Sorry for the long wait with this one, but you know I was working on Star Wars.

I don't own Tomb Raider. All OCs belong to me and Fang.

Chapter 12: Escape Gone Wrong

"How is Etzli?" asked Unuratu.

"He's safe," Lara answered. "He helped me find you. He should be with Uchu now."

Lara looked around the cell while Owen broke through a weak wall with his pick-axes.

Soon, they squeezed their way out, and that's when Lara held up her radio.

"Jonah, Owen and I are with Unuratu," she said.

"Oh, good," Jonah answered. "Put her on. Etzli wants to talk to her."

"Mother!" The young prince's voice said. "We're sending backup. Should I support Uchu use the distraction to seize territory?"

"You're in charge while we're separated, Etzli," Unuratu responded. "Trust your instincts."

"The prisoner's escaped!" A guard called out. "Keep your eyes open."

"Shit," Owen cursed. "Of course, it wouldn't be that easy."

"Let's get moving," Lara replied. "Fast."

Soon, Unuratu used a rope to zipline her way across. Lara and Owen went down to a lower level and fired another rope arrow to the other side of the river, then began to make their away across, as well.

They grasped the edge of a large rock and climbed around it. A guard stood above the cliff, so Lara Grabbed him and threw him into the rushing river.

She climbed up, followed by Owen, and they saw Unuratu kill another guard on the cliff across from them.

Using their grapple axes, they managed to make it to the cliff, just as another guard appeared.

"In position!" he said, but then, Owen grabbed him and threw him off the cliff, too. However, he ended up getting spotted by another guard, who prepared to shoot at him with an arrow...but then, Unuratu came out of the bushes, bashed him in the knee, then grabbed his bow and knocked him out with it!

"Wow, you go girl," Owen said as he and Lara climbed up.

Unuratu smiled at the compliment and took an arrow from the guard's quiver, "Let's go."

They headed down some steps to a rope bridge, where one guard was waiting.

"I've got her!" He ran across the bridge to attack, but Unuratu shot him in the neck with her arrow and he fell off the bridge.

"Think that's the last of them?" Lara asked.

"For now," Unuratu said. "We should head to the Upper District."

"Lead the way," Owen said, then he and Lara followed her across the bridge.

Soon, they made their way inside the temple and approached a door marked with a golden sun. They tried to push the door open...but the moment it did, Unuratu slipped through, and there was the shout of a guard yelling "Intruder!" right before it closed!

"Unuratu!" cried Lara as she and Owen tried to get the door open, but it wouldn't budge! "Dammit!"

They heard the sound of struggling...and then there was silence.

"...Oh, no..." Lara whispered.

"Hold it," said Owen. "Let's not jump to conclusions yet."

Soon, the door opened...revealing Unuratu, now disguised as a guard.

She tossed Lara some kind of mechanism key, "Here, take this key."

"Wow," Owen whistled as he surveyed Unuratu's work. "Remind me to stay on your good side."

Unuratu chuckled before she walked toward some sort of monolith.

"Come," she said. "I want to show you something."

Lara and Owen soon followed and looked up at the monolith. It depicted a man placing the Dagger inside of the Box.

"The eclipse is coming," Unuratu began to explain. "Once it is here, the Box must be opened. The temptation of the Box is so powerful; it will pull me toward it and tempt me with a fantasy- an easy way to solve our problems. But it will only show me my strongest, most secret desires. I have prepared my whole life to resist it. Amaru has not yet seen the Box, but already it's power corrupts his mind. Paititi is its people, and can only survive by our will, together."

"So, if Amaru remakes Paititi his way, it's like he destroys it?" Lara asked.

"Yes," Unuratu answered. "We face many threats from the outside, but risk is a part of life. We must confront it, to remain true to ourselves."

"That's true enough," Owen said. "Life's hard, but we have to get through it somehow."

"How do you know you'll be able to resist its power, once you have it?" Lara asked.

Unuratu stopped walking, "I don't. But if my training fails me, the Crimson Fire will guide me and hold me to my promise." She showed the tattoo on her left arm.

"...So you're willing to risk everything on this?" Owen asked. "Even if there's a chance that you might lose your life?"

"...It's all I can do," Unuratu replied. "To ensure my people's future...my son's future."

"Then you should try and keep living for Etzli's sake," said Owen.

Lara held her heart, thinking about her daughter.

"Etzli's gonna need you in order to guide him," said Owen. "Don't you think so, too?"

Unuratu smiled at Owen, who smiled and nodded back.

"We should...*ahem* we should go," Lara said.

"Right," Owen agreed. "Let's get outta here."

Soon, they began to make their way through the tomb.

"So, what exactly is the Crimson Fire?" asked Lara.

"It is my destiny," answered Unuratu. "It is connected to the sacrifice of Kukulcan. 'When the Crimson Fire smokes, seek your mirror'. It's a powerful force of accountability. That's all I know."

"Do any of those...creatures...ever find their way in here?" Lara asked.

"Creatures?" Unuratu asked, curiously.

"They...look human, but attack like animals," Owen elaborated. "In the caverns around Paititi, they were in conflict with Trinity. And they came after us at the Altar where the Box was taken."

"Do you mean the Yaaxil?" Unuratu asked.

"Yaaxil?" Lara repeated. "They were...tall and fast...and hungry. Almost desperate."

"...I would not call them 'creatures'," said Unuratu. "They are more than that."

Soon, they approached a door.

"The key I gave you should work here," she said.

Lara nodded before she placed the key into the slot in the center of the door, which rumbled as it began to open. She, Owen, and Unuratu pushed it just enough so that there was enough room to slip through. Once they were inside, the door closed and they continued walking through the crypt.

"What happened to the Yaxil?" asked Lara.

"There are many legends," Unuratu said. "It was long ago. But Paititi owes much of its safety to them."

"They protect it?" Owen asked skeptically.

"I don't know if that's their intention, but their actions have that effect," Unuratu said.

"And they never attack the city?" Lara asked.

"No..." Unuratu told them. "We have always lived in...cooperation."

They went up several flights of stairs till they were back outside.

Once they were outside, they saw a lot of people gathering and they could hear the sound of drums beating.

"I think Amaru is planning a public sacrifice," said Unuratu.

"Of a rebel?" asked Owen. "In that case, we have to stop it."

"No," Unuratu argued. "Not unprepared, and not at the expense of the Box. The warrior who will bear the sacrifice would prefer death."

They were about to enter into a large crowd of spectators when Unuratu whispered to them,
"Stay near me, and do as I do. The crowd could turn on us."

Lara and Owen nodded before they followed Unuratu into the crowd, keeping their heads bowed as Amaru appeared before the spectators.

"Rebels walk among us, who would threaten our safety, preservation. Their leader, the traitor Unuratu, you fallen Queen, is in my custody! But it is not too late to save her."

Some guards brought a man over and placed him on the pedestal.

"Today we offer a sacrifice to Kukulkan- as a prayer for protection as the eclipse draws near," Amaru continued.

"Come, see what he does," Unuratu whispered.

As reluctant as they were to watch such a thing, Lara and Owen followed Unuratu, getting closer to the altar.

"With this sacrifice," Amaru preached, "This rebel's life will be redeemed. May all his fellows see the light and rejoin us!"

On that, he raised a dagger and plunged the blade into the man's chest while the guards held him down...and then, after a few moments, the man went limp.

"Ugh...I hate this kind of shit..." Owen muttered in disgust.

"Amaru said he wanted an END to violence," Lara remembered his words.

"He sees it as a means to an end," Unuratu said.

"Fucking hypocrite," Owen muttered.

Soon, they went through the crowd, but Lara stopped as she saw a pile of dead bodies and the bloodstained stairs.

"With this rebel's sacrifice," Amaru proclaimed, "He becomes one of us again!"

Soon, the guards tossed the man down the steps, his blood smearing on the stones before he landed on the pile, and the crowd cheered, once again. Even the children were cheering.

"All these people actually believe him?" asked Lara.

"They are afraid," Unuratu answered, "And with good reason." She then gestured to a door where two guards stood. "Not much farther. The tomb is just beyond that door."

They squeezed through the crowd as they cheered when another warrior was executed.

"Halt," One of the guards at the door said.

"Innocent eyes will blink at dawn, when weakness falls away," Lara recited the password.

"You may pass," The two guards opened the double stone doors for them.

Once inside, Unuratu led Lara and Owen around the corner and pointed to a huge statue.

"The tomb is up there," she said, "On top of that statue. You two go. I'll watch the gate."

"Be careful, Unuratu," Owen replied. "Don't do anything too hasty. Remember, Etzli needs you."

"...I know," Unuratu replied.

"Jonah, we're close to the Emperor's Tomb," Lara said to her radio.

"We're by the river, ready to get you and Unuratu out of there," Jonah responded. "Let us know when you're ready."

Lara and Owen quickly found a climbing route up the statue till they got to its right hand.

"Well, we made it up," Owen said. "Now we have to get in."

"I think I might see a way," said Lara before she used her grapple ax to swing to the other hand.

However, part of it crumbled, but thankfully, she managed to keep her grip before she climbed onto the palm, then looked up and saw an entrance. "Owen! Over here!"

She jumped and grappled over to the entrance as he swung over to where she had previously stood.

Lara climbed up to the entrance and walked inside, and Owen came in a few seconds later. They were in a chamber with some stone carvings on the walls and three mummified husks.

They went up two parts of stairs till they found some kind of golden face in the wall between two gold statues.

"The Inca influence is unmistakable," Lara said.

Suddenly, they heard Jonah's voice on the radio,
"Lara? Owen? Where are you?"

"We're inside the Emperor's Tomb," answered Owen. "We almost have what we need."

"We'll be ready," answered Sam. "Be careful you guys."

They went into the next chamber, where there were some golden llama statues with some old pots laid around them. On the other wall was a stone carving with a heron.

"The last Emperor's tomb," Owen said. "The Cult must have taken route after his death."

"Okay, the Eclipse and the Heron..." Lara looked the carving over, but didn't see anything significant. "What are we missing?"

Then they noticed a big stone cup with some carvings, and a stone snake head on the top of it.

"Wait- did Lopez leave this?" Owen wondered. "The Heart of the Serpent is in the Cup."

"The Heart of the Serpent is in the..." Lara repeated, racking her brain for an answer when they heard a man cry out in pain outside.

Owen went outside to investigate, only to gasp.

"Shit!" he cursed.

"What's wrong?!" asked Lara as she went over to him.

"Unuratu's cover's been blown!" Owen shouted as he pointed down below and saw Unuratu, shooting down soldiers with her arrows, but more kept coming!

Luckily, she quickly shot them.

"Over here!" One guard came running behind Lara and Owen with a spear, but Unuratu shot him in the chest with an arrow.

Lara and Owen looked down at the spring in front of the statue; it looked deep enough to jump into, so they did. They resurfaced and climbed out, seeing Unuratu knock a guard off his feet with her bow and stab him with an arrow.

But then, someone shot her in the stomach!

"NO!" Lara screamed.

The culprit was Rourke, who pulled out his radio, "This is Commander Rourke. We've got a lead on the Box. Send a team for Croft and Taylor."

Just as he started to walk away, Owen drew his pistol and shot at him, but he got away.

"FUCK!" Owen yelled.

Lara went over to Unuratu and placed her hands over her wound,
"Unuratu, please hang on!"

Unuratu took Lara's right hand and placed a pendant in it as she gasped for breath,
"Give this to Etzli. He's the rightful heir, he must lead Paititi. He's young, but strong. His spirit, as noble as his blood."

"Don't go, keep talking to me," Lara begged, sobbing a bit.

"The Box- it will tempt you," she told her. "Resist. We all create our destiny."

She gasped a couple more times before passing away.

Lara shed some tears, "I won't let you down."

She heard some guards coming and got prepared to hide, but Owen threw a grenade at the tunnel entrance they were coming from. It released purple smoke that the guards immediately started coughing on, before choking, coughing up blood and dying slowly.

"Poison?" Lara asked.

"Yeah," Owen simply responded. He came over to Unuratu, closed her eyes and picked her up. "I know it will be painful, but Etzli deserves to see her."

"...Let's go..." Lara whispered as she and Owen headed back to Paititi.

After a long journey, they managed to make it back.

"Jonah, Sam, Tommy, where are you guys?" asked Lara on her radio.

"We're down by the docks," said Jonah.

"We can see you," Owen said as he saw the trio waving to them from the docks, as well as Tsume sitting nearby. As they approached, however, Sam gasped in horror upon seeing Unuratu's dead body.

"...Oh, no..." she whispered.

"What...what happened?" asked Jonah.

"She died...trying to fight Trinity," answered Lara, sadly.

"...Shit...!" Tommy cursed as he turned away, clenching his fists. Tsume walked up to them and nudged Unuratu's hand, as if trying to wake her up...to no avail.

"...Where's Etzli?" asked Owen.

Tsume looked up the steps and whined, laying down.

Etzli came down the steps with Uchu and another warrior.

"Mother...?" The boy ran over.

"...We're so sorry, Etzli," said Lara, sadly. "Your mother...she fought hard."

Etzli stared at Unuratu's dead body while Owen gently laid her down on the ground.

Uchu placed his hand on Etzli's shoulder, who had yet to break down.

He was keeping it together, but truthfully, he was barely holding it together. He allowed himself to cry, making Lara pull him in for a hug.

"Shh..." she shushed. "It's all right, Etzli...I know it hurts, but it'll be okay."

"...She's...she's really gone...!" Etzli whispered.

"I lost both my parents when I was much younger than you," Lara said. "So I know how you feel."

She then gave him the amulet Unuratu had handed to her.

"But...this is...the leader's amulet..." Etzli said between sobs.

"It's yours now," Owen said.

Etzli clutched it, knelt down to his mother and kissed her forehead,
"She was...a warrior. There will be time to grieve, but not now. The eclipse draws near, if we cannot restore the sun-"

"We'll find the Box," Lara assured him. "We won't let the Cult of Kukulkan get to it first."

Etzli nodded, then turned to Uchu and the other warrior, who had knelt down, "Begin preparations for the burial chamber; Queen Unuratu will live on within us. Uchu, assist them with the boat." Uchu nodded and stood up. "We will prepare for battle, the rebellion must succeed."

"We'll be back, with the Box," Owen said.

"We won't let you guys down," Sam added.

"Well, let's get going," Tommy answered. "I have a feeling that we're almost at the end of...whatever this is."

"We should change first," Owen suggested.

"Right," Lara agreed, almost forgetting about what they were currently wearing.

Sam, Jonah and Tommy turned away to give them some privacy. After a couple minutes, Lara and Owen were back in there original outfits, then boarded their boats.

"So what's next?" Jonah asked.

"We'll head back to Kuwaq Yaku, regroup, and take it from there," Lara responded.

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