CHAPTER 2
Lara had been home for hours, she still could not figure out what an accountant like Vanderbelt had needed an artefact stolen from what had turned out to be a Russian military base. She had been thinking about it for some time and had been trying to tell herself that it was probably for a private collection, but something didn't feel right about the whole situation. He had looked almost satanic when she had given him the item, at first she had put it down to the fact the she didn't like him, and her mind was making up things to rationalise her opinion of the man. She tried to put the thoughts to the back of her mind as she showered. It was no good; she couldn't stop thinking about it. She sighed as she dried herself and got dressed into a white tank top and a pair of navy blue joggers. She tied her hair back in a tight pony tail high on her head, and slipped her trainers on. Maybe a good run would help her forget the irritating aging man.
She left Croft manner as the sun was setting, the day had been hot and now the air was pleasantly cooler, the sky was clear and there was a slight breeze. Lara took a deep, refreshing breath of the night air and began jogging away from the high gates of her home. She didn't notice the shadowed figure watching her from across the road in the cover provided by the surrounding trees.
No guns, had been his orders, he had been told to make it look like another random, unplanned killing. If anyone was going to succeed in cleaning up this loose end it was him.
***
Lara had been jogging for over an hour, the sun had totally gone down by now and the full moon lit up the sky with its pail blue light. She heard a noise behind her as the road she had taken plunged into total darkness as she entered a wooded area she had never been to before. She sped up and heard the footsteps behind her match her acceleration. she stole a look behind her and saw a bulky figure, covered by shadows running behind her, when she turned she saw the man speed up again, getting closer to her quickly, she noticed then that he was carrying a chunky club of some kind. He lifted his weapon preparing to strike her as he approached. Lara turned back to the shadows and ran harder, her attackers pace increased more still gaining on her. Lara's mind raced, 'he's too fast!' maybe he had an advantage with his speed, but his large build didn't look too agile, there Lara had the advantage.
She darted to the right, off the road into the trees, she heard the crashing of the man as he charged through the trees after her "come on girlie" he hissed as he attempted to follow her zigzag pattern, "it won't take long" She pushed herself harder, trying everything to evade from him.
The large man snarled and dove at her slender frame, tackling her to the ground. They both skidded down a steep slope, Lara's back getting cut and bruised as she slid over sharp rocks. She didn't feel the pain as the adrenaline surged through her veins. Her attacker was now on top of her, pinning her to the ground, the club he had been holding was now pushed hard against her throat, slowly closing up her windpipe, choking her. She punched him hard in the face but he didn't even flinch as she felt the skin on her knuckles split as a result of the impact. "Such a waste" he man grunted as he pushed against her throat "you're quite a looker, too bad you got into this!" as he spoke he ran one hand down to her breasts, he grabbed a fist full of her tank top and yanked it hard, tearing the fabric open, exposing her black sports bra.
Lara pushed at the giant's shoulders as she thrashed against his deadly hold, and his roaming hand. She felt herself loosing consciousness as she continued to fight both her attacker and for the air she needed so badly. She felt herself drain of all colour and she knew that her lips were going blue. She now had to fight to keep her eyes open, she knew then that she was going to die, no, she was being raped and murdered and she couldn't do anything to stop it. She grasped at her attackers shoulders again, making white knuckled fist fulls of his jacket material, trying desperately to breath, things drifted in and out of focus, her arms fell limply to her sides and she couldn't move as he began to pull at her trousers while still leaning on the club at her throat. The large man slumped down on top of her and the pressure eased up on her throat and she was able to breath. Her lungs burned so badly with every breath of cool air she sucked in, causing her to cough violently. She saw the outline of someone lean down towards her, her attacker rolled limply to one side and she felt herself being lifted off of the ground. She opened her eyes and managed to focus on a pair of deep blue eyes before she submitted to unconsciousness.
Lara had been home for hours, she still could not figure out what an accountant like Vanderbelt had needed an artefact stolen from what had turned out to be a Russian military base. She had been thinking about it for some time and had been trying to tell herself that it was probably for a private collection, but something didn't feel right about the whole situation. He had looked almost satanic when she had given him the item, at first she had put it down to the fact the she didn't like him, and her mind was making up things to rationalise her opinion of the man. She tried to put the thoughts to the back of her mind as she showered. It was no good; she couldn't stop thinking about it. She sighed as she dried herself and got dressed into a white tank top and a pair of navy blue joggers. She tied her hair back in a tight pony tail high on her head, and slipped her trainers on. Maybe a good run would help her forget the irritating aging man.
She left Croft manner as the sun was setting, the day had been hot and now the air was pleasantly cooler, the sky was clear and there was a slight breeze. Lara took a deep, refreshing breath of the night air and began jogging away from the high gates of her home. She didn't notice the shadowed figure watching her from across the road in the cover provided by the surrounding trees.
No guns, had been his orders, he had been told to make it look like another random, unplanned killing. If anyone was going to succeed in cleaning up this loose end it was him.
***
Lara had been jogging for over an hour, the sun had totally gone down by now and the full moon lit up the sky with its pail blue light. She heard a noise behind her as the road she had taken plunged into total darkness as she entered a wooded area she had never been to before. She sped up and heard the footsteps behind her match her acceleration. she stole a look behind her and saw a bulky figure, covered by shadows running behind her, when she turned she saw the man speed up again, getting closer to her quickly, she noticed then that he was carrying a chunky club of some kind. He lifted his weapon preparing to strike her as he approached. Lara turned back to the shadows and ran harder, her attackers pace increased more still gaining on her. Lara's mind raced, 'he's too fast!' maybe he had an advantage with his speed, but his large build didn't look too agile, there Lara had the advantage.
She darted to the right, off the road into the trees, she heard the crashing of the man as he charged through the trees after her "come on girlie" he hissed as he attempted to follow her zigzag pattern, "it won't take long" She pushed herself harder, trying everything to evade from him.
The large man snarled and dove at her slender frame, tackling her to the ground. They both skidded down a steep slope, Lara's back getting cut and bruised as she slid over sharp rocks. She didn't feel the pain as the adrenaline surged through her veins. Her attacker was now on top of her, pinning her to the ground, the club he had been holding was now pushed hard against her throat, slowly closing up her windpipe, choking her. She punched him hard in the face but he didn't even flinch as she felt the skin on her knuckles split as a result of the impact. "Such a waste" he man grunted as he pushed against her throat "you're quite a looker, too bad you got into this!" as he spoke he ran one hand down to her breasts, he grabbed a fist full of her tank top and yanked it hard, tearing the fabric open, exposing her black sports bra.
Lara pushed at the giant's shoulders as she thrashed against his deadly hold, and his roaming hand. She felt herself loosing consciousness as she continued to fight both her attacker and for the air she needed so badly. She felt herself drain of all colour and she knew that her lips were going blue. She now had to fight to keep her eyes open, she knew then that she was going to die, no, she was being raped and murdered and she couldn't do anything to stop it. She grasped at her attackers shoulders again, making white knuckled fist fulls of his jacket material, trying desperately to breath, things drifted in and out of focus, her arms fell limply to her sides and she couldn't move as he began to pull at her trousers while still leaning on the club at her throat. The large man slumped down on top of her and the pressure eased up on her throat and she was able to breath. Her lungs burned so badly with every breath of cool air she sucked in, causing her to cough violently. She saw the outline of someone lean down towards her, her attacker rolled limply to one side and she felt herself being lifted off of the ground. She opened her eyes and managed to focus on a pair of deep blue eyes before she submitted to unconsciousness.