Chapter 13: Breaking in

Louvre

Paris

17 November 2003

20:00

Lara Croft

In the shadowy recesses behind the grand façade of the Louvre, Lara moved stealthily, her every step calculated and deliberate. Her objective was clear, and she approached a storm drain at the back of the renowned museum. With a determined effort, she pried the maintenance hole open, revealing a dark and inviting slope that led her into the bowels of the structure.

Sliding down the slope, Lara found herself in what appeared to be part of the museum's intricate watering system. She took a moment to gather her bearings, her keen instincts guiding her toward her destination.

"Just where I need to be," she whispered to herself, a sense of purpose propelling her forward.

Following the tunnel ahead, Lara soon encountered a shallow pool. Her eyes scanned the surroundings, and she spotted a submerged tunnel beneath the water's surface. Without hesitation, she leaped into the cold water, her breath catching as the frigidness of the winter season gnawed at her senses.

"I hate cold water in the winter," she thought but pressed on, her determination unwavering.

Ignoring the discomfort, Lara dived beneath the water and swam forward through the wide tunnel. She then made a choice, entering a narrow passage on the left that sloped downward. As she waded deeper into the water, she eventually reached a small flooded room where several tunnels converged.

Her keen instincts kicked in as she assessed her options, realizing that she might have to find a way to shut down the water flow to progress further.

"Might have to find a place where I can shut down the water," she contemplated.

Examining her surroundings, Lara discovered a ladder leading to a small room with a valve. However, it was sealed with a protective cage. She retrieved Werner's notebook, the invaluable guide to her mission, and found a small piece of information related to the Louvre.

"If I want to go underground, I'll need to go to the main office to unlock some of the locks," she read aloud, her mind already racing ahead to the next step.

"Need to find the main office," Lara concluded.

With determination and purpose, she took out her map and studied it once more, tracing the path she needed to follow to reach her destination.

"I need to get to that part, but it's blocked off by a fan," Lara muttered as she folded the map and prepared to make her way through the intricate underground passages.

Pressing forward, she navigated through the narrow hallway and moved on through two open doors, eventually finding herself in another wider tunnel. Turning right, she continued her journey until she reached a hub, where numerous wider tunnels converged.

However, it was at this hub that Lara encountered an unexpected obstacle—a deep hole that yawned in the middle of the passageway. She stumbled slightly as she circled the rim, her focus shifting to the challenge that lay ahead.

Lara carefully considered her predicament as she stood near the ominous hole in the floor. The danger was evident, and she knew that a misstep would lead to dire consequences.

"That was close. If I fall in the hole, I'm dead," she muttered to herself, her voice hushed but filled with the gravity of the situation.

With a sense of urgency, Lara glanced at the water cascading from above, the sound serving as a constant reminder of the challenges that lay ahead. She retrieved her map once more and scanned through it, identifying the path that would lead her into the heart of the Louvre.

"That's my way to get into the Louvre," she concluded, determination gleaming in her eyes.

Turning her attention to the left, Lara placed the map back in her backpack and ascended a nearby pipe. She reached a walkway above and pulled herself up, her agility and strength on full display.

Lara followed the walkway's edge until she found a switch, and with a decisive motion, she shut it off.

"That should stop the huge fan in the other room," she noted, her actions calculated and precise.

However, her journey was far from over. Across a gap in the walkway, Lara spotted another valve, but it was too wide for her to jump across.

"I'll find another way to that valve," she resolved, unwilling to let any obstacle thwart her progress.

Descending the pipe and returning to the lower level, Lara followed the room's edge until she reached a tunnel with a prominent curved pipe protruding from it. She continued along the tunnel away from the hub, her determination pushing her forward.

Near the tunnel's end, Lara discovered a short ladder on her right. Climbing the ladder, she reached the fan that she had previously turned off, only to find that it was missing a blade.

"I'll need to move it so the broken part is at the opening, and I can crawl through with no trouble," she mused, her problem-solving skills at the forefront.

With a determined effort, Lara tugged at the fan's blades until she successfully rotated it, positioning the side with the missing blade at the opening.

"That should do it," she confirmed, satisfied with her handiwork.

Crawling on all fours under the fan, Lara continued forward to the first valve switch and turned it until it closed completely.

"One down, a few more to go," she acknowledged, her mission progressing steadily.

Lara's keen instincts led her to a vent further along the tunnel. Peering through it, she found herself atop the main office. She wasted no time and pried the vent open, slipping down into the heart of the Louvre's operations. There, she spotted the switch to open the cage for the next valve.

"Now to check if it's opened," Lara muttered, her determination unwavering.

Climbing back up the vent's opening, she retraced her steps, crawling underneath the fan, and vaulted over the railing into the wider tunnel. She continued left toward the hub, following the edge of the room until she reached the opposite tunnel. Progressing steadily, she made her way to the small room she had visited before.

And there, she found the evidence of her success.

"It worked," Lara whispered to herself, a sense of accomplishment washing over her as she continued her relentless pursuit of the Obscura paintings and the challenges that lay ahead in the heart of the Louvre.

With precision and determination, Lara continued her journey through the intricate underground passages beneath the Louvre, systematically closing valves and manipulating the flow of water to progress toward her goal.

Opening the cage around the second valve, Lara heard the satisfying click that indicated success. She retraced her steps through the narrow hallway, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit tunnels, and turned right, heading back into the hub.

Climbing a vertical pipe once more, she reached the middle level of the hub and deftly walked across a black and yellow crossbeam to access the third valve. With a twist, water began filling the shaft below, signaling her progress.

Lara descended back into the pool, her agile movements underwater a testament to her skill. She navigated the twists and turns of the tunnel with ease, arriving at the next room unscathed.

Using a collapsed catwalk as a makeshift ladder, she climbed out of the pool and followed a walkway to a break in the railing. A precise jump allowed her to grab onto a horizontal pipe, and she shimmied her way to the middle of the room. There, she dropped onto another black and yellow crossbeam and turned the fourth valve with practiced efficiency.

Despite the apparent ease of her progress, Lara couldn't shake a lingering sense of caution.

"This is too easy," she thought, her instincts urging her to remain vigilant.

Returning to the center of the crossbeam, she jumped up to the pipe once more, skillfully traversing it to the other side. Climbing a bent catwalk to reach higher ground, she followed the walkway around the room in a counterclockwise fashion. A well-timed leap allowed her to clear a gap in the walkway, and she soon located the fifth valve, sealing it shut.

With each valve she closed, Lara drew closer to her objective, but she remained mindful of the challenges that lay ahead. She retraced her steps, jumping gaps and navigating the maze-like walkways until she emerged back at the top of the first hub.

"How many valves are left before the water's closed?" Lara pondered, her determination unwavering.

Stepping onto the black and yellow crossbeam, she positioned herself beneath a narrow pipe that traversed the shaft. A well-timed jump allowed her to grab the pipe, and she made her way across it, finally landing on a small ledge near the sixth valve. With a final twist, the water flow from the massive pipe ceased.

Lara knew she was getting closer to her destination, but she couldn't afford to become complacent. She climbed the narrow pipe once more, traversing it to reach the black and yellow beam. Making her way to the far end, she entered the large pipe that had previously been blocked by the surging water.

"Now to find the right spot to blow a hole in the wall," Lara contemplated as she stepped into the next area.

As she moved forward, a distinctive smell filled the air.

"I smell some oil," she noted, her senses on high alert.

Surveying the room, Lara spotted two fuel tanks, and a quick glance at her map revealed their locations. One was obscured by building materials, while the other stood some distance away.

A crucial decision lay before her. Placing the map back in her inventory, Lara approached the tank that was farthest from the building materials. With deftness born of experience, she attached an explosive device to it.

"I better dive," she mused, her anticipation building.

With a graceful backflip, Lara submerged herself in the water just as the tank exploded, unleashing a fiery inferno that scorched the surface.

Remaining underwater, she surveyed her surroundings, taking note of two openings. She chose the one closest to the fuel tanks, swimming to the left, taking the next right, and then turning left once more. Beyond the pipe's end, she found herself on dry ground, her path now clear.

Lara ascended a tunnel overlooking the flaming pool, a silent reminder of her explosive actions. She knew she had to exercise caution as she moved forward.

"Better be careful," she reminded herself, her determination unwavering.

With a well-calculated drop from the tunnel opening, Lara landed on a walkway below, turning to face the flaming pool. She proceeded cautiously to the left, her eyes fixed on her objective.

Navigating the walkway, she reached a ladder and climbed up, ultimately jumping to a ledge in front of the left set of fuel tanks. With a skillful leap to the left, she avoided the flames that danced perilously close.

"That was too close," she admitted, acknowledging the narrow escape.

Pressing on, she continued through the hole she had created in the wall, finding herself in a lower gallery of the Louvre, with a conspicuous gold door beckoning her forward.

"I'm in," Lara whispered to herself, her excitement mounting as she ventured further into the heart of the museum, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her in her pursuit of the Obscura paintings.


Louvre

Paris

17 November 2003

20:00

Kurtis Trent

The city lay shrouded in darkness, its usual hustle and bustle subdued by the late hour. Kurtis, astride his motorcycle, approached the museum with a calculated calmness. He knew the importance of stealth and subterfuge in his line of work, and tonight was no exception. Parking his motorcycle a block away from his target, he left it behind, preferring to proceed on foot to minimize any risk of drawing unwanted attention.

As he approached the museum, Kurtis became acutely aware of the need to assess the security measures in place. His sharp eyes scanned the vicinity, searching for signs of security cameras or patrolling guards. The darkness concealed his movements, but he remained vigilant.

His focus honed in on a tall, metallic fence that served as the barrier to his entry point. Such obstacles were familiar to Kurtis, and he had the skills to overcome them. With practiced grace, he scaled the fence, the cool metal meeting his hands as he hoisted himself over the top. Landing on the other side, he moved with the fluidity of a seasoned professional, tucking into a crouch and taking cover behind nearby bushes.

In the shadows, Kurtis bided his time, his senses attuned to any potential threats. Suddenly, a beam of light sliced through the darkness, momentarily blinding him. The voice of a guard speaking into a nearby radio reached his ears, causing his heart to race.

"Negative might have been an animal or something," the voice on the radio said.

Kurtis let out a silent breath of relief, realizing that he had not been detected. With cat-like stealth, he approached the guard who had wielded the flashlight. Before the man could react, Kurtis applied a swift and efficient maneuver, locking his elbow around the guard's neck until he lost consciousness. He gently placed the unconscious guard on the ground, swiftly rifling through his belongings to retrieve ammunition and a security pass.

Moving silently towards the museum's entrance, Kurtis maintained a keen ear on the guard's radio chatter. A message from the main office filtered through, alerting him to the presence of a woman matching Lara Croft's description. Kurtis understood the gravity of the situation; he had no desire to cross paths with Lara or her associates, having heard tales of her formidable abilities.

Leaving the bushes behind, Kurtis sprinted towards one of the museum's discreet backdoors. With a deep breath, he swiped the stolen security pass, tension mounting as he awaited the verdict. The green light that flashed indicated success; he was inside, one step closer to his mission's objective.


Louvre

Paris

17 November 2003

20:45

Lara Croft

Lara approached the museum with a feeling of trepidation. As she walked towards the entrance, a chill ran down her spine. She had always found empty buildings unsettling, and the museum was no exception. There was something about the stillness of a deserted place that made her feel uncomfortable as if the silence was suffocating her.

She had permission to enter the museum, but as she stepped inside, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The place felt like a mortuary, with the absence of any movement or sound. It was as if life had been drained out of it, leaving behind only an empty shell.

Lara had always been drawn to museums, fascinated by the stories and histories that they held within their walls. But today, she found herself feeling disconnected from it all. Without the energy of a crowd, the museum felt like a sterile, lifeless place.

The experience of visiting an empty museum has never been a pleasant one for me.

As Lara ascended the stairs to the empty galleries, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The museum was a place that was meant to be bustling with people, not a silent tomb. Even though she had permission to be there, Lara felt like an intruder in the quiet halls. The only source of light came from the few red up-lighters illuminating the paintings, casting an eerie glow over the space. Lara moved carefully, her senses heightened as she listened for any sounds of movement.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching, and Lara quickly hid behind a pillar. A man passed by, oblivious to her presence, and Lara swiftly attacked him, rendering him unconscious. She continued up the stairs and opened a door that led to a large gallery filled with artwork. At the far end, she saw a guard from one of the paintings, and he was reaching for his gun. Without hesitation, Lara rushed at him, breaking his left arm and punching him in the temple to knock him out.

Lara searched the unconscious guard and discovered a pass that granted access to restricted areas of the museum. With the pass in hand, she moved down the corridor, her zapper at the ready to protect herself from any potential threats. As she approached a door, Lara carefully peeked inside and was greeted by a stunning hallway. The vaulted ceiling was supported by slender columns made of pearly marble, adorned with exquisite sculptures of deities. The moonlight streaming through the windows added to the hall's beauty, but the red lights dotting the walls and columns served as a reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows.

Lara cautiously made her way through the hallway, keeping low to avoid the laser traps. She couldn't help but think that her larger assets were making it more difficult for her to maneuver. As she reached the end of the hall, a notice board caught her attention. It provided information about the ongoing archaeological excavation taking place beneath the museum's foundations. While this was a welcome sign of progress, Lara's primary access card failed to unlock the entrance to the excavation area located in a nearby alcove. Using C4 explosives would be too risky and attract too much attention. She needed Carvier's security pass to get through.

Fortunately, Lara found Carvier's office without much difficulty and encountered only a few guards on the way. To her surprise, the Department of Medieval and Renaissance Research was located in a modern complex adjacent to the Palais, rather than in the historic building itself. It seemed that the department had embraced a forward-thinking approach, balancing preserving the past with working toward the future. Lara's objective was to reach the dig site without causing a commotion and risking her career. With Carvier's security pass in hand, she was one step closer to her goal.

Lara carefully observed the ordinary office doors as she walked down the corridor, taking note of the plates displaying titles such as "Oils Restoration" and "X-Ray and Spectral Imaging." She continued down the hallway until she came across a door marked "Private: Security Personnel Only." As she approached, she noticed a lone guard lounging in a chair facing several CCTV monitors. A half-eaten pastry and a cup of cooling coffee cluttered the desk before him. Lara applied the same neck-grip technique she had used on the goon in Le Serpent Rouge, causing the guard to jolt and sigh in response.

Quietly and efficiently, Lara disabled the cameras in Madame Carvier's office using a generic pass that she had acquired. With the help of the pass, she gained access to the room, and the locking mechanism indicated success with a green flash. Upon entering, Lara surveyed the office with a sense of admiration. The photographs on the desk, elegantly arranged and presumably depicting Madame's family and friends, caught her attention. "Let's see what we can find," she whispered to herself, determined to uncover any clues that may lead her closer to her goal.

It was evident that Carvier's penchant for meticulousness extended to her professional life as well. The office was impeccably tidy, with a perfect balance of antique and modern furnishings. The interior featured a tasteful combination of mahogany, rosewood, and dark oak, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. The Persian rug in front of the modest fireplace was an exquisite touch, lending an air of sophistication and luxury to the space.

As Lara stepped closer to the paintings by the mantelpiece, her eyes were immediately drawn to the largest and most prominent canvas. It depicted a man, naked and bound in a manner reminiscent of crucifixion, but his arms were restrained by his sides, and a leather hood concealed his features. In the background, a Germanic-style castle lurked, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the painting. Lara couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and intrigue as she gazed at the artwork, wondering about its meaning and significance.

Next to the painting, she noticed a book with a notepad acting as a bookmark. The clipped, precise handwriting on the notepad could have only belonged to Carvier. "The Obscura Paintings," Lara muttered to herself as she read the details, committing them to memory. "Five images painted on thick wooden bases...Similar to Russian icons then," she paused and wondered, "I guess?" before continuing to read the notes.

"The paintings were created by the Black Alchemist, Pieter Van Eckhardt, in the thirteenth or fourteenth century. The paintings were seized by the Lux Veritatis and painted over with religious imagery. Each painting has a metallic symbol of power built into it, and together the five paintings hide something called the Sanglyph, or the 'Blood Sign'." The more Lara read, the more her instincts kicked in, and she felt a rush of excitement. She was still on the right track.

She noticed that the Black Alchemist's name, Pieter Van Eckhardt, was the same as Werner's client, which was a bit of a coincidence. She continued to scan through the notes and discovered that the Obscura Engravings were encrypted maps to each painting's secret location, which were made by the Lux Veritatis monk, Brother Obscura. Lara couldn't believe her luck. She had just stumbled upon the information she needed to uncover the Sanglyph.

As Lara left Madame Carvier's office, she couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt wash over her. She had just stolen information about something that could potentially change the course of history, and it made her feel like a thief. She had never felt this way before, even when she had taken ancient artifacts from tombs and ruins. But this time, it was different. Maybe it was because she had met Madame Carvier and had been in her home. Lara understood something of her style, and it made her feel like she had crossed a line.

Despite her conflicted feelings, Lara pushed them aside and focused on her mission. She crept down the stairwell at the hall's far end, careful to make as little noise as possible. Her shadow darted across the walls, and the clanking of her footsteps echoed in the eerily quiet place. She couldn't help but wonder where all the guards were. It seemed strange that such a valuable artifact was being left unguarded.

Lara arrived at Galerie 3 and approached the locked door leading to the dig site. She swiped Carvier's security pass and nudged the door open, relieved that the locking mechanism indicated success with a green flash. As she entered the dig site, she took note of her surroundings. The room was dimly lit, with a few flickering lights illuminating the area. The air was thick with dust and the musty smell of old artifacts.

Lara noticed that the dig site was completely deserted. She had expected to see guards patrolling the area or workers diligently excavating the site. But instead, there was no one in sight. It was as if everyone had suddenly disappeared. Lara couldn't help but feel uneasy about the situation. She had a bad feeling about what she might find at the dig site.

As she walked through the dimly lit space, Lara scanned the area for any clues or information that might help her in her quest. She saw several wooden crates piled up in a corner, covered in a thick layer of dust. There were also a few shovels and pickaxes scattered on the ground as if they had been abandoned mid-use. It was clear that the dig site had been left in a hurry.

Lara's instincts told her that she was getting closer to the Obscura Paintings. She could feel it in her bones. She pushed on, her eyes scanning every inch of the room for any signs of the artifacts she was after. She knew that time was running out, and she needed to find the paintings before it was too late.

As she rounded a corner, Lara saw a glint of light reflecting off something in the distance. She hurried towards it, her heart pounding with anticipation. As she got closer, she could see that it was a small wooden chest, intricately carved with strange symbols and designs. She could feel the excitement building within her as she realized that this might be it - the key to unlocking the mystery of the Obscura Paintings.