Chapter 2: Lara's past about her uncle
Lara reclined on the plush sofa in the cozy confines of her study, the soft glow of lamplight casting warm hues across the room. The sweet, crisp aroma of the apple in her hand wafted through the air as she took a thoughtful bite, savoring the tangy sweetness. Her gaze lingered on the delicate necklace adorning her neck—a precious memento from her father, an artifact of sentimental value. Fingers traced the contours of the pendant as memories, like ethereal specters, began to unfold in her mind.
With a wistful sigh, Lara looked beyond the necklace, her eyes transcending the physical realm to delve into the recesses of time. The room seemed to hold its breath as echoes from the past resurfaced, creating an atmosphere heavy with the weight of nostalgia. The study, adorned with antique books and artifacts, stood as a silent witness to the tapestry of emotions woven by the threads of recollection.
In that reflective moment, the door swung open, and Kurtis entered the room, his presence disrupting the tranquility. He settled onto the opposite sofa, his gaze fixed upon Lara, an unspoken curiosity etched on his features. The apple, now a mere fragment, found its place on the table as Lara, with a languid grace, leaned back into the embrace of the sofa.
"What?" she inquired, her voice a gentle ripple in the hushed ambiance.
Kurtis, still locked in contemplation, broke the silence. "I was just wondering what happened between you and your uncle."
The exchange hung in the air like a delicate dance between two souls, each step laden with unspoken history. Lara, meeting his gaze, carefully placed the remaining piece of the apple on the table, a symbolic gesture marking the transition from the present to the narrative of the past.
"I did tell you," she replied, her words carrying the weight of untold stories.
"Yes, but not the whole story," Kurtis probed, his eyes searching for the nuances that eluded his understanding. "You just said that he had stolen an artifact from you to rule the world. So, tell me."
A negotiation of secrets unfolded, an unspoken pact of shared vulnerabilities. Lara, considering the terms, issued a stipulation. "If I tell you, then you must tell me something about yourself."
Kurtis, his curiosity piqued, accepted the terms with a nod. "Deal."
And so, the narrative unfurled, the threads of history weaving a tapestry of revelation as Lara began to recount the intricate tale that started years ago.
She had just commemorated her 20th birthday when an urgent message from Winston reached her, detailing the mysterious vanishing of her father years ago. A year had elapsed since She last trod the halls of Croft Manor, but the gravity of Winston's words compelled her to return. As she navigated her Jeep through the estate's majestic entrance, a flood of memories mingled with an ominous tension lingering in the air.
In casual yet adventurous attire—a black and white spotted t-shirt, shorts, and short boots—She presented a demeanor that mirrored her fearless spirit. A bun held her hair in check, though rebellious strands framed her face. Donning sunglasses, She parked the Jeep and emerged, the door closing with a decisive thud.
Approaching the formidable manor, she pressed the doorbell, catching a fleeting glimpse of her reflection in the window. A smile played on her lips as the door swung open, revealing Winston, who dropped a duster and bottles in astonishment.
"Lady Croft," he exclaimed, enveloping her in a tight hug.
"Hello, Winston," She greeted, removing her sunglasses.
"It's so good to see you, my dear," he gushed, releasing her.
"Thank you," Lara replied, tapping him on the back. His gaze then wandered to her Jeep, questioning its suitability for the impending funeral.
"It was on sale; a girl just can't refuse a bargain," She quipped, walking past him into the manor's hallowed halls, with Winston muttering about American imports in her wake.
The next day ushered in the arrival of her uncle, propelling her into a perilous expedition to a cave in pursuit of an artifact with the purported power to save the world. Successfully securing it, she commenced her return journey, only to overhear her uncle's voice in the distance. The sinister timbre sent shivers down her spine, and she cursed the day he entered their lives.
A burly man, dwarfing her in size, materialized and forcibly dragged her toward her uncle, who greeted her with a twisted smile. Extracting the artifact from her backpack, a cherished memento left by her father, he mused about her father's peculiar attachment to it.
"He never forgets this," he remarked, glancing at her, fueling frustration and anger within.
"That's what makes me wonder why he left it behind," Lara retorted defiantly. As Errol delved deeper into her bag, he uncovered a pistol and some knives and ammo. Attempting to intervene, she was shoved to the ground and commanded to sit.
Her uncle handed her bag to another henchman, dismissing her as inconsequential. In bitter tones, she questioned his familial ties.
"I'm your uncle," he claimed with a malevolent smile, dispelling the warmth that once defined their relationship.
"You're no relative of my father. You're a monster," She spat out, disbelief etched in harsh lines.
"We are following in his footsteps, are we? Monsters. Artifacts, Oooohhhh," he taunted theatrically, waving his hands. Seating himself beside her, he portrayed her father as the original Tomb Raider, reducing her to nothing more than a cave raider. He left her with an unsettling question—could her father still be alive?
Errol's nefarious intentions surfaced; he sought her demise. Commanding his men to eliminate her, he underestimated the resilience coursing through her veins. Escaping their clutches, she embarked on an unwavering pursuit, fueled by the determination to unravel the truth behind her father's enigmatic disappearance.
Kurtis absorbed the narrative of Lara's tumultuous past with an intensity reflected in his furrowed brows and thoughtful gaze. The revelation of her uncle's malevolence seemed to linger in the air, an unsettling truth that demanded acknowledgment. As she concluded her tale, Kurtis, unable to conceal his disbelief, posed a question.
"Well, you know now he is alive," Kurtis remarked, his eyes searching for confirmation. "Where is he?"
"He left a month ago to visit some people in Italy," Lara responded, her voice carrying a weight of complexity.
As the gravity of the situation settled, Kurtis absorbed the information, a silent acknowledgment of the twists and turns in Lara's life. The unfolding of her quest for answers prompted him to inquire further.
"What happened when you were looking for answers?"
"I got so busy going after Errol to save the world from that artifact that I never truly found out until last year," she revealed, her words unveiling the layers of her journey.
"At least he's back, your father," Kurtis said, rising from his seat to join Lara on the sofa.
"My father has changed a lot, and he's been up to something again, something he doesn't want to tell me," Lara confessed, a hint of concern clouding her expression.
"I'm sorry, Lara. I thought he might at least be around more now," Kurtis expressed, his empathy evident in his words.
"I'm over it; I have you," Lara reassured with a warm smile. "Now it's your turn to tell me about a part of your life."
The exchange of personal revelations became a bridge between their shared experiences, a testament to the connection that had blossomed amidst the intricacies of their respective histories. As Kurtis prepared to unveil a fragment of his own narrative, the air held a sense of anticipation, the unfolding of another chapter in the tapestry of their intertwined lives.