Love in Louisiana
Louisiana Bayou
The gang is now on a swamp boat, heading for the location of the next Fire Bird Feather Key which has been buried right underneath where a church had been built on. When Hurricane Katrina struck back in 2005, the church had gotten flooded and abandoned. Still partially flooded to this day, partially demolished, left open like a rotting wound. As they got close they saw several swamp boats used by Trinity surrounding the building.
"Otis stop." Lara ordered "Turn the lights off too, don't let them see us."
Otis stopped the boat and turned its lights off, so Trinity wouldn't see them. Lara, Phoenix, and Darcy who have put on underwater rebreathers got off of the boat and into the water with Otis and Jonah standing watch.
"Be careful guys, this place is crawling with alligators." Otis warned them before they got off the boat.
The three of them swam underneath the boats Trinity used to avoid being spotted. Lara and Phoenix swam to the closest one with two Trinity soldiers aboard. The two soldiers had their backs turned and are standing close to the edge. Lara and Phoenix pulled them both into the water and snapped their necks, killing them. Lara and Phoenix alongside Darcy repeated the same process on the other three swamp boats; afterwards they surfaced and entered the flooded church.
As they traverse deeper into the church, while also stealth killing any Trinity soldiers along the way, they reach the point where they have to swim underwater the rest of the way until they reach an area that was not underwater and come across a group of nine Trinity soldiers digging up the Fire Bird Feather Key.
Lara, Phoenix, and Darcy drew their weapons out and are ready to fire. The soldiers turned around to face their assailants. The leader, a man about the same age as Salem with brown hair, ice blue eyes and sideburns notices Phoenix.
"Why hello Phoenix, long time no see," the man greeted her
"Out of all the people I don't want to see again aside from Dad and Stepmonster you rank high up on that list!"
"Phoenix, you know this man?" asked Darcy
"That's Vinnie, one of Dad's friends," said Phoenix
"Men, new objective: distract Croft and their friend and take Phoenix alive." Vinnie instructed
The men began to shoot at them. Darcy is able to kill at least three of them. She shot one in the chest, one in the head and stomach, and the third one in the neck. Lara took out two of them with a shotgun. Three of them surround Phoenix with Vinnie coming behind her with a net gun. Vinnie fired the net gun, trapping Phoenix in a net.
"I got you, you brat. Now you're coming with me," Vinnie picked up Phoenix and threw her over her shoulders
"Lara help!" yelled Phoenix
Lara sees this and begins to give chase.
"Darcy you get the Fire Bird Feather Key, I'll get Phoenix!" Lara ordered
"Otis, jam Trinity's communications we can't have them call a helicopter down here. They have Phoenix!" Lara radioed Otis
"Oh, crap! That's not good, I'll see what I can do Lara. Don't let them take Phoenix at all costs." Otis radioed back
Darcy managed to kill the one Trinity soldier sent back to retrieve the Fire Bird Feather Key.
Vinnie and his two remaining men ran up the stairs that led back to the entrance with Lara at their heels. One of the men attempted to radio a helicopter but the signal was jammed.
"You gotta be kidding me! Our signal is jammed!"
Lara had gunned both of Vinnie's men down. Vinnie made it outside with Phoenix and jumped on one of the swamp boats, started the engine and started to drive off
"You lose, Croft!" Vinnie shouted
Just when it seemed like he won, he did not get too far when Jonah and Otis drove their swamp boat in front of Vinnie's, blocking him in. Lara finally caught up to him and Vinnie attacked her.
"You stole Salem's daughter, I am doing the right thing by delivering her back to her father," said Vinnie as he kicked Lara
"Her father, if he ever deserves to be called that, had abused her and if you think I'll let her go back to the people that hurt her, think again!" Lara tackled him and they both fell into the water
The next few moments were tense as they saw the spot where they fell in turn red. Darcy ran out of the church holding the Fire Bird Feather Key in her hand and climbed onto the swamp boat and saw the large red spot in the water. After a few more tense moments, Lara rose up from the surface and climbed into the swamp boat.
"Lara, oh thank God," said Phoenix as the archaeologist drew her knife out and freed her from the net.
The gang saw two silhouettes of alligators swim towards the red spot. They started the swamp boat and headed back to civilization.
xxxxxxxxxx
New Orleans, Louisiana
Phoenix was standing at the balcony of the hotel room she shared with Lara thinking about today's events. This was the closest she had ever been taken back to her father and stepmother. If it wasn't for Lara she would've been forced to go back to her abusers and forced to marry that creep Ross. Now considering Lara's lifestyle Phoenix knew every adventure they had could've been their last. Every bullet and trap they dodged could've been the one that ended it all. Phoenix figured that she might as well confess her feelings to Lara while she still can.
"Mind if I join you?"
Speak of the devil herself.
"You've been out here for a while Phoenix," said Lara
"Sometimes I just like to stare out at the cityscape at night," said Phoenix
Okay, stop beating around the bush. Phoenix thought to herself
"There's something I wanted to tell you." They both said at the same time
"Okay I'll go first," said Phoenix
Lara's hand was so near Phoenix's it took all of her willpower not to reach out and hold it.
"Before I met you, as you know my stories and the Hell I went through. Then you showed up and took me away from that. These past few months have been the best time of my life. Today I was this close to being taken back to my father and stepmonster. But you saved me from that, Darcy and Otis have been saying that you're a hero," said Phoenix
"I don't feel like a hero Phoenix," said Lara
"You are one, to me." Phoenix looked into Lara's eyes. The older girl stared back.
Phoenix gripped Lara by her leather jacket and pulled her down to kiss her on the lips, pouring all the feelings she had for the archaeologist into it. Phoenix at first thought she made a mistake when Lara didn't respond at first. Then Lara kissed her back and wrapped her arms around Phoenix's waist pulling her close. They broke the kiss, due to the need for air.
"Phoenix, I feel the same way about you. When I found you in Alaska months ago I had no idea I would end up developing feelings for you. When I did, I was nervous to be honest. I was afraid I might take advantage of you considering the situation you went through so I kept them buried for some time. After what happened with Vinnie today and almost losing you I can't bury what I feel for you anymore. And I don't want to." Lara confessed
The new couple linked hands with each other and once again stared into each other's eyes.
"Damn, I feel so lucky right now. I've heard of falling in love, but never thought I'd experience it myself. Now I have to ask, why would you fall in love with someone as messed up as I am?"
"To be honest, Phoenix I think we're both screwed up," said Lara
"Fair enough."
The couple went inside the room to get ready for bed, unaware that they had three eavesdroppers who had overheard everything. Outside the hotel room door Jonah, Otis, and Darcy overheard everything.
"I knew it! I knew they had a thing for each other!" Otis whisper-yelled
"Otis keep it down, do you want them to hear you?" whispered Darcy
"To be honest, I haven't seen Lara this comfortable around anyone not since Yamatai. Not since what happened with Sam. I hope the both of them are happy and that this works out," said Jonah
"I think we need to give the brand new couple some space, don't you?" said Darcy
"I agree," whispered Jonah
Darcy and Jonah start to walk back to their hotel room, but Otis didn't move from his spot.
"Come on guys, I want to hear more!" Otis whisper-yelled
"Dude, you need to learn not to eavesdrop on situations. I haven't forgotten about that time when you were eavesdropping on what was supposed to be a surprise birthday party for you when we were twelve. Phoenix and I worked our asses off for that." Darcy and Jonah grabbed Otis by the coat and took him back to their hotel room.
Phoenix was wearing a blue night shirt and red and black checker patterned sleep pants. She was sitting on the bed reading a book waiting for Lara, her now-girlfriend to come out of the shower. Lara came out of the bathroom, clad in her grey sports bra and sweatpants which revealed her sculpted arms and chiseled abs. Her hair was down as well and she joined Phoenix in bed and went under the covers. When Lara lied right beside her Phoenix noticed the cougar claw marks had become scars and she traced her finger over those. Then she sees what appeared to be a big cauterization scar on the left side of Lara's stomach which was the rebar scar Lara told her about and placed her hand over it. Phoenix saw her tense up a little. Phoenix remembered what Lara had told her about Yamatai. She never deserved what happened on Yamatai. Lara placed her hand over Phoenix's. Lara kissed Phoenix on the top of her head. Lara pulled the shorter girl on top of her and wrapped her arms around her waist. Phoenix rested her head on Lara's chest, the sound of the archaeologist's heartbeat lulled her to sleep.
The next day Phoenix woke up to feeling Lara kissing her on the forehead.
"Morning sweetheart." Lara greeted Phoenix
"Hey babe." Phoenix greeted back
They got out of bed, got dressed and went to go see Jonah, Otis, and Darcy. The couple went to their friends' room which is right next to theirs and knocked on the door. Otis opened the door, greeted them and let them in. Lara and Phoenix told the others that they are in a relationship now (even though they already know). The three of them are happy for the both of them. They were about to head downstairs for breakfast when Darcy's phone rang. She pulled it out and answered it.
"Hey Dad." Darcy smiled when she greeted her father "Yeah Phoenix is with me."
"Wait, what?" Darcy's smile faded.
Phoenix grew uneasy. Lara wrapped an arm over her shoulders to comfort her.
"Why would they even? They what?! What an idiot! No one is believing this bullcrap right?" Darcy suddenly grinned and chuckled. "Dad, you're the man! Please don't put that on your radio station's merch just 'you're the man' is okay. So is there any non Trinity search party?"
Search party? Phoenix's insides grew cold. Were her father and stepmother still looking for her?
"Well that's good I guess." Darcy sighed "I don't know if that's best for her. Well why don't you explain it to her. Can I put you on speaker? Okay good" Darcy put the phone on speaker and handed it Phoenix
"Hello?"
"Phoenix, Lara, everyone we have a situation here!" Tom called from the other line. "Phoenix's dumbass father and stepmother somehow got a spot on a talk show radio station. They were going on and on about how she'd just disappeared into the night, that they were so sad, and how they had no clue what happened, and just wanted their little girl back. Of course your's truly called in and put everything straight. Then I talked to Officer Warren and he called in to clear the air and back me up. So far everyone in St. George and Nashville are believing us and not them. Phoenix you gotta call them and tell them to leave you alone! I don't think they are going to let up until they hear it from your mouth! They said so on the radio. They still have their friends looking for you and that Ross guy is whining to whoever will listen about how he didn't even get a small taste of it! You need to tell them to cut it out!"
"B-b-but they won't listen to me!" Phoenix stammered "If I call they'll just get my number and be able to track me down."
"Don't worry, I happen to have a shadow phone that won't let that happen, but you gotta try Phoenix. If this doesn't work we'll figure out something else," said Lara
Phoenix sighed and nodded "Alright."
"Okay and like I told you guys before, I'll keep you all posted on what's going on here. I'll let you know if anything else comes up." Tom hung up
Phoenix sighed again as she buried her head into her face.
"Look, Phoenix you don't have to do-"
"No." Phoenix shook her head "I have to face them or talk to them."
"Are you sure?" asked Otis worried
"We have to do this."
The gang went to Lara and Phoenix's room where Lara went to get the shadow phone and handed it to Phoenix. Phoenix stared at it in her hands. Lara sat next to her on the bed with an arm wrapped around her. Everyone else sat on the bed across from them.
"Otis, can you film this? I want this on video." Phoenix requested
Otis gets his phone out to take video.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Jonah
"Yeah." Phoenix nodded. She began to dial her stepmother's number and took a deep breath as she held the phone to her ear. The other line rang several times before Ramona's voice answered on the other end.
"Hello?"
"Ramona," Phoenix said in a firm voice
"Phoenix!" her stepmother shrieked. "What in the world are you doing?! This is ridiculous and humiliating! We've been going all over Utah looking for you!"
"I'm not in Utah."
"Where are you!?"
"I'm not telling you."
"You need to come home right this instant young lady! This whole situation is insane! Do you know the mess you caused for us? By tomorrow morning you better be on our doorstep, and you better get on your knees and beg for forgiveness and hope we are in a generous mood!"
Phoenix took a deep breath before answering "No."
"What did you just say to me?"
"No, put me on speaker."
"You don't get to tell us no! You don't talk unless spoken to! You do what we tell you and you shut your mo-"
"Put me on speaker with you and Dad."
"No, I am not listening to you. You stupid little brat! You whore! You slut! You piece of-"
"Put me on speaker or I'm hanging up." Phoenix's bottom lip was trembling, but she kept her voice steady. There was a pause before Ramona said "Okay, we're both on speaker."
"Now listen here you worthless little-" Salem began
"No! Shut up!" Phoenix cried "It's my turn to talk!"
"You don't get a turn!" Salem shouted "You don't talk! You obey, that's your only role in life. Now-"
"Let me talk or I'm hanging up and not you both calling again!"
The other end grew quiet. Phoenix took a deep breath and continued "Even before I was born, Dad, you forced Mom to be pregnant with me. You could've killed us both with the beatings. You burned me with cigars, you both tried to force Trinity's sick cult down my throat. You locked me in the basement or out in the cold weather if I disobeyed you. You guys would also starve me. That part was especially Ramona's favorite because when she would force me to be a model for some dresses, you both starve me if you both thought I was getting too fat. To top it all off you tried to force me to marry a total stranger who would probably just beat me and force himself on me every night. You don't even car-"
"Ramona and I did all of that to shape you into a g-"
"I'm not finished here!" Phoenix screamed and continued "All you both ever did was abuse me. You never loved me. You want to know why I ran away, you went too far. You pushed me away. I got tired of it all. The abuse, the hatred, the pain. I was not about to let you force me into Trinity by being forced into a lifetime with that jerk."
"This is ridiculous. Stop this complaining and tantrum right this instant and come home!" Salem ordered
Phoenix glanced at Lara out of the corner of her eye who had held her even tighter and glared daggers at the phone as the archaeologist listened on. Lara was furious. Phoenix glanced at Jonah. A look of rage was plastered onto his face. His hands were balled into fists as he listened to the conversation. Otis was shocked and horrified. Darcy also was furious alongside Jonah and Lara. Lara, Jonah, and Darcy looked ready to bash someone's head in.
Phoenix has a girlfriend now as well as friends who would protect her. As Lara had told her, this new life wasn't perfect, but it was better than what she had when she was growing up. Hearing the venom and animosity in her father and stepmother's voices and realizing THAT is what she had lived with for most of her life, versus the love and acceptance she'd received from Jonah, Lara, Otis, and Darcy over the course of her journey as well as the effort they had given to help free her from the toxicity. Just last night Lara, her savior became the love of her life.
"I'm already home." she told her father and stepmother as she slipped her hand into Lara's.
"Phoenix!" they both gasped "After all that we have do-"
At this point Lara had heard enough, she glanced at her girlfriend then at the shadow phone and back at her. Phoenix nodded at her and gave her the phone.
"Listen here you two!" Lara roared "Don't you try that 'after all we've done for you' bullshit on her!"
"Wait a minute, that accent, Croft! You did this!" shouted Ramona
"THAT TEARS IT! First Syria, then Siberia, then you destroy our cells in Europe and Canada, as well as a large bulk of our cells here in the US, and now you turned my daughter against me!" yelled Salem
"You both have done that yourself."
"You will not take Phoenix from us!"
"Your abusive ways and behavior have already done that."
"Where are you?!" Ramona demanded to know
"You'll never find out."
"You better hope we don't, we'll make you wish that you should've stayed in England!" yelled Salem
"You two tossers never did anything for Phoenix other than abuse, damage, and scar her. She told me everything. If you ever try to find her and harm so much as one strand of hair on her head, I'll make you both regret it," said Lara
"So just this once, I'm asking you to do me a favor. Let me go. Don't look for me. Don't call me. Don't text me. Don't email me. I'm not coming back. I'm happy where I am. Just leave me alone." Phoenix finished
There was a long pause before Salem answered "You want us to cut you off, so be it. Croft, you're going to pay for this. I'll make sure of that."
"We'll see about that."
The call ended and Otis stopped filming. Phoenix placed the phone on the nightstand and covered her face with her hands. No going back now. Her father and stepmother, the only family aside from her mother, that she knew are gone. While they were horrible they were what she had known. They hadn't even begged or apologized, just scolded and belittled her. The horror she told her friends and girlfriend was really real and it is now gone. For some reason she is sad.
"Come here love." Lara pulled Phoenix into a hug and stroked her hair
"Shh. It's okay Phoenix. I'm proud of you."
"All of us are. I know that was hard," said Jonah
"P-proud?" Phoenix sniffled
It dawned on everyone else in the room that aside from her Mom she never had anyone tell her that. Lara rested her chin on top of Phoenix's hair and stroked her back.
"We are. We really are proud of you. You are brave," said Darcy
"Yeah, that was a pretty brave thing you did," said Otis
Phoenix sniffled against Lara's shirt as she clung desperately to the taller girl. She took a few shaky breaths as she tried to calm herself, but she dissolved into sobbing.
"It's alright Phoenix," Lara kissed the top of her head "That's it let it all out."
Phoenix let out a small chuckle as the tension left her body.
"Thanks guys all of you for being here," said Phoenix
"Don't mention it."
Lara patted Phoenix's back as the younger girl began crying again. All of the emotions of the past several months, or really eighteen years came pouring out with no stop in sight like a dam had burst. The floodgates had been opened and she couldn't stop crying until everything was out. A few hours had passed and Phoenix cried herself to sleep. Lara scooped her into her arms so she could pull the covers on the bed back. She set her on the bed, tucked her in and kissed her on the forehead. Everyone else left the hotel room. Lara took a moment to admire her girlfriend's sleeping form and smiled sadly. She deserved more than what life had given her. While Lara knew she can't change the past, she could make sure the rest of Phoenix's life would be everything she need or deserve.
Author's Note: Man, this is probably the biggest chapter I've ever typed. At last the romance part is finally here with some action and drama.