Hey, I'm back again...yes, after ALL this time! I really haven't had time lately! We just had my dad's 50th birthday party today and I've had alot of homework, but I think everyone does these days huh? Oh well, on with the show!

Chtp. 3 A foster

Lara sat on the back of the moterbike, loosely clutching to Kurits's waist. They had been on the road a mere two hours from New York, and her backside had become a bit uncomfortable. Kurtis had informed her that Terry lived in Rochester, a few hours out from their position in New York city. Lara had argued that she should drive, and Kurtis asked why. Her only response was," Piss off..." and Kurtis only smirked.

Now they were about there, armed with their witts, guns, and hesitation around each other. Lara had looked Kurtis over when she first arived at his appartment, thinking he looked as bad as ever. Now that sleepy look he held she found attractive. Not to say the least.

" Are we there yet?" Lara teased, trying hard to annoy Kurtis as much as possible. He ignored her comment, keeping his eyes on the road.
Many hours ago, Lara was calm and ready to fight. Now she was trying to be annoying and loud. Kurtis didn't know weather it was the fact she lost the chance to drive or if she got that way on any long ride. Although he didn't care, he wanted her to shut up!

" Are we there yet!" Lara asked more slowly, causing Kurtis to grit his teeth in response. Lara sighed, looking around her at the landscap. The open feilds they had been in many moments before were replaced with scruffy looking buildings and trash.

" Welcome to Rochester Lady Croft." Kurtis inquired, lifting a hand to his surroundings. He smirked when he heard her snort. Kurtis handed her a peice of paper." The directions should be on the left side of that." He told her, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. Lara read.

" Go down Bean St..." She looked up at a street sign." Ok, were on that street. Turn at the sign reading 'Kinder Light' and go to mailbox 3902"
She looked up again, seeing a sign ahead, illuminated by two glow lights. It read 'Kinder Light'.

" Turn here." Lara commanded, pointing at the street ahead. Kurtis did so, turning into a street with nothing but mailboxes and long driveways. The houses were covered from view with huge willow trees. Lara looked at each mail box.

" Here it is.." Kurtis slightly turned his head to look at Lara," We'll park in the bush and sneak up to the house." Kurtis stopped the engine and waited for Lara to dismount before swining a leg over.He rolled the bike into a large bush perched near the mailbox, comeing out and joining Lara as they slowly made their way up to the entrence arch.

Kurtis looked at the house and let out a whistle. Lara shrugged.

" It doesn't look bigger then my east and west wing put together." She smiled as Kurtis gave her a surprised expression.

Inside the entence arch was a huge fountain, four spouts in the middle shot up bursts of crystle clear water, spraying Kurtis and Lara both with a light mist. The old brick path led around each side of the fountain, comeing together at the stairs leading to a pair of large, rusting, redish-brown painted iron doors. The three floors were graced by many square, old fashioned windows, looking down upon the grounds. One of these, Lara noticed, was partway open.

Lara gestured Kurtis to the halfway opened window on the first floor. They hurried over and looked in. The room was a study, a large wooden desk and many bookshelves sat in the shadowed room. They both climbed in, careful of the old, creaking floorboards.

Lara paced over to the door leading to the hallway. Poking her head out, she noticed movement in the room across from the study. She motioned for Kurtis to come to the door. As he did, the door across the hall opened and shut lightly, small footsteps sounded farther and farther away, leading into a smaller door.

Lara let her breath out, looking at Kurtis and nodding to him. She then checked the hall once more before stepping out and heading towards were the footsteps went. She was stopped by Kurtis's hand on her shoulder, sending a warm shudder over her body. She turned back.

" I'll look down this corridor, you go down that one. See if you can find out who that was." She nodded," If you find Terry, knock him out and bring him back to the study, ok?" Lara nodded again before heading down the hall. She turned back to see Kurtis leave around the corner.

Lara causiously walked down the hall in stealth stance, ready for any awakened person.

Kurtis rounded the corner and walked catlike down the hall, turning ever corner with ease.' This isn't gonna be easy. I've done this sort of thing before, but not to a kid.' he thought, turning into a large dining room.

The next door he went through brought him to another long hallway with many doors. 'might as well start with the first one.' he thought, taking his gun out and heading into the first door to his left.

It was a bedroom, many beds with gray bedspreds lined the walls, all, as it looked, were occupied.'shit' Kurtis exclaimed to himself.


Lara headed into the door she herd the little footsteps go into. The room was a toy room, filled, at one side, with dolls and play houses, and the other side, with mini cars and board games.

She carefully looked around for the little personn, but only finding shadows. She sighed, turning to leave, but a dim light behind her caught her attention.


Kurtis looked at the end of the beds, each had a name on it. Jan, Keke, Diana, Jackie, Henrieta, and the only unoccupied bed was labled Terry.


Lara turned. A light came from the corner of the room. A striking ball of dim light. She started towards it, but stopped short and turned as she herd a scratching noise behind her.

On the wall behind her, the wall began to peel itself. Long strips of wallpaper were ripped of the wall by an unknown presence. Lara only stared in wonder.
As the wallpaper stripped, it began to form letters.'K' then 'E' 'Y' 'S' Lara was oblivious.

Suddenly the wind began to blow, as if a tornado had entered the room. The whole wall began to burn, and instead of words, came a face. Lara gasped.


Kurtis sensed something wrong. He quickly slipped into far-see mode, gliding down the hall, and into the room Lara had entered. He found her standing, facing the far wall, a terrified look upon her face. He didn't have the time to turn around before an unknown force pushed him back into his body.


Lara gapped at the face. Her eyes began to burn and she wanted to look away, but could not.

The face was horrible. The eyes were black, with a tint of red. Short thin stripes of skin looked torn from beneth the eyes where blood poured out. The mouth appered to be stiched shut with what looked like nails, and a thin, bloody strip ran around the neck.

Lara felt as if she would through up. It felt as if the face was burning itself into her mind. She blinked, and it suddenly wasn't there, she looked around. Only the playroom she had been in a few moments ago. Wallpaper still on the walls, but there was a small girl sitting on the floor, playing with a doll. Lara paused. Then walked over to her, and knelt.

"Are you ok?" Lara asked. The girl gave no responce. Lara pondered for a moment. Perhaps the girl was deph, or perhaps she just wasn't paying attention.
" Can you look at me please."

The girl slowly brought here head up. When her face came into view, Lara gasped and fell back.

The girls face was the exact one on the wall.


Kurtis's sense of dread grew as he lightly ran towards the room Lara had entered. He found her laying on the floor, gapping at a little girl. Her face was in a look of shock. Kurtis looked at the little girl. She looked normal enough. Still, Lara gapped. She then began to shudder.

Kurtis put his hand on Lara's shoulder, she snapped back into reality, looking at him hard.

" Kurtis!" She begane, then she seemed to remember the girl. When she looked at her though, her face was normal. A pretty young face in fact. She settled.

" What was that about?" Kurtis asked. Lara brushed him off quickly, gitting to her feet. Kurtis sighed, then turned to the girl. " What's your name?" The girl seemed to be thinking before she answered.

" My name is Terry."

SOOOOOOOO... what do ya think! Spooky! Well, ok, it's not THAT scary, but hey, I have to twist the story up a little right! Sorry it took me so long! But with my English report due in two days and everything, tests and such, I have a limited time.
I was going to submit this last night, but the computer kicked me off the internet, so I'll right more soon! Hope you all enjoyed.
-E