"Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it." ~Vincent Van Gogh

"Look at me please" – this time Kurtis did not want to let go like he had at all those occasions before. Moving his finger under her chin, he raised her head to look into her eyes shining with unshed tears. Lara made an attempt to turn her head, but this time she did not manage. Her vision blurred, tears spilled over and ran down her face. "You need to tell me what's wrong." – he tried to encourage her softly, brushing some tears away with his thumb.

"You can't help me." – she sobbed quietly, finally moving her stare away from the blue of his eyes.

"Please let me try." – he looked at her pleading, pulling her closer and Lara buried her face into his shoulder. She did not want him to see her cry. Those damn emotions. How could they be stronger than her? How could they defeat her like this? She found herself shaking her head slowly and stepping away from him again. It tore her apart to see that confusion in his eyes, but he had to understand. He had to grasp it that she was unable to go through this again. No matter what, Lara had to fight back those feelings and put that mask back on her face.

With the back of her hand, she brushed away the tears, taking a step back. It was harder than she thought, but it had to be. It had to be. It had to be, she kept saying it to herself. When his hands slid off her waist, it almost caused pain. His taste still lingered on her lips, her body was still crying for more. But in her head, wild thoughts were chasing each other. You must not, you must not.. they were shouting.

"Lara." – Kurtis reached out to her, but she recoiled further away.

"Can't you see? They killed him too…. I killed him." – she whispered desperately, turned on her heels and started to run down the corridor without looking back. The most irresponsible thing she had ever done, but she could not control it. Lara ran as fast as she could, trying to close out his voice calling after her. She did not want to hear his steps, his voice. Not caring about the directions, she turned left, then right, then ran forward. It was the silence that made her stop. Realizing it was not completely dark anymore, she slowed down. Panting heavily, she grasped that she had no idea where she was. In front of her and behind her the corridor looked the same. Thin, empty, desperate. The walls were about three meter high, but did not reach the ceiling. The sudden realization was striking her. She was alone.

Wasn't this what she wanted? To keep her distance, stay on the safe side and not feel anything for anyone? This way it was only her, who could get hurt and no one else. No one else that she loved. God, she buried her face in her hands and fell to her knees. The silence was driving her crazy.

"Lara?" – she heard his voice again from somewhere. It was echoing all over the place and it sent warm waves of relief through her. Why did she feel like this when she wanted to keep him away?

"Kurtis?" – she answered almost automatically. Her fists clenched while waiting to hear his voice again. Lara rose a bit, still uncertain what she should do.

"Where are you?" – his voice sounded worried and careful. Though he ran after her, his lost her from sight and then he found himself in a strange place. "Can you hear me?"

"I don't know where I am." – she stood up again, struggling to decide if she should go on or back to where she came from. There was a right-turn behind her, but Lara was in doubt if this was where she came from. Was it a maze she ran into? Suddenly she came to a halt, remembering how such mazes usually functioned. They were designed to swallow intruders, to keep them ambling around forever without ever finding the way out. And they were full of traps. "Kurtis!" – she raised her voice, anxiety in it. "Just stay where you are."

"I want to know" – he answered almost instantly. His voice came suddenly from the right. Or was it from the left? Lara took the right-turn and followed the empty corridor. She should have known right away that they would never get out of here alive. Imhotep was one of the biggest architects. "Who were you talking about?"

Lara frowned, regretting she had ever let the words slip out of her mouth. "It's not important. I should have never mentioned it." – her voice was low, Kurtis could hardly hear her. Where the hell could she be?, he though angrily. How could he let her run away? The kiss confused him almost as much as her. Not the fact that he wanted her, but the hot urgency to get more of it. And the way she answered to his touch. And the way the tears were running down her cheek. How could something like this make him so weak and want to sacrifice everything just to smooth her pain?

"Did you love him?" – he had to risk it, fearing to hear the answer. There were seconds gone… long, incredibly long seconds of silence. Would he be jealous of someone he did not even know? Who was gone and history? He stopped for a moment, listening to any noise that could tell him where she was.

"Alistair…." – there was a long pause after the name and he could imagine the tears she cried again. Lara was so different, he would have never imagine her having this soft, emotional side.

"Who is he?" – Kurtis asked as he was unable to bear the tension. He had to know if there was no chance for him.

"He is… he was... " – her voices trailed off again and her steps stopped. "I let him die."

There was vibrating silence again after the words reached him. God, how he would have loved to close her in his arms and dry her tears. Instead she was out there somewhere all alone, fighting against her pain and sadness. And who knows what else.

"Don't say that… just let me help you." – he could have given anything for finding her again. Why did they have to talk through walls when he should have been with her?

Lara kept walking although every step felt like pain. Not physically. Every word she said, made her suffer. And she still felt like she had to say them. When Kurtis could not see her, it was easier. "You don't know this. You were not there. I should have saved him. I should have…." – he could not hear the last words anymore, but he heard the click. That damn click.

Everything froze for an endless moment.