Chapter 11
Kurtis felt his feet plant firmly against hard stone as they met the bottom of the black tunnel. He quickly cracked the flare Lara had given him, and shook the acidic liquid together.
The room filled with a luminous green glow as the light in his palm reflected against the room's walls. The space was extremely roomy, wider than it was long with a high ceiling, 15 feet at the most. It was completely empty and closed in, creating a claustrophobic presence though the room was actually rather large. Kurtis studied the interior, searching for a tunnel or path of some kind that would lead away from it and into another section of the Realm. He saw nothing, nothing but a large crease in the middle of the wall before him, a closed door of some kind.
Kurtis quickly stepped away from the faint sunlight that flowed upon him from outside as Lara Croft's body landed beside him, a second glow filling the room as she lit her flare. She looked to Kurtis and smiled before walking forward to study the chamber.
Lara saw nothing of importance throughout the space, other than the large crack in its main wall. She walked toward it and raised her flare as a faint indentation became apparent across other parts of the flat surface.
The carving that ran around the large crease, and at certain points passed through it, made Lara sigh with relief. She stared at the figure of the quartered cross and smiled. She recognized the symbol from Kurtis's shoulder; her would-be Mark of the Nephilim.
It was the proof she needed. A symbol of the dark angels would never have appeared on the walls of a Lux Veritatis stronghold. Kurtis hadn't lied. He was a Lux Veritatis, not some demonized angel. She felt herself breathe deeply with relief, relief she did not understand. She had wanted Kurtis to be who he said he was, not only to prove that she wasn't helping the Nephilim, but because she couldn't imagine the thought of him turning against her. She didn't understand the thoughts. She had wanted to cry out of sadness several times before when Kurtis had confessed suspicious things to her. Now she wanted to cry again, not out of lost distrust or happiness, but with weariness of her mental feelings toward the final Lux Veritatis warrior. She looked toward him as the strange thoughts continued.
Kurtis returned a look of confusion at Lara's sudden unexplained smile and wide eyes, before he casually looked away and moved toward the large door before him , it's opening point running the entire height of the wall. He placed his hand upon it, pondering the key needed to open it. He stared at the symbol upon its surface, the ancient and horrid marking that graced his shoulder. He cursed it, though in truth he new that it was the key.
Kurtis quickly backed away from the wall and lowered his collar, revealing the marking identical to the one upon the door, with only a different placement and size. That was all he needed to do to gain entrance to this forgotten place.
Lara was silent throughout his act, staring at the man with complete mental trust. He hadn't gained her physical trust however. She definitely wouldn't fall asleep around him in a deserted place. She wanted to tell him of her confidence, but trust was a weakness, something she would never admit to, no matter who questioned her feelings.
She slightly jumped and backed away alongside Kurtis as the wall before her suddenly began to faintly glow at the center. The light was a dull red, and quickly spread up the entire length of the crease.
She watched with amazement as the large stone began to bend inward, the now split apart pieces slowly moving away from one another, separating the ancient brand, and opening a path to a new tunnel.
The space slowly became wider as the thick stone doors inched open and eventually stopped.
The companions stared at the opening for a long moment before Lara started forward. She slowly neared the open door and peered inside the newly accessible space.
A wide but short staircase was visible below her feet. She studied it before warily stepping forward.
Lara's hands instinctively met her pistols as light suddenly filled the room and torches placed periodically upon the two side walls erupted in flames. The light then faded as fast as it had appeared, leaving the eerie glow of lighted wood in several places throughout the space.
The room was tall and slightly widened, though thin compared to the previous. The high tunnel continued forward a short distance until erupting again in darkness, as no torches were placed upon its end wall, some kind of trap perhaps.
Lara felt her body tense as a noise suddenly sounded behind her. She turned to the source to see the immense doors slowly closing. She ignored them. This was something she had to do. She could find a way to open them later.
She felt slightly odd at the presence of Kurtis beside her as she slowly began down the few stairs in front of her. The feeling was, for the lack of a better word, different. She had never been in such a place with a partner, especially one that actually knew what they was doing. "I just hope that he can keep up."
She continued forward her partner following behind her. She cautiously placed her foot upon the main floor, not knowing what to expect, wondering if Kurtis's ancestors would've rigged the place with pitfalls and snares.
She scanned the room before turning back to him, thinking that she would rather know for sure. "Do you think there'll be traps?"
A sudden noise, louder than a gunshot, sounded behind her. Kurtis turned in time to see a long blade fall from the ceiling and quickly swipe toward them. He jumped and shoved Lara to the ground, landing on top of her as the iron death trap passed above them.
"Yeah," He said in a sarcastic and frightened tone. "I think there'll be traps."
Kurtis began to get up just as another "shot" sounded. Lara jerked him back on top of her less than a second before another blade would've sliced his head in half.
They were so close, his face was almost touching hers. Kurtis stared at her for a long time. He felt the urge to kiss her right there, and get it over with. He wanted to. He had to if his job was gonna work out. He started toward her-
"If we're ever going to find this thing, you're gonna have to get off of me." Lara's voice suddenly sounded, interrupting his advance.
Kurtis shook his head in agreement but didn't move, his thoughts to puzzled to focus on anything other than a kiss.
"Than do it!" Lara yelled as Kurtis's eyes gently fixed upon her lips. He'd made her uncomfortable with his sudden quietness. She wanted out of the situation as quickly as possible.
"Right." he told himself as he crawled off of her and stood up, making sure that the blade traps had finished.
Assured as they were going to be, they started down the small hallway at the end of the cavern, cautiously pacing their steps. Lara lit a flare as the torches were passed by, and darkness consumed them once again. Steadily moving through the darkened path, they eventually reached what seemed to be a dead end, but Lara then realized it was a door, and quickly kicked it open, extending their path.
They timidly stepped into the room beyond.
Lara and Kurtis fearfully shielded their faces as fire suddenly consumed the walls around them and lit torches on every wall, illuminating the room just as the previous. Wearily, they continued forward.
Lara's jaw instantly dropped as her eyes met the space before her. The room was a huge hall with a gigantic metal door at the opposite side. At least twenty five normal doors lined both side walls, each with some mythical symbol drawn on them. They were built across from one another forming opposite rows, with at least fifty total doors throughout the room.
The ceiling was carved into an arch, and was painted with colorful figures of nobility and heroism which stood out against the room's iron and stone walls.
The entire structure glowed yellow as the torches fell between each doorway.
She walked forward and studied the extravagant room further. Their were slight creases and cracks on the walls and ceiling, perfect for traps.
Her eyes met the floor and she was astounded. The entire path was lined with small squares, adorned with symbols and lettering. They continued the entire way to the large door.
"This is easy", she thought to herself. She'd seen this puzzle lots of times before. "What do these symbols mean?" she asked Kurtis, whose attention was somewhere else. He was glancing over each of the doors as if reading. "What is it?" she asked. He looked up, but didn't answer. He walked up to her, looking at the floor.
"I know these symbols" he sternly spoke.
Lara rolled her eyes.
"They're ancient Lux Veritatis icons. Like a religious representation of something" he told her. "Each symbol stands for a holy relic."
"So how does this work?", she asked "How do we get the door open?"
"I'm guessing," he started with sarcasm, surprised she had to ask, "we have to step on the right symbols to get to the other side in one piece."
"Yes," Lara returned with a fake smile, "but which ones?"
"Good Question." he simply answered.
"Wait," Lara eyed him, a thought occurring in her mind, "Your telekinetic. Why can't you just fly us over the thing?"
"Even if I got us to the other side," he replied "that door is huge, and heavy as hell. Even I couldn't break through it. The floor's not just a trap, it's a key. We step on the right spots, the door opens."
Lara felt dumb for asking the question and quickly covered herself "Than what do you suggest we do?"
"I'm thinking." he answered, slightly annoyed, and started eyeing the room surrounding them. "Each door has one symbol. I'm guessing that that's the order we have to use on the floor, but I don't know were to start."
"Well it's obvious where you have to start." Lara pointed to the first door in the first row. It held the symbol of a snake laced around a sheath. "They're the same symbols, so start with the first."
Kurtis watched as she studied the squares on the floor, searching for something. She found a panel imprinted with the identical snake symbol that the door held. "It's there." she spoke, pointing to it.
"That's great." Kurtis sarcastically stated. "But there are to many doors."
"So." Lara returned.
"This puzzle is straightforward. We walk on each row once, with no backtracking." he explained his argument. "There are only about twenty-some rows of squares, and at least fifty doors."
"And how do you know that there won't be backtracking." Lara curiously asked.
"Because the Lux Veritatis were all about symbolism, and this is the same." he stated. "I can't go back, so this trap won't lead me back."
Lara looked at him with fake encouragement. "Then why are there more doors?"
"I don't know." he answered with frustration, becoming impatient. "There's something more to this." Kurtis stopped and starred at the platform below him, waiting for his feet to meet it's surface. He sighed. "But I don't have all day."
Lara was surprised as Kurtis suddenly began forward, his feet planting firmly against the stone panel she had recommended. She stood cautiously, watching the floor below him as he stood, waiting with fear just as she was. She was ready to grab him, ready for a trap of any kind to set itself loose.
Kurtis felt the sweat rolling down his forehead, and felt the nervousness of uncertain death in his stomach. He starred forward, waiting-
-and suddenly sensed Lara's hands around his collar, pulling him back forcefully. As his body fell away, he saw a metal spike quickly shoot out from under him, devouring the snake carving and nearly piercing through his leg.
He cursed out of surprise.
"Apparently there is something more to this." Lara stated, as Kurtis starred at the floor that had nearly disabled him.
Kurtis then realized what had happened as the large blade quickly disappeared back into the floor. He turned to thank Lara, but she was already in deep thought of what to try on the floor next. Kurtis was sick of having to do all this shit. He let out his voice in a more impatient and harsh tone. "Like I said, it doesn't make any sense, I-"
"Trust me," Lara cut him off. "I have solved much more complicated puzzles than this in my life."
"Really?" Kurtis sarcastically stated, slightly offended. "Well good luck." He watched as Lara walked around the accessible part of the room and studied it further. It seemed as though she were actually enjoying herself, and the sight slightly calmed Kurtis's temper.
"Look at the room." Lara spoke, faced away from Kurtis, starring at the space ahead. "What do you notice about it?"
"Nothing special." he replied. "Torches, spikes, a big fuckin door that won't open-"
"I don't mean the things in the room, but the actual room itself." She rolled her eyes.
"I don't know." he unenthusiastically began. "It's arched, there are cracks in the walls between the torches." he stopped. "What else is there to notice other than the opposite doors and torches?" Kurtis stopped as Lara turned to him, a huge smile covering her face.
"That's it" she simply stated.
"What?"
"An arch, identical crevices and opposite placements," she paused. "It's symmetrical."
"And that helps us how?"
"Don't you get it?" Lara asked. "There are two walls with identical doors. The doors have different symbols."
"Yeah?" Kurtis questioned, still confused.
"Well look at the statues and torches," she explained. "They are all aligned with one another." Lara looked to Kurtis who still held an expression of not understanding. "You are so simple minded." she told him with a shake of her head. "We have to do it together."
Kurtis was silent.
"Watch." Lara instructed, finally giving up on words. She walked back to the now destroyed platform that he had stepped on before. "When I tell you, step back onto it."
"No!" Kurtis sternly refused. "That thing nearly castrated me a minute ago."
Lara impatiently stared at him "Well it's not like you'll be needing that part of yourself anyway."
"Listen." Kurtis began, aggravated. "I don't care abou-"
"Just shutup and do it!" Lara yelled at him.
Kurtis was silent as he stared in her eyes, his nostrils flared with fear and slight anger. Her features didn't move from their eager grimace as she arched her brows with impatience. Her eyes were commanding, and Kurtis knew that she had won this argument.
He shook his head and exhaled loudly as he backed away from her and redirected his body in front of the shattered floor tile he had previously stepped on.
He watched Lara as she walked to the opposite side of the room. She stared at the door that stood closest to her, opposite the one with the snake, and examined the symbol that appeared upon its surface. It looked like an inverted R, with slight accents of the Byzantine Era; natural for this place.
She quickly made her way back to Kurtis, a smile upon her face.
Kurtis stared with disbelief at the curvature of her lips. This women was either insane, or the most amazing creature on the face of the planet.
Lara examined the floor, searching for the identical R marking to appear below her. She found it; just as she had thought, the exact number of tiles away from the center as the one Kurtis had used. Perfectly symmetrical.
Her eyes moved to her companion's. She could sense an uneasiness within him, the uneasiness she had come to expect, and love.
"Are you ready?" She asked in almost a teasing voice, playing with his mind and building up his fears.
Kurtis shook his head and was forced to laugh at the vision of Lara. Her happiness overwhelming his mind, and building his caring for her.
"On 3 then." Lara stated she closed her eyes and breathed. "1...2...3!"
Her feet graced the tile below her as she exhaled and opened her eyes, prepared for her surroundings to conform into some ancient instrument of death.
Nothing happened. A point proven by the loud sigh of relief that poured from Kurtis's lungs.
She looked to him, a smile upon his face where only fear had once been seen. She returned the carefree expression and turned back toward the doors that lined her side of the room. She searched for the second symbol and instructed Kurtis to do the same.
His revealed an injured falcon, while hers held the remnants of a possessed-looking skull.
They searched for the markings upon the floor, and found them each to be one step up, and then one step out, again, exactly symmetrical.
Slight fear entered the companions' hearts again as they stepped toward their new placements. The action offered the same results, nothing happened.
This was definitely the key; they were supposed to do it together.
The process continued for several minutes as Lara and Kurtis searched for the next symbols within the pattern of doors, and then stepped upon the corresponding tiles as they found them.
They met the halfway point of this overly simple puzzle as Kurtis suddenly stopped. He turned to Lara as his mind realized the unthinkable.
"Lara," he stated, gaining her attention. "How did they know there'd be two of us?"
She stared at him, ignoring her task to find the next symbol. She shook her head with confusion and awe. "I don't know."
Lara felt her body suddenly jump as a loud noise sounded upon the ceiling above her. She stared upward as it started growing louder, warning them before hand of its owner's presence.
"What was that?" Kurtis asked, staring at the ceiling.
The noise sounded artificial to Lara. Not something a living thing would produce, but a machine of some kind, a trap of some kind. "We shouldn't be stalling." She stated, never taking her eyes from the ceiling. "It was probably rigged to go off if the pattern of tiles was stopped."
"What was rigged to go off?" Kurtis asked with fear and confusion.
Lara's eyes moved from their fixation with the room's upper level to meet Kurtis's. She stared at him, not knowing the answer to his fearful question.