Alex hauled Lara's luggage onto the helicopter. He glanced over at Lara who, still shaken up, was clutching onto the chirugai. To be honest he felt that Lara was going on a suicide mission to find someone who was already dead. He couldn't bring himself to tell Lara that, it would only make her more upset.
Once everyone was strapped in, the pilot had the helicopter of the ground in seconds. Knowing Lara himself, he was concerned to see her sat in her seat, legs clutched to her chest; holding what looked to be a metal Frisbee.
"Am I to assume you are okay Lara?" the pilot, named Greg asked.
"I'm fine" Lara said nicely, giving him a smile. "Never better"
"That's good" Greg said, giving Lara a bright smile. Lara looked away and rested her head on Alex's shoulder.
After a five hour flight, Lara stepped into the bright sunshine of Egypt. Alex stepped up beside her and placed a protective arm around her shoulders. She gently relaxed in his grip and placed a hand on his face.
"You know I love you, don't you?" Lara asked, a weak smile forming on her face.
"Of course, Lara. I love you too" Alex said, placing a kiss on Lara's forehead.
A day later...
Lara looked at the endless number of huts that covered the grounds in which she was staying. They had set up camp about half a mile from where she stood. After convincing the rest of them to let her go for a walk, Lara had found herself drawn to one particular hut. She had heard screams coming from it the moment she arrived.
After a quick call to Bryce for assistance, Lara looked through the dust coated window of the hut to see the silhouette of a person. They were hung by their wrists to one of the ceiling beams, their body hanging limp. Lara felt someone tap her shoulder. It was Bryce.
"So where is he?" Bryce asked, looking at Lara in confusion
"Through there" Lara said, her hands gesturing at the window. Bryce took a look through the window. "I'm gonna need you to distract the guard so I can get to him"
"Sure, anything for you Lara" Bryce said before running off t distract the guard.
Once the guard was distracted, Lara sneaked into the hut. Upon hearing the door creak open, Kurtis began to protest.
"I've told you everything I know. Can't you just leave me?" Kurtis said pleadingly. He didn't even look up to see who was there. "You can leave her alone"
"Kurtis?" Lara questioned, concern piercing her tone.
"Lara, these hallucinations just get better and better" Kurtis said, the sarcasm evident in his voice. Lara strolled up to him and put a hand on his hollow cheekbone.
"It's really me Kurtis" Lara said as he looked up to see her gorgeous face. "I'm gonna need you to straighten your legs so I can cut the ties on your hands". He complied with her demands.
"What are you doing here Lara?" Kurtis asked, concern etched into his weak voice.
"I couldn't just ignore your letter" Lara began. "Kurtis, I'm so sorry"
"You shouldn't have come here. Lara, you're in more danger than ever" Kurtis said, alarmed at what Lara was saying. "You shouldn't have come at all..."
"I wasn't going to leave you here defenceless" Lara exclaimed as she cut one of the ties from around Kurtis' wrist. His arm fell limp with him not having the strength to hold it upright.
"Lean yourself on me" Lara said, preparing to cut the ties on the second wrist. When it looked like he was going to protest; she exclaimed "I won't break y'know".
With that, Kurtis draped one arm over Lara's shoulder and tried to hoister himself upright. In the midst of it, Kurtis felt his other arm be cut away from the ceiling beam. Lara helped hold him steady and signalled to Bryce through the window.
Who's that?
Bryce, he's going to help us.
Tell me you didn't bring the whole crew.
Indeed I did. You can't expect me to help you on my own.
Do you have my chirugai?
Yes, but you don't have the strength to be using it right now.
True. Did you meet Byron?
Not yet. Probably a good idea as when I get a hold of him; he's going to wish he didn't lay a finger on you.
Lara, please! He's a person's worst nightmare.
I'll bet he is.
Lara then felt the mental connection break down as Kurtis slumped against her. She knew that his strength was depleting, but couldn't do anything about it as she half-carried, half-dragged him to the entrance of the hut. She heard Bryce create a diversion outside and took that as her opportunity to get them out of the hut.
Bryce couldn't feel anything but sympathy when he saw Lara drag Kurtis out of the hut unconscious. He jogged over to them and offered Lara a hand. Kurtis had one arm over Lara and the other over Bryce. When he began to come to, Kurtis saw Byron standing not too far away. He tried to remove himself from the grasp of Lara and Bryce, failing miserably.
"Ms Croft," Byron spat. "Taking property that does not belong to you is stealing. And stealing from one such as myself may cost you your life."
"I didn't know that my friend here was of such value to you" Lara said venomously.
"Oh he is of more value than you could imagine" Byron said, casting an evil glare at Kurtis.
"You can leave him now. He is my responsibility from now on" Lara said, looking into Byron's evil eyes.
"Ahhh but he is of so much use to me Ms Croft" Byron said frowning.
"If you even breathe in his direction ever again I will guarantee that you will leave Egypt in a wooden box" Lara said threateningly.
"There won't be anything you could do Ms Croft," Byron said daringly. "He is my property."
"Again I will warn you, if you come anywhere near any of my people you will wish you had never been born." Lara warned him, glaring at him with her eyes narrowed.