The Last Revelation

Collapsing against the shuddering wall, I was overcome with a sense of relief as the entrance to the pyramid came into view. With debris continuing to fall from above, I staggered towards the sunlight. There was someone there – Werner Von Croy. The Professor stood confidently with his cane, against the bright Egyptian sky. Suddenly, the pyramid shook dramatically and I knew time was short. My old mentor gestured for me to hurry.

"Quickly, girl," he beckoned, "before it collapses around you!"

An all too familiar surge of adrenaline rushed through my veins – survivor mode was in gear. I pushed myself forward determinedly, only to find myself stumbling backwards and narrowly avoiding a clash with a heavy piece of falling limestone.

"You back, Werner?" I questioned tiredly, attempting to catch my breath. "No more Set?"

I was still highly suspicious of the Austrian. We had become enemies, both seeking the Amulet of Horus. Von Croy had been possessed by the Egyptian God.

"No time"! He shouted. "Your hand Lara, give me your hand!"

The ground crumbled and fear gripped me. I had faced death time and time again; it wasn't going to get me this time. Sprinting forwards, it was as if I were blind. The entire energy of my being was focused on reaching the entrance. I began to panic as the floor collapsed behind me and I pumped my legs as fast as I could. Then I was falling. Quickly reaching out for the ledge in front of me, my left hand made painful contact and I clutched onto the rock with all my strength.

Despite all my dangerous experiences, I usually had the inner confidence that I would survive. For the first time in a long time, it simply wasn't there.

"Take my hand!" Werner repeated. "I can pull you to safety."

The man was standing at least several metres away. Did he really intend to save me?

Now gripping the ledge with both hands, I could allow myself to speak.

"Good to see you again, Werner," I said weakly, feeling a touch betrayed by his actions.

"I couldn't leave you!" he screamed, sensing the impending finality of the situation. Dust began to fill the corridor and his image began to fade. The pyramid rumbled ominously, as the collapse of rock accelerated. Choking on the heavy air, my heart sank as the Professor raced away. The corridor shuddered as blocks crashed onto the floor, totally obscuring the entrance. It was over. Finally, after everything I had survived, this was my end. My body felt light as the darkness consumed me.

I couldn't breathe. Sitting bolt upright, I began to panic. My sight was gone too. Fumbling around, my hand fell shakily upon my backpack. Convulsing, I struggled with the lock, eventually pushing it open after an agonising few seconds. The lifeline was there. My water bottle still had a small amount of liquid remaining. Spraying the water into my mouth, I swished it around before spitting it out onto the floor. I gasped in oxygen, only to choke horribly on the dusty, dry air. Sucking in more water, I repeated the process and began to calm down as breathing became easier. Bringing my tongue along my teeth, I could feel the stubborn remainders of sand. This time I drank a tiny bit of the water, clearing my throat. Barely any remained to pour over my eyes and nose. I opted to use most of it on my nose, since I couldn't see anyway. Whether it was pitch black or I was blind was hard to know.

Swinging my bag onto my back, pain seared through my body. It appeared I was having a delayed reaction. Letting out a strangled scream, I was horizontal again on the rubble. Using a meditative technique, I willed myself to take control. My injuries needed assessment. I started by concentrating on my head. Blood was trickling down my face, most likely from my forehead. My left eye socket throbbed and was swollen. Raising a hand tentatively to the back of my head, I sighed in defeat as my fingers were met with wetness. Not good. It did seem though, that my right arm was in working order. The left arm was broken. Tentatively, I attempted to move my legs. Claustrophobia struck upon realising that my right leg was stuck. Sitting up carefully again, I reached forward, feeling around for the obstruction.

"Oh shit," I groaned. My voice was jittery and gravelly. This scared me. I did not like vulnerability or weakness. Under my palm I could feel a smooth boulder – my foot was crushed beneath. Gripping my ankle securely, I began to tug and used my left foot to push the rock. Becoming light-headed, I fell back onto the hard rubble once again and coughed violently as more dust entered my lungs. I lay there for a little while, attempting to regain my strength.

Funnily enough, I had survived. Sure, the situation isn't promising, but I do seem somewhat invincible. Like...Captain Scarlet. Smiling, I began to feel a little delirious.

"Roth, I can't just keep moving," I whispered. "I'm stuck."

I wondered what would become of me. What if I wasn't invincible? Perhaps I'd become one of those unfortunate corpses or skeletons that I've so often come across on my adventures. Some archaeologist will find me and carbon date my bones. At least I'd still be linked to the field.

Blood began to trickle into my mouth and I licked my lips, finding the liquid to be sticky and no antidote to my thirst.

I think I blacked out again. I'm not sure if I did, but the feeling was unsettling. I'm exhausted and my mind is constantly wandering. What the hell is Werner doing right now? I saw him scramble away, with his tail between his legs. Had he really changed? He'd likely declared me dead and was on his way out of Egypt. Werner would pay for this. I have another incentive to live.

Pushing myself upright again, I gritted my teeth in desperation. I had to survive. I began to alternate between kicking the boulder and steadily pushing it with my foot. The sweat and blood became more prominent and viscous as I strained to achieve the impossible.

I had been alone for so long, I needed to be home. Even I have my limits. I thought of Sam and tears began to join the array of liquids streaking my face. She'd always been so worried about me. She feared the day I would never came back. However, as was tradition, I made her a promise – I would return.

Screaming in pain, I tugged my right leg, keeping up the agonising pressure. There was a moment of hope as my crushed foot moved a centimetre or two, no longer completely immobile. Brushing my hand up my thigh, I was pleased to find my gun in its holster. I fired a shot at the boulder, the room lighting up for a millisecond before the bullet chipped the limestone. I wasn't blind.

My interest in archaeology could take over in the most desperate of circumstances. Indeed now I was speculating over my location. I must have fallen into the ancient tunnels hidden beneath the pyramid. Fascinating.

I vomited, nauseous from my dizzy head and the loss of blood. I shot again, the loud noise jolting me awake. Losing consciousness surely meant death. One more pull for Sam.

Scraping my hand into the tiny space, I clutched onto a piece of my boot. I placed my left foot on the rock, preparing to push upright. Using every last ounce of my strength, I pulled. Slowly, my injured foot began to slide across the floor. It would probably have been less painful just to chop it off. That wasn't an option though. The boulder was simply too heavy to move, but the grip on my boot was unrelenting and, miraculously, my foot made it's way over to the edge. Taking the knot out of the laces, I carefully slipped the appendage out of the boot. I gasped in shock – I had done it. Firing my gun again (my newly devised alarm clock), my rolling head became steady and I began to drag myself over the rubble.

Eventually I reached a metal gate. It was locked; I couldn't believe it. Through the bars I could see the outside world. It was a cruel tease. My left leg buckled beneath me and I slid down the bars in exhaustion. A trail of blood stained the corridor behind me, a track of my every move. I felt around numbly in my bag for anything I could use as a lock pick. Zipping open a pocket, I laughed softly in relief as I happened upon a hairpin. I had been so mad when Sam stole my backpack a few months ago as a fashion accessory, but now I couldn't be happier. She had left me the perfect makeshift lock pick. Bending the pin carefully, I snapped it in half. Hopefully one would serve as a wrench and the other as the pick. Shakily, I inserted one piece at the top of the lock, pushing it to create a bend. I took in a deep breath and stuck the straight half in below. Patiently, I waited for the perfect angle to make itself known. After five minutes of fumbling, the satisfactory click came and the door creaked open. No time to celebrate though. I had to keep moving. I had never failed in keeping my promises and Von Croy was soon to feel my wrath.

Dragging myself up the sandy bank, I lay on my stomach surveying the landscape. The last thing I needed right now as a desert. Where was the Nile? A passer by? Surely it wasn't far.

As day turned into night, it had gone from blistering hot to absolutely freezing. At first it had been a welcome change, but it was now proving a problem. I was very weak. With a heavy heart I left my backpack on the sand, along with my boots. The guns would have to stay. I hadn't been able to function without weapons since Yamatai. I hadn't gotten far before I collapsed for the final time. I was dehydrated, had lost too much blood and couldn't even walk. My vision was blurry and the black dots grew in size. It had been a good run.

Sam had expected to meet up with Lara in Cairo two days ago. They were going to spend some time together and Sam had hoped the legendary archaeologist and adventurer would agree to a quick interview for her documentary on ancient Egypt. A chance meeting with Professor Von Croy had set off alarm bells. She had only met him briefly once before. He came across as a confident and intelligent man, whom Lara seemed to respect. The second meeting in Cairo was different. When Sam had asked him where Lara was, he dissolved into a nervous wreck, babbling absent-mindedly about a delay. He explained that he needed to gather some men and return to the pyramid. With a bit of sweet talk Sam managed to get the real details and the situation turned out to be absolutely dire. Despite her promises, she knew that one day Lara Croft would have to break one. Right now, the person she cared most about in the world was buried under layers of rock. Sam would make this promise come true.

Von Croy never did come back. It was a cowardly move and Sam hated him for it. Instead it was she who gathered support and headed into the desert. When they arrived at the pyramid, it was in ruins. There was no longer any sign of an entrance. Rescuers got to work, using machinery to shift the large rocks and debris. Sam stayed there throughout the day, taking on the heat of the sun. Stubborn Lara had gone through worse.

In the late afternoon, a local man jogged over to her, holding a familiar object in his hand. Sam's chest clenched. It was Lara's backpack. It was caked in blood and sand.

"Where did you find this?!" Sam shouted, unknowingly speaking in broken English. "Tell me!"

The man nodded quickly and pointed off to the west. Three men sitting atop camels were watching them. Marching over, Sam halted before the men.

"Who are they?" she whispered to the Egyptian.

"They are desert dwellers," he explained. "They found the backpack. They know where this Lara is."

Sam's face lit up and she hugged the man in delight. Gathering herself, she quickly apologised and treated the situation as Lara would do.

"Ask them if she is alive," she stated bluntly.

He nodded and asked the question to the three men. On receiving an answer, he translated for Sam.

"She is alive, but close to death. They have left her with people who know medicine."

It was always best to be cautious, rather than being overzealous. By the time they got there, maybe Lara would be gone. Shaking her head, Sam called for the desert jeep and the medics.

"Tell them to guide us to her. We will bring her back to Cairo."

When the car trundled onto the scene, several houses came into view. An old man was pointing them towards a tent. Coming to a stop, Sam stumbled out of the car, running over with unlimited energy. The medics jostled behind her, following her path in the dust.

Lara lay white as a sheet in the middle of the tent. Several women were caring for her, wearing grim expressions. They had bandaged her head, ribs, arm and foot. One of the women caught Sam's gaze. She shouted something to the fellow Egyptians.

"She says, that this female should be dead. It is a miracle she is still hanging on."

Sam couldn't help but cry. She'd tried to be strong, but it was no use. Despite Lara's increasingly cold exterior over the years, Sam knew just how warm the woman could be. How emotional she could be. She loved everything about her.

"We're going to get her to a hosptial," a medic replied. "Thank you for saving her life."

Sam was taken aback. She should thank these people also. Shaking their hands, Sam said thank you to each person there.

Once Lara was secure in the car, with oxygen mask attached, Sam latched onto her free hand. Placing soft kisses along her knuckles, she couldn't help but be in awe of the woman once again.

"How do you do it? Even being crushed under a mountain of rocks in a pyramid and trudging injured through a desert can't kill you. You still came back to me."

Sam smiled, letting out a soft 'oops' as a tear drop landed on Lara's cheek.

A medic nearby let out a sigh of relief. "Her pulse is getting stronger. Only Ms. Croft, hmm?"

Sam giggled. She felt so privileged to be close to Lara.

The woman wasn't going to be pleased when she found out about Von Croy though. The team had recently been informed that the media in the United Kingdom were now reporting Lara's death and Werner's attempt at a heroic rescue. Sam feared for him – Lara wasn't particularly forgiving.

"Sam?" I croaked. Was this a hallucination? She looked real, she felt real. "Please tell me it's you."

I watched as Sam's expression broke into a beautiful smile and I knew it was her.

"I survived," I chuckled, shooting her a smug grin. She seemed to practically melt as she leaned into me softly, giving me a hug and a kiss on the forehead.

"Oh sweetie, you stupid idiot. Why do you do these things to me?"

Sam began to shake, apologising profusely in between her gulps for air. Stroking her hair with my working hand, I also placed a kiss on her head.

"I love you," I murmured, before continuing with more strength."You saved me, Sam. Thank you."

She glanced up at me, her eyes shining. "So, was the expedition a success?"

I nodded quietly, unable to articulate further.

"Good," she whispered, cupping my face with a cool hand.

"Told you I wouldn't break my promise."