Fool's Gold

~5~

Not a day passed where I didn't wish to see him again. His good boy smile, his beautiful stormy irises, his warm touch, his toxic kisses, his naughty smirk. Rafe Adler. He killed my heart the day his own stopped.  He was the first person I'd ever fallen in love with. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. I tried. I tried so much. But everything proved he was dead. For good. I never moved on. I went numb the when I first heard it. "Rafe's dead." That triggered something in me that still hasn't settled to this day. 15 years.

It was a typical lazy Saturday in my cozy lil apartment which I'd rented out in Boston. I didn't want to live in  my parent's mansion all by myself, especially with all the historical artifacts almost making it a museum. I'd occasionally visit it once in a while to lounge by the pool or hold get-togethers. Get togethers consisting of my grandfather Victor Sullivan or 'Sully' as he preferred me calling him, my best friend Sam Drake, his little brother Nathan Drake and his wife Elena, and not to forget my friend Chloe.

We'd talk about our adventures together over the years. We'd grown to be like a family. Sam kept trying to fill Rafes' void in my life with occasional dates, cuddling, flowers for valentines day, protecting me and taking me home on my late night drinking sprees. But a part of me still longed for him.

We had no luck on our search for Avery's treasure after the prison break so we left it. But our sense for adventure didn't die as we discovered other hidden cities and treasures. But no matter what, I still felt empty.

I was lying stomach down on the sofa, mindlessly scrolling through my phone when a soft knock on the door perked my interest. I bounced off the sofa and ran to the door, peaking through the peep-hole. Smiling, I opened the door to a very grim Sam.

"Hey"

"Hey. How's my girl today?"

"Bored. As usual. What's up with you?"

"Me? I'm good." he muttered distractedly as he sat down on the sofa.

"Relax. Something happened?"

"No.....yes. I'm going to ask you something, but promise me you won't get mad."

"I'll try..."

"Ok. Remember Avery's treasure?" Sam raised his eyebrows as he removed a picture from his jacket pocket and gave it to me.

"Yeah.......Wait, this is the same cross we found in Panama. How?" I frowned looking at the picture of the St. Dismas  cross, only this one was intact.

"Avery made more than one cross, Khloe. So whatever was missing from that cross is probably still inside this one."

"And your point?" I asked knowing exactly what he was going to say.

"We can find Avery's treasure!" he smiled enthusiastically as if I had said yes.

"Sam, you know why I don't want to go after this treasure..."I frowned, past memories flooding back into my head.

"But wouldn't Rafe want you to find it? And I know you miss the adventure." he nudged me lightly.

"He would...."

"So what do you say?"

"I don't know Sam, We can't do this alone and you know Nathan won't come with us and sully is too old for this."

"Sweetheart, you don't worry about Nathan and It's fine if your grandpa sits out this one."

"As if he will." I laughed softly.

The thought of going back for that treasure disturbed me. Who would I lose this time?

"Where's this cross anyways?" I frowned slightly.