After escaping alive from that cave and making a quick recognition of our surroundings, we started to walk down the cliff. We have to find a way down from here and try to find someone... As we descended, I felt my wound burning and knelt one second.
"Are you sure you're okay?" - Lara asked as she checked on me.
"Yeah... but I have to treat my wound before is gets infected." - I muttered grimacing.
"Hopefully we'll find something useful if we keep going." - She helped me up and both kept walking. Then she stepped forward and pointed under the cliff.
"Look. A lifeboat. But where are they?"
"Probably they left to find a safe place. Hopefully we will find them soon." - I said as I leaned on a small tree and after recovering, we kept walking. Then we found a good jump and a lying tree that could serve as bridge. - "Go first. I will use my weight to make sure the tree doesn't move."
"Okay." - Lara said little nervous. Carefully she climbed the tree and slowly walked down the trunk. I rested my knees on the trunk to avoid it could move and waited patiently. Lara had some trouble keeping her balance because of the wind but she finally reached the other side.
"Okay... Now my turn." - I said as I stood up and this time Lara rested her knees on the trunk. I took a deep breath and put a foot on the trunk. It was narrow and very irregular so it was difficult to walk on it. The wind neither helped me and considering that I was wounded, it was very difficult to keep the balance. Lara looked at me and leaned forward.
"Come on. You're close." - She said in calm voice. I moved slowly and although I was really nervous, I tried my best to stay focused. Suddenly I felt the pain of my wound returning and I fell on my knees. I heard Lara's gasp as she feared the worst but I raised a hand.
"I'm fine."
After a few seconds, I stood up and tried to ignore the pain. I went to move again and as I was close, Lara gave me her hand and helped me to get at the end. I gave a long sigh of relief and touched my wound. After checking that everything was fine, we kept moving. After turning a corner, we found a waterfall and an old airplane hanging in the middle. We tried to find a way to the other side but found nothing. Unless...
"Perhaps we could use that plane to get to the other side." - I suggested despite in my mind it didn't like a great idea at all.
"There is no other way to go so we have no other choice." – Lara said with a sigh of resignation. We approached and used one of the wings that was fallen to reach the plane. - "I want you to go first. You're hurt and perhaps you may need help."
"Okay." - I don't like my injury affecting me to pint of needing assistance but it's causing me problems and I knew Lara was just trying to help.
I slowly walked to the edge and looked up. Where once the windows of the main cabin were, now there were only the bars that formed the structure. After taking a deep breath, I jumped to the nearest bar and slowly began to climb the aircraft. Every step I took, I listened the whole structure cracking and that made me really nervous. Also my wound itched and I grimaced but I kept going. I hurried to get to the top and then I moved through the wing of the plane. When I reached the end, I jumped to the ground and gave a sigh of relief.
"Okay, Now you. Be careful."
She nodded and after several seconds, she jumped to the plane. She climbed and then I saw the structure began to crumble. The bottom fell and Lara cried as she felt no support under her feet. She made a great effort to secure her grip again and hurried to keep climbing. Then she reached the wing and I noticed that this was beginning to lean down.
"Fast! It's going to fall!" - I warned her. While she moved, a part of the structure suddenly leaned down and I feared Lara could fell but she stayed there. She rushed to move and when the wing was going to fall into the void, she jumped to my position. I helped her up and quickly dragged her away before the whole structure fell onto us.
"Are you okay?" - I asked as she panted slightly.
"It was close but I'm fine."
We walked through the only way possible and every time I felt more dizzy and weak. I had to heal my wound as soon as possible or at least bandage it... After jumping a wall, we saw a lot of things scattered.
"That's Sam's pack!" - Lara said as we approached. She looked around and called her several times but got no answer.
"They must have been here." - I said looking at all the stuff that was scattered in the ground and looked for something useful. I saw a medical kit and took it quickly but only found some bandages. - "Damn... Well, at least I can bandage my wound."
Lara also searched inside Sam's pack found a box of matches, a video camera and a radio. She quickly turned it on and tried to contact someone.
"Sam? Roth? Can anybody hear me?" – She asked hoping someone would answer but we only heard static sounds.
"If they are here, we wil find them at some point. But first we should find a safe place and set up camp." - I said feeling really tired.
We headed to a small easy jump but when we went to pass, the ground sunk under our feet. We tried to grab antyhing but we fell and slid down through a ravine. After getting hit by several rocks and branches, I went to get up after reaching the ground but Lara fell on me.
"Sorry." - She said when she heard me moan in pain. When she stepped away, I tried to get up but the wound hurt too much. – "We must heal your injury before it gets worse."
"I know..." - I said as she helped me up and she let me lean on her. Then I noticed the rain that fell on us. - "I swear I've seen the storm go away."
"It doesn't matter now. It's getting really cold so we must make a fire."
We started to feel the cold getting into our bones thanks to the rain and we hurried to look for a safe place as we saw the lightings breaking through the sky. Then I saw a good cover under a mountain and we approached there. After turning, we found a wider area that was well covered by the mountain. Shivering, I approached to the remains of a fire that seemed to have been abandoned. While Lara tried to contact someone through the radio for second time, I took several branches and leaves that were nearby. While preparing the campfire, I felt my whole body trembling because of the cold and I also felt pretty weak. Lara knelt beside me and gave me the matchbox she had taken before. But when I opened it, I saw that there was only one.
"Of fucking course..." – I muttered in resignation. I took it with a trembling hand I went to turn the match close the campfire. When it lit, Lara and I hold our breaths while approaching the little fire to the branches and gave a sigh of relief when they started to burn. After adding more branches and making sure the fire wasn't going to extinguish, finally we sat on the floor. Then the wound made a reminder that it was still there and I winced.
"There is nothing to treat the wound but we should bandage it."
"I found some bandages before." - I said as I took them out. Lara picked them up and took a piece of cloth to soak it with the water from the rain. She raised the edge of my shirt and carefully cleaned the wound. I winced as I felt the coolness of water and then she started to bandage me.
"This will protect the injury for some time. Now we just need to find something to treat it."
After that, she sat next to me hugging her knees and gave a long sigh. We went silent several minutes in which we heard the fire burning the branches, the rain falling and the thunders that fell from the sky.
"We've been really lucky." – I said finally and Lara sighed.
"At least we're alive. Do you think we'll find the others?"
"I hope so. Someone has to have reached the island."
"Before that mad man captured us, I saw Reyes and the others. Hopefully they won't be far away." – Lara said and I noticed her voice sounding tired.
Both remained close to try to get warmer and the fire also helped us to feel a little better. Watching the fire I felt hypnotized to the point that a soft slumber was invading me slowly and considering how weak and my injury, the idea of sleeping was really tempting right now. Then I looked at Lara and I saw that she fell asleep. Okay, forget about sleeping. After meeting that man in the cave, I had to stay alert and try to be awake. It was going to be difficult but I won't fall. Then I remembered the camera that Lara picked from Sam's pack and took it. After turning it on, I opened the small screen and it showed me the recorded videos.
'Here's the soon-to-be world-famous archeologist, Lara Croft, in her native habitat.' – Sam said while filming Lara who was sitting on her desk in her rom from the Endurance. - 'She's on the hunt for the lost kingdom of Yamatai, home of the fabulous Himiko, mythical Sun Queen… And ancestor of yours truly.'
'Sam... this is serious.'
'Oh sweetie, I know. I'm just trying to lighten the mood here. Everyone's so on edge! What are you so worried about?'
'I'm close to something. I'm sure of it. I just don't know if the others will listen... Or even if they should…'
'Lara, you know this stuff better than anyone! Seriously. I'm not just saying this to make you feel better. I trust you... Roth trusts you! You got this.' – She said trying to cheer her up and Lara's expression relaxed. – 'Now let's take a break, okay?'
'Okay, okay! And Sam... thanks.' - she said with a smile. Then Sam turned away and filmed herself.
'She's not always this serious, you know?' – Sam said to the camera with a smile and that video ended. I didn't know Sam too much but I do about her endless good mood. Also she tried to flirt with me several times but I wasn't sure if she was serious or if she was just joking.
Then another video played and all the crew appeared in there: Jonah cooking, Roth, Grim and I discussing about football, Lara and Whitman also discussing but they were focused about the expedition, Sam reading a big book, Alex with his computer and Reyes eating.
'How can you suggest I'm not serious about this expedition, Lara?' - Whitman said really upset. – 'It's not just Sam's family funding us, I've put my savings on the line too.'
'We've all got some kind of stake in this.' - Reyes said in a warning tone. – 'The funding won't last forever.'
'That's precisely why we should push east, not west.' – Lara added feeling really confident.
'No one believes Yama…' - Grim laughed loudly and Whitman looked at him anrgily. – '…no one believes Yamatai's that far east. The books simply don't support it.'
'Well, whoever wrote those books never found Yamatai.' - Sam added and Whitman became even more upset.
'I've talked to Roth bout this.' – Lara kept insisting. – 'There's no point in following in other people's footsteps, Whitman.'
'I refuse to bet my reputation on your hunch! I'm the lead archeologist here.' – He yelled and then I noticed Roth looking at him... and he didn't look happy about the way he was talking to Lara.
'An' when were you last in the field without a TV crew behind you?' - Grim asked as he tasted Jonah's food.
'I've got 30 years' experience, 2 PhDs, one in East Asian history. So why don't you stick to boats, Mr. Grim?'
'Ship, Dr. Whitman. It's a ship. Don't need a PhD to know that.' - Grim replied and I couldn't help smiling. That crazy old man is the best.
'Look. Going east will take us directly into the Dragon's Triangle. That's where we need to go.' - Lara insisted again and Jonah came.
'Lara, my little bird, I'd follow you almost anywhere, but that place has a bad energy.'
'Bad storms more like. Makes the Bermuda Triangle look like Disney World... Sign me up.' – Alex joked but was quickly ignored as Lara spoke again.
'The stories about Queen Himiko says she could summon storms. Myths are usually based on some version of the truth. What if Yamatai was somewhere in the Triangle itself?'
'Look, this is the satellite imagery from inside the Dragon's triangle.'- said Alex showing a picture from his laptop and the storms were pointed as huge patches of color.
'That doesn't look good…'- Sam muttered.
'If it's wet, I can sail on it.' – Grim said like it was nothing.
'Oh don't tell me you're seriously cons…' – Whitman was going to protest again but Roth stopped him.
'Enough! Reyes is right, we don't have the funds to piss about. It's now or never. Lara's offering fresh ideas and a plan. I'm the captain here, it's my decision. We're going into the Dragon's Triangle.' - He said with determination.
'Why am I even here?'- Whitman muttered upset.
'Why don't stop complaining about everything and let us eat?' – I said without looking at him. He looked at me and then left the place really furious. The video ended with Grim giving me a pat on the back while laughing and meanwhile Roth and Lara began to plan the new route. Whitman... frankly I never liked him. Always with his PhDs, with his reputation and success... That man needs a punch in the face.
I sighed and turned the camera off. I looked back at Lara and confirmed that she was sleeping. I sighed and moved some branches from the fire. I hope the storm ends soon and finally move again. I rubbed my arms and patiently waited.
(Lara POV)
Saying I was tired was an understatement. I don't know how much time has passed or if the storm was still there but the heat of the fire has been been enough to make me fall asleep. I heard the birds chirping and my mind finally woke up. I opened my eyes and blinked several times as I looked around me. The storm was gone and the sky was still cloudy but at least it wasn't raining.
"Hey." – I looked next to me and I saw Eric. Apart from his small smile, I saw dark shadows under his eyes and looked at him surprised.
"Hello... Wait, have you been awake while I was sleeping?"
"Yes." - He said with a shrug. - "Somebody had to stay guarding."
"You should have woken me up." - I said a little annoyed. I really didn't expect him to do that. Now I'm feeling terribly guilty.
"You were really tired. I wasn't going to wake you up." - He simply said. I looked at him more surprised and tried to say something but I couldn't find the words.
"Okay. I appreciate what you did, I really do. But next time I want we agree who will be guarding every night."
"Okay, okay."
"Now we should search something to eat." - I said as I stood up. Eric went to get up but forced him to sit back. - "And you will stay here."
"What? No way." – He tried to get up again and I stopped him again.
"You've been awake all the night and you're hurt, so you must rest."
"We shouldn't separate. It's a very bad idea to go alone in this place since we don't know it. Do you even know how to hunt?" - He asked raising an eyebrow. That last one hurt me…
"I didn't go with Roth in his expeditions for vacation if that's what are you trying to tell me. I know what to do." - I said crossing my arms.
"Okay. And what happens if you find another crazy man like the one from the cave." - He insisted and I clenched my fists.
"I'll defend myself. Simple as that."
"Do you know how to fight?"
"Yes, I'll make a little demonstration if you keep putting my skills in doubt. Can I go now to get food?"- I asked feeling really anrgy. I swear to god if he insists underrating me...
"If after an hour you haven't come, I'll go to look after you. Try not go too far from the camp." - He finally said.
I nodded and after that I walked away without saying a word. His doubts hurt me. Hell, he has the same age as me and treats me like a child! We were almost in the same expeditions with Roth and although we weren't always together, he should know nobody gets an easy treatment. Roth always insisted that I must learn to survive so I pretty much knew what I had to do. The only difference is that now I was alone and this was a real challenge... but I can do it. I was going to prove Eric wrong.
I walked through the only possible way and I occasionally looked back to make sure he wasn't following me. As I walked, I was a little nervous to notice how strangely quiet was everything. Suddenly a crow flew out form the bushes and it scared me but I calmed down quickly. Then I saw something moving in the end and I realized it was a deer. As I approached, it ran away and I followed it. I came to a pretty large area and then I noticed something that sent me chills. There was a dead body hanging from a tree and from its appearance, it has been there for a very long time.
"God... What's going on here?" - I muttered very nervous. Then I noticed that the corpse had a bow. I climbed to the roof of the house that was near and then I jumped to a platform that connected with the tree branch. I carefully walked through the branch until I reached the trunk to get some support. Then I looked next and saw the corpse swinging. I took a shaky breath and nodded. - "Okay. I can do it."
Carefully I reached my arm and I tried to get the bow. After several attempts, finally I took it but couldn't get it from the body despite pulling it several times.
"Come on..." - I mumbled a little nervous but got nothing.
I cursed and reached my other arm to catch it. Now I didn't have support and I probably was going to fall but I had no other choice. After grabbing the bow, I pulled it but instead of getting it off from the body, it fell directly and I followed behind. I winced after I hit the ground and stood up. Then I noticed the body was a few inches from me and quickly stepped away. Its smell was nauseating and several flies were buzzing around. Slowly I approached and quickly took the bow. It was made with flexible branches tied with vines and the rope was a little loose. Despite its condition, it could still be used.
After taking a quiver full of arrows that was next to the tree, I started to look around me searching the deer that I've seen before. I climbed a small cliff to get a better view and I looked around. I saw the deer drinking water in a small creek and I got ready. I took an arrow from the quiver and after getting my bow ready, I aimed.
'You can have the best form and technique in the world, but it doesn't mean a thing if you can't focus.'
Roth's words came to my mind and I focused. I pointed to the neck of the deer and held my breath. Then I released the arrow. After a few seconds, I heard the deer groan and I saw as it tried to run but collapsed on the ground. I hurried down and ran to where it was. I found the poor deer lying on the ground gasping for air but then stopped moving.
"Sorry..." - I said feeling very guilty and kneeled next it.
I pulled the arrow from its neck and used it to get the meat. It was difficult but after several minutes I got enough meat for Eric and I and cleaned the blood from my hands in the water from the creek. After securing the bow and the quiver on my back, I picked up the meat and made my way back to the camp. Then I noticed something shiny that was hidden in some bushes and I walked there. It was a metal briefcase and after shaking it, it seemed full. Looking inside I realized it was as a medical kit but only a few things could be used. There was only one empty bottle, a few bandages and another bottle with liquid inside. As I looked better at the last one, I noticed it was disinfectant.
"Just what Eric needs."
I took the bottle and the bandages, and I walked back to the camp. It started to rain again so I hurried to go there. When I got to the camp, I took a shaky breath and walked to the fire. Eric was sitting beside the rock wall and was leaning against it. As I approached, I saw that he was asleep. I decided not to wake him up and decided to spend the time to cook the meat. After getting some sticks and rocks, I got everything ready and waited.
Minutes passed in which I was cooking and gave more fuel to the fire. The sky was overcast and before I knew it, it was dark. I couldn't avoid noticing that the weather of this place wasn't right. The atmosphere was weird and I had bad feelings all the time. Despite that, I I decided to forget about it and focus on something else. I turned on the radio in case someone talked or asked for help and went to get more branches for the fire. When I returned, I saw Eric was still asleep and gave a sigh. I couldn't blame him... He stayed awake all the night just to let me rest and I was still surprised about it. I really appreciated his gesture... but his doubts about my skills hurt me. Then I heard a groan and I looked at Eric. He moved a little and then he opened his eyes.
"You're finally awake." – I said as I sat down next to him in front of the fire.
"Where comes that smell?" – Then he looked surprised at the meat. - "Oh, you did it."
"You better don't underestimate me." - I said as I stoked the fire. Still cheating on me, damn you…
"How did it go?"
"Great. I've found many useful things, like this bow." - I said showing it.
"That's cool. Where did you get it?" - He said as he examined it and tested the rope.
"From a... dead body." - I said looking down.
"Oh, god... I'm sorry." - I said leaving the bow and I noticed he felt guilty.
"It's okay. At least I could hunt a deer and get the meat. I also found this." - I said giving him the bottle.
"What is it?"
"It was in a medical kit. It's disinfectant and even though the expiration date disappeared, I think we can still use it. It won't heal you wound as fast as we wished but it will help. I also found new bandages."
"That was very convenient. Although I prefer to work on this after eating. I'm hungry."
"Thank you." - I said without looking at him again. I noticed his gaze on me and as he smiled.
"Next time I'll go hunting and you'll have double food as thanks."
I still didn't look at him but I had to make a great effort to not smile. He has a very special humor but he is always so gentle. I took the sticks that held the two pieces of meat that were being cooked and gave one to Eric.
"Here you have it." - He took it and after giving a bite, he sighed.
"It isn't the best food in the world but at least we have a hot meal."
We ate in silence for a few minutes as the sky darkened. The meat was a little insipid and some salt would be nice but it was the best we could get in this situation. If we could only find the others...
"So the old man trained you." - Suddenly Eric said and I looked confused at him.
"Who?"
"Roth. From what you said before, I understand he trained you."
"Yes. In the expeditions I went with him he taught me many skills. From the most basic lessons of survival to how to knock down a giant." - I said with a small smile but it disappeared quickly. I wanted to find him so bad. He's the only one who really knows what to do in a place like this...
"It seems we have something in common."
"He also trained you?" - He nodded and I frowned slightly. - "I've never seen you training with him and we met in several expeditions."
"For certain problems I couldn't always go with him. But he trained me personally when he had some time." - Then he grimaced and touched he's wound area.
'We should treat your injury.'
After finishing eating and cleaning my hands, I approached to him with the ointment. He rose a bit the edge of his t-shirt and helped him to take off the bandages he already had. Then I opened the bottle and after checking it was okay, I put some disinfectant on the wound. As I gently passed a cloth over the wound, he hissed.
"Itches..." - He said wincing.
"That means it's healing." - I said trying to not smile. While working on it, I had to make a great effort not to look at his well-shaped abs. He definitely has very good physical form... After treating the other side of the wound, I bandaged it again. – "Try to be careful and avoid anything to hit the wound."
"Thanks."
After securing the bandage, I gently touched it to make sure everything was okay and secured. After that I looked at his eyes and then at my hand that was just above the bandage that covered his abs and I felt my cheeks burning.
"Uhm... That's all. I think this will be enough for now." - I said turning around and I tried to distract myself by securing the disinfectant bottle in a safe place. If Sam had seen me like this... She would be talking about this for a whole month or even more and suggesting other things. I sat in front of the fire and Eric did the same next me.
"Hey, about before..."
"This is Conrad Roth, captain of the Endurance. We are shipwrecked on an island inside the Dragon's Triangle." – We both jumped as we heard the radio and I hurried to take it.
"Roth!"
"Lara!"
"You're alive!" - I said feeling relieved and felt I was going to cry.
"Easy, easy. Are you okay?"
"Yes. Eric is with me."
"Eric?!"
"Hey old man." - He said taking the radio.
"God... How are you boy?"
"I got hurt but I'm okay. Nothing serious."
"I'm so glad that you're both right. What happened?"
"We were on the beach but we fell unconscious and woke up in a cave. There was a crazy man... also a dead body." - Eric explained and I felt myself slowly looking down. All the strength I showed before now was gone.
"Oh, god... Where are you now? Are you safe?" - Eric went to answer but I couldn't take anymore.
"It was horrible. It's all my fault, this is all my fault." - I said while a few tears fell down my cheeks.
"Don't say that." - Eric said trying to calm me down.
"You two, listen to me. I sent an SOS from the Endurance before I abandoned her. Hopefully some caught it. I've spoken to the others. We're regrouping at my location."
"Please come..." - I begged. Right now I didn't have the strength to keep going.
"I have to stay here." - I closed my eyes and I gave a shaky sigh as I listened to Roth. - "Lara, remember when we climbed Snowden? You said the key was knowing that all you've got to do…"
"…is keep moving..." - I added remembering my own words and I knew what he meant.
"I know it's hard but you can do it. You two, remember everything I've taught you. Try to find a way to climb the mountain and get to my position. Keep the radio on and never separate. If something happens, call me. And Eric..."
"Yes?"
"Take care of Lara. Please..."
"I will." - He promised. After that, I got up and I went for the bow but Eric stopped me. - "Don't ever say that everything is your fault."
"But-"
'NO. This was never your fault anyone who dares to say that is wrong." – He said with serious gesture and put a hand on my shoulder. - "Let's get out of here and find the others, okay?"
After looking into his eyes for a few seconds, I took a deep breath and nodded. I can do it.
"Lets go."
