Slouching Toward Bethlehem
A continuation of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness.

Disclaimer:
I do not own any recognisable characters that appear in this piece of fiction. Lara Croft, Kurtis Trent and others are property of Eidos and Crystal Dynamics. The only thing I own is some OCs and the plot. This story was written for pleasure only. I am making no profit from this story.

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»Chapter Fifteen: Into The Abyss »

It was in the early hours of the morning, before the sun had risen and darkness still filled the sky, when Kurtis awoke. He shifted beneath the covers, turning to find Lara lying next to him, still fast asleep. Her hair fell lightly across her face, still tied up loosely in its braid. For the first time since Kurtis had met her she looked peaceful.

He smiled, planting a lingering kiss upon her bare shoulder before slipping out of bed.

Soon he was outside on the balcony, fully dressed and lighting up a cigarette. He took a long drag and exhaled the smoke, leaning forwards on the railing, screwing up his eyes and running a hand over his fatigued face.

Last night may have been the greatest in his life, and yet he was feeling restless, tense and not just a little bit fearful. In only a few hours he and Lara were going to go see this contact of hers, and get all the supplies they needed to demolish the Nephilim city. That meant tomorrow was the night they would attempt to accomplish this, which meant that they both may only have a few precious days or hours left.

He sighed, letting the cigarette hang loosely from his lips. He truly could not remember how long it had been since he was not living with the threat of death hanging over his head. Perhaps living on the edge had seemed exciting at first, but it was many, many years since he had been a young, stupid teenager joining the Foreign Legion. Years of combat, death and fear had taken its toll, and he really did feel as though he wouldn't make it through the next few days.

Even if they managed to succeed in destroying the city, what then? It would only delay Karel's plans, and soon enough they would be on the run again, living in constant fear of discovery. Kurtis seriously doubted that Karel would let Lara live if they were caught, and he could not bare the thought of losing her…

Not after last night.

He plucked the cigarette from between his lips, dropping it to the ground and crushing the smoldering column of ash underfoot. He pulled his slightly crumpled cigarette packet from out of his trouser pocket, cursing when he found it empty. He sighed heavily, scrunching it up with his hand and letting it drop over the side of the balcony, landing in the bushes below.

There was a rustling sound from below, and Kurtis squinted into the darkness. The plants rustled again, louder this time. The movement was definitely not caused by an animal…

"Shit!" he cursed under his breath, throwing himself behind the balcony railing.

There was someone down there; with a gun aimed right at him.

Quickly, making sure to keep low, Kurtis ducked back into the room, heading over to the bedside table and grabbing his weapons. The noise woke up Lara.

"Kurtis?" she asked, still bleary-eyed, "W-What's going on?"

"There's someone down there," he answered, loading his Boran X and closing the chamber with a click.

"Who?" Lara answered in a hushed voice, already beginning to pull on some clothes.

"Well it definitely isn't our early morning wake-up call."

"You think it's Karel?" Lara asked.

Kurtis simply nodded, nervously handling his Chirguai whilst Lara grabbed all of her stuff. Her clothes were strewn all over the floor, and yet she dressed with a speed only possible in such a moment of urgency. She packed the last of the books into her backpack, swinging it over her shoulders and loading up her Vector R-35.

Without a word they had slipped out of the room, treading with careful footsteps down the hotel's deserted corridors. Many of the doors they passed bore 'Do Not Disturb' signs and they both complied, sneaking silently towards the back exit of the building.

They paused at this door, and Kurtis quietly pushed it open, throwing himself outside with gun held high. No-one challenged, and he gave Lara the all clear. She followed him outside.

A warm breeze blew from the nearby Marmara Sea, stirring Lara's braid. She followed Kurtis silently around the back of the building, watching out for attacks from the rear, whilst Kurtis covered the front.

"Jesus Christ," Kurtis muttered.

Lara spun around quickly, but did not find any danger before her. Instead she found Kurtis' motorcycle stood against the wall of the hotel, its' tyres riddled with bullets. There was no way to escape on it now.

"Shit," Lara breathed, "What the hell do we do now?"

As if in answer, there was a loud bang and a bullet hole appeared in the wall inches from Lara's head.

"We run," Kurtis told her, grabbing her hand and pulling her away. Lara snatched a glance backwards and saw the figures that now appeared from the darkness. Bullets continued to whiz past them but Kurtis simply ran on faster, speeding them both away from the hotel. Their urgent footsteps pounded out an irregular rhythm against the dusty ground, throwing up dust and loose stone.

Kurtis still had hold of Lara's hand, and presently he skidded to a halt, and Lara, in her shock, baulked against him and nearly fell over from the sudden lack of momentum.

"Kurtis what are you do-?" The question trailed off as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, and took in the sight of a dozen more armed soldiers, standing right in their path. They both turned back and found their escape route cut off by the others. They were stood at the end of the dock, with Karel's men before them and the water behind them. They backed up as far as they could go, but it was all too clear that they were trapped.

"Mr. Trent," said a horribly familiar voice, "I paid you a visit at the hospital the other day… Did you not wish to see me?"

Joachim Karel stepped out from behind the ring of men surrounding the pair. Kurtis felt Lara grip his hand a little tighter.

"Go to hell, "Kurtis told him, "Go and fucking burn for all I care."

Karel gave a smile.

"I really don't think you're in any position to be giving me orders Mr. Trent," he said, his tone a mixture of threat and amusement, "If that's the kind of language you're going to be using, then I don't see any harm in a spot of discipline… Wouldn't you agree?"

The Nephilim waved with his gloved hand, and more than a dozen rifles all pointed at Lara's head. Kurtis let go of Lara's hand and stepped in front of her, putting himself between her and the soldiers' weapons.

"Don't you fucking dare," Kurtis breathed, raising his Boran X with shaking hands.

A look of amusement flitted across Karel's face.

"You really think the odds are in your favour?" He laughed. "Give yourself up, or I will not hesitate to shoot."

There was a click as the safety of a gun was released. Lara aimed her Vector-R35 at the Nephilim before her.

"Neither will I."

Karel actually began to laugh, and the malice in his voice was enough to send a chill down Lara's spine.

"Miss. Croft, you still have a choice before you," Karel said, clasping his hands behind his back, as though he were negotiating a business deal, "You can join me, and help give birth to the rest of my race; a benign new order to dominate the world… Or you can die, like the weak, pathetic human that you are. Which will it be?"

Lara simply narrowed her eyes.

"I have already made my choice."

Karel raised his weapon and let out a long, fake sigh.

"I did not wish to do this," was all he said.

The gun roared.

Pain exploded in Lara's stomach, causing her to stumble backwards. Her gun clattered uselessly to the ground. She put her hands to her torso, lifting them away and seeing through glassy eyes the crimson which now stained them. Blood began to spread out, staining her shirt and running over her hands. Lara remained motionless, clutching her hands to her stomach.

"Lara!" Kurtis screamed. He tried to reach out to her, but suddenly his arms were seized and his weapon torn from his grasp. He continued to fight against Karel's men for all he was worth, but their hold was too strong, and soon he hung, panting and defeated in their grip.

"Lara…" he whispered, his voice small and weak.

Lara did not reply. The world in front of her was shifting out of focus. As if in slow motion, her strength failed her and she collapsed, falling backwards, off the end of the dock.

She barely registered her body hitting the water before everything went black.

TBC…

…Review? …Please? :)

Acid-Rush – Thank you, I did spend a lot of time writing that scene and trying to get it perfect. Glad to see you enjoyed it! You like Linkin Park too? God damn it, everyone on this site is so cool! :)

Lady Lara Croft – lol It can get very frustrating when you're unable to review… I'm glad to see you managed in the end :) Uh huh, Lara and Kurtis are meant to be together! (Please keep that in mind after reading this chapter lol)

SilverDragon67 - (hugs back) Thank you! Here is the Nephi-filled chapter you asked for… :)

Angel-Trent2 - :) Thanks! I hope this latest chapter is even better.

lara-n-kurtis – hehe Good to see you liked it :) Well, I really do owe you an apology… Or did this last chapter not qualify as something "bad" happening? lol

dtaylor16889 – I appreciate all reviews! Don't worry about the lateness :) The site shut down halfway through? Damn, it is annoying when it does that!

PunkStatik – hehe Here is another note, to make you feel extra special! :) lol I'm glad it didn't turn out like porn (shudders at the thought) The tension has been resolved, and now you know what has happened next… (grins evilly)