There was some confusion here apparently, in that people thought I was
saying that the events of AOD had already happened and yet Werner was still
alive. Actually the bit with Werner is a sort of "flashback". Sorry about
that (
Joining Forces
Chapter 1 – Lara's Search
Lara Croft smoothed her navy top down over her faded jeans and walked over to her floor-length mirror. She tucked a few loose strands of mahogany hair behind her ear and with a deep breath, she looked into the glass. Lara barely recognized the image that stared back. The face in the mirror was pale and looked haunted, terrorized by invisible demons. But the demons weren't invisible to Lara. They were bright and crystal clear, an imprint of the Paris and Prague horrors burnt into her memory.
Nobody could get through to her these days, not since she returned. For the first week back her only friend had been a bottle, each night. But the drink had only lasted that week, because she was a strong person and knew what would happen to her if it continued. She was thankful to all the professors whose careers had ended in tatters, whom she had scorned in the past, for teaching her real lessons. But then again she figured that the only claret they had found on their hands was wine.
Again and again Werner von Croy had tried to contact her: phone calls she had hung up, emails she had deleted, letters she had fed through a shredder. No excuse he could give would she listen to. As far as Lara had been concerned he had left her for dead. Well now it was her turn.
Lara had no clue as to why she agreed to visit him in Paris; it was like a strange force had taken over her mind. On reflection, it was incredibly likely a strange force had taken over her head. But after his twelfth telephone call she picked up. 'Lara – Lara is it you?' 'What do you want Werner? You have got three minutes to impress me.' 'I... I know you won't believe me... but I think I am being followed. Lara I think I'm in trouble... I accepted this commission...The Louvre...' 'What are you babbling on about old man?' Lara's tone was harsh. 'I can't explain – not over the phone – please Lara, please come and visit me. You have my Paris address. You don't have to forgive -' 'You're right – I don't.' 'But Lara – please help. You're the only one that can' Lara had to think about it for a while. She could hear Werner's panicked breathing on the other end. 'I'll come. Soon.' And with that, she rang off.
A soft knock at the door. Bryce. Lara turned around. 'Come in.' Lara said, walking over and sitting in her brown leather armchair. 'Lara. I had a hit on the search you asked of me. Y'know – males admitted to hospitals around that date, in Prague, dark hair, 5 10"ish, late twenties/early thirties, American.' Lara's heart stopped for a second. 'Well go on!' She had crossed the room to him by this point. 'Well, a man was admitted to hospital in Prague fitting that description to a tee.' 'His name?' This was the first time Bryce had seen look hopeful ever since she returned home. 'Trent, Kurtis.' Bryce stared into Lara's eyes and saw that she was desperate for him to go on. 'He had been ah, impaled and had lost a lot of blood. He...' 'Is he dead?' Her eyes were intense. 'No, but he is in a coma. It's a fifty-fifty chance he won't make it.' 'But a fifty per cent chance he'll pull through!' Bryce looked a little afraid. 'I wish you would tell me what happened to you out there, you have been a little, err, weird since you got back. Hilary and I are both concerned.' 'Oh don't be. Just get Hily to pack me a bag for a few weeks away, and you can book me a one-way ticket to Prague.' And with a smile she strutted out the room to fix herself her favorite comfort food, and that of many a true English person – beans on toast!
Joining Forces
Chapter 1 – Lara's Search
Lara Croft smoothed her navy top down over her faded jeans and walked over to her floor-length mirror. She tucked a few loose strands of mahogany hair behind her ear and with a deep breath, she looked into the glass. Lara barely recognized the image that stared back. The face in the mirror was pale and looked haunted, terrorized by invisible demons. But the demons weren't invisible to Lara. They were bright and crystal clear, an imprint of the Paris and Prague horrors burnt into her memory.
Nobody could get through to her these days, not since she returned. For the first week back her only friend had been a bottle, each night. But the drink had only lasted that week, because she was a strong person and knew what would happen to her if it continued. She was thankful to all the professors whose careers had ended in tatters, whom she had scorned in the past, for teaching her real lessons. But then again she figured that the only claret they had found on their hands was wine.
Again and again Werner von Croy had tried to contact her: phone calls she had hung up, emails she had deleted, letters she had fed through a shredder. No excuse he could give would she listen to. As far as Lara had been concerned he had left her for dead. Well now it was her turn.
Lara had no clue as to why she agreed to visit him in Paris; it was like a strange force had taken over her mind. On reflection, it was incredibly likely a strange force had taken over her head. But after his twelfth telephone call she picked up. 'Lara – Lara is it you?' 'What do you want Werner? You have got three minutes to impress me.' 'I... I know you won't believe me... but I think I am being followed. Lara I think I'm in trouble... I accepted this commission...The Louvre...' 'What are you babbling on about old man?' Lara's tone was harsh. 'I can't explain – not over the phone – please Lara, please come and visit me. You have my Paris address. You don't have to forgive -' 'You're right – I don't.' 'But Lara – please help. You're the only one that can' Lara had to think about it for a while. She could hear Werner's panicked breathing on the other end. 'I'll come. Soon.' And with that, she rang off.
A soft knock at the door. Bryce. Lara turned around. 'Come in.' Lara said, walking over and sitting in her brown leather armchair. 'Lara. I had a hit on the search you asked of me. Y'know – males admitted to hospitals around that date, in Prague, dark hair, 5 10"ish, late twenties/early thirties, American.' Lara's heart stopped for a second. 'Well go on!' She had crossed the room to him by this point. 'Well, a man was admitted to hospital in Prague fitting that description to a tee.' 'His name?' This was the first time Bryce had seen look hopeful ever since she returned home. 'Trent, Kurtis.' Bryce stared into Lara's eyes and saw that she was desperate for him to go on. 'He had been ah, impaled and had lost a lot of blood. He...' 'Is he dead?' Her eyes were intense. 'No, but he is in a coma. It's a fifty-fifty chance he won't make it.' 'But a fifty per cent chance he'll pull through!' Bryce looked a little afraid. 'I wish you would tell me what happened to you out there, you have been a little, err, weird since you got back. Hilary and I are both concerned.' 'Oh don't be. Just get Hily to pack me a bag for a few weeks away, and you can book me a one-way ticket to Prague.' And with a smile she strutted out the room to fix herself her favorite comfort food, and that of many a true English person – beans on toast!