[Flashback]
Rain poured relentlessly from the night sky, soaking through Leonard's uniform as if trying to drag him under with it.
"Search again!" he roared, his voice raw, breaking through the storm. "No one leaves until we find her!"
"Sir, we've covered the entire area—"
"THEN YOU SEARCH IT AGAIN!"
The soldiers froze.
They had never seen him like this.
Not on the battlefield.
Not under enemy fire.
But here—
A broken man standing in the mud, clutching a tiny, blood-stained shoe in his hand.
Lara's shoe. So small. So impossibly small.
"She's out there…" he muttered, shaking his head, rain streaming down his face—though it was no longer clear what was rain and what wasn't.
"She's scared of thunder… she must be crying... and looking for her mom."
His voice cracked.
And then, quieter—
"She's waiting for me…"
Hours passed. Then days.
Search parties expanded. Forests were combed. Rivers dragged. Every lead chased until it bled dry.
Leonard didn't sleep.
