“Sam, it can’t be” Lara choked out in shock. Sam just smiled.

“No time for chat, we must get out of here before more of those bloody soldiers arrive” Sam said grabbing a hold of her sister and throwing one of her arms over her shoulder taking the weight off of her leg.

Lara was still in shock. I don’t understand this, she’s dead, i saw her die she thought to herself as the harsh light hit her eyes. She blinked a few times to try and grow accustomed to the light after being in the dark for so long.

“Give me the keys to your jeep” Sam asked and Lara threw them over to her. She caught them easily and jumped in the driver’s seat. Lara hobbled weakly into the passenger’s side her mind reeling. Sam put the car into reverse and spun round. Just as she did soldiers emerged from the mine and began to shoot and the car.

“Shit” Sam gasped veering off around the corner. She drove quickly along the Welsh countryside’s narrow back roads. Lara was sat there in silence staring out of the window watching as the gorgeous green mountains went by.

Neither of the sister’s spoke none knowing what should be said. But how do you tell your older sister that you haven’t been dead for the past 4 years.

“So did you get the gauntlet” Sam said breaking the silence. Lara looked at her her eyes tired from blood loss. She nodded.

“Yes I do have it” Lara replied her eyes averting her sister’s piercing blue eyes. “How do you know about it” she asked putting more pressure on her leg. The bleeding had subsided slightly but she needed to be seen to now.

“You know those soldiers, I was working with them, well that’s when the plan was to find and destroy the gauntlets, then Mr Llywelyn double crossed me and he wanted them to unleash hell, I went against it and they’ve been trying to kill me, so I thought I’d get my own back, and I just so happen to run into my older sister” she said back her eyes flicking over to Lara.

“Tell me everything” Lara said finally looking at her little sister. Sam looked at her not knowing what she meant.

“I just did you tell you” she replied her speech almost the same as her sister’s. Lara just glared at her.

“Where have you been, four years Sam, we had a funeral for you and a plaque has been risen in the manor” she said bitterly eyeing Sam up and down.

“Just leave it alone Lara” she said not daring to look at Lara.

“Why should I leave it Sam, Give me one good reason why I should” Lara challenged her sudden urge to scream becoming almost over whelming.

“Because, because I don’t want to talk about it and I don’t have to if I don’t want to” she grumbled back not wanting to get into an argument with Lara right now. Slowly she pulled over to the side of the road and jumped out.

“Where are you going” Lara called as Sam slammed the door shut and opened the boot. Within seconds Sam was pulling the door open on Lara’s side.

“Give me your leg” she said grabbing Lara’s bloodied leg and pulling it out of the door. Lara winced in pain at the quick movement and Sam who noticed this quickly apologized.

Pulling out a pair of scissors she cut away at the fabric on Lara’s thigh exposing the bullet wound.

“Bullet’s still in there, I’ll have to get it out okay” she said picking up a syringe and filling it with anesthetic. Lara just nodded and watched as Sam pushed the syringe slowly into her leg.

“I would give a quick quip and say you may feel a prick but then again you are looking right at one now” Sam laughed putting the syringe down. Lara laughed then looked at her sister all the anger form earlier draining away.

“Don’t say that Sam” she said her voice softening. Sam just smiled as she picked up a small scalpel and making a vertical slice along the wound.

“Well this is new” Lara said breaking the tense silence between them. Sam just looked at her confused. “What I mean is I’ve never had my sister do an operation on my leg on the side of the road” Lara added. Sam grinned and picked up a pair of tweezers and slowly slid them into the wound grabbing a hold of the bullet and pulling out the remnants of the small 9mm bullet.

Holding it up in front of the light she looked at it. “I’ll have another look when we get back to the manor, the bullet has fragmented into bits in your leg, it won’t do much damage but I’ll get them out just in case” she replied picking up some gauzes and ointment. Dabbing the ointment on she began to speak.

“You always were one to attract trouble” she said slowly wiping away the blood. Lara laughed.

“Really well I’m not the one who had 50 angry Chinese warriors hunting me down because I wanted a new sword” she laughed. Sam blushed.

“Please don’t remind me, I didn’t know they’d react so violently” she chuckled back pulling the fresh white bandage tightly around Lara’s leg. Sliding her leg back into the car she shut the door and picked up her things throwing them carelessly into the boot.

Jumping into the driver’s seat she put the handbrake off and put her foot down and sped on wards.

“Look why don’t you put your head down, it’s a long drive back to Croft Manor and we’re not even on the M4 yet” Sam sighed looking at Lara who’s eyes were dropping slightly.

“Yes why not” Lara simply replied resting her head against the window, The sun had now half set and a soft glow fell on top of the mountains peak. She followed it her mind wandering and her eyes getting lost in the merge of colours.

Why won’t you tell me where you have been, I only want to help you, just let me help you she thought to herself before her eyes slowly shut and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

Sam looked at her sister her eyes filled with care, why didn’t I come back, what did she do to deserve this, why did I have to be selfish and bugger off like that she thought to herself mentally slapping herself at the same time.

Good god I’ve got a lot of explaining to do she grumbled before shaking all thought from her head and concentrating on the road.

“Lara, Lara wake up we’re here” she said prodding her sister gently. Lara stirred and opened her eyes. Turning to look at Sam she yawned.

“How long have I been asleep” she asked stretching her arms above her head.

“Since we got in the car really, you’ve been out cold, come on let’s get in, I am actually dying for a cup of Hillary's tea” Sam said jumping out of the car and running around to the otherside opening the door and grabbing a hold of Lara.

“Honestly Sam, I’m fine I’m sure I can walk by myself” Lara said pushing away from Sam but as soon as she did that her leg buckled. Just as she was about to hit the ground Sam took a hold of her.

“Yes I can see that” she answered sarcastically. Throwing one of Lara’s arms over her shoulders she pulled her weight up onto her.

“You know you may as well be carrying me” Lara sighed as the two hobbled up the steps to the manor.

“If that’s what you want” Sam replied and grabbed a hold of Lara’s legs swinging them up so she was now carrying Lara in her arms. Lara was shaking her head.

“It was a joke Sam” she said. Sam just shrugged.

“I know but any chance to show that I am stronger then you” she laughed. As they got to the top Lara pulled the door open. Standing there as they walked in was Hillary a tray of tea in his hands.

“Ahh Lara you’re” he began but stopped mid sentence as he stared at the person before him. Sam just smiled awkwardly.

“Good Afternoon Hillary” she said not knowing what to say. Putting Lara’s feet on the ground she wrapped one arm around her waist supporting her.

“How, But” Hillary said in shock looking at the youngest Croft. The tray slipped from his hands and crashed to the floor. Hearing the commotion Bryce entered the room.

“Hillary what the bloody hell are you doing” he said looking at the butler. Seeing the shocked look on his friends face he turned to look at Lara now knowing what he was staring at.

“Bloody hell” Bryce said before fainting.

“Okay, this really did not go according to plan” Sam uttered looking at Lara for support.

So what will unfold and just what are the gauntlets, how will they overcome their differences and stop this before all hell breaks loose. Review if you liked