Chapter 15: The Amazonian's story

Paris, France

27 May 2004

06:15

Lara's breaths came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the labyrinthine alleys, the cold sweat clinging to her skin. The echo of her own footsteps reverberated off the grimy walls, but no matter how fast she ran, the ominous sound of pursuit lingered behind her. Her senses heightened, picking up the distant whispers of the city that was both her refuge and her battlefield. Neon lights flickered overhead, casting erratic shadows on the narrow path she carved through the urban jungle.

The narrowing alley forced her to confront the inevitable—a dead end. Panic surged through her veins as she skidded to a halt, the realization sinking in. "Shit," she muttered under her breath, desperation etching lines on her face. With swift, decisive movements, she pivoted, facing the oncoming threat with a mixture of defiance and dread.

The metallic tang of expended ammunition hung in the air as Lara assessed her dwindling options. Guns emptied, body aching from the relentless struggle, she stood at the precipice of her own limitations. The only escape route, now blocked by the imposing figure of Karel, left her trapped and vulnerable. A deep breath steadied her racing heart as she turned to confront her adversary.

"You can still join me," Karel's voice sliced through the tense silence, his hand extending towards her, a sinister offer in the face of imminent danger. The city sounds faded, leaving only the heartbeat of the impending confrontation.

"Never!" she hissed, defiance flashing in her eyes, a tempest of emotions raging beneath the surface.

"You're choosing the Lux boy over me," Karel's laughter echoed, carrying a cruel certainty. "His days are up."

"And I'll do it again and again!" Lara's retort reverberated through the confined space, a declaration of unwavering loyalty.

"Stupid mortal, so be it," Karel dismissed her with a chilling finality. The screech of tires marked the arrival of a black van, ominous and foreboding. Two formidable figures emerged, their presence casting an imposing shadow on the unfolding drama.

With mechanical precision, they extracted a bound figure from the van, a captive shrouded in darkness. Lara strained to see through the uncertainty, anxiety knotting her stomach. The captive's faces was hidden, hands bound, and they were forced to their knees in ominous submission. Guns trained on the captive, the hired muscle became silent spectators in this sinister theater.

"You're not going to win, Karel," Lara's voice resonated with unyielding determination. The fear that clawed at her heart intensified as she pieced together the unfolding nightmare.

Karel, wielding a Periapt shard masquerading as a knife, advanced with malevolent intent. A brief pause, and the realization struck—her worst fears materialized. "I will win. After I kill you both." Karel's ominous words hung in the air as the shard plunged into the captive's heart.

In a moment of heart-wrenching horror, the truth unfolded as Karel revealed his captive. The bag was pulled away, revealing a face Lara knew too well. A gasp caught in her throat as she witnessed the life force drain from Kurtis, his blue eyes closing in a rapid descent into darkness.

Lara's eyes snapped open, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to her like a suffocating shroud. The room came into focus, the soft glow of dawn filtering through the curtains. A bead of sweat trailed down her temple as she jolted upright in bed, her breath caught in a gasp of sheer terror. The echoes of her desperate cry lingered in the air, a haunting melody of fear.

"No!" she exclaimed, the word tearing through the silence, her eyes wide with panic and the remnants of a nightmare still etched on her features. The fear of losing him forever gnawed at her, an invisible specter haunting her waking moments.

Relief washed over her like a gentle tide as his voice, familiar and grounding, reached her ears. "Lara, you alright?" Kurtis sat up beside her, concern etched on his face as he looked at her. The anxiety in her eyes met his gaze, and she turned her head to face him, attempting to steady her racing heart.

"Yeah, just a bad dream," she reassured him, her voice a whisper in the quiet room. The specter of fear lingered, but the warmth of reality began to seep in. She leaned in, pressing a reassuring kiss to his lips—a tangible affirmation that he was still there, alive and well.

In the aftermath of the nightmare, she found herself reflecting on the journey that led them to this shared moment. The intimacy of the present contrasted sharply with the haunting dreamscape she had just traversed. The events of the previous night, the shared vulnerability, and the rediscovery of one another lingered in her thoughts. He remembered her, enough for the comfort to seep through in the silent understanding they shared.

As she pulled away from the kiss, her gaze lingered on him. The clock on the bedside table blinked with the early morning hour—6:23 a.m. A subtle reminder that reality persisted beyond the dream realm. With a tender smile, she rose from the bed, her eyes meeting the clock's display before she made her way to the bathroom.

Kurtis sighed the echoes of the night and the palpable connection still lingering in the room. He, too, rose from the bed, the quiet rustle of sheets accompanying his movements. The dawn had painted the room with hues of soft light, and as he stood, he couldn't help but reflect on the moments that had brought them to this shared morning after a night of rediscovery and connection.

The cool water of the bathroom sink offered a reprieve as Lara splashed it on her face, the sensation a grounding contrast to the lingering unease from the vivid nightmare. Droplets cascaded down, carrying with them the remnants of fear that still clung to her skin. Her gaze fixed on the running water, a hypnotic dance that threatened to draw her back into the haunting visions of the dream.

Shaking her head, she turned off the faucet, attempting to dispel the residual echoes of the nightmare. As her eyes met the door, she found Kurtis standing there, a silent observer with a knowing smile. Determined to conceal the turmoil within, she mustered a smile of assurance.

"I'm fine," she declared, the words carrying a veneer of composure that failed to deceive him. Kurtis, ever perceptive, approached her, taking her hand in his. His eyes held an earnestness that cut through the facade.

"Lara, I may not remember a lot, but what I felt last night is real. The love I have for you is real, and whatever is troubling you, I'll stand by you," he reassured her with a sincerity that resonated deep within her. The vulnerability he displayed only intensified the gravity of his pledge.

Gratitude mingled with uncertainty as she kissed him, a fleeting attempt to reassure both him and herself. The unspoken shadows of the dream, however, lingered, and Kurtis, undeterred, followed her back to the bedroom.

"Why don't you want to tell me? It really scared you," he questioned, a hint of concern etching his features.

"I don't get scared," she asserted, meeting his gaze with a resolute stare. The tension crackled between them, an unspoken understanding hanging in the air.

"Stubborn Croft," he teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "Why don't you just admit it?"

"Because if I do, then I would be dead by now," she declared, the weight of her words echoing in the room. Turning her attention to the practicalities of the upcoming journey, she began packing her backpack with a purpose that belied the tumult within.

Kurtis, lying on the bed with a sigh, observed her with a mix of curiosity and concern. His thoughts meandered through the enigma that was Lara Croft. "Maybe a cold shower will get me started for the day and get me to think how I can get it out of her. It's so hard to read her, though… Farsee is one thing, but reading minds aren't as easy as it looks," he mused, contemplating the complexities of the woman before him.

Turkey, Istanbul

28 May 2004

11:30

The hum of technological equipment filled the underground base as Lara entered the tech room. The air was thick with anticipation as she found Kurtis, Keven, Jake, and François huddled around a table strewn with maps of India. Inquisitive eyes turned toward her as she approached, and she stood beside Kurtis, eager to catch up on the unfolding developments.

"What's going on?" she inquired, a curious furrow in her brow.

Jake, holding a scroll in his hand, met her gaze. "Well, I read and translated the Amazonian's Scroll, and what we found is that she is buried in India somewhere." He extended the scroll towards her, and Lara accepted it, her eyes scanning the ancient text.

"We just don't know where," François added, his voice carrying a note of frustration. Lara focused on the intricate symbols and characters, the weight of the revelation settling in.

As she delved into the script, the words revealed a cryptic narrative of an Amazonian's resting place concealed within the vast expanse of India. The scroll, a tangible link to a hidden history, held the promise of answers and challenges alike. Lara's mind absorbed the information, mapping out mental landscapes that stretched across the subcontinent.

The room echoed with the collective determination of the team, a silent agreement to unravel the mystery. Lara, her eyes locked on the scroll, began deciphering the clues woven into the ancient text. The intricacies of the language unfolded before her, each line a thread connecting the present to a buried past.

Amidst the high-tech surroundings, the ancient scroll became a bridge between worlds, linking the modern pursuit of knowledge with the echoes of a bygone era. As Lara immersed herself in the words, the journey ahead unfolded, a tapestry waiting to be woven by the hands of fate and determination.

The narrative unfolded like an ancient tapestry, each thread woven with the complexity of a life marked by royalty, rebellion, and resilience. The woman, a linguistic prodigy and scion of the first royal family of Buckingham Palace possessed a thirst for knowledge nurtured in the halls of an independent school. However, her fate took an unexpected turn when she was ushered into a union with a young gentleman from another royal lineage. The promise of a conventional life was shattered when she defied the path laid out for her, refusing to marry him and incurring the wrath of her father.

Cast aside, she found refuge in a convent, where an unexpected mentor kindled her spirit with teachings of combat, horsemanship, and the mastery of various weapons. The title "Amazonian" bestowed upon her echoed the admiration of a populace captivated by her prowess. Yet, her idyllic life took a dark turn as she became the target of a shape-shifting nemesis, a Nephilim. Trust crumbled, and she lived in constant fear until she encountered the Light of Truth—a group dedicated to shielding her from the supernatural threat.

Embracing a foretelling of an impending cataclysm, a young knight delivered a prophecy, revealing the existence of a weapon capable of saving the world. Determined, she embarked on a mission to locate this weapon, her journey marked by captivity, defiance, and escape. The Nephilim, relentless in his pursuit, sought to bend her to his will, using her as a concubine and slave in his quest for a new generation of Nephilims. Yet, her spirit remained unbroken, and within a month, she broke free, continuing her quest.

In the twilight of her life, she found the weapon, only to meet her demise at the hands of the relentless Nephilim. In her final act of defiance, she wielded the weapon, obliterating her tormentor. The Light of Truth, recognizing her sacrifice, carried her remains to the serene landscapes of India—a final resting place for a warrior who had battled not only for her own freedom but for the safety of the world. There, in the cradle of peace and truth, she lay with the weapon that could vanquish the Nephilims, a guardian even in death.

The tech room buzzed with activity as Lara observed the meticulous collaboration between Jake, Kurtis, François, and Keven. Maps were scrutinized, notes were taken, and the collective focus was palpable. Determination etched their expressions as they delved into the cryptic clues embedded in the ancient scroll.

Lost in thought, Lara revisited the scroll's contents, her mind a labyrinth of possibilities. Then, like a revelation, it struck her—the answer, clear and resolute. She looked up, meeting the curious gazes of her companions.

"I know where it is," she declared, a spark of excitement igniting in her eyes.

Silence fell as everyone halted their tasks, turning their attention to Lara with an unspoken urgency.

"Where?" Kurtis inquired, his eyes fixed on her.

"Agra, the Taj Mahal Mausoleum," she revealed, confidence resonating in her voice.

"Why there?" Jake's curiosity echoed the sentiments of the others.

Lara explained, her gaze moving between the faces of her comrades, "The scroll mentions that she was buried in the most beautiful, peaceful, and truthful place in India. The only place that embodies all three is the Taj Mahal Mausoleum."

The room absorbed the revelation, the weight of understanding settling upon them. Kurtis, decisive as ever, wasted no time.

"Well, let's go then," he declared, taking Lara's hand. Together, they exited the room, leaving behind three bewildered men grappling with the unexpected turn of events. The journey to unravel the mysteries of the Amazonian's resting place had begun, with the iconic Taj Mahal awaiting as the beacon of truth and the starting point of their quest.