Even after everything Kurtis had seen in the past, it was still a shock to see what Lara was having nightmares about. Alex should be dead right now but he isn't. Kurtis let go of Lara's hand and opened his eyes. He was now exhausted. Seeing a shadow in the corner of his eye, he turned to see Alex sat in the corner of the room, appearing to be in deep thought.
Alex was still contemplating the gashes that had been across Lara's palms. They were barely noticeable scars now. He began to remember everything that had happened after the temple. Alex had ended up spending the night at Croft Manor with Lara. They hadn't done anything, Lara had been having trouble sleeping and having Alex there with her had relaxed her. She had slept soundly with him there; so he spent the night sat in Lara's four-poster bed, holding Lara as she slept.
When the morning had come, Alex had gone back to his apartment. He had left his cell phone number with Hillary and had asked him to call if there were any problems. There was never any need for Hillary to call, Lara could handle whatever she came across. Alex had received a call however, when Lara had nearly gotten herself killed going to Greece and retrieving an orb. Alex had tried to get into contact with Lara, but she had refused all attempts. He had only gotten into contact with her after Sheridan had forced himself on her when she had said no.
*It was two fifteen in the morning when Alex West stumbled into his apartment. He had gone out with an old friend for a drink which then turned into playing poker. Alex threw his keys down onto the table beside the front door and placed his cell phone next to it. After falling over, twice, Alex finally made it to his sofa and went into a drunken slumber.
Alex was then awoken at three a.m. by his cell phone letting out its delightful tune. He fumbled around in his pockets until he realized that it was on the table. He walked over to the table and flipped open his cell phone, not even looking at the caller ID.
"Hello?" Alex asked when no-one started speaking. He was quite relieved when it turned out to be Hillary.
"Mr West, is Lara currently with you?" Hillary asked, his tone giving away his frantic fear.
"No, why? Is something wrong?" Alex asked, suddenly sober.
"Lara didn't return home this afternoon. She was running errands in London, she said she would be back at nine last night but she didn't return and she hasn't called. Alex, I think something's seriously wrong." Hillary informed Alex.
"I'll find her Hillary. Don't worry" Alex replied confidently before closing his cell phone, ending the call. Alex began to think of ways to find Lara when his cell phone rang again. This time he checked the caller ID. The screen flashed the name Lara. He hastily flipped the phone open.
"Hello? Lara? Where are you?" Alex asked, his tone becoming frantic. All he heard on the other end was the sound of muffled screams. "Lara, are you okay? Answer me damn it". He then heard a scratching sound and then Lara's voice.
"Alex? Alex! Help me plea-"Lara said, sounding hysterical. She had been interrupted mid-sentence as Alex heard her voice get further and further away. Alex went over to his landline phone and called Croft Manor.
"Croft Manor..." Hillary's voice came from the other end of the line.
"Hillary, tell Bryce to track Lara's cell phone and send me the co-ordinates" Alex said, his tone saying he was not to be argued with.
"Certainly Mr West. May I ask what the new found rush is?" Hillary asked calmly.
"You're right Hillary. Something is seriously wrong." Alex replied before putting the phone down. His cell phone buzzed with a new message. Bryce had located Lara's cell phone about five miles from London – where she had supposed to have been earlier in the day. Alex grabbed his coat from the hanger, got his keys from the table and set off to his car. He put the co-ordinates into his sat-nav and drove to the location.
It was a deserted stretch of road. He saw Lara's Aston Martin straight off, parked just off the road. Upon a more thorough examination; Alex saw that both the front passenger and driver's side doors were wide open and the headlights left on.
Alex grabbed his gun from the glove compartment and placed the magazine into it. Loading a clip into the chamber, Alex stepped out of his own vehicle. He scanned his surroundings before proceeding to Lara's car. He noticed blood was on the driver's seat and the steering wheel. Alex knew that, that would be Lara's blood. "Oh god" Alex said before wiping his brow. There was an empty shell cartridge on the floor beside the driver's side door. Alex stepped away from Lara's car when he heard muffled screams coming from a vast set of trees nearby.
Taking a slow pace to the trees, Alex stepped cautiously towards them with his gun held in front. He then heard Lara, she was screaming. Alex picked up the pace and went into the forest. That's when he saw Lara. She was being held up by her wrists to a tree, facing it. Alex stepped cautiously towards Lara's assailant. This meant getting a closer look at Lara. She was crying; something Lara never did except when she thought about her father. Her normally crisp attire was creased and had blood on them. Lara looked like she had been beaten ten times over. She had a nosebleed, her lip was bleeding profoundly and she had a gash across her upper arm.
Alex heard her sobbing. His heart constricted at the thought of someone harming her. He stood behind a tall tree trunk and was listening to the conversation.
"Listen to me, Croft. You're going to call your little boyfriend back and tell him that you're perfectly fine; just running a little late..." The assailant, who turned out to be Terry Sheridan, ordered. "Then me and you can have some fun, eh Croft?"
"Anything, just don't hurt him" Lara sobbed. "If you want me to call him back then I'll need my cell phone". Sheridan brought up her contacts and rang Alex's phone, which to Alex's advantage, was still on the passenger seat in his car. When the call went through, Sheridan placed the phone next to Lara's ear. She left him a voicemail, acting as though Alex had picked up. When she had done; Sheridan closed the phone, ending the call.
Throwing the phone to the ground, Sheridan crushed the phone with his foot, effectively breaking it. He then made Lara face him. She was still sobbing heavily, unable to stop. She tilted her head down and closed her eyes, whispering her apologies into the cold, crisp air. Sheridan lifted her face up so she would have to look at him. Terry trailed kisses from her mouth, heading down to her throat. Lara turned her head away and closed her eyes again. This time her apologies were to Alex.
"I'm so sorry, Alex..." Lara whispered, her voice barely there at all. "...this wasn't supposed to happen...I hope you'll forgive me..." She began sobbing again. Alex shifted from behind the tree. Lara had opened her eyes and looked into the distance, anything to stop herself having to look at Terry. That was when she saw Alex. Her eyes filled with tears again at the sight of her close friend that had once been her lover. She didn't want him to have to see this, her lowest point; not being strong enough to force Sheridan off. Alex spotted that Lara had seen him and mouthed the words 'count to ten and then go to your left'. She nodded and then tore her gaze from him to look at the floor. Lara was counting inside her head; by the time she got to four, Sheridan had one hand restraining her wrists and the other slowly caressing her athletic body. When she got to ten, she violently pulled her wrists from Terry's grasp and dived to her left. Alex shot Terry in his right thigh before stepping towards him. Lara was clutching onto a nearby tree trunk before she sank down to her knees and let out a muffled scream.
Alex dashed over to her and pulled her to his chest. She sobbed into his chest for about five minutes until Sheridan started shouting.
"Are you the boyfriend or her latest fling?" Sheridan asked. Alex shot him a frosty glare and then turned back to Lara. He lifted her chin up so he could look at her.
"Lara? You okay?" Alex asked, looking at her injuries. She let out a whimper as he probed her lip where it was still bleeding. "Lara, I'm gonna help you to the car and then we're gonna get you back to the Manor" Alex said, helping Lara to her feet. He put his arm around her whilst she clung onto him. Guiding her to his car, Alex escorted her into the passenger seat. She fumbled with the seatbelt and after three attempts; put her head into her hands and cried openly. Alex pulled the seatbelt around her and secured her in the seat. He then went around the car and got in himself. After they had been driving for forty minutes, Lara was leaning in her seat facing away from Alex, with her head against the window; letting the tears fall. Alex took one of her hands and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Lara entwined their fingers together, seeking comfort from one of the best people in her life.
Alex remembered that night well - it wasn't exactly a night that could easily be forgotten. He had ensured that her car was returned to her in good condition, with all the blood removed from the upholstery. It was an expensive bill but it was worth it for the one he loved...