Chapter 34 - The Past Returns
Cambodia
24 Hours Later
Lara stood gazing intently at the lip of the gaping crater where once the Preah Khan temple had stood. She yanked off her sunglasses, shoving them onto her head. Bryce stood next to her, dressed as always in a bright Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and he sighed deeply.
"You know... perhaps we should have just left the mini-bombs at home that day." Lara only looked into the abyss, her hands on her hips.
"What's done is done, Bryce. No use trying to rewrite the past."
"Still... I have a bad feeling about this Lara."
"Yeah. Me too." Shouts were heard behind them, and Lara turned to watch a trio of Land Rovers swerve into the base camp some hundred yards away.
"Repelling crew is here," Lara murmured, and Bryce turned.
"I really can't believe you're going to make me go down there with you," he blurted, his eyes a little wild. Lara started walking towards the base camp, her hands still on her hips.
"Bryce... who would you have me take in your stead?"
"I don't know! Anyone might fit the bill!"
"Sure. Because any of your average Joe's could work your sensitive equipment without a hitch," she replied, giving him a sarcastic smirk. Bryce stopped walking along side of her, touching a hand to his sweaty forehead.
"You know... I hadn't thought of it that way."
"Obviously. Let's get into camp and get harnessed. I want to get this over with as fast as possible."
They made their way into the base camp, and Bryce stopped in the equipment tent to converse with several of the team's technicians. Lara continued to where Alex West sat poised on his haunches, double-checking an assorted mangle of grappling gear.
"When does Mason want to make the descent?" she asked, watching him jump a little at her voice. He stood up, his skin beaded with moisture. He wiped a hand across his brow, shaking his head a little.
"He wants to get started in about half an hour. I told him - and Bradshaw, the guy in charge of the repelling crew told him - that there was no way we'd be ready on such short notice. Maybe by the end of the afternoon, but certainly not half an hour. Mason's pissed of course, so we're trying to get the whole thing up and running within the next hour or so. But that leaves a lot of unchecked gear and even more cut corners. I don't like cutting corners when it comes to something like this. Too much at stake." Lara nodded, gazing at him for a moment. He wore nylon hiking shorts and a thin white tee, accompanied as always by his dusty, beat-up mountain boots. Lara could see the silhouette of the Tibetan half moon - his lucky charm - beneath the sheer layer of his shirt. She could see the ripple of his muscles against the stark white of it, and her stomach churned as she recalled her own lustful desires that night in Cairo. She grabbed her sunglasses off her head, pushing them back into place on her face in an attempt to hide the deep crimson creeping through her cheeks. A flush she couldn't attribute to the heat of the Cambodian jungle.
"Lara? You alright?" Alex asked. She nodded once more, breathing deeply.
"I'm fine. Just a little warm, that's all."
"Maybe you should chill in the rec tent for a while. This bullshit won't be ready to fly for at least another hour, and we're going to need you in top condition. Go get yourself some water or something." She smiled slightly, turning to make her way to the rec tent... and the icy bottles of water that she knew would be hoarded inside of it.
She groaned inwardly as she entered the tent. Nicholas Howard sat with a bottle of ice water pressed against his forehead. His skin was pale and chalky, and he looked as though he'd spent half the night puking his guts up.
"Another night of heavy drinking?" she asked delicately. He looked up at her, and she noticed dark crescents under his eyes. He shook his head slowly, pulling the water bottle away from his head and sipping at it.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I haven't had a drink since yesterday afternoon. I think it's the heat. Or something." He placed the bottle back against his head, sighing and closing his eyes.
"Sorry, Nick. You gonna be okay with this?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine once the pills I popped kick in. I wouldn't miss this. Not after all I've been through for him."
"You mean Mason?"
"Who else? The man's Satan incarnate."
"I'm sure you don't mean that," she replied with a forced little laugh. She took a cold bottle of water from one of the massive coolers to the right of the tent. It was stuffy inside, but the heat was reduced and there were fewer mosquitos. She popped the cap and took a long swig, grimacing as the sting of the cold water hit her parched throat.
"I do. I really hate that man. Worst thing is he knows I hate him. But he also knows he couldn't pay someone else to do what I do. He keeps me hanging on because he knows he can."
"Why don't you just quit?" she asked, sipping her water.
"Believe me, I dream about it all the time. I couldn't. Not now that I'm in so deep with him. It's like selling your soul to the devil. Once the deal's done, there's no going back."
"What do you mean?"
"He'd blackball me for one. I'd never get a job anywhere ever again. If he can't have me, than no one can. Also, I could never make as much money anywhere else. Not that it's all about the dough, but once you get used to the lifestyle, there's no way to dig yourself out except make more money." He sighed again, sipping at the water. He leaned over, tipping his head between his legs.
"Come on Nicholas... it can't be that bad."
"It is... but it's nothing you have to worry about Lara. Right now, you need to focus on what's ahead of us. You're the only one that doesn't have your head up your ass, so we're all counting on you to pull us through this unscathed."
"Thanks for the sentiment," Lara replied a bit harshly, turning to exit the tent. She felt a clammy hand touch her arm. She turned to find Nicholas staring at her with glazed and harrowed eyes.
"Can I ask you one thing?" He looked at her pleadingly, and Lara almost felt a pang of sadness for him. He looked utterly exhausted.
"Sure Nick. What is it?" Nicholas ran a hand through his hair, and Lara was shocked as she saw a handful drift out of his scalp and flutter to the ground beneath them. She thought of saying something, but Nicholas didn't seem to notice. She thought it better not to give him anything more to fret about.
"Do you think it's possible to remember things that never could have happened to you?" he blurted. Lara looked at him questioningly.
"I suppose. In my experience, it happens a lot when you or someone else is especially connected to a certain series of previous events. Why do you ask?"
"Because I've been having these... dreams... nightmares... whatever you want to call them! I haven't slept for days now. I keep seeing these... bits and pieces... flashes, I suppose you could call them... of things I never could have experienced."
"Why do you say that? It could be memories from a past existence."
"I don't believe in that reincarnation bullshit."
"Well, neither do I, but I do believe in the universal power of the spirit. The spirit that gives us life is just a small vein in the great scheme of things. All of life is balanced on the river of consciousness that this world was created on. We all derive our life force from that river. So it only makes sense that we should return to it once we die, and that our life force is reused to fuel more life."
"That makes absolutely no sense at all, Lara."
"Suit yourself. But I really believe in it. But Nick, even if it is past life memories, you don't need to let them frighten you. Just let them come and go. They don't have to make sense."
"But this is worse, Lara. These images in my head... They're terrible. I've never experienced anything so terrible. It's like watching your family members die over and over again. I feel completely... raw. You know... like when you have the flu."
Lara nodded, beginning to understand why Nicholas had seemed so haggard over the last few days.
"What sorts of things do you see?" she asked, pulling up a metal folding chair out of the corner of the tent. She sat next to Nicholas, watching him run the icy water bottle over his forehead again.
"Awful things. It's... It's Mason." Lara started.
"What do you mean? What about him?"
"He's in my dreams... or memories... or whatever. I mean, it sort of looks like him, but I recognize him anyway. It's just a... a bad feeling. The same nasty feeling I experience every time that asshole demands me to do something for him. Like... a black, liquid feeling." Lara was starting to feel uneasy, as if she understood exactly what Nicholas was talking about. She took another long drag from her water bottle, feeling the icy condensation dripping lazily across the back of her hand.
"And what is it that scares you so bad about that?" she asked, gazing intently at him.
"I'm not sure. It's not just him. It's the things I see him doing. The brutality of it all..."
"You've got to go into more detail, Nick. What is it that you see him do?"
"He's killing everything!" Nicholas screamed, jumping to his feet. Lara sat back, startled at his behavior. He began pacing in front of her, sweat streaming from him in long rivulets. His skin had gone grey as ash, and Lara got to her feet.
"He's going to kill everyone and everything, Lara! I don't know how, but I think it has something to do with the Amulet of Immortality. He's going to do something bad to all of us if he gets his hands on it. And not just us! The whole world. I'm talking slavery here! I've seen it! I've seen him do it once, and I know he's going to do it again! I've been his slave before, and I know him! I know him! He's the monster!" With that Nicholas collapsed in a heap on the muddy earth.
Lara screamed in surprise, calling out for help as she rushed to his side. She slapped his face lightly, calling his name. Alex rushed into the rec tent, along with a member of the medic team. They knelt down, pushing her away. She protested, kicking and yelling at them, until she felt Alex's strong arms around her waist.
"Come on Lara. He'll be fine. They've got this," he said quietly as he led her out of the tent. An angry storm brewed above Lara's brows, and her face was red with frustration.
"He won't be okay! He's suffering past-life regression, and none of those fucking idiots have a clue what to do in a situation like this!"
"Lara, what are you talking about? Nicholas probably drank himself silly, that's all."
"No Alex! He's dry! He was telling me something... something important! About Mason! There's something seriously wrong about this whole operation! Don't tell me you don't feel it! That you haven't felt it from the beginning!"
"Lara, Mason is in the operations tent getting ready for the descent. He hasn't been anywhere near Nicholas."
"Alex, listen to me. Nicholas was telling me about past life memories he's been experiencing for some time now, and they all center around Mason. Mason as he once was. They were connected in a previous life, Alex! And Nicholas believes something terrible is going to happen if Mason succeeds in finding the Amulet of Immortality. We're too close to the truth now! Everything is looking much more sinister than when we first started. Don't tell me you don't feel the same way!" Lara screamed. Alex looked at her, his hands dropping from her shoulders. He gave her a blank look, and a moment later it was replaced by something much darker.
"You're right, Lara. And so is Nicholas. Something very strange is happening here. It's been happening for a while."
"What do you mean?" Lara asked, her breath coming in angry hitches.
"I've... I've been having the same dreams, Lara."
"What? Why didn't you say something?" she nearly screeched.
"They're not exactly the same as what Nick is describing. Mine are different. I'm on a ship, and I'm sailing into a starless sky. The sea is angry, and I can hear voices. Terrible voices that sound like dying people. In my dream, I tell myself it's the cry of tormented souls. And yet it isn't me! I'm much taller, and my head is bald. Except for a half-ring of gold." Lara stopped pacing, her eyes going wide.
"What did you say?"
"A half-ring of gold. You know, sort of like a crown, but different. What's wrong Lara? You're white as a sheet." Alex touched a hand to her face, and she broke her lingering gaze, staring at him intently.
"Alex, something is happening here. I don't know what it is, but we all seem to be caught up in the same past-life regressions, with our visions meeting at certain crossroads. I think we are in serious trouble, and I think it has to do with the amulet."
"Yeah, I'm starting to get the same feeling," Alex replied quietly, looking about him suspisciously.
Just then, a voice rang out from the temple ruins announcing descent time in ten minutes. Alex and Lara both looked at each other, unspoken fears in both their eyes.
"We can't back out now, Lara."
"Yeah, I know. But we don't have to let Mason win the day, either. If I'm right and all of these seeming coincidences are really connected, we'll need to be ready for anything. I've seen some freaky shit when people get greedy. I want us both to be fully equipped. That means weaponry, as well... got it?" Alex nodded, keeping an eye out for any eavesdroppers.
"We don't know what could happen down there. This is serious shit we're tampering with. If anything happens, I need to know I can count on you to help me get everyone to a safe distance, and then we'll deal with Mason. If it comes to that."
"Lara," Alex almost murmured, taking her hand and pressing it tightly in his, "I know we may have been at odds for a long time, but things have changed. I've... changed. This expedition has opened my eyes to a lot of evils, especially within my own life. You can count on me, Lara. From now on, you can always count on me." Lara looked at him, searching his face for some truth in a sea of madness.
"Come on Alex. Let's get suited up and ready to go. Descent's in a few minutes. We need to keep to the schedule."
"Right. I'll meet up with you and Bryce on the far side, near the descent point. We'll rappel together, keep it tight."
"Remember what I said Alex. And for God's sake, don't make it seem like we're suspicious. We need Mason to feel comfortable."
"Got it. You know, this could all turn out to be our imaginations. We're all a little tired, you know?" Lara gazed at him, her dark eyes fixed on his.
"Search yourself Alex. Does this feel like a product of tired, over-worked imaginations to you?" Alex dropped his gaze, shaking his head a little.
"No. No it doesn't. It feels like I'm scared. Of what, I don't know... But something tells me I've done this before. And it didn't end very well." With that, he walked away. Lara turned to head over to the equipment tent, where her personal gear was stored. She realized while walking that she indeed felt the same way. She didn't scare easily. She had seen many terrible sights, gone on many dangerous adventures, and battled some nasty beasties. But in the end, what lay ahead in those underground tunnels scared her even more. Because, like Alex had said, she felt as though this was a repeat performance... And the last show had gone out with a very bloody bang.