Tomb Raider: Metamorphosis 
by Roger Pederson

From the darkness, we emerge into the light ......

Chapter 1: New Beginnings
Lara sat nervously on the sofa, her chin down with a hood over her head ... concealing the look of despair in her eyes. She had never been to a therapist before. Not that she couldn't afford it! She simply never felt the need for it. She had dealt with the loss of her parents, ... but, she was dealing with too much now. She had to release her inner demons. This was only her sixth visit. She hadn't told him everything, .... she hadn't told him that she had been forced to take the lives of others, in order to stay alive herself! 

Her therapist spoke.

"Getting back to what you said earlier ... You say the flashbacks have stopped?

"Yes"

"That's excellant improvement, but I'm concerned that you're still shutting yourself away at home. .... It's important to gradually take steps into the outside world. ..... Go for a walk now and then. Maybe take up a nice hobby. .... A girl your age, .. you should be exploring new horizons. I'd like to know that you're taking care of yourself. .... For many people, these traumas can become a mental trap. .... They get .... well, .... stuck, like a ship frozen in ice. .... But, there's another type of person. You know what happens to them? .......... Miss Croft?" 

Without even raising her head, Lara answered him. "We become who we're meant to be."

"Yes, exactly. .... You either control the emotion ... or the emotion controls you. .... It's your choice. ... You have to learn to move on from your past experiences, ... let them make you a stronger person." 

"Because ultimately, what we do .... defines who we are."

"Yes, .... in a matter of speaking." he said. 

Even though she was seated, Lara was restless. She was constantly wringing her hands, moving her feet. 

Glancing at the clock on the wall, her therapist said .... "Well, I see our time is up. .... My secretary will schedule another appointment with you on your way out." .... He stood and shook her hand. "Goodbye for now." 

Lara turned and walked out the door, ... past his secretary. 

"Oh, Miss Croft? ..... Don't you want to schedule another appointment?" 

Lara turned, "No, .... I don't think I'll be needing to see the doctor again. Thank you." 

She'd been home three months now, but the events on that island still haunted her. If there was one thing she had learned from her sessions, it was that confronting her worst fears was the best way to overcome them. But what haunted her, was also what drove her. As a child, there were so many mysteries that she'd simply dismissed as mere stories. And her experience on that island in the Dragon's Triangle had taught her that the line between myth and truth is often fragile and blurred. She felt a hunger, ... she needed to find answers, .... she needed to understand. 

Lara remembered the journal she'd read on the way home, and she recalled her studies. 

From her father's journals, Lara learned that legend told of the first British colonists of Roanoke Island relocating to Hatteras Island, then known as Croatoan. Prior to settling on Roanoke Island, the colonists had first settled on Hatteras Island in the year 1584. Some of them had been living there for two years before a group went on to Roanoke. The first voyage took place in 1584, under Arthur Barlowe and Phillip Amadas. The second voyage (1585) had been under Sir Richard Grenville and Ralph Lane. Grenville made his second voyage to re-supply the colonists on Croatoan. After the initial exploration of the mainland coast and the native settlements there, the natives of the village of Aquascogoc were blamed for stealing a silver cup. In retaliation, the village was sacked and burned.

Manteo, a native-Americn indian, who was from Croatoan Island, was taken to England and returned before the Roanoke colony was found abandoned. There was a fourth voyage made in 1587 under John White. The story of this missing, or "lost" colony began when White finally returned to Roanoke on a fifth voyage to the colony, a much-delayed re-supply mission in 1590. At that time, the settlement was found abandoned. The only clue to the colonists' whereabouts was the word "Croatoan" found carved into the palisade of the fort. 

Had the colonists on Roanoke gone back to Croatoan? They had already lived there and had a strong relationship with the natives, some of whom had visited England. But there was something else. There was another legend. A legend not so logical .......... 

Chapter 2: Driving Force
Winston noticed that ever since she'd returned, Lara had been spending a great deal of time in the shooting gallery and even more time on the archery range. She regularly had instructors come by to teach her hand-to-hand combat techniques and gymnastic moves as well. 

Clearing his throat, "Ah hemm .... Madam, .... lunch will ready shortly." 

"Thank you Winston," she replied as she kept her eye on the target and watched as another arrow hit the bullseye. 

"Winston?" 

"Yes, Madam?" 

"Something happened that I didn't talk to you about, ..." 

"Madam, it's not necessary ...." 

"I, .... I had to, ...." 

"Lara, I know you. .... I've known you since the day you were born. .... I know you did what you had to in order to survive, .... in order to get home." 

She smiled. ..... He knew her better than she knew herself. He knew that her time away had changed her. 

"Winston, I have to leave tommorrow. .... There's something I have to do." 

"Another adventure, madam?" 

....."Yes." 

"If I may inquire, what is it you're looking for this time?" 

.... "Answers, my old friend. ......... Answers." 

She turned and walked toward the main house, as Winston followed behind. 

"Call and tell them to have the plane ready for tommorrow morning." 

"Destination, madam?" he asked

"Madrid, ... Rome ..... then Istanbul." 

THE END ?

Lara Croft and Tomb Raider are trademarks 
or registered trademarks of Square Enix Ltd. All rights reserved.
Story by Roger Pederson