Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Lara and Sam.
Author's Note: Slightly longer wait than usual, but as I was writing this chapter a lot of new ideas started popping into my head so there was a lot of editing and planning. Still, I hope it paid off. Do enjoy!
"Game! Of course, it's the computer game shop!" Lara exclaimed, staring at the purple GAME logo at the top of her screen. "How did I not realise that?!"
She shook her head disapprovingly at herself for not working it out sooner. When Lara lived in England it had been one of her favourite shops. Despite not being very good at computer games (she wasn't actually that interested in them), as a child she visited the place a lot with her next-door neighbour and it was a place that, ironically, opened her eyes to the real world. Game was the workplace to many computer game fanatic stereotypes. Lara would often hear people smirk or make a snide comment about the employees there. It pissed her off. As a child she failed to understand why it was acceptable for people to make fun of other people because they were passionate about their hobby or job. More than the anger that she felt, though, Lara felt respect for the employees. They weren't afraid to be themselves and be happy about it. They would give great customer service and help anyone with anything they needed. Each day that Lara aged, she understood how it was acceptable for these kinds of people to have the piss taken out of them... though she never understood why.
Taking all of this into account, Lara's breathing grew faster and her pulse increased. Cow Blood clearly knew this place had been a big part of her childhood and had, in fact, shaped parts of her life. If he didn't know such information, why would he use Game as part of his little riddle. It couldn't be coincidence. How did he know these things about her? And what was she supposed to do now that she knew the hidden word in the note? She still didn't have a clue why it was in there or what she had to do.
I need help, she thought to herself. Yet again, I need help.
Lara grabbed her jacket, despite the blistering heat emitting from the afternoon sun, before making sure all of the windows and doors were locked securely. Once she was convinced the house was burglar-proof, though she doubted this would prevent Cow Blood from leaving her another message, she got in her car and made her way to Dale Meadows. Harvey was always brilliant in a crisis.
When Lara arrived she didn't bother to check if anyone was following her- she was almost certain somebody would be. She marched into the café with her jacket slung over one arm, her back straight and her stride confident. Harvey grinned widely as soon as he saw her, but frowned when he realised she was alone.
"Lara, my darling. You have come here without Sam today, I see," he commented, letting her approach him at the counter.
"Could we go into your study?" Lara asked, quite aware that with a place as packed as this she wouldn't notice if someone was listening to her conversation.
Harvey nodded seriously and led Lara through a door that branched off from the side of the café. As soon as the door shut behind them, the endless buzz of voices from the café died out and was replaced with the familiar yet tense quiet of Harvey's corridor. The left hand side was a wall of portraits, all of which were pictures of Harvey's ancestors. As they walked on and got closer to the study, the portraits became newer and newer, the newest displaying Harvey's parents and their siblings. The right hand side sparked more interest in Lara though. Dark, waist-high cabinets lined the wall, shelving various old vases and pottery that obviously dated back to centuries ago. Some of the pottery came in ornaments or statues, where as other pieces simply were just pieces- age and soil had not been kind to them and had caused them to fall apart spectacularly. One particularly well cared for Greek vase caught Lara's eye and she stopped to admire it. It was pale orange in colour and had black silhouettes of humanoid figures painted on the side that faced her. One was a tall, gangly character and the other was a small and thin figure. She supposed it was a mother and child. Lara frowned at the ancient Greek style of the vase as she recalled seeing it in a book of modern mythology that she had flicked through at the library not so long ago. The vase hadn't been here the last time she had walked down this corridor.
"Say, Harvey..." she started. "Where did you get this?"
Harvey turned as he was shoving the key into the lock of his study. He squinted to see what Lara was referring to.
"Ah that," he smiled, walking over to join her. "That is of no value, I'm afraid. I bought it at a jumble sale a couple of weeks ago."
Lara chuckled. "But the rest of these vases are real art, Harvey. They're invaluable, irreplaceable pieces of art. And you're telling me you'll let this piece of... rubbish just sit around amongst them?"
"Oh Lara," Harvey laughed. "You make everything so dramatic. Just because this vase isn't old or expensive it doesn't make it any less beautiful. The kind man who sold it to me told me that this is a picture of a mother caring for a sick child."
Harvey pointed at how the taller character had its arm around the smaller one.
"I think that is art," he smiled, admiring the vase closely. "You, Lara Croft, only find dirty, buried statues beautiful. That is your only art."
Lara laughed harder. "I'm an archaeologist, Harvey. That's my job, you know that."
"Of course I do. Just something for you to think about, hm?"
Lara shrugged and followed as Harvey returned to unlocking the study. Once inside, Lara hoped for more archaeological (or apparently not so archaeological) ornaments to make an appearance, but she was disappointed as the room held only a chair, a desk and a pile of paperwork; it was the same as last time.
Harvey gestured for Lara to take the chair but she refused, insisting this would be a short visit and her legs could withstand the length of the conversation. As a result of this, they both remained standing.
"I just need to ask you a question," Lara started. "Where is the nearest Game?"
"Nearest game?" Harvey repeated. "Do you mean the nearest arcade, casino, brothel, what?"
"No, no. I mean the shop called Game. It sells computer games and consoles and... all that jazz," she explained hurriedly.
"I'm not sure I understand," frowned Harvey.
Lara took out her mobile and showed Harvey the shop she was looking for.
"Oh. Yes, of course. I know the place, but we do not have it here in the USA," he answered, shaking his head as though this was a great loss for him.
"What? What do you mean? Of course you have Game here, you must do," Lara insisted, desperately.
"I'm afraid not. Look there." Harvey pointed to the phone screen.
Lara followed his finger and sighed. He was right. It quite clearly stated that Game is a 'British video games retail company'.
"I suppose you are wanting a new game? If this is the case, there is a different video game store around the corner which-"
"No, it has to be Game," Lara murmured, not wanting to give too much away.
"Specifically? Hm... I think my British flower is missing her home country, wouldn't you say?"
Lara forced a smiled but sighed again. There was a pause before Harvey started rustling through some papers on his desk.
"You know, Lara, I recognise the Game logo. I'm sure I've seen it around here somewhere for a long time now," Harvey muttered.
Lara waited patiently as he rifled through his stacks of papers. She was hopeful but doubtful. It was unlikely that Harvey had seen the same logo if the shop wasn't even active in the USA.
Nevertheless, moments later he shouted, "Here it is!"
Lara looked up and saw that he was waving a flyer around.
"It came in the mail a couple of weeks ago."
Lara took the flyer and recognised the logo immediately. Harvey was correct again- the logo matched that of the official Game shop, but there was a small banner underneath that stated 'fan-made replica store'. Lara read on and found that a young man named Tom from Wales had moved to America two years ago and was 'devastated' to discover the country didn't have Game. To make up for this, he made his own video game shop in the style of Game: 'for all those Brits that miss the good ol' shops'. It stated that he collaborated with Game to replicate their shop with their consent.
"52 Northumberland Street," Lara read from the bottom of the flyer. "That's about a couple of streets away from the gym, isn't it?"
"It is," Harvey agreed, nodding. "Do you think you could get your desired video game from here?"
Lara was confused momentarily before realising she hadn't told Harvey the purpose of the trip so he probably figured a video game was what she was after.
"Oh yes. I think this shop will definitely have what I'm looking for," Lara murmured truthfully. "Thank you, Harvey. You've been a great help."
Lara allowed Harvey to lead her back through the bustle of the cafe and out to her car. Once in the driver's seat she rolled down the window.
"Thanks again for your help, Harvey," Lara said, forcing a smile. It was starting to hit home for her just how hard this task was going to be.
"Don't mention it," he replied. "But I must ask, Lara. Where is your beautiful Sam today?"
Lara blushed. "She's not my Sam, she-"
"Ah ah!" Harvey rebuked her. "You can't hide anything from me. You two are a very nice couple. I 'ship' you, as these young kids say nowadays."
Lara grinned and looked away.
"Oh!" Harvey exclaimed. "The video game is a surprise for her! I see now. Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
Harvey winked at her before waving her off as she drove away. Next stop: 52 Northumberland Street.
When Lara pulled up outside the shop she wasn't surprised to find it was empty. One of the windows was plastered with various posters advertising concerts and plays showing in the area, but the other window gave her a decent view of the shop. In the shop she could see a large range of video games and consoles as well as merchandise stacked up on shelves. The shop had a very purple theme to it and the Game logo was hung above the door and in the windows either side. On approaching the door, Lara could see a short man with bristly, brown hair sat behind the counter at the far end of the shop. He was frowning intently at a magazine and sipping from a cup of pop. She guessed he must be Tom.
She sighed. I might as well go for it. I have nothing to lose.
Lara was about to push the door open when something caught her eye. Amongst the mess of posters and flyers in the window sat a white piece of paper. It had deep red, streaming writing on it. Lara also noticed it was tacked onto the outside of the window as opposed to the rest which were taped on from the inside. She walked over to it and pulled it off the window. It was still wet.
Asking for help again, Lara? And here I was believing you to be an independent young woman. Still, you're here now. Enter the shop. Get your game. Play it.
Lara sighed and folded up the paper, careful not to let any of the blood drip on her. Obviously there had been eyes on her since she had left the house, but she had expected no less. She did as she was told and went inside the shop. Tom had disappeared from behind the counter, but there was an open door behind where he had been sat. Lara supposed he was in there. This raised suspicions in her, but she continued into the shop and made her way down some of the aisles, careful to keep an eye on the open door. She had no idea where to start- she didn't actually own a game console and she hadn't been given a clue to which game she needed. As she turned onto the last aisle, there was a note waiting for her on the floor.
Ask for assistance, Lara. After all, you did always find the staff rather helpful, didn't you?
Lara felt her blood pump faster as anger rose in her. This wasn't fair. Cow Blood seemed to know everything about her, no matter how personal- she knew next to nothing about him apart from the fact he was some kind of psychopath. Nevertheless, she cautiously made her way to the counter and cleared her throat.
"Excuse me," said Lara, ready to duck and run if she had to.
Tom appeared almost immediately, startling Lara into gasping.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Tom smiled, enthusiastically. "Oh... You must be Lara Croft."
"Must I?" Lara asked, eyebrows raised.
"Yes, I got a delivery for you only five minutes ago. Wait here, I'll be right back."
Lara bit her lip, unsure of whether she was safe or not. Still, Tom seemed nice enough and he returned with just a game in hand.
"I've never heard of this game before," Tom told Lara. "Either it's brand new, or it's not out yet and you're a very lucky lady."
Lara took the game from him and looked at the front cover. Her eyes widened and her heart started beating rapidly. She couldn't believe it.
The picture across the front was a dark, eerie setting. It looked like some sort of cellar. At the top it read "Nishimura Travels". In the middle of the cellar sat Sam. Sam. Not a CGI version of Sam. Sam. A photograph of the real Sam. Sam tied up in a chair with blood pouring down her wincing face. Lara trembled. The game dropped from her hands as she vomited into Tom's bin. This was sick.