Masked

XIII.

This chapter is my Christmas present to all of you! I never thought this story would get so popular, and it honestly makes my day whenever you guys read this crap, vote and comment. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you! I wish you all a Happy Christmas! <3

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"There's got to be more to these ruins", Lara muttered to herself while approaching an artefact looking like a disk made out of stone. Lara circled it, trying to decipher its meaning. Finally, she knelt down to take a closer look at the carvings.

"A Maya pyramid... inside some sort of... cave."

'Could that possibly be a hint to the cave of Chak Chel?'

The brunette couldn't think further. Within her perimeter she heard the sudden sound of a car door slammed shut. She flinched, backing away from the stone disk and instinctively reached for her bow. Carefully she set one foot after the other, trying to move as soundless as possible.

"Take him into the ruins. Should be far enough out of earshot."

"No, no! Please!"

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Lara narrowed her eyes. Trinity. Who else? The brunette felt the familiar feeling of the adrenaline rushing through her veins – her hatred towards the organisation was being fuelled once again. The grasp around her bow tightened, every single muscle of hers tensed. Calm and collected, like a predator stalking its prey she made her way through the underbrush. She mustn't draw attention.

"It's your own fault."

The archaeologist bared her teeth while crawling through the mud, still cautious not to make any noise. Just in the next moment she could hear another mercenary growl.

"Come on! Just do it!"

The mercenary could just finish that one last sentence before being choked by the bow that was placed on his neck. Swiftly, as if Lara never had done something else, she ended his life and dragged him into the bushes.

"Any final words?", she could hear the other man that was about to execute their victim. Without loosing time, the brunette got away from the lifeless mercenary and reached for her bow again; a tiny smirk appeared on her lips.

"Wait! Wait, I'm a government official. I'm supposed to be here!"

Lara quickly hid behind a wall, possibly remnants of the building that had been there a long time ago. She slowly reached for an arrow.

"Not anymore, Mr. Lead Archaeologist. Your employment has been terminated."

The brunette could hear a click – a gun was being loaded. Steadily, she drew her bow, adjusting her grip ever so slightly.

'Just a little bit further.'

"Please, no. I have money. I can pay you –"

The archaeologist was being interrupted by the arrow that now stuck in the head of the mercenary. Almost without a sound, he fell to the side; his life had left his body instantly.

Lara quickly approached the man on the ground, that had turned himself away from the murder scene. He seemed to be afraid of Lara, who inspected the dead body. Slowly, the darkness that had formed in her eyes vanished while she heard the archaeologist whimper. She extended her hand – he flinched.

"I won't hurt you."

A bit hesitant he took her hand and let himself get pulled up. Lara gazed at him urgently.

"You work for Trinity. What did they find?"

"Well, they've been searching for a temple entrance for many years. Today they found it! I – I have to go warm my sister, she's on her way here now!"