Chapter 8: Just a bit of luck

Adrianhad followed the Council's requests for most of his life. Lately, his age had only let him accept those which didn't involve much travelling. He had fulfilled most of them perfectly though. His orders now were pretty simple; wait, watch and offer his help if it was needed. So, as he had finished his task, he prepared to leave the old building.

However, as he walked to the exit, he noticed three men standing by it. His instinct told him nothing good could come of them, although they didn't seem to be carrying any weapon. Adrian then headed for one of the lateral rooms. As he entered he realised there where more men waiting for him there.

"You know why we are here" said one of them who seemed to be the leader. "Any chance to tell us what we want?"

Adrian knew that he would lose his life for sure if he didn't accept. But he also knew that he would have lost it long before if it hadn't been for the people he was asked betray. He chose to remain silent.

"As you wish." said the leader, aiming his gun at Adrian and shooting. Nobody heard it thanks to the silencer. "Watch all the exits" he ordered without even looking at the man bleeding at his feet.

It was still raining heavily when IsisDeiyan arrived at Glastonbury. She looked at the point where Adrian should be waiting for her, just by the underground chamber's exits, but instead of him, she only found a parked van. She looked up to the entrance of the building. If he wasn't outside he must be somewhere in there. And she wasn't going to wait in the rain for him.

However, as soon as she reached the entrance she realised that it was being watched by several men. This must mean that Adrian hadn't gone outside either because of the vigilance or because they had caught him. Wishing it was the first one, she crossed the entrance and took her hood of, although she knew it will reveal her immediately. It would have given her away anyway, as nobody wears hoods inside buildings.

She walked through the building as she watched every movement the men by the entrance made, pretending she hadn't seen them. After a while one of them abandoned his position and went to one of the lateral rooms. She slowly followed him. If they have caught Adrian, this man would lead her to where they've got it. And she was right.. She could spot Adrian's body on the ground at the entrance of one of the rooms.

She entered without a second though, knowing that it was probably a trap. She kneeled down by his side and looked at the wound. He was still alive, half-conscious. He was bleeding profusely and she knew that there was nothing she could do for him.

"You have arrived at last." He managed to say. "I feared you didn't find me there."

"So was I. What happened?"

"Everything has gone fine." She knew it was all she would obtain from him about the matter.

"Anything else you want to tell me?

"Yes, I'm dying but I wish for a sweeter death. I wish for peace." He said pleadingly.

Wondering how he knew that and knowing that she had no choice, she put her lips on his forehead and waited. He would pass away soon and she would ease his pain till then. After that, she turned around to face one of the corners of the room.

"Did you plan to remain there for much more?" She asked, careful not to show all the rage she was feeling at the moment. "Or where you just waiting for me to crossed the doors to shoot me too?"

"I would have never guessed you were able of such things." So she had seen him, aiming at her, after all. Why had she entered the trap then?

"My sister should have warned you."

"Maybe, I don't work for her."

"So you work for the other. Great." She said, sounding uninterested.

"He had decided to spare your life, for a while at least."

"Glad to hear that."

"Don't you want to know why?" Her indifference was starting to annoy him.

"You've got something he wants."

"Well, I don't trust middlemen. Anything else?"

"Actually, yes. We're looking for someone else. Where are they?"
"How could I know? I've just arrived."

"Don't joke with me, girl." He said grabbing her arm.

"I wouldn't do that." she said calmly.

The threat surprised him. He didn't really though she could represent any danger, but he let go off her anyway. "You are coming with us. Move!"

The light coming from outside was enough to lead Lara and Kurtis through the narrow corridor, till the exit of the chamber. The sound of raining falling had stopped, but the ground was still wet, making it slippery, "Probably de greatest danger in this place; not to fall to the ground." Though Lara, as she finally reached the exit: a small window, half-covered by ivy. They both climbed out and had a looked around. The first thing they saw was a van parked just in front of them.

"We're in trouble." said Kurtis looking at it. "This is the kind of van Gunderson would use. They must be somewhere near."

"They must know the exit is here." Replied Lara pulling out her guns. However, there wasn't anyone around them.

"Where have they gone?" asked Kurtis after a while.

"Maybe they didn't know the exit was there after all. They must be inside." Replied Lara

"Then I say we get out of there before they return." He said as he started walking.

"Wait!" Lara grabbed his armed and made both of them hide behind the van. She pointed to the entrance of the building from where Gunderson's men were coming. Gunderson himself was leading them, holding a woman at gun point.

"We can surprise them if we remain here. With a bit of luck we'll get out of this one alive." Said Kurtis as he checked his Boran-x.

"With a bit of luck I'll get out of this." Corrected Lara with a smile. "You're needed alive, remember?"

"I can't see why. I haven't the slightest idea about where the key could be."

"Just don't tell them that."

They both stopped talking as soon as they heard footsteps. If they were to surprise them, they' better leave the conversation for other time. And in a few seconds the men would be near enough. They heard the doors of the van opening and waited till the right moment to act. The door closed again, but none of the men had gone onto the van.

"Stay here and watch her, while we search the grounds." Ordered Gunderson to two of his men before he left the place again.

Lara and Kurtis exchanged surprised looks. It was true Gunderson didn't know the exit was there. Firstly, he had though they were somewhere in the inside, but not finding them there he had just assumed that they must be outside. Correctly, but late. Leaving the van unguarded he had just made easier their escape route. It would be easy to get ride of the van and get away with the van.

Lara went around the vehicles until she could aim at one of the men.

She just went out of her hiding place and shot. Before the other one could register what had happened he was reached by another bullet, this time coming form Kurtis' Boran-x. Lara quickly got onto the driver's seat. The other men, as well as half of the tourists, must have heard the noise and they would appear at any time. The idiots had left the keys inside so she waited until Kurtis got on the other seat and started the car. She began to drive to the road.

Marten Gunderson barely had time to register what was happening. First, he heard two shoots, but although they immediately run to the place they've left the van, the only thing they could do was shooting their own van in an attempt of preventing them from escaping. But the same care he took to make the vehicles he used the toughest, had turned against him.

He kneeled down to examine the bodies of his two men. Both of them had been killed by bullets, so it couldn't have been his prisoner's work, but someone else's. And then he saw it. A window-shaped trapdoor, just behind where the van had been parked. Had been more careful, he would now be sitting in the van with three prisoners.

If Karel ever knew, that something like that had happened, he would, for sure, kill him for his incompetence. However, he was not there right then and there was no reason to inform him about the matter. And none of his men would dare to say something against him. So there was nothing to worry about. He still had plenty of time to correct the mistake.

"And where do we go now?" asked Kurtis, while Lara drove their newly acquired vehicle.

"We drove until we find a safe place to expend the night and after that you'll decide where to go.

"Me?"

"You must know something."

"Lara, I left the order before finishing my training. I haven't a clue about the keys!"

They both remained silent for a while, not knowing what to say next until they heard a knocking sound coming from behind them. In the hurry of their escape they had forgotten about the other passenger. Kurtis opened the small window that communicated the front seats with the back part of the van. The same woman who had helped them just a couple of days before was staring now at them.

"Thanks." She just said.

"What were you doing there?" Asked Lara

"I've come across some interesting information."

"That's what they caught you?"

"I guess so. It's first-hand information."

"First-hand information?"

"I've the diary of the woman who hid the keys." Both Kurtis and Lara exchanged surprised looks. "She was my sister" She simply added. "I'll explain you later. First, I'll lead you to a safe place."

"Just a question." Said Lara. "The woman from the paintings was your sister, right?"

"Yes."

"And the people watching the key just forgot it to prevent it from being stolen."

IsisDeiyan simply nodded and smiled to her.

"Kurtis, you own me a ride on your motorbike." Said Lara smiling to him.

I've come back! And I've used the holidays to write more. Unfortunately, I can barely understand my handwritting and it is taking me a lot of time.