Chapter 4

Rakel still remembered her grandpa's exact words " Fear always makes you do anything and everything, but you're never alone." Rakel was grateful for Austin but she was also surprised he stayed for so long. The last memory she had that was of her father was when he was proud of when she went out on her own, finding what was lost but she wanted to do it with her father. She loved when he showed up unexpectedly to help her in times of trouble. Never expected bad people to find him and her with the Grail. That wasn't the last time she had sight of her father but it was the last time she had promised herself that she would never go on another adventure again. What could Austin do that could replace her father? She knew she could trust him, her faith in him made her rethink the faith she had in herself. They took the grail shot out at her father but she acted too fast thank God. Her father was surprised but knew something would happen, too soon. They both didn't say anything but they knew something was wrong only Rakel didn't know the secrets her father was hiding. It was the last night she had seen him, but she knew he was out there somewhere not dead, but alive. Once at the safe house she honestly didn't know what to do other than want to go back to sleep. She wanted to put the house on lockdown only she didn't want to do that when everything else was happening. " What are we doing? Just gonna rest or what? " Austin wasn't just asking as he had also grabbed her to pull her back only to see she was still in pain. " Here let's get you cleaned up and let me do this just sit down. Rest." Rakel wasn't sure why he was being so nice or why she did what he had asked. The bruises alone hurt but the cuts and the dried-up blood hurt worse even looking at them pained her and reminded her she wasn't strong enough. She hissed in pain after he put the cold cloth with the ointment beside him and bandages. " You know if you don't move, it wouldn't hurt so much." He was still very patient which made her feel more of an idiot. " Sorry." She gave him her other leg before grabbing the other rag as she got her arm. She still didn't feel well as she still kept it all bottled up, not saying anything as she wanted to say everything to him. She didn't want him in the dark and the way he cared for her made her feel like someone finally cared so much for her and her safety. " Those demons um how are you not hurt or worse ?"

He didn't understand as he only kept his eyes on his work in progress. " I'm not sure, why do they always go after you? It's like you're the target, not us, you." He looked up saying it halfway through she could tell he wasn't hurt at all, not confused but stuck. She knew what to say but she didn't want him to know, if he knew she knew he might not trust her or worse leave her. " I don't want you to hate me or fear me. " She still didn't want to tell him not now. " They know who I am because of my father and our name. They thought they killed me a long time ago and when they didn't I changed my name and left when my father disappeared." She knew even if she tried to find him she would never get there fast enough. He got up looking at her as the only thing he could think was what the heck? " What's your real name? Do I already know this and Why didn't you tell me anything like this before? Rakel, I can protect you, hopefully, maybe."

He wanted to protect her, that was the first for her, and no one ever put her first. The last time someone tried to put her first was her father as the memory was painful but her father demanded them not to kill her before the leader only made it worse by pulling the trigger at her father missing before she was halfway up the stairs running as he had shot at her. She still remembered her father's words yelling at him before the only thing that was heard was her father saying" you got it just take it. It was the last time she had seen him or heard from him, and it hurt her too much. " Look I can't tell you to do anything, you don't have to tell me, it's your choice. I'm not going anywhere and not just because they know what I look like but because this is the most I've done with my life. For some reason, it's fun, even though it's also scary, and there's no way I'm letting you do this on your own." She was thrilled but she also had a gut feeling she couldn't place and she didn't like it, even though it only got worse.

Rakel still had the feeling coursing through her as they both restocked and left, only she knew this time it would take longer than before. She hoped nothing like before would happen again but she also knew nothing was ever easy, it's all she wanted was easy. Austin loved to drive the car in the sky but she didn't let him drive as she knew where to go next and he didn't. Austin didn't say it or have a look of regret on his face but she couldn't tell if he was okay, really okay with everything that had happened. She knew it would get worse if she didn't say anything as the bad guy might. " I go by Rakel and that is my name only I changed it because of the bad people that took my father. They came after me." She didn't look at him hoping what she said didn't seem as bad before he understood. " So if Joas isn't your name, then how bad is it." She only knew he would have questions and more worry as she only took a deeper breath trying to process this entire thing in her mind before she did. " Jones." He didn't know if he was shocked or worried about the outcome. " They're attacking you mainly because of your father, fuck that's deep." Rakel only thought of him and herself, if her father was dead wouldn't she be too? She wasn't sure yet if she regretted telling Austin or not, she didn't even know how to stop an entire army.

She hadn't exactly thought it through or done that before, especially with the situation that they were in she wasn't sure how to even handle it as she only went with the flow of things. Rakel wanted to be that type of character she played so many times. Lara wasn't scared of anything then again when she died she got chances to make the right choices, what did they have; nothing, this wasn't a video game. Looking over at Austin she wanted to know his every thought on all this. He looked down as if he were dreaming and that he'd wake up from falling or worse. She wasn't sure but there was just something about him that made her wonder. She didn't like him like that and it wasn't what she wanted to think about considering the issues at hand. Austin enjoyed it too much not that it was a bad thing. Rakel never really even went by the other name she always wanted to be called Rakel. She was surprised to see Austin not just survive long enough but she was surprised he didn't want to leave her because it could get more dangerous.

Austin, on the other hand, knew if he hadn't tagged along he'd never even get up for school then again he never understood why he was even there considering he didn't need it. He felt like he knew too much already even though he always felt ridiculous for even trying too hard. His parents never really got him like everyone else. His so-called friends always let him down and lie to him. For once he wanted a friend that would be honest and helpful; never in a million years did he think he would try to make friends with a Jones. He knew if something went wrong in this friendship it wasn't going to be her fault but his. What he would give if everything could fall into place for him. Everything always happened for a reason right; hopefully, things could turn around for the better. " Where exactly are we headed?" Austin came back from imagination and looked from around him as he looked at her. Austin noticed she still looked upset with her scars in not even an hour or so. They had already done two things and it felt nerving with every step or flight. It was the one thing to feel scared but he didn't know how she felt and he was worried about her, very worried. " Right now I'm following them. " Rakel pointed and even though they were high up Austin still could see perfectly the black truck and the black vehicles around it.

" That's not conspicuous." Rakel looked at Austin in disbelief as she wasn't sure that even knew big words. There was too much she didn't even know about him and she felt stupid. " They're not in a hurry that's for sure." Austin waited for something, anything. He figured there'd be an explosion of some sort. They were watching and following thankfully they were masked so they or no one else saw them. Rakel wanted her father and the life she never had. She never complained she knew how to do things she knew she want to do eventually now she had to learn how to do other things. Never in her life had she been to a Prom or on Vacation and relaxed. They waited until they followed them to a river as they watched them get in a boat before they left going towards the southeast. It bugged Rakel deeply as she only pressed the boat button before they fell from the sky and where they weren't before as it took everything to not laugh at Austin's reaction. He grabbed the roof of the boat as he couldn't find anything to hold on to. " Oh my heart, no, crap; Don't ever do that again." Rakel tried to focus on the matter at hand as it took a minute for Austin to collect his thoughts. " Warn me next time; please." His hand still lay on his heart as his mind left like it was still in the sky somewhere. She drove as not even a second thought went through her mind as she forced herself to focus. She wondered if they had seen them then again they were still invisible. Something didn't add up to her as she only sped up heading towards them before noticing they were getting further and further away from where she thought she'd be. She questioned where they were even going as she noticed the vehicle was almost at half a tank before looking back up at the water around them. Austin looked like he might puke as she barely had to notice. " Do you get seasick?"

Austin had never been on a boat so he didn't know exactly he would feel like this. "I - Um. " He shook his head as she didn't want to think about it either. She remembered when she had to not think and just do her work when she went out on her own. This wasn't the first time using her dad's vehicle. The only problem she had was she didn't realize they were leading her straight toward another little town. Austin didn't know how to think even though he clearly watched as they both followed them onto the shore as Rakel turned it back into a mobile vehicle. " This is taking too long. What are they even doing?" It was a good question and he watched closely at the one talking and pointing. He guessed it was the leader as it seemed that they were holding things that weren't theirs. "That's a lot of stuff. how do we stop them exactly?" The only thought that really went through Austin's mind was why could the authorities take over. His next thought made him realize that he was glad he didn't say it out loud. They obviously wouldn't believe him it was their words against theirs. Austin wasn't sure whether or not to go in after them or wait. He looked over at Rakel and he noticed she only looked pissed off. " What's wrong?" She just pointed to the top of the building before looking at him. " We could get in that way the only problem is they have an army and we're only two people."

It was true but it still bothered Austin not once did they talk about an actual play for it all then again it was understandable, maybe. He grabbed his gun from his side pocket as Rakel only stared straight ahead as she fidgeted with the wheel. They waited more than 30 minutes before the leader and some of his goonies got back in their vehicle. The only thought that went through his mind was maybe they should go inside before following but he didn't say anything as she stepped onto the gas. " This is a museum? What are they doing? " Rakel was judging while at the same time confused with what they were doing as Austin only made eye contact with the buildings around them before seeing a wire going from one building to the other. " Their going to steal something then go to that building. We could hijack whatever they're stealing before they leave, and steal it back." Rakel liked the idea as she switched the buttons before the vehicle became a flying vehicle once again. They got out once they landed on the large roof they got out as Rakel grabbed her binoculars looking through them at the other building.

"They're on the 17th floor and climbing, some guys have a rectangular case. " She turned around looking at Austin as she noticed he had a bigger gun than the last time. " Well, you're ready." She turned around not as ready as Austin before they hid all while the men came from the other roof using the wire to get to where they were. She wasn't really ready and the way she was feeling about it wasn't the same way she had hoped for before Austin firmly gripped the gun as he twisted his body around aiming as he fired at them. Most of the screamed as they fell 23 stories down. She didn't see from beside her before shooting the ones in front of her before even thinking as black dots formed and pain erupted in her side. She didn't understand as she felt more pain before she slammed against the fans on the roof. " Get off me." She didn't realize everything, her mistakes, She just got herself killed. " Hey! Freak!" She heard Austins yell as she only saw the gun partially resting on her head before the bullet penetrated the guy on top of her. He grunted before falling to the side of her before she quickly pushed back away before she breathed out but shakingly as she stood up. She noticed when she looked at Austin that he had already had everyone dead or at least pushed off the building. Austin's only concern was her and how she was feeling. To Austin she looked terrified then again she was always the one that was the Target. He wasn't sure of it yet but how was she able to keep going after it? He went towards her helping her up as the same guy he shot off her groaned in pain as he watched them both jump from the other side as his only thought was what the fuck. pins and needles went through her body as she still couldn't get the thoughts, the overwhelming thoughts that ran through her. Austin was the one who hadn't held back and she was grateful for that. He had the case thankfully as they anonymously took it to the police. " You Okay?" She looked at him after looking out of the window as her thoughts wouldn't stay quiet. " Yeah, I'm fine. " She half smiled looking back out the window and then looking through looking at the clouds ahead of them. " Don't worry about me, please. Thank you for being here and helping even though I wasn't much help." She had problems of her own and she knew everyone else did too the only issue she had was, what was their excuse and why. It gave her the anxiety she didn't want and even though she needed to care for herself she wanted to take care of others. No one cared for her in such a long time and having Austin asking if she was okay only made her want to tear up as she knew she wasn't. She had let him drive after the whole ordeal and not once did she think about how he had done all of that without blinking. She stared out the window before feeling Austin's hand through hers. "What are your thoughts on what they're doing?" She wasn't sure and every time she thought of it, she thought of her father and the last thing he was working on.

" I'm still thinking about it because it doesn't make sense. None of it does. " She thought back to the weird gun thing her dad was making and not just that but the molecular round box. He had a weird life growing up and he filled that void with a lot of things. They still followed after the other guys before they came to an abandoned scary mansion and it wasn't the part that scared the crap out of her. The guys didn't just have their guns with them some stared out toward them but didn't see anything as Rakel and Austin were still invisible. " Fan out, we need the amulet, find it and bring it to the supreme. You see the broken kill them and show no mercy." She wasn't going to like anything and she knew something was going to happen to them only she didn't see it coming at all before something opened at their feet they screamed before it quickly died out. Rakel noticed Austin as he only gapped out like a fish out of the water as the rest of the men became worried after looking down in the hole.

Rakel took that moment and got out as so did Austin. They both got closer to the one that yelled a few minutes before demanding them to get a move on. Rakel didn't need to look to know they were dead as Austin acted like he would puke before Rakel walked ahead of him into the building she made sure that she either took them by surprise or wasn't seen as they seemed to be nowhere in sight. Walking in further she saw shattered pieces of glass on the ground, how was she supposed to know what she found? Everyone only attacked her because they knew who she was. Maybe her father really was dead and they wanted the only heir out of the picture. They found priceless things Rakel only thought of the Amulet as she grabbed a few things and put them into her pocket. Rakel didn't understand a lot of things, but there was clearly a fight that broke out, everything seemed to be torn apart and shattered, but why? In the corner of her eye, she saw Austin jump from the noncuriosity as he screamed seeing the pale white sheet of a bearded man in his face. he didn't have to hear the gnawing of the man's teeth to have another shiver run down the length of his spine. Austin. Hey, what's wrong?" It wasn't like she didn't see it either she clearly saw it but Austin wasn't exactly feeling up for ghosts apparently. Austin wasn't just terrified and it wasn't just because it came out of nowhere, but because he didn't deal with supernatural things. He felt like he was being hunted by the ghost as he watched as the finger from the ghost beckoned them both to follow after him. " You see it too right? " She didn't have to ask as it was a stupid but yet questionable thing.

" Yeah, weird." Maybe this was a trap then again Austin knew if they didn't try they wouldn't know. He looked at her as if he didn't want to get near the ghost of whatever however when she walked towards the ghost it evaporated towards another area as she hesitated before following yet again. He only stayed behind her hoping this wasn't some sort of trap as he still wasn't sure where the amulet or the bad guys had gone. Wouldn't they have run into them by now? It scared him to even think like that as he suddenly had the urge to use the toilet, only he knew he had to wait. He mentally cussed as he followed after her as the ghost disappeared again only coming back before pushing them back as other voices came from where they were following the ghost. " He just led us straight to them. " It was when the ghost put his hands on either one of them that they all fell through the ground below them. Austin immediately felt hollow, as well as his brain was left upstairs. Looking up was the only thing he could do for himself, not puke. Austin just questioned if the ghost had saved them for what he had said or because he understood they weren't anything like the other guys. Austin's mind was completely blank he also felt numb. He grabbed ahold of Rakel before he almost fell over. " Not cool, no, don't ever do that again." Austin felt like his brain had completely left his body he wanted to black out. " I agree with him, where are we?" It was a good question as it made him think of where they were even at. Three different entrances led somewhere as they were underground and not in the mansion. " Can I just say this is leading more of an uncharted\Lara Croft adventure? I don't know if I'm liking this." Rakel only again agreed without saying while she looked at him in confusion before looking at the three cave entrances as the ghost was nowhere to be found. " and it just got creepy."

" Which do we choose? " Austin asked as Rakel looked at the small room around them with no door out. " I don't know." Rakel only looked through one before looking through the others and seeing glints in the third one as she walked further in still seeing the glints from in the dirt. " How do you know this is it?" She still wasn't sure but she trusted her gut along with the small yellow tint on the ground floor. "Not sure if this is it. " It wasn't a lie considering she didn't know anything about the caves in the first place. The ghost however took the turn down the second one 60 years before his body still laid upright standing while stakes were still in his body as his body was already in a corps. His mouth lay open in his scream that never was heard as the stakes came from either side of the walls. The other led to a bottomless pit which said a lot considering the bodies. He was only surprised he finally found the one who could see the trail. His work was done as he only stared out into the cave as he physically couldn't go any further.

Rakel and Austin walked for more than several feet before Austin behind her stepped on something that wasn't there before. " What did you-" Her question was cut short before they were both holding onto each other as they slid down the wet watered-down slide that terrified them both even more. The only thing she could hear over the noise of them sliding was Austin yelling that they were already dead. Rakel only rolled her eyes before the slide came to an end as she could only do one thing, scream along with Austin. It only turned into pure joy when she saw the water below them as they both fell into the deep end. Coming up for air she coughed up the water as Austin only stared out at the Temple that laid out in the center. " Rakel was just worn out and only wanted to so badly take a nap right there but there was no telling what this was going to do for them as she only thought of the worse. " Ugh. " She groaned sitting up from the weird-looking sand that also had a weird look to it.

Rakel knew how the video games worked and she knew that when Lara Croft got to another level that's when the bad guys would show up, only this felt off and just weirder by the second. Uncharted wasn't as a creeper to her as Tomb Raider. Rakel did prefer Uncharted over it any day, sometimes she hoped it was always and only a nightmare every time she woke up on any of her adventures. Sadly it was never enough, and it wasn't the only time she'd thought of her father and where he would be. She tried to search for him but not one clue led her to believe he was even alive. She wasn't as surprised by it as it wasn't her first time seeing a Temple but she understood how glorious it felt in the moment. She led the way yet again as it didn't open up just yet like it usually would. They were the first ones to ever make it this far and she only knew that because there wasn't any atmosphere of anything else but them and it said a lot considering she felt like she was being watched. She hated that feeling as she saw the weird yellow tent leading towards the other side of the wall instead as she moved towards it Austin still in awe didn't notice as the ground barely moved as she saw stakes coming from the other side. Eyes wide she jerked him hard towards her and the other wall they both slammed into. " Austin, watch where I step. " He only stared down at her as she probably looked flustered. " You okay?"

Austin honestly wasn't sure but at least now they were both even. He was grateful for her every time and every time he only wanted to see for himself if what he was starting to feel for her was real. Only he finally snapped out of it when she stared out past him. Austin gulped hard before answering her not realizing that there were stakes, to begin with. What was wrong with him? " Fine. I think. " Rakel didn't understand even though she wanted to ask again but she only shut her mouth before she felt stupid with doubt. Rakel looked at him after he seemed to stare hard either at her or past her she wasn't really sure, but it bugged her that he seemed off even though he was always weird in the first place. She looked out past her as a simple thought only crossed his mind. He felt the hatred rising and he still didn't understand what was wrong with him, He felt like he was possessed or worse whatever that was. Austin felt like his body was on edge before he felt the feeling go all the way down his spine. He didn't say anything as he felt like he should scream but he only screamed mentally. He followed after her as she stared at the ground as kept her hand on his arm holding him near her. He honestly didn't understand anything as he was in the dark. He always felt like he was told things at the last minute then again he never really wanted to be social in the first place, but this was fun so far.

" I really don't like this." It wasn't a lie he didn't know if he should be freaking out or worse dead. He felt like a part of him was screaming like they weren't supposed to make it this far. Not once did he say anything to the tiny voice in the back of his mind. He grabbed his chest still hating the hollowness that he was feeling as Marie only had let go as she looked closer to the symbols on the crosses on the walls on either side. "Hey does that side on that cross say anything on it?" He didn't ask questions before looking over at it. " No, but it has a cross engraved on it." He looked back at her as he watched her trace her finger over it. " Hey does it look like a button over there? anything ?" He was confused but he looked back at it as he did the same thing Rakel had done he pushed too hard as something clicked on his side. " Woah!" They both yelled out at the same time after she had pressed her button. The floor underneath them opened up before a side of the wall. Nothing was there as they only walked down the stairs slowly afraid of any more traps. Rakel Only had Austin bump into her more than several times only he didn't want to again say anything. They hadn't really walked down too far before they came to the ground floor that had water up to their ankles. " Not weird. " Rakel stated not looking at Austin as he could've sworn he saw something in the corner of his eyes. Something shiny but red it had that weird glint the only thing that confused him, even more, was when he turned towards it. Nothing seemed to be there which only made him question if he was seeing things instead.