Seconds

"That was an unexpected twist Ms. Croft," Richard remarked.
"Yeah, but Lady Lara Croft isn't a stupid girl, she'll sacrifice things for her prize."
"Didn't think you'd go that far for an artifact. Giving up your future husband."
"Who said I was talking about Kurtis?"
"You did."
"No, you didn't listen right. I said I'd sacrifice things for my prize. Kurtis is my prize."
"But he's dead now. You didn't do a very good job."
"Have you looked behind you lately?" Richard fell to the ground. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Just a little heart pain though." Kurtis replied.
"You'll heal."
"Already am," Kurtis' hole in his chest started returning to it's original state. "So, you really wanted me dead?"
"Do you think I did?" Lara's voice saddened.
"Well, you did say that love is only a trick nature plays on us. And you told him to kill me."
"I really do have to explain everything to you, don't I?"
"Yeppers."
Lara sighed, "Callisto's wrong. And you'd be dead even if I had given the Jeyaenn to him. So, I gave you the bit of thread that I had pulled out earlier when I picked it up. The whole thing is covered with invincibility. Pluck a bit out, even the tiniest of bits, and you'll still be invincible."
"I thought I recognised what you said." Lara winked to Kurtis after he said that.
"We still have our little friend to deal with here," Lara looked towards Richard. "Seems he took a bit for himself as well."
"Ding, ding, ding! One point to Ms. Croft." Richard said sarcastically, "How are you going to beat me now?"
"See you around, Rich. Don't wait up." Lara spoke to him. Kurtis and Lara walked back to the passageway from where they came. The ran back following the curves and corners, their legs moving faster and faster. "We've got some company, sweetie. Whatever shall we do?"
"Ummm... run?"
"I prefer shooting them."
"You may have forgot, Lara, but we have no guns."
"Sure about that?" Lara glanced to him. She kicked the wall behind her. "Button and/or motion detection operated wall guns. The classic M573ERT4, old but more reliable than the newer ones. I have them at Croft Manor." The cult followers ran around in panic. The more they ran, the more they got killed. They didn't figure that out. All 137 followers dead within seconds. A new figure emerged. The guns detected and shot. Nothing.
"How dare you run away!" The bullets repeatedly passed through him.
"We didn't dare anything." Kurtis looked at him. Both Lara and Kurtis circled around Richard. The guns chose two new targets. Kurtis kicked. It was obvious it wasn't going to do anything, but it was worth a try. Lara elbowed Richard. Richard punched back. Kurtis lifted Richard and ran him into the wall. He repeatedly punched Richard in the stomach. Lara put a hand on Kurtis' shoulder, "Let him go." She smiled to him. Kurtis stepped back. Lara plunged the Jeyaenn into the man's heart. Blood.
"But how?"
"Reading inscriptions on things help." She walked away. Kurtis followed after. Richard, the leader, fell into a pool of his blood, dissapointed, shocked, dead. The guns started shooting at Richard again, and finally stopped after all motion had passed. Lara and Kurtis climbed up the ladder and back into the house.

September 27th, 1996

He walked in knowing that his wife was going to go ballistic at him for being late. Probably the usual nagging, "Where have you been?", "What have you been doing?" and "Are you cheating on me?" Plus, the fact that she could barely trust him, it started to get to him. He loved his wife, but he hated her trust issues. Could she not, for once, just trust what he said. Where he said he had been? What he said he was doing? Obviously not.
"Where have you been?" She asked.
"Out."
"I'm not stupid."
"With the guys."
"I phoned them, you weren't with them."
"Fine, I was out, with someone. I just..."
"Are you having an affair?" She raised her voice.
"No! I'm not," He was getting annoyed. "I am not having an affair. I promise you."
"Yeah, keep saying that to yourself!"
"Please, can we just not fight?"
"Well, you're the one that comes home at one o' clock in the morning. Do you expect me to be all sweet and loving when I have no idea what you've been doing?"
"I'm not doing anything wrong."

"Get out of the way!" The man shouted. Three gun shots were heard. He ran to the woman. "You're not leaving me, not both of you. Please, wake up." He stroked her forehead, "Please." He cried, "I need you." The tears left his eyes. "God, just say something. Please don't let us end like this." He went over to the other body. "Sweetie, wake up. C'mon, wake up."