Tomb Raider: Fletcher's Funeral

Chapter 1

Lara Croft walked gracefully down the long hallway dressed in what was probably the most conservative outfit she'd worn in years.

It was also the first she'd worn without any weaponry on her person; no pistols, no knives, no grenades, nothing.

The outfit was a simple black dress -considerably close to the one she'd worn to Japan for her meeting with Takamoto, albeit not ripped or so low cut- paired with a pair of small heels and a black hat with a floppy rim.

She had considered leaving the hat off, until she'd had a good look in the mirror.

After seeing the tear streaks down her face, the disheveled state her hair was in, the dark bags under her eyes, and the red and puffiness around her eyes, she'd thrown the hat on because the floppy rim sent a shadow over her face, hiding most of the flaws mentioned above, or at least making them seem less severe.

After also seeing the bruises on her fists from days of slamming her fists into walls, bookcases, shelves, and many other immovable objects of sorts, she had added a pair of black silk elbow-length gloves to match.

Now Lara walked herself down the hallway of the freshly restored Croft manor, in all its splendor and glory, with about 6 or 7 papers clutched in her left hand, on her way to the saddest event she had probably ever attended -the funeral of her beloved Alister Fletcher, her best friend, her one true love.

Lara felt hot tears well up in her eyes, one spilling over her eyelash and making a small wet trail down her cheek before falling into the air, disappearing forever into the unknown. Just like Alister.

Lara thought bitterly, resisting the urge to release the rest of the tears in her eyes.

It didn't work. Lara thought before mentally kicking herself for letting her mind stray to him again.

"It's okay, you know." A familiar voice said behind her.

She turned around, reaching for her pistols, but when she got to her thighs, she realized that she wasn't wearing them for once in her life. She was relieved when she came face-to-face with Zip.

"To be sad about him, I mean. It's okay to be broken up about his death. We all are, Lara. You don't have to hide it." He tried to console her.

"I haven't slept in days, Zip. You can't just go sneaking up on a lady who is sleep-deprived like that. It may frighten her, you know." Lara simply replied, turning to walk back in the direction she was headed before the scare with Zip.

She hardened her face, attempting unsuccessfully to stop more tears from running down her face. She was amazed that she even had any more tears left to cry.

She thought that after the night in the library searching through everything that was in the bookcases infinite information, trying to find even a trace of a way to find something that could help her find him, she thought that she'd be out of tears after then. She'd found only one book with anything that might be of help.

It was a small, leather-bound ancient tome that she thought looked promising after the first page.

The first page had explained that souls that were taken in vain without serving any sort of purpose could be resurrected by a certain process that was very extensive, but that every soul was different, and therefore, would require a different process.

Lara remembered how she was filled with hope at the thought of bringing Alister back. But when she had turned the page, it held only two sentences;

This book can only be used once, make your choice wisely.

You'll know what to do when the time comes.

At finding the rest of the book blank, Lara had screamed and thrown punches at the bookcases and furniture, thrown books, and cried; cried until there were no more tears and then cried some more until things had just faded away.

She had woken up with a pillow under head and a blanket covering her, clutching the book with a hand-written note from Zip and Winston next to her head.

Zip had written:

Hey Lara,

I know you're really beat up about the recent events, but you have to find something to do to help you.

He wouldn't have wanted you to be living in misery.

We're really worried about you Lara.

When we came in here, you had fallen asleep, but was muttering things and screaming in your sleep.

We left the pillow and blanket.

Hope it helped.

We couldn't get you to let go of the book.

Hope you feel better soon,

~Zip~

Winston had left something along the same lines, but more simple:

Lady Croft,

We hope you learn that death does not always bring darkness forever along with it; eventually the rays of silver sunshine will smile upon your face again.

~Winston~

Lara had both those notes stashed away in her diary in her bedroom.

She had used to frequent the pages of her diary often, scribbling notes about her wondrous adventures, but now, after the tragic loss of Alister, the entries became fewer and fewer as her time filled up with finding out how the forsaken book worked. Lara had now reached the door to the garden outside.

The garden where; on Lara's expansive English side property, Alister Fletcher's funeral would take place.

Lara lowered her head as she stopped in front of the door, pressing one hand to the smooth, cold, mahogany wood.

"I cant do it, Zip." she announced to her colleague, who had been walking alongside her quietly the entire time.

A tear rolled wistfully down her cheek, dropping off onto the cold stone floor somewhere. "I can't say goodbye to him."

Zip just exhaled softly and came up behind her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, taking her face in his other hand and lifting it up. "Then we'll do it together. I'll be there with you every step of the way."

Lara half-smiled through her tears and nodded. She put her other hand on the door, and pushed it open, striding out into the blinding sun, Zip by her side, fulfilling his promise;

Every step of the way…

Hope You all liked it, If I get some good reviews, then ill continue it. It leads to my Back From Avalon series. But I'd like for some Read & Reviews first before continuing.

3 Elizard_9594