Chapter 2: In the Dark

She ran as fast as her exhausted body could go but the enemy was catching up to her. And with no bullets left, she had no choice but to race for her life. She found herself dashing into the city and running into alleys, one of which was inconspicuous enough to hide in; with the opportunity to rest at hand, she leaned against a wall and slid down on her knees.

'Just for a little bit, for a little longer so I can catch my breath...' She thought to herself when she heard his laughter.

Quickly scanning her surroundings as she searched for him, she took off again. Lara had taken a left turn into another alley and found herself trapped; unfortunately, the wall was too high to climb. The laughter was heard yet again, this time from directly behind her. Quickly turning around, Karel was just a few feet away from her, a sinister smirk on his face as he just stood there.

"You could have joined me, Lara, instead you favor that Lux Veritatis warrior over me." The man stated as he looked at her, Lara could see those icy and cold blue eyes of his that held no empathy for life, just evil.

"And I'll do it again if I have to." she hissed at him but only noticed the smirk on his face. Her pulse started to slow down as she faced her greatest rival.

"Silly mortal, joining him won't save this world from me, I'll make sure of that." he laughs mockingly.

Lara's glare turned to one of confusion as she thought about his words, of the groups to oppose Joachim Karel, only one group existed to stand against his terror. It almost sounded as if he intended to find and kill the last of them... but Kurtis was already gone, the last of his kind to carry on the crusade against their sworn enemy. Are there more of them left, hiding? The questions went through her head but found no answers.

"What do you mean?! Kurtis is dead!" She yelled when he started laughing, "What are you laughing at!?"

"The famous Lara Croft believes that Kurtis Trent is still dead... Ignorant mortal, he is alive, he was rescued."

"I don't believe you!" She denied the claim as she looked for a way to get out of there.

Karel offered his hand as he regarded her with a look that almost looked like pity. "You can trust me, Lara Croft. Take my hand and I'll show you where he is." Lara looked at the hand waiting for hers in disbelief, for how she trust him? This was Karel, the one who manipulated everyone for his goal accordingly. And yet, manipulative as he was, there was a possibility that he spoke the truth.

She closed her eyes and began to approach him and stretched out her hand for his, but she stopped when she heard an unfamiliar voice.

"Lara, it's a trap!"

Someone drops from above and stands between Lara and Karel, a woman by the looks of it. "Karel, step away from Miss Croft or you'll feel the spear of the Light of Truth." Lara stood quiet as the woman stood between them, her back turned and obscuring her visage from the tomb raider. She noted the woman stood straight even in the face of one of the Nephilim, her stance ready for combat and unyielding at her enemy.

"Oh, so Kalley has come out to play as well," Karel smirked; Lara noted that he sounded almost happy.

"I am done hiding from you-"

A knock on the door woke Lara up from her nightmare. She rubbed her eyes as she sat up on the bed, groaning in protest at having to get up. This was the fifth time this week that she has had the same nightmare, somehow it always ended unchanged.

The knocking was heard again, she climbed out of bed and walked up to the door, peering through the small gap. Room service, she smiled and opened the door.

The lady handed Lara a note. "Morning Miss Croft, a man called a few seconds ago asking for you."

"Thank you," she replied, taking the note.

The Lady then said, "If there's nothing else, I'll leave you be," looking at Lara who shook her head, the door closing as she left. The note in hand, the retired tomb raider sat on her bed and began to read.

'Dear Lara,

Please come and see me today ASAP in London. Meet me at the British Museum at 11 am.

From,

Jake Diener

Lara smiled, it had been so long ago that she saw or heard from Jake, they had been friends at the university, and he was interested in history more than finding tombs like Lara. She remembers him saying once that all the answers were in history books, ranging from ancient texts, scrolls, codex, and much more.

She put the note in her backpack and walked to the bathroom to tidy herself up. Standing in front of the mirror, she pulled her hair out of the loosened braid that she had forgotten to take out last night. She then opened the hot water tap of the sink, washed the sleep off her face, and took a towel to dry her face. She finishes her routine by brushing her hair with a comb.

She got dressed in some denim jeans, black and white top with her boots, grabbed her backpack, and headed out and down to the hotel's restaurant where she ordered some beans and eggs on toast with a cup of tea. While she waited for her breakfast, she thought back on her recurring dream, wondering about the reason she was still having this dream. Was the universe trying to tell her something or is her heart just so broken that she needs a little hope of seeing Kurtis again? Was the dream there so she becomes aware of something she hasn't seen yet? Then her mind went to Jake, what on earth did he want to talk about with her? How did he even find her?

She sighed as she noticed the waiter coming up to her table with her food. It would not do to think on an empty stomach at the very least. All in due time, she would have her answers.