Helloooo! Here's the new chapter and since it took some time, I'll let the explanations for next. Enjoy!
'Eric? You're awake.' - I opened my eyes and saw Lara kneeling beside me.
'Yes.' – I answered feeling a little sleepy. I didn't really get to sleep but I was aware this was going to happen. - 'Is something wrong?'
'Not really. I noticed some movement for quite a while but none approached here.'
'Anyway we shouldn't stay longer.'
'By the way, how do you feel? I mean, your wound.'
'It still hurts but at least it's healed. And I admit I feel a little better.' - I said with a sigh and looked at the entrance of the helicopter. - 'We should move. I have a feeling the hunters are close and soon they'll find us.'
'Here.' - She said giving me something and I saw it was a shirt though I noticed it wasn't the same I was wearing. - 'I've found this in one of the many boxes that were here. It's a little dirty but at least you could replace the bloodstained clothes.'
'Thank you.' - I said as I took off my sweater and I put the shirt. Then the radio rang and Roth spoke.
'Lara? Eric? You are there?'
'Yes.'
'Are you all right?'
'Fortunately yes. We stop¡ed some time so Eric could rest.'
'Something happened? Eric'- Eric asked worried and approached me.
'Hey, Roth. I ended a little hurt but it's nothing serious. I'm fine.' – I assured him and heard him sighing.
'Where are you now?'
'We're in some kind of shanty town, near the fortified palace.'- said Lara as she looked outside the entrance.
'I'm still coming down hill. How did you get there so fast?'
'Long story.'- She simply replied while looking at me and I gave a sigh.
'I can see the town from here... Are you near that large gate?'
'We're heading towards it.' - Then I heard voices and motioned for Lara to stop talking. After she did, I went to the entrance to to look outside. I saw a large group of hunters approaching to the helicopter and watched as they positioned themselves to attack.
'Shit, they know we're here.' - I said while analyzing the situation.
'Roth, we gotta go. We'll talk later.'
'Be careful.' – he simply said knowing he shouldn't interrupt us. Both rushed to get our belongings and weapons and got ready.
'The lighter you got before, it still works?'
'Yes. Why you ask?'
'Do you think you could use it to shot fire arrows?' - I said as I checked my rifle and pistol's ammo.
'Sure. Also I could use them to make explode a few fuel barrels I saw while I was watching outside.'
'Great. You attack from distance and I will eliminate the enemies who try to approach.'
After that, both run outside. As I suspected, they knew we were there and came very well prepared. As I got to some coverage, I began to attack any enemy who tried to approach. The hunters were quite aggressive and whenever I took one down, two more appeared shortly. Then I had to cover myself to avoid the attacks of different enemies.
'Shit, we're getting cornered!'
'I don't think so!' - said Lara and suddenly I heard an explosion.
When I looked out, I saw Lara shooting fire arrows very fast and from the explosions I saw, I knew she was pointing to the barrels. Taking advantage of her help, I went out and attacked the hunters as I moved. Although the explosions took down a lot of enemies, another wave came and the enemies positioned again. Although I had a feeling that nothing changed, I didn't dear to stop attacking and Lara did the same.
While she kept shooting fire arrows, I walked along the platform and kept firing. A hunter ran up to me and tried to attack me but I ducked and pushed him off the platform. Then I saw two other hunters approach to me and when I went to shoot, I realized I had no bullets. With no time to reload, I dodged the first attack and hit the first to throw him out the platform; but when I wanted to focus on the second hunter, this one was faster and took me down to the floor. I saw as he raised his machete to hit me but suddenly an arrow hit right in his heart and fell dead. Before I could assimilate what was happening, I saw another explosion close to my position and several hunters went flying.
'Eric!?'
'I'm fine!' - I answered and stood up as I reloaded my gun. I owed her a big one and to compensate her help, I made a last big effort and attacked the rest of hunters that were in sight and made sure all them were dead. Fortunately it was the last wave of enemies and finally we could breathe.
'These hunters were more aggressive than others we faced.' – said Lara as she picked up arrows and ammo.
'Perhaps because we are in their safe zone. Something tells me that this palace is their main base, and certainly they don't like us to be here. We have to be careful.'
After collecting all the ammunition we could and finished getting ready, we headed toward the gate that Roth mentioned before. As we headed there, I noticed the strange silence that surrounded us and kept myself more alert. I knew there were more hunters nearby and if they didn't attack us yet, they'll do it soon.
'Look, there's the gate.' - pointed Lara. The gate was in the middle of a huge ancient wall that was reinforced with junk. It looked pretty strong and difficult to destroy and the only way forward we saw was the wooden gate that also looked hardy. Lara approached and watched the gate and the crank that could open it. - 'It's blocked by something. It looks like a post.'
'I think they put it on purpose. We should...' - we heard voices and when I looked, I cursed when I saw enemies coming.
'They're here! Cover me while I try to rise the gate!'
'Done!'
As she began to work, I ran into a cover and began to attack the hunters. The zone was smaller than the one from before and was easier to attack but so it was for the enemies and had to cover most of the time. To give us some time I shot at some fuel barrels, causing explosions that killed several hunters but they kept coming.
'How it's going!?' - I asked Lara as I kept attacking.
'Almost there!'- For a second I saw that she had managed to remove the post and was about to raise the gate.
'Don't let them escape into the city!' - Shouted one of the hunters. They didn't want us to get into the other side... and that gave me an idea.
'Lara, go to the other side! I'll follow you!'- I told her while I still attacked the enemies. I heard Lara climb the fence and as she passed, I backed slowly.
'Stop them!' - Shouted another hunter who ran to me.
'Eric! Hurry before the gate closed again '- I said Lara as she helped me shooting at the enemies but then a hunter came at me. I quickly dodged his attack and hit him with my rifle's back to finish him with a few shots. After I killed him, I ran to the gate and it was going to close. As I got closer, I jumped to the ground to slip at the last minute and in the last minute got to the other side.
'C'mon! Shoot the chains!' – told to Lara and both shoot at the chains that were holding the gate to break them. We heard the curses of the hunters and from the holes we watched as they ran to another place. - 'This will make lose some time. Now let's go.'
'Wait, I see movement up there.'- said Lara pointing at the top of a platform. We saw several hunters going down thorough a zip line to the main platform and looked like they were chasing someone.
'Stop the old man! He's getting away!'- we heard from afar.
'What's going on?'
'I don't know but seems that someone is giving them problems. Perhaps he escaped from them!'
"Then maybe we should help him whatever he is.'- She suggested and we agreed. Both crossed a flooded area and when we reached the base of the pillar, we saw a man climbing to the platform from the stairs and a large number of hunters running behind him.
'Get yer hands off me, ya bloody bastards!'- Said suddenly a familiar voice with a familiar accent and cursed as I recognized him.
'Shit, it's Grim!'
'We have to help him. Come on!'
Both rushed us to approach the gate while we watched as some hunters were thrown off the shelf. When we arrived, Lara started up first; but then I looked to the side and saw a hunter from afar.
'Kill them!' - Cried the enemy.
'What it, Eric, you've got company!' – Grim warned us. Then the hunter threw something and rushed to grab Lara's arm and drag her to a cover when I saw it was dynamite. When we reached the cover, the dynamite exploded and broke the ladder.
'Outsiders, give it up!'
'Not a chance, you bastards!' – replied Lara with fury and her reaction surprised me but I quickly focused on the enemy. We started to shoot all the hunters who tried to approach at us and fortunately they weren't many. When they saw it didn't work, they tried to throw explosives but also failed and killed them quickly.
'Damn it, the ladder is broken and there is no way to get up there from here.' – said Lara as she looked around. - 'I'm afraid we'll have to make a long detour.'
'Then we better hurry and keep going. I don't know how much Grim can resist before the hunters get him.'
After that we started our way to reach the platform. Though we tried to be fast, find way to reach up there was more difficult than I thought and the detour was getting longer and longer; in our way up, several hunters tried to stop us and made us lose some time. When we finally reached the same level as the platform, as we approached the hunters became more aggressive.
'Dammit…. We have to get rid of them fast!' - said Lara as we attacked and had to cover several times to avoid the explosions from the dynamite and Molotov cocktails that the enemies threw at us.
'They have explosives! Don't stop moving!'
Both moved slowly between the covers as we kept shooting and killing enemies thorough the way. Finally we reached the zone that was before the platform and got ready. The hunters didn't stop coming from the zip lines that connected with the other side but while they were in the air, we took the opportunity to shoot them and cause them to fall into the void. When they finally realized that try to approach at us was too dangerous, they decided to attack from afar.
Lara and I hid behind some covers and counterattacked with all our efforts. From my position I tried to look for Grim but for now he was nowhere in sight. I really hope those hunters did something bad to him or I'll make them pay in the worst way possible... As we kept attacking and gradually slowly killing the enemies, they responded by throwing dynamite and firebombs to make us leave the covers. Although they succeeded, that didn't affect our attacks and aiming, and enemies kept falling. Then, when there were only three enemies in sight, they hid inside before we could attack.
'They hid inside. Can you see anything from here?'- I asked as kept aiming, ready to attck and Lara tried to look for someone.
'Not for now. But sure they'll come out. They have to. '- she said as she took an arrow and got ready to shoot. Then they came and cursed as I saw one of them dragging Grim while the others pointed their guns at us.
'Drop your weapons now or we'll kill your friend!' – warned the hunter as he kept his machete near the neck of Grim.
'Eric...?'- Lara called me and noticed her insecurity. As her, I wasn't sure what to do. We have to stop them but Grim could get hurt…
'Don't fucking do it!' - said Grim and in return the hunter moved his machete closer to Grim's neck, causing a small wound that bled quickly.
'Shit... Okay, okay!' - I said as I hurried to drop my gun and motioned Lara to do the same with her bow. I hated to give up like this but can't let them to hurt Grim. Anyway I'll think about something to fix this...
'That's nothing, pal. I grew up in Glasgow.' - said Grim dangerously and I cursed. I know him too well and could cause problems.
'Grim, please… calm down. Let us work with this.' – I told him trying to convince him. I really hope he does…
'Kid, I've been in worst situations. This is nothing for me.'
'Shut the fuck up!' – said the hunter grabbing Grim's neck tightly and looked at us. – 'Now kick your weapons off the edge...'
Before he could finish, Grim struck his face with the back of his own head and quickly turned to grab the machete with his hands still tied. After taking the enemy down, he turned to attack his companions and killed one with the machete.
'Grim! Damn it, be careful! '- I said as I hurried to get my gun and Lara did the same. While we were attacking the enemies that were still standing, he ran to the other hunter and before he could attack, he pushed him off the platform. But Lara and I paled as we saw how the enemy grabbed Grim at the last moment and they both fell into the void.
'Grim! No!'- cried Lara as we saw in horror how both fell until they disappeared. We heard the cries of both men and finally there was silence. Lara and I didn't say nothing for what looked like a long time, still trying to assimilate what just happened.
'Damn it... Damn it!' – I cursed and hit a box that was nearby. I was furious and- 'If we had come sooner...!'
'We couldn't do anything.' – said Lara trying to reassure me but I think I was also trying to convince herself.
'They'll pay for this. They're fucking dead.' - I said clenching my fists. If right now I had a hunter in front of me, I would kill him with my own fists.
'Eric.' – I felt her hand on my shoulder and turned. Her look told me I had to calm down… and she was right. But then we heard voices and saw more hunters coming to our position. I felt my blood boiling and also the urge to go after them but Lara took my hand and led me to the opposite side. - 'No time to fight them, we must keep going. Come one!'
Nothing would please me more than to fight those damn hunters and avenge Grim's death with them but Lara was right. The rest of our friends were in danger and we had to get to the palace as soon as possible. Both passed to the other platform and climbed to the second floor. A pole connected a zip line to the next road in the mountain that was leading into the bridge's palace. Both rushed off to climb to the rope and tried to move as fast as possible. But when we were half way, a hunter came to the post.
'There they are! Come on, cut the line!' – said a hunter to one of his mates and we rushed to keep going. We keep climbing but then another enemy began to shoot fire arrows and made difficult to keep moving up.
'Damn it! Don't stop, Lara!'
Every second I felt how the rope loosened a bit and I put all my effort to as fast as possible. But just when I saw we were close, the hunter finished cutting the rope and Lara and I fell. Both didn't dare to release the rope and fell straight into the rock wall on the other side. I quickly pulled out my axe and hit with all my strength into the wall but then I saw Lara struggling and took her hand in the last second before she fell.
'Are you okay?' - I asked while making an effort to keep both stuck in the wall while trying my best to not drop her.
'Yes!' - She said between gasps.
Then I heard a whistle and an arrow stuck right next to my arm. I saw one of the hunters preparing another arrow and I cursed. In this position I couldn't do anything... Shit, I don't want everything to end like this! Lara and I looked desperate how the hunter pointed at us but before he could fire, he was shot in the head. His companion cursed and tried to run but suffered the same fate. Taking advantage that now there was no danger, Lara took his axe and both climbed the wall.
'That was pretty close.' - I said as I tried to catch my breath.
'I wonder who...' - muttered Lara and then the radio went on.
'I got you covered. You're clear to climb up.' - said Roth and both sighed relieved.
'We owe you a big, old man.' - I said with a smile. I noticed a flash coming from a tower and I knew it was him.
'With you two staying alive and safe is good enough to me.' - Then I remembered what happened before and my smile faded. Lara had the same expression as mine.
'Roth, a few moments ago... something happened.' – said Lara looking down and I clenched my fists.
'What?'
'Grim... he's dead. They tried to use him as leverage to make us surrender…'
'But that didn't stop him from fighting and faced all them.' - I finished I looking down as well.
'Grim, you... you stubborn bastard.' - muttered Roth and I felt his pain. I knew pretty well their friendship and how much they lived together. They were almost like brothers.
'I'm so sorry Roth.' - said Lara with a sad expression.
'No... don't be sorry, Lara. Just make it count. When all this is over, we'll raise a glass to the old man. But now we have to help the others and save them.' - He said with determination.
'Well said.' – I said and after giving a long sigh, I watched the long bridge that lead to the palace. - ' We're going up there and try to get closer to the palace. Can you cover us again?'
'Yeah, I've got a clear sight with my rifle until the palace wall. But after, you'll be alone.'
'That will be enough.' - I said after taking a deep breath. - 'Ready? This is going to be difficult.'
'Let's go.' - Both started to climb the tower that connected the bridge and the radio turned on again.
'Rescue chopper N888RC responding to SOS, inbound from freighter Trinity.' - said suddenly a man's voice and Lara and I looked at each other.
'This is Conrad Roth of the Endurance. Do you copy!?'- said Roth trying to communicate with the pilot but as response only got radio interferences. - 'You two… did you hear that? A rescue helicopter is inbound!'
'That's great news, Roth. Set up a signal, Eric and I'll go for Sam and the others.' - Lara said with determination and I sighed. I recognize that tone.
'But Lara, maybe I should...' - tried to say Roth and noticed his doubts.
'This isn't like the pilot, Roth. I got Sam and the others into this mess and I'm getting them out.' - After that, she kept the radio and went silent.
'No intention to change your mind or anything like that but… don't you think you're carrying too much in your back?' – I finally asked and tried to sound calm.
'I was the one who had suggested we changed the route and finished here.'
'Well, at least we've reached Yamatai which was our main goal after all.'
'Yeah but we could have followed the initial route and we would have never ended in this damn island. We would have never been chased by a huge group of mad hunters who are led by another madman who just wants to use Sam for a damn ritual. Nor Grim would have never died...' - said looking down.
'Look, I know you feel guilty but you shouldn't. Blaming yourself about the only thing that will do is hurt you.'-. I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. - 'Forget all that. Now let's go to find the other, okay?'
'Yeah, you're right. Let's go.' - said after calming and we finished climbing the tower. When we got out, we were under the bridge where there were beams were we could walk. Carefully I put a foot on the platform and noticed that the surface was a little fragile.
'I doesn't feel too strong. We'll have to be fast if we don't want to have problems.'
'We'll also have to be careful with the hunters. If they discover us it will be more difficult.'
'That's why Roth will cover us.' - I took the radio and turned it on. - 'Roth, you ready?'
'Yes, I have them all in sight. Though I must warn the bridge is swarming with guards. I'll warn you when you have to stop moving.'
'All right. Here we go.' - said a little nervous.
After analyzing where we had to jump and climb, we started our way. We jumped at a few beams to start climbing and these began to crumble as we held ourselves with them and tried to move fast. As we advanced and the wood kept creaking, I feared that the noise would alert the enemies. When we finally reached to safer ground, I heard voices and motioned for Lara to stay silent. We advanced stealthy under the bridge and for what the hunters said when they were talking, we knew they were expecting us. When we reached the end of the bean, where there was a hole right above us, I pointed Lara to wait.
'I don't see anyone. Let's go.' - I whispered after waiting a few seconds. Then, just when we were going to climb to next part, a hunter appeared just where the hole was and we panicked as we saw he noticed us.
'What the...!' - Before he could alert the others, he was shot in the head and fell into the hole.
'Sniper! Take cover!'- cried another hunter and we heard the warnings and cries from the others.
'Okay. They don't know we're here. C'mon.'
After arriving at the following beams, we heard Roth's shots and the cries of confusion and panic from the hunters that kept moving around the whole bridge.
'For a moment I thought lost you. Are you okay?' – asked Roth thorough the radio.
'Yes, thanks to you. That was close…' – replied Lara. When we arrived at the right side of the bridge, slowly we moved thorough the rail. We noticed the hunters moving around and one got a cover close to us.
'Stop! Don't move, they'll see you...' - warned Roth and both obeyed. A shot hit the cover and the hunter cursed. Both waited patiently and then he finally was able to shot the hunter who fell over the railing. - 'Go now!'
Both obeyed again but had to stop again after jumping to the next part of the railing. Two hunters were covered close to our position and tried to attack Roth but a few seconds later they also fell. As we moved again, another hunter appeared but Roth killed him in the same moment.
'Okay, I think you have the way clear.' - he finally said and I climbed up.
'Thanks for the help, Roth. We owe you a big one again.' - I said as I bent to help Lara to climb.
'ERIC, LOOK OUT!'- suddenly cried Roth. Before I could assimilate what was happening, I felt like a hunter grabbed me from behind and tried to pull out bridge. I wrestled with to free myself and after elbowing him, freed my neck and then he was shot in the head. Despite being dead, his grip on my arm didn't loosen and made me fall over the bridge.
'ERIC!' – cried Lara as she saw me falling.
'NO! SHIIIIIT!'- when I fell, I hit against one of the platform of the bridge and tried to hold on to anything. After grabbing the edge of the wood in the last moment, I gave a big sigh of relief and climbed toward secure ground. - 'That was fucking close...'
'Eric!' – Lara climbed down to my position and approached very worried. - 'You're okay?'
'Yeah…'
'There they are!' – suddenly someone shouted and saw a hunter thorough one of the holes from above. - 'They're below the bridge, fire, fire!'
'There're too many of them. Get out of there NOW!'- warned us Roth.
Both rushed to move forward without hesitation and jumped onto the roof of a sort of shanty that hanging on the mountain's wall. We were going to jump at some beams that were attached to the rock but the bullets of the hunters destroyed them.
'Shit… to the right!
Instinctively I took Lara's hand and forced her to turn to the right. Hunters shot at us nonstop with their rifles and luckily no bullet touched us. We kept jumping thorough the roofs of some small hanging houses until we reached a narrow bridge that surrounded the wall. Though the attacks from the hunters could no longer reach us, we couldn't feel safe as the bridge was crumbling fast. When we finally arrived at the end, we jumped when the platform was going to fall and used our axed to hook against the rock. We made a last effort to climb the wall and we finally were safe.
'God…. Finally a break.' - I said panting.
'Lara!? Eric!? Are you all right!?'- asked Roth and I noticed his concern.
'Yes.' – answered Lara. – 'We've reached another way down the mountain. We're heading in.'
'Are you sure about this, Lara? This place is very well protected and you're only two. It will be very difficult to get to the others.'
'We'll take them out of there. And we'll come back. I promise.'
'Be careful, please... I'll try to contact with the helicopter and make a signal.' - After that Lara kept the radio and she sighed.
'Well, I just hope this time we have better luck with the rescue. As about what is waiting us… You've heard Roth, this is going to be very difficult.'
'Well, we've been in some very difficult situations and we're alive. This is just another one.' - I said a little funny, trying to cheer her up.
'You make it sound like it wasn't so bad.' - Though she tried to avoid it, I saw her smile. - 'Though I admit I have a bad feeling.'
'Don't think about it. When we get in there, we must stay focused and be pretty careful.' - After that I took a long breath and noticed I was feeling very uneasy. I also had a bad feeling, a very bad one. But as I said, it didn't have to think about that now. Our friends were in danger and were counting on us. We can't fail...
'Let's get them out of there.' – said Lara and both headed inside.
Well, they suffered the first hard blow with Grim's death. They just can hope things get a little better now but who knows...
I hope you enjoyed the chapter and again, sorry it's a little short (at least I think it's short). I try my best to have ideas and write between work and sometimes it takes some time to write a nice one. I can't make promises but I'll try to update soon. Meanwhile, you can share you opinions and post reviews, which are always helpful. Any suggestions, advice... ANYTHING is more than welcome.
See you soon!
