I'm sorry for the late upload guys. I have been very busy. As you know I'm actually in college currently and finals have got me running back and fourth. I do still have 2 more to go but these shouldn't be as bad or at least the first shouldn't. Well, I'm going to try to keep these stories active. None of them are "dead" yet. I just haven't been able to get to them. I do plan to continue the others and I hope you all look forward to them. Alright, that's enough from me. Enjoy the chapter~
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Chapter 14: Stolen Away

A few more weeks had past as they continued to try a pin point the very ritual that caused this unfortunate fate to Vianca. Lara had traveled to more than a dozen different ruins, finding similar activity, but not truly finding the true ritual. Even with the new knowledge that Alister had acquired from Vianca's memories gave very little information to where they should be looking. They were happy to know of what all Vianca could do at this point, and it would probably become useful later on.

Vianca was sitting in the air above Zip. Alister had to go on a small trip for three days and Lara currently was out exploring. Therefore, Zip was the only one left to keep her company until they needed her again, although Alister was returning later today. Zip was monitoring the screens of Lara's adventure and reading up on some documents. Zip was moving around quite a bit and didn't see the coffee that he had brought in was precariously close to the edge of the desk. He turned to sharply and hit it with his elbow. He fell off the table and he tried to grab it.

Before it hit the ground it was grabbed by small delicate hands and brought back up. Zip looked forward to see that Vianca was holding the coffee. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled uneasily.

"Looks like I need to be a bit more careful," Zip said as he he chuckled. He took the coffee from her and placed it a bit further on the desk. Vianca smiled happily at him and then looked back at the coffee. She turned her gaze to a picture that happened to be sitting on the desk. She carefully picked it up and gazed upon it. It was a picture of Zip, Lara, and Alister. They were smiling around the a small table with a couple artifacts on it. Zip looked over and sees the picture she was looking at. "That was a great day." Vianca looked at him a little confused at what he said.

"Excuse me?" She asked as she tilted her head a bit.

"That day was me and Alister's true adventure with Lara. Although, Lara was the one that went on the adventure," Zip said with a small chuckle. "Those are the artifacts that we brought in. Alister had a field day with them. He loves things of old history." Vianca looked back at the picture and looked at Alister, who did look more happy than the other two.

"You know Alister well?" She asked as she glanced at Zip for a second. Zip looked over at her with a almost confused look.

"What kind of question is that? Of course, I know him very well. He's my buddy," He answered with a chuckle. "Historically smart buddy." Vianca thought for a moment and then nodded to herself.

"Do you know….how his...feelings are towards...me?" Vianca asked as she looked away. Zip stopped what he was doing and stared forward for a moment. He looked over at her to see her staring off to the wall away from him. Zip turned towards her and waiting a moment.

"Is there some sort of reason behind this question?" Zip asked as he looked to her. Vianca looked back down at the picture and at Alister's face.

"Well, I...I can't really describe it myself," She said as she placed the picture back down on the desk gently. "I find it silly that I even have these emotions with me being nothing but a spectre. I can't help, but...care so much for someone like him. He makes me feel as though I have life even if I know that I will probably never truly feel what is to be alive again." Zip stared at her for a moment before the headset acted up and he grabbed it.

"Not now Lara, having a serious talk," Zip said into the microphone. He waited a moment, listening. "It appears that there is a path over there by that small pond. Try that." He turned off his mic again and placed the headset down. He looked back at Vianca, who was kinda hugging her arms as she thought of these feelings.

"Vianca, do you know how you truly feel about Alister?" Zip asked as he gestured her to sit down. Vianca moved over to the chair and sat down. She was silent for a moment as she stared down at her feet.

"I...I care about him and not in a normal sense," Vianca answered as she thought it over in her head. " I want him to be happy and safe even if it means that I get harmed in the process. Although, I do wish to be freed from that amulet around your neck, I don't mind being with him and listening to him. He makes me laugh so much, when he talks so highly of history. He comforts me until I am calm, when I have a breakdown. He makes me so...so….happy." Zip smiled at her and took her hand.

"I think you more than care about him Vianca," Zip said as he got her to look at him. "I think you love him." Vianca looked down a moment as the words reached her. She sighed as she stared down and continued to do so.

"Silly isn't it? That a spectre should even consider such feelings to one who is living," Vianca said as she looked up at Zip for a second. "I should know better than to have such fantasies of emotion. He deserves someone who is alive as he is and to live a long life instead of attempting to help one who has no hope of living again." Zip's eyes softened as the words left Vianca's lips. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. Before he could talk, a loud crash was heard. They both turn towards it and hear what sounds like people moving through the manor.

"Oh no," Zip said as he turned and grabbed the headphones again. "Lara we have an emergency! There are people here and I don't know where their from. I think they busted through a window or two. I'm turning off the monitors and getting Vianca somewhere safe." He put down the headset again and turned off all the monitors. He got up and grabbed Vianca's hand. They both ran out of the room and up the stairs to the second floor of the manor. They hear the door of the room they were just in get busted through and more footsteps following it. They continued to run until they reached a door. Zip pulled it open and pulled Vianca into the room, closing the door behind them with a turn of the lock. He pulled her over to the closet, the nearest hiding spot, and opened it up. He went into it and pulled her in as well. He closed the closet door and then turned to Vianca, who was frightened.

"What do we do now Zip?" Vianca asked as she listened for the eventual sound of the door breaking down. Zip thought for a moment and then came up with an idea. He took off the amulet and held it in his hands. Vianca stared at it as he held it. "Zip, what are you doing?"

"They're not going to get you," Zip said as he placed the amulet in one of the shoe boxes that happened to be in the closet. He took out a pad of sticky notes and began to write something down on one. He then placed it on the lid of the shoe box and then began to write another. "I'm going to keep you in this and leave this note on the lid for Alister to find you. This means though...I have to go place this note on the desk, where we sit usually." Vianca's eyes widened at the meaning of this daring tactic and shook her head in disagreement.

"Zip no! You can't do this!" Vianca protested. "I know what's going to happen and I refuse to let you do this." Zip smiled and patted her head.

"It's going to be ok," He said as he closed the lid to the shoe box that no contained the amulet. "You should head into your amulet and await Alister, or Lara, whoever comes first. I'll see you at some point….I promise." Vianca just stared at him as he gave her one last smile and left the closet. She watched as her friend left safety just to save her and slowly sunk down to the floor the closet. She hugged her knees and laid her head down on her arms as she disappeared in wait of someone to find her.

The front door of Croft manor opened and in stepped in Alister, home from his long trip. He came in and sighed as he carried a small suitcase, that carried the belongings that he took with him. He looked around, noticing that the place seemed much more quiet than usual. He walked to the main room and sat his suitcase on the coffee table and then turned to the room, where Zip usually is hanging about.

"Zip? You in there?" Alister called as he began to walk towards the room, straightening up his suit coat. He came in and saw no one. He looked around and more confused than when he walked in. He walked over to the desk and sees that all the monitors are turned off and the mess that was now easily seen. "What on earth happened here?! Zip! Are you here!?" No answer came to him except the echo of his own voice through through the empty manor. He looked down and sees a sticky note that was slightly crumbled, but had his name on it. He picked it up and looked it over noticing quickly that it was Zip's handwriting.

"Hey Alister,

I'm sorry I'm not there to give you your welcoming home gift. I had...another sudden arrangements. I still want you to have the gift I got you. It's in the closet on the second floor in a shoe box. You'll know which one it is. Before you start thinking, no it's not a pair of pink fuzzy handcuffs like last time.

Sincerely, Zip"

Alister stared down at the note for a moment and then looked towards the stairs that lead to the second floor. He carefully made his way over there and looked up the stairs and then back at the rest of the room. He didn't notice it from the main room, but the door to this room looked slightly broken at hinges. He gulped at the sight and continued his venture up the stairs. He checked each closet and made his way to one room that still seemed to be cracked open. He carefully pushed it open and peeked his head in. When he saw no one, he came in quietly and approached the closet that was in the room. He opened it up to find some shoe boxes, seeing that one had a note.

"Dear Alister,
Hey got you a gift buddy! I hope you like it. I mean you're a history type right, so this should be right up your alley. Be careful with it will you.
Sincerely, Zip"

Alister raised an eyebrow at this note and looked down at the shoe box it laid upon. He stared at it for a good moment and then carefully took the lid off the box. His eyes widened as the fell upon the shining green gem of the amulet he knew all too well. He dropped the lid and picked up the amulet. The gem glew at the touch of his hands. Vianca soon appeared in the same position she was when she was left by Zip. Alister quickly put on the amulet and was next to her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, which caused her to look at him.

"Alister?" She said as she saw the familiar face.

"Vianca, what happened? Where's Zip?" He asked as he urged her to speak. Instead of responding normally, she hugged him and buried her face in his chest. Alister was surprised by her sudden outburst and it nearly knocked him over, but he caught his balance. He hugged her and was trying to calm her down. "Vianca, it's alright. Now tell me what happened." Vianca looked up at him, some tears in her eyes.

"They….they took him," Vianca said with the sorrow in her voice. As she continued to hug than man before her scared, sad, and angry all at the same time. Zip was gone….and it was her fault.