"What are you talking about?" – Kurtis looked at her in a way that Lara almost laughed out. "I don't let you come with me."
"And I don't think this is something we're going to argue about" – Lara stepped away from him, and started towards her weapon cabinet. "We can do it the easy way and you just accept that I'm coming, or the hard way and I'm just going to follow you. But either way, you won't get rid of me this time."
Kurtis was still standing there, looking at her in amazement, as if not believing his ears. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"I don't care what you think" – there was determination in her voice as she was packing all kinds of guns in a bag. "What chances do you have against Karel all alone, without the chirugai?"
"What chances do you have with these guns?" – he stepped closer to her, getting more and more irritated.
"Let's not forget who walked away from the Strahov without a scratch after all" – Lara answered loosely.
"You were damn lucky, but don't try your luck any longer" – Kurtis grabbed the bag from her hand, but Lara didn't let go. They were just standing there for a moment, both holding the bag, fighting a silent battle. Then Kurtis gave up, a deep sigh leaving his mouth. "Can't you see I don't want you to get hurt?"- his eyes softened, the anger was gone.
"Can't you see I feel the same way for you?" – she held his gaze, only whispering.
"Okay" – he said silently, surrendering at last. "But you need to do exactly as I tell you. No unnecessary braveries" – he looked at her waiting for a confirmation.
"Do you know me like that?" – Lara laughed lightly, with an innocent look on her face.
"That's what I'm afraid of" – Kurtis sighed and followed her out of the room.
...
"We need to act quickly" – Lara was still collecting equipment from her tech room. "What do we know at the moment?"
"I know where he is. What else do we need to know?" – Kurtis sat down in a big chair, watching her curiously as she was running up and down in front of him.
"Are you sure he is going to sit there and wait for you to return? Where is this place?" – Lara was leaning over the keyboard of a computer, waiting for him to answer so that she could check out the coordinates before they left.
"He won't go anywhere, I know it. Karel wants me dead and now he has everything in his hands. Why would he move?"
"Good point. So where is he?" – her hands were already on the keyboard, eagerly waiting, but Kurtis only stood up and walked over to her.
"Lara" – he took her hand. "We don't need computers. I know where he is, I know what he wants."
"You are right" – she agreed. "We shouldn't waste any more time."
...
It was only a half-hour drive when Lara turned to the right and her Land Rover rolled up on a narrow little road leading to an old factory building. The rain had almost stopped, but still thick grey clouds covered the sky. Looking at the building hiding under them, it made an even more desperate impression. One part of it was falling apart, windows dark and broken, the wind was blowing through them as if the building was sighing. The tiles must have been red once, now they were all grey with dirt, just like the end of the single chimney rising up to the sky.
"Nice place" – she uttered, looking at the building. It made her shudder against her will. "Where should I stop the car?" – she looked at him questioningly.
"It doesn't matter" – Kurtis answered without even looking at her. "He knows that I'm here, I can feel it."
"So that was it with the surprise effect" – she mused, driving the car to the other end of the parking lot.
"Listen, I go in and you wait…" – Kurtis started, but Lara did not let him continue.
"I won't wait here and see what happens. Forget it" – she cut into his words angrily.
"Would you let me finish? Why do you always have to know everything better?" – he looked at her in reprimand and Lara fell silent. "Now that's better." – he smiled faintly, although he did not feel like. "What I wanted to say is that I will find Karel and keep him busy, while you sneak in and try to find Kaleb." – he continued and Lara nodded in agreement. "Give me a few minutes, then start towards the north end. I think he keeps him somewhere there. I can feel his power." – Kurtis opened the door and wanted to get out, but Lara grabbed his hand.
"Be careful. Please" – she looked at him, worry in her eyes.
"You know I will. And you have to know I haven't regretted anything. About you and me." – his eyes scanned her face as if he tried to remember her, then he pulled her to him, kissing her hard, savouring her maybe for the last time. Then he abruptly jumped out of the car, leaving her alone without even looking back.
...
Lara took her bag, her hands slid to her weapons on her side. Even though she knew she could not hurt Karel with them, she still felt safer knowing they were on their places. She tried not to think of what Kurtis was doing, she needed to concentrate on her task. Finding Kaleb was crucial if they wanted to defeat the enemy.
When she found a door at the end of the building, she kicked it in trying to make as little noise as possible. Inside the factory looked at least as despairing as from outside. The machines that once must have made a huge noise, were standing still, left alone, slowly falling apart as time left its cruel traces behind. The floor was all covered by dust, dirt and feathers of pigeons that were sitting high on the roof structure making eerie sounds. Rain was getting in through the holes of the roof, leaving the air humid and wet.
Lara looked around carefully, searching for any sign Kaleb could be around. There was a metallic echo breaking the silence as she stepped on the stairs leading up to the second floor. Lara froze when a pigeon flew up, wings flapping in the air. She had to hurry up if she wanted Kurtis to have a chance. Keeping her gun low, she slowly ascended, her eyes scanning the area for any movement. The metal structure running around the room on the second floor had no solid surface, she could not see any traces on it that would have indicated anyone had ever been here in the last days. After hesitating for a moment which way to go, she turned right at the top of the stairs. The wind was now blowing forcefully against the windows, one wing flew open, the glass broke, the pieces crashing down to the floor. There was nothing around where Kaleb could have been. Lara looked up, there were two more floors above her head, on the third floor doors that could have been offices. She did not want to risk calling out his name, so she decided to continue that way, keeping her eyes on the doors. Moving silently, without making a noise she was getting closer. Cautiously she stopped for a moment when the metal structure creaked under her, but there was no further sign it would not take her weight. The pigeons all but purred, making Lara raise her head once more to look at them.
She came up to the first door, reached for the knob that opened it. For a moment she was hesitating if she should rather kick it open, but she dismissed the idea. So she slowly turned the knob, ready to strike if necessary. The door creaked open, dust whirling up as the wind found its way through. Lara held her hand in front of her eyes, training her gun at the empty room. There was no one in there.
As she opened the second door, suddenly the big, scared green eyes of a black cat looked back at her. For a moment the animal could not decide what to do, but then it jumped up to the top of a cupboard with one smooth move. Lara lowered her gun in relief.
At the third door Lara did not have to think, she knew it would be the one, although could not explain why. She simply felt it. The infamous sixth sense. The door opened so slowly that Lara thought it would drive her crazy. Her gun trained, all her nerves tensed. And there he was, his arms tied to the wall between the two windows, stretched out like Jesus on the cross. His head fell to the side, his mouth covered with a thick grey tape.
Kaleb slowly raised his head, moaning softly at the move. His eyes widened in surprise when he glimpsed her standing in the door. All Lara could see was that he was desperately trying to say something, his words only angry groans coming through the tape she could not understand.