapped a towel around her slender form. She felt much more relaxed and relieved. Quickly stepping out of the shower, she made her way into her room.
'What to wear, what to wear?' Lara asked allowed as she walked over to the wardrobe. Lara was about to pull out some combat trousers when her PDA started buzzing. Lara picked it up off of the table next to her bed and switched it on. It read: AFRICA! Lara raised an eyebrow before Anaya's name appeared on the screen.
'Anaya?' Lara asked aloud before sitting down on her bed. She frowned as she wondered why Anaya was trying to contact her.
'Africa?' She wondered allowed before taking out her mobile phone and calling Anaya. The phone rung a few seconds before Anaya answered.
'Lara, is that you?'
'Yes, is everything okay?'
'No, things couldn't be any worse.' Anaya spoke in a hushed voice which worried Lara.
'Anaya, what is going on?' Lara was nothing but serious now.
'I don't know, all I know is that we are being held captive in a small village in Africa. I am hiding at the moment. I'm too scared to move.'
'It'll be okay. Just stay where you are. Have you heard anything?'
'Yes, I have heard screams, gunfire, laughing, talking in another language I do not understand and it appears that some of the locals are being slaughtered.'
'Any idea why?'
'Not a clue.'
'Alright, just stay where you are, I'm on my way.' Lara told her before she hung up. She rushed over to her wardrobe before pulling out her signature shorts, top and boots. Quickly drying herself off and changing. Lara slipped her backpack onto her back, slid her utility belt on, attached everything necessary and headed out of the bedroom.
--
'Zip, I'm going to Africa. Anaya's in trouble and so are the locals.' Lara informed him as she walked over to where he sat playing video games with Kurtis.
'Okay, take your headset and this tracking device.' Zip gave her the items as he got up out of the chair and made his way over to one of the drawers.
'Tracking device?' Lara raised an eyebrow as she attached it to her belt.
'Just in case you know. I think you know how many times we have almost lost you. With this, at least we'll be able to find you if you do decide to go and disappear on us.' Zip smiled at her as she walked over with a set of keys in his hand.
'For your Norton Streetfighter.' He told her as he handed her the keys to her beloved motorbike.
'Thank-you. I'm not sure when I'll be back so be good. I don't want to come home to the manor in a wreck.' Lara smiled over her shoulder as she headed for the garage.
'Lara, should you be going alone?' Kurtis asked as he ran over to her.
'Worried are we?' Lara smirked.
'Well I don't want you coming back dead or badly injured.' Kurtis said as he finally reached her.
'I'll be fine. Trust me. See you later.' Lara reassured him before making her way past him and into the garage. She looked back at Kurtis one last time before shutting the door and making her way over to her Streetfighter motorbike. Running her hand across the handlebars, she quickly mounted the bike, started it up and raced out of the garage. Quickly turning on her headset, she called Mitchell.
'Hello?' She heard her good friend ask.
'Mitchell! Hello. I'll be needing a favour from you.' Lara got straight to the point.
'Ah Lara! How lovely it is to hear your voice again! Now, what is it you need?'
'A helicopter, and a fast one too.'
'Where would you like me to send it? Croft Manor?'
'No no, drop it off at the airport. I'll be needing it as soon as I get there. Okay?'
'Got it Lara. I'll send my best helicopter and my best men. Where will you be going?'
'Africa.'
'Okay, take care of yourself now.'
'You too.' And with that, Lara continued on her journey to the airport.
--
Lara had made it in once piece to the airport. She jumped off her bike before hearing the sound of propellers. Lara smiled to herself before making her way around the side of the extremely busy airport and onto the side fields. And there was the helicopter just as Mitchell had promised her.
'Mitch, you never let me down.' Lara said allowed before jogging over to the helicopter. Lara quickly stepped up into the helicopter to be met but three men.
'Miss Croft, how nice to see you again.' The one man shouted over the noise and smiled at her. Lara returned him smile before stepping into the back of the Helicopter and strapping herself in. She waited for the other men to be seated until she nodded to the pilot. With that, Lara was on her way to Africa.
--
The journey was long and boring but all Lara could think about was Anaya. She slumped back in her seat before she realised that they helicopter was slowly landing. She looked out the side of the helicopter to see fleeing animals, trees and a whole lot of grass. Lara knew that she had to hurry so she quickly unstrapped herself and made her way to the front of the Helicopter.
'No need to land! I'm in a hurry! Thank-you!' Lara shouted over the noise. The pilot simply nodded before Lara ran and jumped out of the helicopter. She landed on her knees and fell forward slightly. Lara pushed herself up to her feet and looked back up at the helicopter. She waved at the pilot, who waved back, before taking out her PDA and tracking the location that Anaya was in. Lara then took off in the direction of the small village where Anaya and the locals were being held captive.
--
After about ten minutes of running, Lara heard the sound of a truck. She looked back to see a dark blue truck heading up the sandy road and to, what she guessed, was the village. She hid behind a near by tree as it drew closer. That's when an idea came to mind. As the truck passed, Lara jumped forward and grabbed hold of the back of the truck. She clung on for dear life before carefully stepping to her right so she could look to see where they were going. Lara was too concentrated on figuring out what was going on that she didn't notice the driver looking at her in the mirror.
'Wha?!' The driver yelled causing Lara to come back to reality. She gasped when she saw the driver staring intently at her. Lara quickly stepped to her left and heard one of the doors open. 'He must have more men in there.' Lara thought to herself before the sound of shuffling made its way into her ears. Someone was after her. Thinking quickly, she made a death jump upwards and caught hold of the edge. If she had missed, she would have been rolling down the sandy road, something she didn't fancy doing at the moment. Quickly pulling herself up, she lay flat on top of the truck before rolling over and looking over the side of the truck. She saw a man slowly making his way to the back of the truck with an M16 on his back.
'Special forces.' Lara whispered upon looking at the deadly weapon. Lara crawled over to the other side of the truck and looked over the side. She saw another man with the same weapon. They were both wearing mercenary outfits with dark blue helmets. Lara crawled back into the middle of the truck before lying on her stomach. She didn't fancy being falling off.
'Zip? Are you getting any of this?' Lara asked into her headset.
'Yep, seeing and hearing everything that you are back here Lara.'
'Hopefully this truck will take me to the village where Anaya is. I do hope that she is okay.'
'She'll be fine Lara. Now, how do you plan to save Anaya and the locals?' Zip asked.
'I guess I'm just going to have to make it up as I go along.' Lara sighed before a village came into view.
'Think that's where Anaya is?'
'Well, that's where the trucks going so I guess so.'
'Good luck Lara.'
'Now Zip, you know I don't need luck. I have you guys.' Lara smiled. She heard Zip laugh before she heard Alistair tune in.
'Zip is right Lara, you're going into what looks like a heavily guarded village. Do be careful.'
'I have done worse. I'll be in and out…once I have blown everyone's head off.' She heard Zip and Kurtis burst out laughing and Alistair whine on about something. Lara was too busy focusing on the upcoming village to listen to what he was saying. As the truck drew closer, Lara lay flat down on her stomach before she heard a clanging noise behind her. She turned to look over her shoulder to see one of the mercenaries climbing up on top of the truck. Lara growled before pulling out her pistol and firing at him. She heard him yell out in pain before he fell backwards. His little friend must have been helping him up because Lara saw them both lying flat on the sandy road. Lara frowned before lying back on her stomach again. That's when the truck began to slow down. She heard a set of gates open and a few voices. She couldn't make out what they were saying, all she heard was someone climbing in the truck. No, it wasn't in, it was climbing into the truck. Lara cursed before rolling to her right and looking down. Bushes stared back up at her. She quickly rolled off the truck and fell into the bushes. Luckily, she hadn't been heard.
'Now that's luckily.' She heard Alistair say before Zip butted in.
'Go Lara!' Lara smiled before pulling a few leaves out of the way so that she could see what was going on. She looked up at the truck to see a man looking down at the truck driver and shrugging his shoulders.
'She must be dead. You have nothing to worry about, now come on.' Lara looked over to see another man walking over.
'At least one of them speaks English.' Zip said.
'Yes but I don't think I quite frankly want to talk to him first hand.' Lara whispered as she eyed the man. He was in a crystal white suit. He had pitch black spiked up hair, tanned skin and striking green eyes. Lara hated to admit it but he was indeed very good looking. Lara mentally slapped herself for thinking such thoughts. 'No fraternising with the enemy!' She thought to herself before watching the truck make its way into the village. Quickly crawling out of the bushes she made her way silently into the village and hid behind one of the closest huts.
'Lara, this looks too dangerous.' She heard Kurtis tell her.
'Kurtis, will you please stop worrying. I'll be fine.' Lara whispered before she was hit in the back. She yelled out before turning on her heel and pulling out her pistols, reading to fire at whatever means necessary.
'Lara? Lara Croft?' She stared into the eyes of someone she knew all to well. Alex West.
'Alex?' Lara gasped.
'Lara? What are doing here?' Alex asked as he lowered him gun and took a step closer to her. Lara quickly took one step back and kept her weapons drawn.
'More importantly, what are you doing here?' Lara frowned.
'Working.' Alex but simply.
'Lara, what's going on?' She heard Zip ask. Lara ignored him before choosing to lower her own guns.
'Working? You call this a job? Killing people? Keeping the locals captive? My friend is here. That's why I'm here. I need to rescue her and put a stop to whatever is going on.' Lara told him as she placed her guns back into her holsters.
'Well I'm sorry Lara put I can't allow you to do that.' Alex frowned as he quickly pulled out his handgun and aimed it at Lara.
'Are you really going to shoot me Alex?' Lara smirked.
'Well, it's in the job description. Shoot whoever you need to.' Alex told her as he squeezed the trigger slightly.
'Alex, before you decide to be an idiot and kill me, tell me what's going on here.' Lara said as she looked Alex straight in the eye.
'Why should I?' Alex growled.
'Because I saved your life once. I had to bend time and space to do it but I saved you. I think you should repay the favour.' Lara told him with a smile. Alex simply sighed before running a hand through his hair.
'Look, I'm not entirely sure what is going on here, all I know is that I need to keep intruders out and make sure everything runs as it should be.' Alex informed her before taking another step closer and pressing the gun to her stomach.
'Now, tell me…do you honestly think that you're going to get past me?' Alex smirked as he grabbed hold of her shoulder and pushed her up against the hut.
'Lara! I told you that you should have let me come!' She heard Kurtis yell. Lara rolled her eyes before looking back at Alex.
'If you were going to kill me, then you would have already done it by now.' Lara smirked.
'Don't push it Croft. I may not kill you but I know a few guys that will kill you without blinking an eyelid.' Alex warned.
'But you won' t let them will you?' Lara shot back. Alex simply groaned before pressing the gun harder into her stomach.
'Look, I can pull the trigger any time Croft.'
'Yes, you can but you won't. You didn't last time. Face it Alex, you can't me and you won't let anyone else.' Lara winked at him before raising her hand and placing it on his gun. She slowly pushed it away from her before grabbing hold of Alex's shoulder and forcing him backwards.
'I may not kill you now but I'm not letting you go.' Alex growled as he caught hold of her right arm and pulled her into him.
'You don't have it in you Alex. I know you don't.'
'Then why did you call me a traitor?'
'Because you betrayed me.'
'Who's to say that I won't do it again.'
'I stopped you last time and I can do it again.' Lara told him, thinking back on the past memory. The Triangle of Light. The mere memory of remembering what happened brought tears to her eyes. That was the last time she ever got to see her Father. She clenched her hands together and fought back the tears before looking back at Alex.
'You know, eventually they are going to find you with me and question you about why I haven't been killed. Then the chances are that you're going to get killed for not killing me.' Lara smirked.
'That's not going to happen because I'm going to lock you up some place so you can't interfere with this.'
'Oh face it Alex, you know that wherever you put me, I'll escape.' Lara couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face.
'You always did have something to say for yourself now didn't you.'
'And you were always a sheep. Going along with anything.' Lara shot back. Alex growled before dragging her towards an empty hut and entering it.
'Lara look! I am not letting you ruin this!' Alex yelled as she cornered her in the small room.
'I'm not ruining it, I'm stopping it and saving these poor people and my friend!' Lara said in a low and deadly voice.
'Well I can't let you do that Lara.' Alex said as he yanked her towards him.
'I hate you so much right now.' Lara spat.
'Same here!' Alex yelled before quickly catching her lips in a heated and rough kiss. Lara heard the lads all gasp before Kurtis hit the roof. She payed no attention and simply closed her eyes and clawed at Alex's back.
'I hate you.' Alex growled as he broke the kiss before smashing his lips back onto hers once again.
A long chapter. Phew, that took some time. Not even ONE PERSON has reviewed yet and I'm getting really ticked off. People are reading this story and not reviewing. How the bloody hell am I meant to know if you like it or not. Please review. I take my time to write these chapters and you aren't even reviewing. Thanks a lot guys…
