Chapter 30 - Face-Off
Lara watched as Alex scampered away, the key clutched tightly against him. She returned her gaze to the rumbling floor stones, steeling her gut and her fists. A part of her was terrified, and yet a part of her was angry as all get out.
"Why does this always have to happen?" she muttered to no one in particular. She rotated her shoulders slightly, preparing for whatever was to come out of the floor.
Suddenly, the floor stones exploded with a tremendous force, huge rocks, sand, and debris flying everywhere. Lara was instantly thrown back by the force of the explosion, falling on her back against the hard floor... or what was left of it. She heard a great roar, and she looked up to see a huge figure clawing its way out of the hole with great, massive mandibles. She could only gape as the monster arose from its ancient prison, spreading its gigantic arms toward the ceiling in anger and triumph. It had to be at least ten feet tall, with great arms and legs pocked with sinewy muscle. Its upper body was a brownish skin, and its large legs were fawn-like and covered in thick black fur. It had a broad chest rippling with unnatural muscular structure, and it sported a pair of terrible claws on its hands and feet. They were red as flames, and looked like blood-obsidian in the weak light of the Great Hall. Its head was large and grotesque, like that of a bull. It had great horns atop its skull, larger and longer than any Lara had ever seen or even heard of. They were the same flaming red as its claws, and Lara could almost see her reflection in them. The monster bellowed, baring a pair of terrible fangs that could put any predatory animal to shame. It opened its eyes, blood red and burning with rage at having been awoken. He caught a glimpse of Lara, and began to race towards her on all fours.
Lara jumped up quickly, her adrenaline finally catching up. She aimed at the beast, and let loose a few well-placed shots to the monster's abdomen. They hit home, and the Hitu roared with rage and pain. It stopped to cup a clawed hand against its new wounds, blackish blood oozing from the bullet holes. Lara used the spare moment to make her way towards the great statue of Hathor. She leapt onto its base, scaling it with swift motions. The Hitu recovered, roaring as it bounded toward where Lara was climbing the sorceress' statue. She managed to pull herself up on the dais she'd found the key on, and took shelter behind the statue. She pushed a few more rounds into the automatics, her teeth clenched against the panic welling up inside her. The Hitu slammed into the statue full force, breaking off the head and the right shoulder.
"It's now or never, I guess..." Lara murmured to herself, and with that she threw herself out from behind what was left of the once great statue of Hathor. She let loose a string a bullets aimed at the Hitu's head, and they connected with a sickening splintering sound. The beast moaned in pain and surprise, clutching his massive head with a giant claw. More of the blackish blood came spurting, but the monster would not stop. Lara landed against the floor with a thud, her legs screaming in protest. She shook it off, reloading the clips and emptying them again into the Hitu as it swung around to face her. The floor trembled beneath its weight, and chunks were falling from the ceiling. Lara realized with a sort of sick certainty that if the Hitu didn't kill her, the crumbling temple would. The beast swung at her with his terrible claws, and she rolled out of the way, letting go a few more rounds. She reloaded quickly, and side-jumped just in time to miss another swipe by the Hitu.
The monster screamed a horrible scream, raising its arms in defiance. It charged toward Lara, its fangs barred and ready for the kill. She flipped backwards, raining bullets on the creature. She landed shakily, but on her feet, and she quickly reloaded, scanning for some place - any place - where she could hide. She couldn't retreat back through the tunnel-way, or the Hitu would be led straight to Mason and the rest of the expedition. The roof of the Great Hall was too high for her to scale up to, and the statue of Hathor was in ruins. The Hitu crept forward, growling as it sensed the kill was near. It had backed her into a corner, and she realized she had nowhere to run. She emptied her chambers into the beast, but it only groaned as the bullets hit home. It would not stop, and sickly sweat began to run down the back of Lara's neck. She was done for...
Suddenly, a huge echoing shot rang out from behind them, and the Hitu screamed in agony. Lara looked up and saw two bullet holes torn through the monster's right shoulder, blood gushing in rivulets. It turned, and Lara saw Alex at the mouth of the tunnel entrance to the Great Hall, armed with a shotgun and a pocketful of grenades. She almost had to smile as he pumped two more rounds into the barrel, his face hardened and glowering at the beast. Lara took the opportunity to reload, laying more bullets into the Hitu's middle. It bellowed in pain again, this time focusing on Lara with his evil eyes. Alex took the hint and placed dual shots into the back of the creature's neck, and it twisted in confusion, glowering at Alex.
"Lara! Run!" he yelled, pumping more shots into the chamber. "I've got four more rounds. Keep it busy from the front. I'll take it from behind!" Lara wasted no time, and began to clamber around the Hitu's left side as it started towards Alex. She shot up the creature's back, luring it back to face her. She noticed its movements were slowing, and that its blood was running off it in torrents now. She emptied the cartridges, shouting to Alex as she ran around the Great Hall, the beast in pursuit.
"Alex! I think he's weakening! Losing too much blood! Keep at him!" With that, the Hitu swiped at her, connecting to her right side and sending her sprawling. Lara screamed in pain as the blow hit her bruised ribs, her flesh tearing beneath the monster's claws. She tumbled across the floor, unable to pick herself up. Blood rushed from the open wounds spread across her right side in the pattern of claw marks.
"Lara!" Alex screamed with panic. He raced towards the Hitu, his body trembling with rage. He pumped more rounds into the chamber of the shotgun, holding it tightly as he leapt at the monster. He landed against it, wrapping his arms and legs around the beast. The Hitu bellowed with anger and confusion, twisting and turning violently in an attempt to snatch Alex with its claws. Alex hung on for dear life, struggling to keep the shotgun steady in his right hand. He inched up the Hitu's back, trying desperately to keep clear of the monster's claws and fangs. He stole a glance at Lara as the beast continued to thrash around and around. She was lying on the floor, moaning in pain, barely conscious. Blood poured freely from her open wounds. Seeing her in danger steeled his will, and he inched farther up the Hitu's back until he was nearly riding its shoulders. The beast screamed in anger and frustration, continuing to thrash about and trying to catch Alex with its shimmering claws. Alex managed to scamper atop the beast's shoulders, gripping its neck with all his might. The monster roared, and began to swipe at Alex with its terrible claws. It caught him on the shoulder, and his shirt tore open. Red gashes appeared, oozing blood. He ignored the pain, ducking as the Hitu raised his claws for another blow. Alex took the opportunity, and shot a round straight into the beast's skull, bone and brain matter flying out in a fanning motion. The monster's eyes exploded as the skull disintegrated, yet the claws continued to sway in a dying attempt to murder its prey. Alex leapt off the beast as its body came tumbling down to the floor with a great crash. He rolled as he landed against the hard stone floor, sending shock waves of pain through his injured shoulder. He landed not three yards from Lara, who was losing consciousness fast. As the body of the Hitu dropped to the floor, blood running everywhere, Alex managed to crawl to her side quickly, scraping his knees in the process. He reached her side, and winced as he saw how much blood she had lost. Gashes were torn in her right side, a fiendish imprint from the newly deceased Hitu.
"Lara... Lara, can you hear me? Are you okay?" he asked quietly as he moved to her side, trying to turn her over as gently as possible. She opened her eyes weakly, and Alex saw they were clouding over with pending unconsciousness.
"Alex... Did you get the bastard?" she asked quietly, in a weak and almost disembodied voice. Alex had to fight back tears as he heard the pain in her voice.
"Yeah. He's definitely down for the count."
"I... I'm really tired, Alex..."
"No Lara! Do not fall asleep!" he yelled, shaking her gently to try to keep her conscious. Her breathing was labored, and her blood was beginning to congeal against her skin. "Just hang on Lara, I'm going to get you out of here."
"What's the point?" Lara muttered, her voice slurring. "I didn't even beat the monster. I'm supposed to be the best. Not the first one down on the field of battle."
"Oh, shut up Lara. For once, open your eyes an see the truth for what it is. You are the best. You beat the shit out of that thing before I ever showed up. If you hadn't taken the stand you did, we'd all be Hitu food by now!" Alex pulled off what was left of his T-shirt and began ripping it into small strips. Once he was finished, he began to wrap the makeshift bandages around the gashes in her right side.
"I know this won't help much, but I've got to try and quell the bleeding," he said as he worked. Lara watched his hands with a drunken curiosity that she attributed to losing too much blood. They were strong and hard and bronzed by many a day's work in the sun. She had never really taken the time to notice how handsome he was. She was always too busy giving him shit. And the worst part is, she didn't even really know why. Or maybe she did... and just didn't want to own up to it.
Alex finished bandaging her as best he could, and scooped her up in his arms. Lara was fighting unconsciousness desperately now, and the world had gone darker, the edges of her reality blurring like a fuzzy picture. She remembered hearing Alex saying soothing words to her, telling her ridiculous stories of stupid mistakes he'd made on the trail, and just as equally stupid friends he had made there as well. She couldn't really understand what had happened. She began to doubt if the Hitu had even been real. She began to wonder how humans could go century after century completely oblivious to the supernatural forces upon the planet. And why she, of all people, had to continually come face to face with it. She let her mind wander, feeling herself carried in Alex's strong arms. He seemed not to mind her weight at all, and carried her through the tunnel and back into the Hypostyle Hall. She could faintly see light drifting down from the opening they had descended in the beginning, and wondering if Mason knew about the Hitu... and the second key. She realized she didn't really care all that much. All she registered was the feeling of absolute peace as Alex clutched her tightly to his rippling, tawny chest. She buried her face against him, smelling again that intoxicating scent he always carried, like far away fields somewhere where it was always cool. She placed a blood-crusted hand against his chest, feeling his heart beat beneath it. She clutched at his skin, feeling the tightness of it beneath her fingers. She thought of how it felt when he had kissed her a few nights ago. She tried to ignore the creeping feelings of drowsy desire that had begun to swell inside her stomach, and realized with exhausted certainty that she probably never would be able to.