The Wrath of Haze
All was deadly silent as Kurtis switched on his flashlight to illuminate the darkness. This had not only helped him to be able to observe his unknown surroundings, but it also made it easier for him to be wary of any hidden traps to ensnare intruders. Cautiously, he pressed onwards into the obscurity of the place, and he noticed two signs indicating that this underground space had recently been explored. The first clue were two sets of footprints in the sand heading in the same direction and then worryingly there was only one of these sole patterns heading back to the fissure entrance.
'Disturbing, it looks like I will be at least meeting someone up ahead.' He summed up before he next came across his second clue. He can just make out what seemed to be bridge that had already been drawn to allow passage through to the other side of the chasm. Though Kurtis was certainly not the archaeologist Lara was, he still appreciated the rich history that was on display through the Egyptian calligraphy and drawings all around from what he can see.
'Incredible…This must have taken a long time to design and decorate!' The demon hunter thought in admiration from where he was standing within the site. He took a moment to drink in the scenery until he carried on steadily across the drawbridge to the other side of the pit. Fortunately, the enclosed passage ahead was lit up by the shafts of the afternoon sunlight shining through the studded holes in the ceiling, so Kurtis decided to put away the flashlight for the time being and warily continued forward.
'Well, what have we here.' Kurtis had next stumbled across a small room with wooden torches that were hung up all around, yet he could sense a strange aura pulsating throughout the room. He could feel how ancient the whole place felt and to an extent he detected the stale signature of old magic from a bygone era that was performed right here to conceal the entrance. Taking note of the stems that were extinguished at this moment in time, Kurtis had summarised that they played an important part of the spell. He brought out his lighter and each tip of the stalks were soon lit up in flame which eventually revealed the hidden illumination of the decorated gateway to him that Lara and Christian had previously faced. Gazing at the cryptic message that was written upon the wall, the Lux Veritatis warrior had trouble deciphering what it had stated as he was not well versed in the Ancient Egyptian Demotic language.
'Great! No clue on how to proceed and adding to that no signal on the phone either to help translate the text!' He cursively thought. However, it didn't take long for the frustration to turn into a smile for him as an idea began to form of a particular brutal jinx that he could attempt. He had performed this in past ventures such as the Louvre Museum where he had blown the internal double doors right off their hinges whilst being chased through the galleries by none other than his future wife. Although it wasn't without risk trying this manoeuvre, and it could potentially backfire depending on what defensive mechanisms were in place or worse any sort of curse that may have been enchanted upon the gateway. The Lux Veritatis warrior pondered for a minute or two then made his decision but just before he was going to undertake this drastic action, he took a photograph of the inscriptive sealed doorway.
'Best take one for the portfolio as this will be reduced to rubble once I've finished with it.' Kurtis summed with confidence. He positioned himself to the centre of the room facing the obstacle then closing his eyes he readied his mind as he had been trained to do all those years ago by the order. During the meditation he began building up momentum with the intention to blast wide open the grandiose doors that barred the way through. Beads of sweat started to trickle down as he further concentrated and all the while he kept thinking of not only what was hidden ahead but also of Lara and Ayesha and if they were alright. Back in reality the force that Kurtis had amassed was more than enough that the stone wall had no chance of withstanding the exertion and all that was left was a pile of debris. After taking a moment to regain his breath, Kurtis brought out his torch to light the way once again and he advanced forward into the massive underground space that had numerous structures as well as a spectacular obelisk built in the middle of it all. Carefully, he climbed down to the floor area without too much hassle, but before Kurtis could inspect the grand monument something otherworldly transpired.
"Kurtis… Heissturm…" A whispering voice said out of nowhere that made him startle.
"I see you…" The creepy voice got louder and just when Kurtis was about to reply, a more familiar voice spoke this time around.
"Kurtis! I'm here! Please help me!" He heard Lara's voice resonate throughout the chamber which made his heart skip a beat.
"Lara! Where are you!?" He shouted back, but the response he got was not hers but from a more sinister tone.
"Haha welcome Mr. Trent! I've been expecting you!"
"Who are you, show yourself?"
"Patience child! All in good time, I have prepared a special surprise just for you. Since you are here, let me introduce you to Haze…"
"Haze huh, one of your pets I'm presuming?"
"You may quip away with your petty remarks, but rest assured you are in for a terrifying treat. Haze's one of many talents is to viciously rip one's heart out and I can feel it is hungry for its first meal...you!"
"Humph! A demon…how original, you have ironically cooked up my speciality."
"Just you wait and see! This monstrosity that I've conjured up was born out of your wife's hatred, let the darkness consume you as it already has for her!"
"Bring it on!"
"As you wish…I shall enjoy watching you suffer as Haze devours your flesh. Prepare yourself!"
The eerie voice had vanished at once. Baffled and confused, Kurtis on high alert hastily directed his flashlight from one point to another around the foggy perimeter. Apart from the countless particles of dust that reflected from the light nothing had immediately changed in the environment and all had remained the same. Until unexpectedly, he saw an outline of a person up ahead standing on their own within the shrouded mist. He approached slowly, ever mindful that this could be a trap set by the unidentifiable voice but that thought soon dashed as he heard a female cry coming from the figure.
"Lara…" Kurtis had closed in and reached out to what he thought was the right shoulder of his wife. It turned and all he could hear next was a wail of a shriek that took him completely off guard.
A substantial weight had leapt upon the demon hunter, forcing him to the floor onto his back with the predator instantly pouncing on top of him. An apparition of a red-eyed sabretooth had enigmatically jumped out from the shadows of where the humanoid was standing, gnashing its razor-sharp dark teeth aiming straight for his chest. The threatening voice then returned much to Kurtis's annoyance.
"How predictable, a simple tug of the heartstrings and look what happens. Haze…feast away on your weak prey!" It mocked with dire laugher.
"Not today you foul creature!" Kurtis could barely retort to his relentless attacker. He just managed to hold back the mouth of the beast with his right arm, and with whatever force he could muster he kicked the ferocious monster off from his body. After being winded by the sabretooth demon, Kurtis recovered and got to his feet, yet his adversary did the same and it was not long when they came face to face to each other.
The showdown between the two had begun with the shadow entity continuing to lunge for Kurtis's body with its jaws. The Lux Veritatis warrior dived out of the way from this attempt and using this precious window of opportunity he tried to see a potential weak spot as the monster circled back. He did not see an opening during that split second, and the atrocity had come back round for another bite. Kurtis knew he had one trick up his sleeve and decided now was the time for it to make an appearance, and he brought out his secret weapon the mystical Chirugai blade, a talismanic artefact passed down from his beloved mother and inherited from the Lux Veritatis order. The discus-like glaive that was made of Ferilium levitated from the power of his mind and it rapidly spun ready to strike.
"He's armed!" A hiss from the voice echoed throughout the underground complex. With that the dark apparition instantaneously disappeared into thin air.
"Come back here!" The demon hunter called. The sparkling Chirugai swiftly retracted back to its owner, and he began to scout the maze hunting for Haze. It was only a minute when he felt a low rumble followed by a growl close by. The sensation of goosebumps crept upon him as he wandered with his defences up, when suddenly black smoke engulfed him and once more was met with the fangs of the brute. In anticipation, the hidden Chirugai sprung to life and targeted the four-legged feline demon. It was a direct swipe from the five-bladed weapon and the beast gave a fowl cry in agony, but it was not yet defeated and had retreated with a quick claw to stun the prospective game.
Having recovered from the last blow, Kurtis stood back up and with the mystic glaive in hand he proceeded forward with caution. Voices plagued and taunted him as his eyes widened from the sound of Lara.
"You don't deserve me! Do the world a favour and die here!" He heard her say, though this did not deter him from the task at hand. He knew too well that these were not real.
'There!' Kurtis saw the abomination struggling to crawl up the wall and he prepared the five-bladed discus to deliver the final blow. Like a boomerang, the glowing Chirugai flew straight to the creature and sliced through the body. The dark sabretooth apparition gave one last squall and shut its ruby red eyes as it fell from the ceiling and evaporated in a wisp of smoke. Kurtis sighed and sensing he was not in any more danger he went back to the corridor that was filled with cryptic markings he had intriguingly spotted earlier during the pursuit of Haze.
"Curse you, Kurtis Heissturm!" The unknown voice angrily shouted as Kurtis approached the entrance of the corridor.
"Hit a nerve there, have I? Tell me your name!" Kurtis sarcastically replied and demanded.
"Never mind, I have foreseen the next time we shall meet you will be begging me for mercy. Now go! Your prize is waiting for you pass this very corridor you are staring at!"