Chapter 1

Rakel and her best friend Harper always stuck to each other even when they hung out with parts of other youth groups; they were always inseparable. Austin only ever hung out with his friends but every time he saw Harper he never not once noticed Rakel and he wondered what it was about her that just spoke to him. They had all agreed to go to the park and hang out and it wasn't just a normal park either it was mainly for adults, not kids. He made his move on Harper that night talking to her while her friend Rakel was busy on the swings. He not once thought it over or pictured Rakel and it wasn't that he wasn't interested there was just something there, and it bothered him greatly to the point where he would countlessly sleep with Harper not trying to even think of Rakel.

Rakel swung back and forth getting higher as she let go of the swing before she heard yelling. It felt so good to her to feel the wind against her face and she had hardly noticed when she did she twisted her body and landed firmly with her leg out with her knee practically further than where she thought before her hands pushed out with the wind as she stood. They clapped and yelled at the sudden flexibility as Harper rammed her body against hers. Was she sweating?

She hugged her back before Harper became hysterical. " The hell was that you could've just died or worse." Austin stood behind her staring and it wasn't a bad stare but it creeped Rakel out just a little. " Worse? Harper comes on I'm fine." She looked back at Austin as his arm went around Harper before she got it quickly. " Oh, you two are- Haha." She should've known and now it was very obvious. " How is this funny?" Rakel just waved her hand upwards before walking away towards a group of boys all the while Austin stared after her thinking why her as Harper spoke. " Now I'm hungry."

A few months had gone by Harper was happy as Austin was questioning why he was still with her. Rakel studied her history thinking back to what her father was after before he died and why he couldn't stop while he could. " Triangle mess. What?" She remembered faintly of her father muttering things in his sleep like a triangle and other things involving a deep cave that would lead somewhere. She wasn't sure why she was suddenly very interested in History as she never really liked school but being in College already sucked and it would be nice to just get out while she could. Rakel found herself studying what her father used to talk about but she could only find so much. She really didn't have but one friend and for the past several months she hadn't been there for her if anything she was occupied with Austin. It said a lot for Rakel in her mind she didn't even see Harper as a friend.

She wasn't sure whether or not to look for this as she wanted to just stay inside. Harper wouldn't care if she went missing as long as she had Austin she'd be fine. Rakel grabbed her pack after reading about a cave not too far from where she was and she couldn't think about it being more than just a coincidence before grabbing her friend's flashlight and beanie and running out the door hiding from the youth that was supposed to have already been long gone. " Leave, Go. NO fine." She said it before walking past several of them two of them questioned where she was going before she switched it up and asked where they were going. " Okay well, when you see Harper please tell her Austin needs to get his head out from his butt!" She smiled wanting to laugh because it was true in every way. " Getting to where she was going she didn't realize a few things. One she didn't know what she was doing and two what was she going to do if she found something?

Her mind hurt just thinking before she stuffed the beanie tighter around her head. It felt a whole lot colder as she felt like everything around her was frozen. She didn't want to stray on that thought as she looked at the spooky cave wishing she had brought someone with her but sadly she didn't think of that either. " Rakel you're an idiot." She said closing her eyes and breathing as it calmed her before making her move and walking into the cave. She wasn't sure exactly what she was looking for but everything about the cave looked okay at least for right now. She turned the corner slightly before thinking this was a stupid idea and that she should've stayed back at the College.

With every step, she took she thought the floor would crumble and then she'd die from stakes that were sharp as she didn't want that mental picture. She didn't really know again what she was doing and thankfully she played a lot of Uncharted and Tomb Raider to know a few things. She went deeper and when she did she had to crawl through just to get through to the other side. Every time Lara would do something like this made her think there was something on the other side just waiting to jump out at her and kill her. She definitely didn't want that in her head as she crawled getting to the other side as it took everything in her to not scream. A body laid its mouth open as if in a scream head turned towards her as the light she had shined on it. The light shined throughout the tunnel that she could've sworn was very different in a lot of ways. That's when she knew that she wasn't just in a cave and that it was also part of the expedition for the slaves in the 1800s. It took everything in her to not say anything and to breathe before she walked any further while breathing she noticed the bones on the guy's hand were claspt around something. She bent down grabbed its hand pulled it open and saw rare coins. Now she could say it felt a lot like Lara Croft.

She took them getting up and putting them in her pocket before zipping them and walking carefully towards the light that seemed to shine through. Was she outside? She shielded her eyes before gapping at the beautiful stone carving plastered on the wall. She grabbed her smartphone taking its picture before wanting so badly to take what she could if it were gold. Something stood out to her before she made sure to not step on anything that she'd regret. A triangular piece set out of the way towards an outline of a door and a lever she guessed was for it. She grabbed her pack and put the triangular piece into her pack as she put her friend's non-expensive watch in its place instead. She didn't know why she thought this was funny to her as she pulled the lever and left. She was back outside after crawling through spikes that seemed to have already gone off. She didn't want to think of what could be out there if someone wanted what was in her pack. She hoped it wasn't anything evil as she fast-walked back towards the College. She was well away before she heard the engine of a few cars as she hide behind the stone wall of some ruins gazing towards the people who obviously seemed bad as they wore black. " Why are there always bad people?" She didn't want to get in their way and that said a lot if they knew she could've already been dead.

She was very glad she was further away as she ran the rest of the way back to her dorm room. Shaking and sweating she opened the door not realizing Austin and Harper lay in Harper's bed which wasn't that far from hers. " Where've you been?" She wasn't jumpy but she didn't have to look at Austin as she clearly did as worry was written all over his face. " Out." She grabbed her pack and a few garments with one of her dresses and went towards the shower in their dorm room. She turned the water on as she sat on the toilet thinking of why they would want it then again it was a priceless treasure and it could probably do a lot of hurting if necessary. She never thought about the guy who never made it as she again thought of her father and why he couldn't see straight. Mom had left him for a reason and when she did she had gotten in a wreck and died. she did blame things on her father but she then had the realization; what if that was her father? She thought of crying out the emotion that ran through her before locking the door getting undressed and looking into the mirror. She had a bruise along her neck along with a scratch that would leave a mark for sure on the side of her face.

After her meaningful shower, she got dressed after putting lotion on her body before spraying perfume along her outfit. She grabbed her pack and threw it under the bed. She was glad Austin and Harper weren't there anymore but she wondered why her ' friend' wasn't being a friend to her. Austin had definitely changed her and Rakel wasn't happy about it. She had her body turned facing away from the door as it opened. Not once did she think of it as maybe it was only Harper but as she turned around the door closed and Austin stood there instead. " Mother of God Austin. I swear sometimes you need to knock. "

She grabbed her other pack which was the same but different stuffing her school things inside. Austin asked if she was okay wondering how to get her to see him clearer. " He grabbed her by the throat forcing her to the wall and pulling her to him she didn't know what he was doing she could only see so much as her mind froze more into shock. " Austin. I'm not Harper." Rakel shouldn't have had to say it cuz clearly she wasn't Harper. She could breathe but she didn't know what to think before he stuffed himself in between her legs. " I know where she is and I don't care. I just need to see one thing. " He breathed knowing before kissing her lips softly and then harder with force. Pulling away he breathed looking down at her. " I want you to be mine I never wanted her, I had to force myself to do her half the time thinking it wasn't her it was me. I was losing my mind. Everything I was with her I saw someone else, Never thought it would be you. Why? "

Rakel breathed harder not thinking as she heard every word like a changing method. " You can't just take. I'm not yours. " She didn't know what to think and she was surprised she wasn't bothered by all of this. Why would he even want her in the first place? She stared not realizing he had pulled her dress up just barely pulling himself against her pulling himself more against her before kissing her harder. Her mind was too hazy to think straight as her mind wandered back to the History book and the triangle she found. " Please stop." She watched as she figured he wouldn't take no for an answer only he did what he was told before she could clearly see this wasn't over. " Stop staring, please get out." She said it too nicely for her liking and it gave Austin the chance to think he could stay if he really wanted to.

Rakel looked at his outfit and how it hugged him perfectly the back of his hair combed but curly. She thought about running her hands through his hair. For the past two months he had grown out his hair and for some reason, it had her thinking of just pulling his hair and cutting it off. She knew he wouldn't let her. Rakel didn't even know why she thought the way she did. She grabbed her book bag and packed it before leaving the room as he noticed the bruise. " Where are you lying?" That had her question what he was talking about. " What?" She looked over at him before he grabbed her pushing her into his room. Thinking this was going to be it and she'd finally would be able to have an excuse to hit him she was ready for it. He grabbed her around the waist before her book bag fell to the floor he grabbed her face where the bruise was before he drew his finger across her skin towards the cut. " Where are you lying? Who in their right mind hurt you? "He wasn't asking nicely and she slowly became worried for her own safety. She tried to control her breathing. " I was in the cave. I must've accidentally hurt myself. " She was telling the truth but he didn't seem to buy it.

She knew no one else was in there as he seemed to be more worried and that said a lot to her because she knew the only person he'd ever cared for was himself. " You don't believe me." She was scared but she knew for some reason even his touch had her feeling like he would never intentionally hurt her or anyone. She didn't know where this type of person was coming from but she never expected Austin ever to feel like he loved or cared for someone like her. " In my backpack, there's a triangle device and it came from the cave. I have a map that my father had. The History book even talks about it." She was still in his arms as he seemed to believe only he looked across her shoulder before grabbing it taking it over to his bed and opening it. " You took this? " He seemed suddenly interested as he dug into the folder she had of Peru and Australia and the missing items that were stolen. " What Cave?" He looked back at her questioning in his mind what was even going on.

Rakel told him about everything she knew of when her father was still alive. Austin seemed smarter than she realized and she didn't understand why everything he did was surprising her. Why him? After class, they were going to meet up but he wouldn't have his vehicle so she was going to use hers instead. " You were supposed to be my friend! You were supposed to have my back!" Rakel didn't even like the next part as Harper only cussed her out. Rakel questioned everything as to why Harper was attacking her before she slammed her hand roughly into her shoulder. Why was she acting like this? " Me? Last time I checked you were too busy to have a friend then again the only thing you've ever wanted was someone to sleep with. If you want someone to have your back then be there for them too. It's not a one-way street, it's a two-way street. By the way, honey was Born and raised. " She turned looking at Austin's surprised face before stalking past him. " I'll do this on my own. " Rakel knew if she didn't walk away she would've put her 6 years of experience on her but then again she was only using College as an excuse to live.

Austin apparently didn't like that as he only watched and ran towards her vehicle gawking before she got into her 1969 Chevrolet Camero. She loved her vehicle and everything about it even the part where she could race if she possibly wanted to. He opened the door and he stated calmly looking her in the eyes. " Heck no, you're not. " He didn't get out like she thought he would but seeing Harper still standing there watching she just gave up in question why she could never keep a friend. " Where are we going?" She drove out of the parking lot and onto the street before turning onto the highway before she made sure she could get over in the fast lane. She didn't like when people drove slowly it pissed her off. " Are we going to Peru or Australia? " He didn't look dressed for either before looking over at him as he grabbed the map looking the map over squinting. " We're going to my safe house first then I'm hoping to drive to Australia since it's just several hours out." He sat there looking out the window as she went over 65 miles an hour. "Maybe slow down? Wait for you? No, I'm going with you." She didn't like that but she didn't know what else to do considering she knew him too much and it said a lot, she didn't know him at all. Ha, Not a chance." If anything she sped up as annoyance was already written on her face. Austin wasn't questioning why he had gone with her, he questioned why she was speeding.

She hoped this wasn't going to be anything like Tomb raider because the most she'd spent on the game it scared her. Uncharted was different as Nathan Drake always stole things and got away with it however he did get rich in the end like always and then go on other adventures to only help himself or a friend while Lara did it to save humanity, even when they didn't deserve it. She spent a lot of time on the games and played every single game. Austin eventually got used to her speeding as long as she knew what she was doing he thought he'd be fine. She passed several interstates making him think he was going on vacation as he knew this wasn't even probably going to be fun. She probably never liked to admit she was wrong but he didn't know what it was about her that bugged him. He found himself looking at her wondering what even led him to believe she was even interested, was it the way he'd always caught her looking towards him, then again he was always with his friends it could've been someone else she liked. " Where's your safehouse?"

" 30 minutes away why?" She looked over her shoulder at the black sedan that seemed to have caught her eye. Was it following her? She wasn't sure and by the time she had turned into the next interstate she turned down towards the river instead making sure she wasn't being followed. Then again she wasn't sure as she could've sworn they looked right at her. " Did you notice the Black Sedan? It's been following us?" She didn't like it one bit but then again she was probably going to have to get over it she brought this on herself when she fled and took the Triangular Device from the cave. She just hoped her past wouldn't resurface, again. " I thought I noticed but I wasn't positively sure since we were on the freeway. " He did have a point but she still couldn't think as to why they were staring hard at her. " Hold on! If you think I drive crazy you're going to need more than just seat belts." She drove past more cars as she looked back at the vehicle through the review mirror as she only had a small opening before swerving hard into the next lane speeding over 80.

" No, God No!" In a panic, he grabbed out at what he could as his body moved in the seat as his heartbeat went to his stomach the only problem he had was he felt like he had left his beating heart on the freeway. His mindset wasn't impressed as much as it was as he knew she wasn't just a normal girl. Who was she? Rakel knew she had a gun underneath her seat the only problem she had was Austin. How would he feel about it? "We're here." Austin felt like he was still on the freeway before Rakel hit a button as a hidden wall from the building moved like it was a door.

When she quickly got inside after hiding her car they quickly got what was needed as well as a change of clothes for Austin. " How do I look?" " She wanted to laugh because it didn't look like something he'd wear but then again it didn't look that bad on him." Better than I thought for sure."

they both looked around as it had been a while since she had been there but Austin only had to look at everything as she thought of her Father and using his old vehicle. She knew of the hidden features and she was ecstatic about it. Austin grabbed as many weapons as he would need before Rakel walked over and did the same. " You think we would need these?" Austin was still questioning a lot of things and how this was all even possible as he held up the bombs. Were the video games he played all just for reality? He watched her smiling at the vehicle as it brought back a lot of memories about her father. Rakel used to sit in her father's lap and take her for rides and when he did he would always say next time I'll let you drive us into the ocean and steer, maybe then I'll teach you how to fly. She heard his voice still after all the years ago when he had disappeared. She grabbed her head before she looked past the columns and at the garage doors only that's what he thought as he opened it for her as she started the car. " They're headed for the blue mountains in Katoomba." Austin wasn't sure what she had said as he tried to pronounce it in his head. " We're going to get there by car?"

She drove out of the garage hitting a button that had a home on it as the doors shut automatically. He watched as she pressed some buttons. " You might wanna step back." He wasn't expecting anything other than a normal car, but Rakel had proved him wrong and he didn't know if he should be freaked out or straight-up impressed. He felt a little of both as he stared hard before shaking his mind out of it Rakel yelled as he came back from the daydream that he thought he was even in. He only didn't know what to think as he stared at her wondering who he was with as she seemed way too relaxed for anything.