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Angel of Darkness
She couldn’t of done it….could she. She wasn’t there long, twenty minutes maximum…not enough time to murder him. Whenever I passed Werner he always spoke of how good Lara was. I have never met Croft myself, even though I wanted to, she was always too busy, searching for new journeys with old artefacts. But I saw her once…I saw her murder him.
It took place two nights ago, but it seemed like only an hour since I saw the dreadful scene. I remember exactly what happened; I have always been a nosey neighbour, I can’t help it. That night I arrived late to my flat, tired and barely able to walk and threw myself in my favourite chair near the window. It had been a stressful day, I decided to do overtime in order to finish my work, the last thing I wanted or expected was to be scarred by the memory of a murder.
Werner had forgotten to close his windows and curtains in his living room that night. He sat by the fire, staring at the door. Like he did every night, he was waiting for Lara. Only that night did she arrived. I sat up; knowing how to lip read I grabbed my binoculars which were beside me and focused on the room opposite me.
Von Croy had his back to me, but I could see the reflection of his face in a mirror by the door. Lara was different she faced the window, which was easier for me to see what she was saying. The room was dark, but the yellow glow of the fire lightened up the faces.
“Help me Lara, I need you to find something for me…A painting, it doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a key to an ancient species which is now gone, I know it sounds far fetched but if you hear me out” Werner told Lara, she paused thinking about the choice. Then I noticed something, I saw a knife near Lara’s hand, I didn’t say anything or do anything I just pretended that I didn’t see it.
“Go on.” Lara insisted.
“A few weeks ago, a client came to me and asked if I could track down five paintings, I didn’t think they were worth anything until I did some research. I found out they were a key, I took the job but I am finding it difficult finding the fifth painting.” Werner had added. “Why should I care? He is your client, not mine!” Croft asked. Werner began to panic. “I’m being stalked…people are dying out there” I scanned his face, he wanted to tell Lara more, but she stood up and told him to handle it himself. Von Croy ran over to the window, as he did so I duck in my chair to make sure he didn’t see me. Werner picked up a card and forced it into Lara’s hand pleading that she should go and talk to a woman in Paris.
Croft seemed to become enraged, I wanted to call the police but I knew that it wouldn’t help. Remembering that knife near Lara made me stay still, terrified with fear. She pushed the eighty six-year old man back into his chair and yelled at him “Egypt Werner. You walked away and left me for dead!”
Von Croy pushed Lara away and withdrew a gun from a cupboard by the door. Lara backed away. I began to feel dizzy; the room started to spin like water going down a plughole, closing my eyes I tried to regain control. Suddenly I heard three gunshots which forced my eyes to open. Werner lay lifeless on the floor by the window. On the wall were ancient writing written in blood. Croft walked up to him, holding his gun, she bent down next to her mentor. I couldn’t help it, and I tried not to, but I screamed, Lara looked at me and darted out of the door. My mid was racing then, I didn’t know what to do, if I stayed I would be found and killed, but if I ran I wouldn’t have anywhere to go. I knew I didn’t have a choice as I began to run across the room. The rain was heavy, it tried to pin me down to the floor. Opening up my umbrella I ran down the rusting metal steps which lead me into the road. Closing my eyes trying to I tried to order my ideas and objectives. My eyes opened and I looked around, making sure she wasn’t nearby, but she was. She raced around the corner and sprinted towards me. I was meters away from my car; I withdrew a set of car keys from my coat pocket and opened the door to the vehicle. She was getting closer now, I slammed the doors shut and shoved the key into the ignition and turned. This had to be a nightmare; no other word describes the series to bad luck. The car clicked but made no more effort to work. I looked out of the left side window and gasped, she was just a meter or two away. I turned the key again, suddenly it roared into life. Quickly I put into gear and removed the hand brake. I drove away, through the streets of Paris searching for a hotel, far enough away from the flat I previously owned. I didn’t see Lara ever again, but I collected newspaper articles which featured the killing of Professor Werner Von Croy, she wasn’t caught and soon the story died away like my friend…
Posted 20 January 2009 - 11:03 PM
