The Final Fight

Lara kept sprinting in the direction of Karel's stronghold, not stopping and hardly breathing. Her legs ached but she ignored the pain and continued going, even when her lungs began burning and she turned a deep shade of red she ignored it and kept running. Eventually it got to her and she collapsed against a rock panting heavily, she didn't know how far she had ran but there was a dirt track in front of her and the sun was scorching the rocky Cappadocia landscape. Lara turned to see a dust trail coming towards her, she barely had the energy to draw one of her pistols but the vehicle had stopped in front of her and she was picked up and put in the back seat before she could. "Don't wander off it only creates problems" came Kurtis' husky voice and she knew that she was safe. The car journey only lasted a few minutes before they had to abandon the car to remain hidden, by now Lara had regained her stamina and the duo crept up onto a ridge overlooking the old temple which Karel occupied. "There must be a dozen men down there" Lara declared observantly as she saw armed guards and vehicles guarding the entrance. "Lets not be subtle" Kurtis grunted as he darted down the hillside opening fire with his Boran X all the way, the first two guards were killed before they even knew what was going on and another four soon followed. Lara smirked at the gruff American's bravado and soon followed his lead. The mountainside was turned into a bloodbath as scores of Agency men were gunned down by the vengeful pair. Silence hung over the area as the last of the mercenaries was cornered and killed. "Ladies first" Kurtis said pointing towards the entryway, a big smile on his face "What's the matter, you scared" was Lara's witty response as she strolled casually past him noticing his smile fade.

The inside of the temple was like the outside, a ruin. The ancient pillars which once held up the roof were mostly collapsed and there was little artwork or splendour left in the empty shell of a building. "Ms. Croft" a familiar voice echoed through the ruins, although Lara could not see Karel she drew the Bow of off her back, plucking an arrow from her quiver in record time and pointing it at the direction of his voice. "I see you escaped Strahov without harm" the voice echoed coolly, "Pity, you caused me a great deal of harm". "Glad to hear it, Karel" Lara snarled "It was the least I could do, considering you killed Werner". Kurtis had separated from Lara after he heard Karel and went looking for the Nephilim to ambush him when he too was met with trouble. "Kurtis Trent" barked a voice from the shadows "It is time" just as Marten Gunderson leapt out from the shadows with a Karambit Knife drawn and ready to kill.

Kurtis skilfully dodged the blade thanks to his training and assumed a combat stance, he could have drawn his gun but he wanted to take satisfaction in killing Gunderson the hard way. "I taught you well Trent" Gunderson laughed his voice echoing throughout the room. Gunderson made another lunge at Kurtis but this time Kurtis was prepared, he twirled out of The Agency leader's way and slid his way behind him, using all his strength he grabbed Gunderson from behind and flung Gunderson into one of the ruined pillars. Kurtis walked up to the dazed brute and punched him in the face "You didn't train me" Kurtis spoke coldly "My father did". Without delaying any further Kurtis grabbed the knife of off Gunderson and plunged it into Gunderson's chest, before leaving though he retrieved his long missed Chirugai from Gunderson's belt and went to help Lara.

Lara slinked through the maze of pillars constantly hearing Karel taunting her "Where are you?" she thought as she examined the shadows for her target. Suddenly a stray Agency gunman emerged from the shadows, Lara instinctly dropped the bow and drew her pistols and gunned the man down. However the mercenary didn't die and kept coming towards her "Impossible" she thought just as the mercenary kicked the bow away from her, the gunman transformed right in front of her into Karel and she knew hat she had been tricked. The Last of the Nephilim grabbed her by the throat and put her up against one of the pillars "You may have destroyed the Cubiculum Nephili so easily in his weakened state, but you won't get the better of me". Lara looked into his face and could see the damage the explosion in Strahov had caused him, suddenly she felt faint as his chocking grip took effect on her. At that moment Kurtis arrived and seeing Lara in peril threw The Chirugai at Karel, the mystical weapon sliced open his back and this distracted him long enough to drop Lara. Turning to Kurtis he shot a ball of energy at the Lux Veritatis knight which hit him straight in the chest and knocked him off his feet.

Lara crept through the shadows looking for The Bow's location after Karel kicked it away from her. "Come out and face me foolish mortal" Karel yelled angrily, his voice once more reverberating around the ruins. Lara's foot stumbled against something and she turned around to find The Bow lying in the dust behind her. She grabbed the bow and sprinted to a position from where she could hit Karel from, an energy bolt exploded against one of the pillars next to her, sending debris everywhere and Lara could feel chunks of masonry cut her face. Karel narrowed his eyes as he focused on Lara "I have you now" he laughed triumphantly as he summoned a ball of killer energy at his fingertips, suddenly he could feel a great weight on his back. "Quick Lara shoot him" yelled Kurtis as he struggled to keep hold of Karel, Lara took careful aim and the world slowed around her. The arrow went arcing through the air before landing near Karel's abdomen, his scream pierced the air and Kurtis was shoved off of his back, another arrow followed, lodging itself in Karel's shoulder blade. The Nephilim slumped to the ground weakened before the final arrow found it's place in the middle of his throat. "That was for Werner" Lara spat at the dead Nehilim as she helped Kurtis up, "Thanks he responded and Lara smiled at him, but her smile soon faded as she noticed something behind Kurtis, she quickly shoved him out of the way as Kurtis heard the bang.

Whipping around Kurtis saw Gunderson standing there, a smoking Desert Ranger in one hand while his other hand clutched at a wound which up until recently had a Karambit Knife stuck in it. "It ends now Trent" he laughed, he took pleasure at seeing Kurtis trapped like this, he knew that Kurtis couldn't defend himself now and wasn't alert to the danger. Kurtis was seeing red but more importantly he also saw The Chirugai lying on the ground nearby from where he had used it against Karel, Kurtis used his power ans sent the bladed weapon hissing towards an unsuspecting Gunderson. SLICE, Gunderson's head went flying into the air and his body crumpled to the floor. Kurtis turned his attention to Lara who was lying there bleeding. She had never been shot before and the cold swept over her body faster and more biting than it had in Antarctica or Siberia. "Hang on Lara I'll get help" she heard Kurtis say to her before everything faded to black...