Chapter 3: “The Call Part 3: Breaking the Silence”

Inside the Croft’s Mansion was a library; a huge library. A library full of books; books which contains facts, knowledge, and information. But most of the books in this library contains infos about artifacts, hidden places and secrecy. All of these books were bought in different countries all over the world. Some are original and some are just copies. And some are just meant to be found, which could be found in different countries as well. That is how active and wealthy Lara Croft’s father was before. Today, Lara is in that library, in search of something; something more valuable and important than the books inside that library. It’s some kind of book which holds the memories of her father. It’s her father’s journal. She is searching of her father’s journal.

As she walks and pass by each shelf, she would always remember her father’s clues and hints where his journal can be hidden. He would always say it in some kind of riddle. “I hid my book where it should be, a place full of knowledge, facts, and secrecy…” She would always tell her father that it was their library. And she got it right. But she was thinking: In this huge library, where could it be? The riddle continues: “I hid it under the starry sky, where heavenly bodies are located up high. I hid it over the depths of hell, where sinful sinners have already fell.” This doesn’t make sense. Where can we find a place inside the library which is between heavenly bodies and the depths of hell? In Lara’s mind, she doesn’t care if the riddle has sense or no sense. All she knows is this riddle is the clue in finding her dad’s journal.

While wandering around the library, she realized that all shelves have titles above them. These titles indicate about what kind of book can be found in this shelf. She remembered that there is a shelf which title indicates the heavenly bodies and the depths of hell. She then started looking for these titles. She knew that these titles can be found somewhere in the backmost part of this library.

After a few minutes… at last she finally found it. She has finally found the shelf which indicates both the heavenly bodies and the depths of hell. The two upper shelves indicates about the galaxies, constellations, and many more about outer space while the two lower shelves indicates about demons, monsters, and many more about the underworld. The shelf between them indicates…nothing. Nothing at all. She then analyzes that shelf. She realized that this shelf have books with the same color and the same book skin. A little bit of a dark green with a rough book skin. She also realized that all of them have numbers with them…except one. She then started to get curious about that book. Because of her curiosity, she took the book at its place. She examined the book immediately. As she examines the cover of the book, she saw a carving of some letters in the lower right. “LRJC”. It was the carving of her father’s name. “Lord Richard James Croft.” She have finally found it. It was in the library all along. She then started browsing her father’s journal.

As she browse some of the pages. She was amazed. It was so full of her father’s experiences. He also have written some things in his journal about the expeditions he has gone to before. It also contains places he have explored where mankind in this generation haven’t gone yet.

While Lara was browsing more and more pages of her father’s journal, she realizes that there was an enveloped letter slipping out of the book. She took the letter to see who it’s for and from whom could it be. She read the envelope with a minimum voice, “To my dear Lara, from LRJC.” Lara got shock. It was a letter for her from her father. She immediately opened the letter with excitement. Then she started reading it…

Dear Lara,

I see that you have finally solved the riddle about the hiding place of my journal. I know you’ll find it even though I’m gone. I’m really proud of you Lara. You are getting more intelligent and stronger as the days pass by. What you’re holding right now is a book that contains datas in everything I have learned and explored in some places and countries. It also contains informations in every expedition I had. It contains explanations in some artifacts, hidden places and sacred things I have discovered. I did write some things that are not important for you but someday you might just use it though. I also write some things that I haven’t discovered or can’t explain. Just like I said: Not everything can be discovered or explored. Some are just meant to be hidden and some are meant to be found. This book is what I call… “My Memory book”… It’s a book I have used and protected all over the years when I am still alive. A book that contains everything I have learned. I just hope this book can help you learn too. It might help you guide the way in finding things you wanna discover. I know you Lara. Your hobbies are just like mine. We both like exploring things and stuff. And this book will really help you as well. I am now lending this book to you. I hope you can protect it from harm. That’s all I can say about this book Lara. So whatever you do, don’t ever get in trouble. You will always know….that I Love you…

From your loving father,
“Richard James Croft”

Lara who was laughing at the middle of the letter before was now starting a soft cry. She knew this day would come. A day where her father might talk to her even though he’s gone. She never knew she would cry at that day. Who knows what her father would say right? She just didn’t expected what her father would say…

“I love you too father… You’ll always know that…” Lara then kissed the letter. She shed more and more tears this time. Her tears drop straight to the letter making some parts of the letter wet. She never expected that she might shed more tears. She then started wiping her eyes and face. While wiping her face, she accidentally dropped her father’s journal. She was about to pick up the book when suddenly she saw another envelope slipping out of the book. “Another envelope? Hhmm…” She then picked the envelope up and read the front of it. From LRJC, to . . .” “ *knock* Lady Croft are you in there?” Lara suddenly stopped reading. She immediately hid the envelopes inside the book and put the book back in its place. “Yes, I’m here. You can come in.” Hillary the butler opened the door carefully. “Good morning Lady Croft.” “Good morning to you too Hillary. What is it that you want to say?” asked Lara. “You have a visitor.” said Hillary. “A visitor? What a pleasant time for having a visitor. I’ll be there in a minute.”

As Lara walks straight to the hallway into her huge living room, she can see her visitor looking at the collection of artifacts in their living room. She can see that her visitor is a normal looking guy with the white complexion wearing an eyeglass, polo shirt, hoodie, jeans, and chucks. She kinda recognizes this kind of fashion style of someone. She just can’t remember it. When the guy faced her, she finally had remembered… “William!!! What a surprise!” said Lara. “Hheeyy. Boy I’m glad to see you.” said William while both of them are hugging at each other. “How are you anyways? I never heard of you lately. It’s been years since you last contacted me.” said Lara who was happy to se him. “Well as you can see… I’m fine. Thanks to your support. I’m living a normal life now. Without your support, I might not be a scientist’s assistant today.” said William. “That’s great…since when did you become a scientist’s assistant?” asked Lara. “Just two years ago. And this year, they are planning on promoting me to be a scientist. Isn’t that great?” Lara was looking at him with a smile. “I’m proud of you William.” William smirked and scratched his head and said “Thanks.”

After a few seconds of silence, William started the talking. “Anyways, I came here to deliver a letter from Joe Franklin. Inside that letter are tickets or pass to the Grand Party of Joe Franklin that will be held tomorrow night at his home museum. It’s supposed to be four tickets but he directly gave the 4th ticket to me. Dunno why.” “Hhmm…Interesting… you’re coming right?” asked Lara. “I guess… I have no choice. Its Joe Franklin remember. But to whom are those two tickets left?” asked William. Lara who was looking at Bryce and Hillary at the other room said “We’re taking Bryce and Hillary with us.” “Really? Why is that?” asked William. “I got a bad feeling something bad is gonna happen if I leave this two alone in this mansion.” said Lara with a smile. Bryce who was fixing his (destructive) robot, overheard her and said “Thanks for the compliment Lara.” “Don’t mention it.” said Lara.

Chapter 2: “The Call Part 2: It’s an Emergency!!!”

The big old museum in Washington, a place full of people, people who seeks truth or lies. A place for some people who wanted to have some infos and knowledge. One of this people is Ben, Benjamin Gates. Ben was roaming around the big museum watching people listens to the tour guide of the museum, children who cries for not having fun, and students who take notes from their tour guide. Ben, who was roaming around for a while has stopped in front of an artifact which is inside a glass case. This artifact is just a stone. But to Ben’s mind, this isn’t just a stone. Why would it be displayed in this big old museum if this is just a stone? So he investigated it.

He realizes that the stone was in a puzzle piece kind of shape. And he saw that there was some kind of drawings carved into it. So he leaned closer and closer to see what is carved in it. He then realizes that the carvings kinda looked like a … “Boo!!!” Ben was surprised. He almost hit his head to the glass case. Thanks to his flexibility, he managed in not hitting his head in the glass case. When he looked behind him, he saw Abigail laughing for seeing his face. “You should have seen yourself in a mirror!!!” said Abigail, laughingly. “Haha…you almost gave me a heart attack and I almost lost a thousand dollar!” said Ben angrily. “Thousand dollars? Why?” asked Aby. “Coz I almost destroyed this glass case” said Ben who was pointing in the glass case in front of him. “Oh that? That cost 2000 dollars” said Aby. “Thanks for telling me that, that could really help.” Said Ben sarcastically. “Wait, how would you know that?” “Ben, I work here…remember?” said Aby… Ben who started remembering things realizes that she’s right…she does work here “Oh…….yah, I remember now” said Ben while scratching his head. After scratching his head he started staring at the stone again. “What are you looking at anyways?” asked Aby. Ben who was staring at the stone didn’t reply. “You know, that stone isn’t gonna transform into something if you just stared at it this whole time.” Said Aby. Ben still didn’t reply. “Did you just come here to look at that stone for hours or did you come here to see me” “Well, I am staring at it because I think there is some kind of carving of a drawing or some kind of ancient lettering in it.” Said Ben… Aby then also leaned closer to look at it clearly if there is anything carved into the stone. Aby then realizes the carving “That’s a hieroglyph” “A hieroglyph? I never so that kind” “Because this kind of hieroglyph is one of the ancient and oldest hieroglyph in the world. No one today knew when was this hieroglyph used and discovered.” Said Aby. “Oh…is that so” said Ben. “Ok so let’s get back to reality shall we… I come here to ask you for a dinner in the most expensive restaurant in this country…” “Really? And where is that?” asked Aby… “It is somewhere near…” *ring* Ben’s cellphone started ringing. “um…can you wait for a second…” “Ok…” said Aby excitedly. “Hello?” “Ben it’s me, Riley” said Riley in the other end. “You gotta go here at your father’s house quick…it’s an emergency” said Riley. After that, Riley hanged the phone. “Great an emergency at my father’s house…” said Ben. Ben was just about to tell Aby to just forget about Riley’s emergency but Aby started talking “It’s ok Ben. We can go to that restaurant your saying next time. Your father is more important than me.” “No baby, your more impor----” “Can we stop this drama crap already…its fine really, let’s go” said Aby while walking straight to the exit. Ben has paused for a minute. Still thinking of the speech he was saying a while ago. “Why can’t I finish my speech first. Darn…” said Ben while walking straight to the exit and into his car……………….

After a few minutes drive from the museum to Patrick Gate’s Residence (Ben’s father), Ben and Aby saw Riley walking in circles in front of the door. As they both got out of the car, Riley shouted at them with joy. “BEN!!! ABY!!! YOU’RE FINALLY HERE!!!” “SSSSSSSHHHHH!!!” said Ben and Aby. People in the neighborhood started to stare at them suspiciously “Don’t make a scene here Riley…let’s just talk inside the house ok.” Said Ben. “Ok” whispered by Riley……. As they got inside the house, Ben started the talking “So what’s this emergency? Is my dad hurt? Did something happen to him? Where is he anyways?” “I’m right here Ben” said Patrick. Ben who was startled started to look for him in the dining room where he heard his dad’s voice was coming from. When he got at the dining room he was surprised seeing Patrick who was wearing a blue robe sitting in the dining chair in front of the dining table. “As you can see, I am drinking my favorite tea here.” Said Patrick after sipping in his tea. Ben who was surprised started to get a little frustrated… and shouted “RILEY!!!”. Riley who was surprised ran as fast as he could to meet Ben at the dinng room” “Yes?” “I thought this was an emergency. I thought my father was in some kind of trouble, but as I can see, my father here is sitting on a chair while drinking his favorite tea. So what is this freaking emergency?” said Ben angrily. “um…Ben, I didn’t said that your fath---” “Just tell me the emergency then”. Said Ben. “…ok……..Well…the emergency is…” Riley paused for a minute. “We are invited to Joe Christopher Franklin’s grand party which will be held tomorrow night in his home museum in London, England!!!” said Riley. Ben who was staring at Riley, paused for a minute. “What did you just said?” “I said: we are invi----” “JOE CHRISTOPHER FRANKLIN!!!???” shouted Aby who was now in the dining room. Ben and Riley started to stare at Aby with shock. “You know that guy?” asked Ben. “Joe Christopher Franklin, the multi-billionaire, owner of the most famous home museum in London, England. He had a bunch of collections of antiques and artifacts in that home museum of his.” Said Aby excitedly. “Well, thanks for breaking my moment Aby. I was just about to give my speech about him.” Said Riley who was looking at Aby frustratedly. “OMG, I can’t wait to see his collections!!! Have you booked as already?” said Aby. “Yes. I booked four tickets.” Ben got surprised when he heard 4 tickets was booked. “Four tickets? Who is the 4th one?” Ben who was just asking a question has just thought who that 4th person could be… It was his dad… He then look slowly to his dad. “Dad……” “You can’t stop me Ben. I’m the one who paid for the plane tickets.” Said Patrick. “Oh come on dad. Why is it that every time I go somewhere far you would always be there at my side?” asked Ben. “Coz I’m your dad” answered Patrick. “He has a point Ben” said Aby. “Oh come on” “Just think of the bright side Ben. We’re booked free!” said Riley sarcastically. Ben then started to frown.

Chapter I: “The Call Part 1: The Drake is On!!!”

The ocean down under seems to be in peace and quiet. As the fishes swim around the ocean while the coral reefs live in the sea bed, a shout has erupted above the ocean…“Woohoo!!! Yeeaahh!!!” Nathan Drake shouted, while surfing in the middle of the beach of Brazil. As the wave rises, so is his surfboard’s speed. He almost flipped up but thanks to his balance he got his motion back in phase. While riding on his surfboard, all he was thinking was his success, success to reach the ground for a landing. Land to a ground near Elena and Sully. He was doing his best to search for them while balancing in his board. But because of to much concentration on searching for them, he had lost his focus. He almost forgot that he is riding a surfboard and not a skateboard. So he flipped up and was caught in the large wave… "Holy cra--" *splash*.

“Now that’s what I call a wave…” said Sully. “Well that’s what you call an epic fail. And according to my calculation, that would be his 4th epic fail for this day.” Said Elena. “Let’s just help him get up then…” “ok” replied Elena. Drake who is now flashed into the side of the beach, who is touching the sand to be sure he is safe, is now gasping for air…. “*gasp*” said Nate… “I promise not to look for those two *cough* ever again once I’m surfing *cough*”. “We can hear you Nate…”Said Sully. Nate saw Sully and Elena walking straight to him. “Oh yeah? Then hear it out loud then! So you would now know what troubles me when I’m surfing…” “Oh come on Nate. Can’t you just get up already? I still have some business to do here. Here let me give you a hand…” Elena reaches her hand to Nate. “Well thanks Elena…I really appreci---…” *ring* Elena’s cell phone was ringing. “Hold to that thought” said Elena. When Nate was about to reach for Elena’s hand which he had missed, he had drop his face straight to the sand… “Bwahahaha!!! Now that’s what you call Dumped by a girl…hahahaha” said Sully. “Plahaha…*phew*…very funny Sully…very funny…”… Nate started to help himself get up then.

Elena just finished talking in her phone “Nate, it was Chloe who was on the phone…she said that we got an invitation from Chris Franklin… He is inviting us to come on a special grand party in his home museum in England tomorrow night” “Wait, are you saying Mr. Franklin is inviting as to a party?” asked by Nate. “That’s what I said…!” replied Elena… “The billionaire Joe Christopher Franklin, inviting as to a party? Wow, now that’s what you call famous… So what are we waiting for lets get packed and get booked already…” “As you wish Nate…by the way Chloe is coming with us tomorrow night ok?” said Elena. “If that’s what you wish…” Said Nate. “Ahem ahem…No ones gonna leave me here uninvited right?” said Sully. Nate and Elena started to look at Sully… Staring at him for a moment, and then they both stared at each other and said… "Fine…"