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where-dreamers-go · 4 years ago

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“Part 5 - Deals And Elevators” Riley Poole x Reader

(A/N: Requested. Splitting up to keep both the document and the spectacles separate worked, but with you and the Declaration of Independence taken by Ian, now Riley and Abigail have to tell Ben the news. Could things be spiraling out of their hands or could they get the upper hand?

Two points of view in this one!

Check out: Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four

Warnings: Bad guys have guns, kidnapping, a skeleton, some language at a point, and death mentioned.

Word Count: 8,687 words )

Quick paces and tired breaths. Riley and Abigail made their way down the sidewalk, glancing back every few seconds to make sure that they weren’t followed. Luckily they weren’t.

Huffing and puffing, they tried to catch their breaths. Failure seeping in.

Riley could not think of an earlier time when he had mentally repeated the word ‘no’ before. If given the opportunity to yell at a wall, he would do so in a heartbeat.

More than out of sight of Ian, Riley was doing a poor excuse for a jog, but his heart wasn’t into it. There was a ache in his side that screamed for Riley to take a break and to stop moving. He couldn’t. Abigail couldn’t.

There was still danger. Danger for you, danger for the Declaration of Independence, and danger of literally anything that Ian would involve himself in.

Passing another building, neither Riley nor Abigail said anything. What would there be to say? What words could help or lessen what had happened out there on the crosswalk?

Digging into his jean pocket, Riley pulled out his cell phone. The battery already half used. There was only one person he thought of calling.

Once the ringing was interrupted there was a voice.

“What?”

“We lost it.” Riley got straight to the point.

“What?” Ben asked.

“We lost the Declaration. lan took it.” Riley walked beside Abigail, tired and partially defeated.

“Yeah, uh, okay. You all right? You all right?” Ben asked after a few moments of silence on his end.

“Yeah, yeah, we’re all right. Ben…Ian took (Y/N).”

“What?”

“Ben,” he sighed. “I’m sorry.” Riley held a hand on his waist, trying his best to keep his breathing in check. “They had the document. Ben—Ben, I don’t know what to do.”

“We’ll be fine.”

Abigail looked to Riley.

“Meet me at the car.” Ben hung up the phone.

With a motion of his hand, Riley flipped his phone shut.

The Declaration of Independence ending up in Ian’s hands when that was what they were trying to avoid all along was crushing. Ian kidnapping you was terrifying. There was no telling what he would do or give orders to do. Would he use you for leverage? Make you do something against your will? Would you do something risky?

Practically dragging the soles of his shoes, Riley walked beside Abigail. The old burnt orange sidewalks were a blur. One second Riley was saving Abigail and the next you were saving the Declaration. He could still see Ian yanking you off of the crosswalk.

All that work gone. A regrouping with Ben was a must.

I hope Ben can think of something, Riley thought.

Yes, the Declaration of Independence was incredibly important and there were sure to be more repercussions from stealing it, but you were one of his best friends. You were both close. Riley knew that you could handle yourself, that you were brave when you needed to be. He just hoped that Ian didn’t take advantage of that.

Wanting nothing more than to sit down and drink water, Riley and Abigail tiredly walked around a corner.

Eyes spotting Ben leaning against his father’s car, the pair jolted.

Riley mentally cursed. His flight instincts kicking in.

Ben was being arrested, the group around him no doubt FBI agents.

Backtracking, Riley silently urged Abigail out of sight and around the building. It took effort to turn his gaze away from his best friend being arrested. A continuing nightmare in front of his eyes.

Could this get any worse? Because I’m pretty sure it has, Riley thought.

Eventually the two made their way to a quiet quart-yard filled with a large fountain and luxurious green grass that was brighter than their whole week. The day and people around went on as normal as if unaffected by how Riley felt as if his whole world was crumbling from underneath his feet.

Abigail paced across the grass behind the bench Riley had sunk down to.

The last seventy-two or so hours flickered in his mind’s eye. The Charlotte, stealing the Declaration of Independence, saving Abigail in the middle of a car chase between vans, Ben’s dad finding out that they stole and tested on the Declaration, being chased down by Ian’s men after getting Franklin’s cool spectacles, Riley personally saving Abigail from being hit by a truck, you grabbing the Declaration, you being kidnapped by Ian, and Ben had literally just been arrested by the FBI. All for a treasure they had yet to find.

Great.

I can’t just get them back. Who knows where Ian is going? Ben’s done. I’m done. Might as well be.

Riley continued to sit on the bench with his face buried in his hands. His eyes stung from unshed tears. Fingers heavily dragged through his hair.

This is not happening.

Looking up, all Riley saw was the fountain with its endless loop of spurting out water. Neither Ben nor you were standing in front of him. His hands covered his mouth. Words were hardly anything he wanted to use in that moment.

Abigail sighed from behind him.

“Riley, do you know how to get in touch with lan?” Abigail asked.

Riley looked over his shoulder and asked, “Excuse me?”

“Can you call him?”

“Yeah…, but why? Shouldn’t I try to call (Y/N) and hope that—?”

“They shut off their phone earlier. To save the battery life.”

He sighed loudly.

Of course they would, he thought exasperated. Why do you have to be so aware of your technology this one time?

“We need Ben and (Y/N) back. And it’s illegal to get Ben back and I’m not about to start a criminal record.”

“Yeah, only…”

“Ian is a criminal.”

Riley caught on to what she was getting at. Not that he entirely liked the idea. Anything involving Ian at that point was something he would rather avoid. There were many ways he’d like to go about it.

“Okay…saying that Ian does get Ben away from the FBI, how does Ben know that it was our idea?” Abigail thought out loud. “We have to get a message to him.”

Riley blinked and said almost automatically, “Thomas Edison needed only one way to make a light bulb.”

She looked to him, a question in her expression.

“Just trust me. Ben will know it’s us.” He was confident in his choice of sending out a message to his best friend. Ben started it and there was no way he wasn’t going to be involved to see it through.

“Alright.” She nodded. “We’ll have them meet at Wall Street and Broadway.”

“Broadway?”

“The clue.”

Riley thought for a moment on her words before taking out his cell phone and clicking on his contact list.

. . .

“My name is Doctor Chase.”

Abigail had been on the phone for less than a minute and she already switched into professional mode. All business and not taking ‘no’ for an answer.

Riley wrung his hands together, heart rate up again.

Please work. Please work. Please work.

She wasn’t one for small talk with Shaw, much less Ian by the sounds of it.

“…and you let (Y/N) go. Ian, you can hold onto the Declaration for now—unharmed.”

Riley all but hid his face in his hands in anticipation.

Let them go. Come on.

“Because…,” Abigail held a serious expression, “If you do your part, you can have the treasure.” She frowned at whatever he said on the other end and added, “You need the next clue. We have it. If you help us get Ben back and give us back the Declaration, the meerschaum pipe, and (Y/N) unharmed, the treasure is all yours.”

Abigail smiled and Riley knew that Ian had accepted the deal. It still didn’t settle his nerves.

Soon she had given multiple instructions, times, and very specific details on what they had to do. Running the show and making sure Ian and his men would give (Y/N) back when Ben would do the trade seemed almost easy. Abigail did it without bating an eye.

Ending the phone call, Abigail handed Riley his cell phone back.

“Is (Y/N) okay? Are they still with them?” Riley asked, steeling himself for the news.

“(Y/N) is still with Ian, but they have a sprained ankle.”

He exhaled slowly, “Alright.”

“Riley?”

“Hmm?”

“Can you track them?”

He breathed in again, “I need a computer.”

“Alright, but…” Abigail frowned. “They won’t get Ben until tomorrow morning in New York.”

“Tomorrow? (Y/N) has to stay with them? Over night?” His hands clenched together before saying, “Well…if anything (Y/N) would claw their eyes out, but that’s just one option.”

Maybe with luck they’ll let (Y/N) go early. Wait…Abigail…where are we going to go?

. . .

To gain the upper-hand, Riley needed access to a computer. Sleep deprivation was the last thing on his mind. Night fell and when the sun rose up in the sky, you and Ben were still held against your wills.

Abigail and Riley had found an Internet café. Street Joe. Confidence boosted in him as he sat in front of a screen. Abigail watched over. Thankfully, Ian did not know where they were.

He had to believe that Ben and yourself would both make it out in one piece. If he didn’t…well, Riley didn’t want to even think about that. It would certainly churn the breakfast in his stomach.

The first thing on Riley’s list of tasks, as instructed by Abigail, was to keep track of Ian’s movements. So Riley easily tapped into tracking Shaw’s phone, Ian’s right hand man.

Why’d (Y/N) have to dive for the Declaration? Riley thought. They can be helping out right now.

. . .

It was about the time when Ben should had been picked up by Ian’s men. Abigail had everything timed to the minute. Running the whole operation and supervising via tracking of Shaw’s cell phone.

Grabbing Riley’s phone, Abigail called one of Ian’s mens’ phones.

“Hi, sweetie. How’s your day going?” Abigail asked into the phone.

Riley turned around in his seat.

Okaaayyyy, he thought.

“It turns out helping someone escape from FBI custody is a criminal act. And he’s the only criminal we knew.” She explained. “So we called him and made a deal.”

Riley waited patiently for new information. By the sounds of it, Ben was alright. Aside that he was with Ian’s men.

“Yeah, we both are. Riley’s right here, doing something clever with a computer.” Abigail got up and walked the short distance to Riley.

One hand on the keyboard and one hand on the mouse, Riley had returned his eyes to the screen.

“I’m tracking him through the…,” Riley started answering and was surprised that Abigail placed the phone over his ear. “Hey! I’m tracking you through the GPS in Shaw’s phone. They take a turn anywhere we don’t want, we’ll know it. So—.”

Abigail took the phone back to her ear.

“…don’t worry.” Riley finished in almost a whisper.

“If lan tries to double-cross us, we can call the FBI and tell them right where you are.” Abigail said. “And where to find lan.”

At the sound of Ian’s name, Riley looked out the large set of shop windows. What he saw obviously didn’t settle well with him, but he didn’t expect nothing less.

“Right across the street from where we're hiding, at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway.” Abigail told Ben.

Ian paced the edge of the sidewalk with traveling tube in hand. The Declaration was hopefully inside. You were no where to be seen.

Riley kept his eyes trained for any sign you, however he only saw strangers.

“Simple. ‘Heere at the wall.’ Wall Street and Broadway.” She was smiling for a moment as she looked outside. There was a lengthy pause before she continued speaking. “Ben, there is a catch. We made lan believe he could have the treasure. It was the only way we could get this far.”

Eyes back on the computer in front of him, Riley saw Ben’s location.

“He’s here.” Riley announced.

Both Riley and Abigail stood up to lean close to the window. There they were able to see Ben exit a black car with Shaw and another of Ian’s men.

“Here we go.” Riley said.

Immediately looking to his right, Riley’s chest felt less constricted when he saw you walk from out of nowhere. How had he not seen you before? You there and close by wearing new clothes. He just didn’t like the idea of you having to stand so close to Ian. He exhaled hot air.

Please work.

. . .

Where’s Ben? You thought as you were allowed to exit the vehicle.

Ian gave you a look that told you not to utter a single word.

Jaw tightening, you steeled your nerves.

You had literally been kidnapped with the Declaration of Independence and forced into the back of a vehicle before a sick feeling took over you when you heard Patrick Gates telling you to ‘let the Declaration go’. They had Ben’s dad.

On top of that, Ian refused to let you go early when Abigail managed to contact him. He wanted Ben to give him the next clue first, which meant a sleepless night paired with paranoia.

There you were standing on the sidewalk beside Ian and ready to blurt out everything you then knew to Ben. Your best friends needed to know that there was much more at stake.

Ian was holding onto the pipe that you had all found in The Charlotte. It took a lot of self-preservation not to bring up what happened there in the Arctic Circle.

Even when Ben did show up, it didn’t matter. Ian had Patrick Gates and the plan was in his favor.

A black car pulled up to the sidewalk and caught Ian’s attention.

Two of the goons exited the car with Ben. Thankfully, he seemed unharmed.

“Ben.” Ian greeted. “You all right? No broken bones? A jump like that could kill a man.”

“Naw, it was cool. You should try it sometime.”

The two men laughed in dry humor.

You stood off to the side, arms crossed over your chest.

“The Declaration of Independence. (Y/N). And the meerschaum pipe.” Ian placed the two items on the hood of the black car. “All yours.”

Ben gave Ian a side glance. Reading Ian more at that moment than during any friendly game of poker.

Never in your life did you ever wish you had telepathy than at that moment.

For once can he look in my eyes and figure out what’s going on here? BEN!

“That’s it?” Ben’s gaze returned to the historical items.

“That’s it.” Ian nodded.

Slowly, you sidestepped your way to your best friend. A slight throb in your ankle when you placed too much pressure on it. Even facing the two men, neither looked your way, annoyingly.

Ben, flippin’ look at me. Look. You thought as you frowned at your friend. Hello? Not good!

“I knew you’d keep your promise. Now, where is it? Where’s my treasure?”

“It’s right here.” Ben answered, still not moving from facing Ian Howe. “The map said ‘Heere at the wall’, spelled with two E’s. Wall Street follows the path of an actual wall that the original Dutch settlers built as a defense to keep the British out. The main gate was located at a street called De Heere, also two E’s. Later De Heere Street was renamed Broadway after the British got in. So, ‘Heere at the wall.’” He pointed towards the street sign, “Broadway, Wall Street. Cheerio.” Ben pocketed the pipe, grabbed the brand new traveling cylinder for the document, and after a pivot on his heel he started tugging you away from Ian.

Not even two steps away and Ian spoke again.

“Just a moment, Ben.”

Your best friend slowly turned back to face him.

“lan, if you break our deal, the FBI will be only a few minutes behind you. You might get away, you might not.” Ben said, a sly confidence in his tone.

“Ben,” you hissed.

An eerie silence came down between the men. Eyes did not wander elsewhere.

Ian took two steps in Ben’s direction, eyes staring him down.

“Is that all the map said?” He asked.

Your fingers dug into Ben’s jacket sleeve.

“Every word.” Ben breathed out.

You placed a hand on your best friend’s arm, knowing what was about to come.

“Oh, Ben.” A smile appeared on Ian’s face. “You know the key to running a convincing bluff? Every once in a while you’ve got to be holding all the cards.”

You swallowed.

Across the street sat a large black vehicle, upon given a cue, one of Ian’s goons opened the back door to reveal Patrick Gates with his hands duct taped together.

“Dad.” Ben breathed out.

The door was slammed shut.

“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” Ian asked.

Yeah, you’re a jerk, you thought. Buying me meals after you kidnapped me doesn’t change that.

Ben turned back to Ian and answered, “Trinity Church. We have to go inside Trinity Church.”

Ian looked around them. They were already there. Outside anyway.

“Good. Excellent.” Ian said. “Well, why don’t you ask Doctor Chase and Riley to join us? I’m sure they’re around here somewhere.” He patted Ben’s front and walked off.

You peered around with a spark of hope.

Where would th—ah. You spotted an Internet café and allowed yourself a small smile. Clever Riley.

. . .

Trinity Church.

The church was empty as Ian lead the way inside. You and Ben followed with Patrick between the pair of you. Shaw and Phil walked quietly behind you. The room was huge with an aisle down the center.

You would had appreciated the church’s beauty more if it wasn’t for the situation.

“Are you all right?” Ben asked his father.

“What do you think? I’m a hostage.” Patrick’s voice was hushed, his hands no longer taped together.

“At least we’re still breathing,” you whispered.

“Sit. Sit down,” Shaw ordered softly. Perhaps being inside of a church would help in regards of safety. Ushering both you and Patrick to take a seat in one of the middle rows.

Reluctantly, you and Patrick sat down. Upon sitting, you gingerly elevated your foot. Even after a night of icing it, it was still bothering you a bit. Phil and Shaw sat close by.

“Let them go, Ian.” Ben said, still walking with the man with all of the cards.

“When we find the treasure.”

“No, now.” His voice raised. “Or you can figure out the clues for yourself.” Ben dug in his pocket and handed over the glasses case.

“Ben. I don’t think you fully appreciate the gravity of the situation.”

Ian, ever the hierarchy man. You thought bitterly.

click

You all but elbowed Patrick in the side at how fast you turned in the seat. Eyes locked to one of the doors as it opened.

One goon strolled in followed by Abigail, Riley, and another goon.

They’re okay!…were they caught? You thought, your fingers wrapped tightly to the back of the long bench.

One of the goons placed a hand on Abigail’s shoulder and a frown immediately took over your features. Both Abigail and Riley were herded to sit on one of the far back benches. The end of their row was blocked by both goons. Their eyes were trained forward and also holding onto the seating in front of them.

The distance aggravated you. It twisted your emotions and sought out numerous possibilities into closing that distance.

Catching Abigail’s eye, you gave her a reassuring nod. Riley on the other hand must have had a mixture of emotions going through him because you could not tell how he was feeling, especially not at that distance. You turned back in your seat with a sigh. Though you could move your hands it felt as if they were tied.

“Let’s have a look at that map,” Ian’s voice barely carried to where you sat.

Both Ben and Ian took their own seats a few rows ahead of yours.

Just be patient. Everything will be okay, you thought as you adjusted your ankle’s position. We’re going to be okay.

You were quiet like everyone else as you watched on. Only Ben and Ian were allowed to look at the clue. Ben had put on the Franklin spectacles first as Ian held up the Declaration.

How many of our fingerprints are on that now?

After what felt like endless seconds, Ben said something.

“It’s uh…It's... it’s really quite something. It’s, uh…It really is remarkable. Take a look.” Ben handed Ian the spectacles.

You internally grumbled. The time of quiet and no action made your paranoia of impending doom reemerge. Ian’s goons held a silent stance, like a threat that never ceased. Wanting to know the next clue was less as intense as you wanting to grab your friends and walk away from the treasure hunt altogether. Or run, which every suited better.

“‘Parkington Lane.’” Ian read aloud.

“‘Beneath Parkington Lane.’” Ben added.

“But why would the map lead us here, then take us somewhere else? What’s the purpose?”

“Just another clue.” Patrick piped up.

Your eyes rolled to the high ceiling.

“Dad.” Ben chided. “No, you’re right. Parkington Lane has to be here somewhere.”

“A street inside the church?” Ian asked, holding the document.

“Not inside. Beneath. Beneath the church.”

Oh, no. Cramped spaces with these guys? Great, we’ll be underground with orders-following human beings. With guns. You sunk lower in your seat.

And just like that you all were being herded together and lead down the aisle. Meanwhile all you wanted to do was check on your friends. You hadn’t seen them in hours. It honestly felt like days.

There was not an opportunity for you to stop or just say something while in the hushed rush. Patrick, however did stop to the side and you automatically walked in front of him to go to Ben. Your best friend helped lead the way. Peeking behind you, the goons were all but pushing Abigail, Riley, and Patrick. Perhaps that was why Patrick let you walk ahead of him.

Shaw was quick to walk alongside Ian as Ben trailed behind closely as he held onto the document in its container.

The three men made their way into a small hall, to which you didn’t know what to make of it. Just another path leading to the next clue.

A lonely door was the next step.

Without hesitation, Shaw opened the door and patted Ian’s arm as he allowed him to pass through first. Shaw walked in right after Ian. Ever the close of friends.

You were a couple of steps behind and nodded to Ben as he held the door. A body bumped into you and Riley immediately mumbled out an apology. Moving through the new dark hall, you weren’t able to make out what Abigail was saying before she crossed through the doorway with Ben.

Two furnaces greeted you as you walked into another room. Tombs lined up the interior wall off to the right hand side.

Fun, okay. You picked up on the rough and smoky scent in the room. Abigail came to stand beside you.

The goon pushed Riley forward, causing Riley to look behind him. When the man made eye contact with you, you gave a strong warning look. He looked away, unable to hold your gaze.

Satisfied, you turned to check on the Gates, you spotted Ben going to talk with his dad.

Good, they sho—

A gentle hand touched your shoulder.

Abigail’s eyes were soft as she looked to you.

“Are you alright? I’m sorry we couldn’t get you sooner.” Abigail said quietly as you both walked further into the room.

“No, no. Thank you,” you smiled and spoke quickly. “You’re awesome. We got this far because of you. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Abigail returned your smile until Riley practically stepped on your toes. She then made her way over the the tombs.

“Are you okay? What happened?” Riley whispered, hand on your arm. Blue eyes trading between looking you straight in the eyes to the men around you both.

It was easy to see that Riley was relieved to see that you were safe. Well as safe as you could be, given the situation. He then eyed how you favored one leg over the other.

“Think I twisted my ankle.”

Riley huffed and pulled you in for a tight hug.

“That was a stupid move.”

“I know.” You murmured into his hoodie.

“Brave, but stupid.” He hugged you a little closer, his arms wrapped around your back.

“Let’s go.”

You both stepped out of the hug, no matter how comforting it might have been, and went to help Abigail look for the name. Thankfully there weren’t too many to choose from.

“Hey! Par…” Riley announced, pointed to an engraving. “Hey, I found it!”

Abigail stepped over and you followed suit just as Ian practically sidelined you to see for himself. After a partially peeved look from you, you went to stand next to Abigail so you wouldn’t be in the way. Although Phil was standing right there on her other side.

“Him!” Riley said, still pointing.

“Ben!” Ian shouted. “It’s a name.” Ian reported just as Ben pushed his way through the group.

Running his fingers over the engraved stone, Ben read softly, “Parkington Lane.” Studying the tomb, Ben took it all in. “He was a third-degree master mason of the Blue Lo…”

Ian had given a head nod and backed up.

Ben leaped back and collided into you as a goon came at the tomb with a full back swing of a large wrench of some sort.

“Hey! Stop!”

Everyone ducked away as the man repetitively hit the stone to crumbles of dust. After the next hit, you all watched on in disappointment. The guy was literally destroying history and the face of a tomb all in one go. There wasn’t anything you could do. Not even Patrick said anything.

Once the face of the tomb was broken down, the man stepped away and Shaw started clearing some debris. Soon Ian, three of his four goons, and Ben pulled out a rectangular coffin.

You watched on over Riley’s shoulder.

“Easy.”

The group started to lower down the coffin and—

In a heap, the bottom of the coffin and all of the skeletal remains fell out onto the floor.

Whoa.

“Careful no one steps in him.”

Riley stepped back, letting you be closer to the skeleton as he turned his head and blocked his eyes with one hand.

“All right, put it down.” Ben instructed, keeping an eye on what lay at their feet.

With a soft thump, the coffin was on the flooring.

Everyone leaned in close to have a peek into the small carved out opening. Shaw shined a flashlight inside.

“Okay. Who wants to go down the creepy tunnel inside the tomb first?” Riley asked.

Heh, no, you thought from your spot behind Ben and Riley.

“Right. McGregor, Viktor, you stay here. And if anyone should come out without me, well... use your imagination.” Ian said.

You glared into the front of his skull.

“Shall we?”

Without hesitation, Ben climbed in the tomb with a flashlight in hand. Ian didn’t wait a second to go in and unsurprisingly Shaw went in next. Riley assisted both Abigail, you, and Patrick up onto the top of the coffin as you all made your way into the small tunnel.

It was cramped, had a stale smell, and was naturally dirty.

“You got a light?” Ben asked from up ahead.

Light flickered to life in the space ahead of you as climbed out into a more comfortable hall of sorts. Cobwebs hung off of all corners. You followed after Patrick to an archway.

“Careful.” Ben said as he helped his dad through before giving you a hand over a minor obstacle. A torch in his other hand giving light to the way forward.

You breathed out a short breath as you managed not to aggravate your ankle thus far.

What I’d do to be back in my apartment.

“Watch your step.”

Riley was behind you in moments, eyes glancing around the space and to your leg. You gave him a small smile in response and gestured for him to get in front of you. You took another step—

“Come here.” Ben said.

At the sound of Ben’s voice, you turned in time to see him kiss Abigail. You rose your eyebrows and soon returned your sights forward.

Well then…was right about their tension…well…chemistry, you thought with a smirk. Giving them privacy, you continued forward.

Cautiously going further into the unknown, you were glad that Ben made his way towards the front of the group with his torch where Ian and Patrick were. You felt better at least with seeing what was there instead of last minute dodging cobwebs. None of you needed to trip over anything nor fall if light could give a better view.

“What's this?” Ian asked.

Seeing Ben’s head turn down, your eyes glanced down the flooring which turned to old wood. Unsettlingly, there was a very prominent break in the wooden planks in a similar shape of a shoe.

“It's a chandelier.” Ben answered as the group of you gathered to the railing. Using the fire from the torch, he lit the large chandelier.

Woodwork, cobwebs, rope, and stone were then visible as the room was illuminated. A series of steps and walkways lined the circular area.

“Here.” Ben and Riley untied the rope that held the chandelier close to the railing. The pulley system lead the light to the center of the open space. He tied off the rope.

Peeking over the railing, you saw how the stairs lead much further down than you would had liked.

“Wow.” Riley breathed out.

“Look at the elevators.” Ben said.

“A dumbwaiter system.” Patrick observed.

Wooden platforms were held by rope systems on the lower levels and hung over the darkness below.

“How do a bunch of guys with hand tools build all this?” A goon asked as he held a torch aloft. At some point it was passed on to him.

“Same way they built the pyramids and the Great Wall of China.” Ben said calmly.

“Yeah. The aliens helped them.” Riley murmured as he looked across the room.

“They had better tech anyway,” you mused.

Riley turned and raised an eyebrow at you in that little ‘we need to talk about this later’ look.

“Right, let's go. What are we waiting for?” Ian turned towards the first set of stairs.

“I’m not going out on that thing. Two hundred years of termite damage and rot.” Patrick said as he was given the torch from the goon, who at that point you had completely forgotten their name.

“Dad, do what he says.” Ben nodded.

You peered over to the wooden steps.

Two hundred years? You cringed.

Reluctantly, Patrick lead the way.

Each time you heard a creak of wood or a snap, you all but went wide-eyed. You stayed close behind Ben. Every step you took was done gingerly. Especially when a wooden step was not intact.

You weren’t too keen on touching the railing because it was probably littered with sprinters, but you were also hyperaware of how fragile the whole system was held together.

Two hundred year old wood. There’s no telling when gravity will take a large piece of this. You thought, almost forgetting that this was all for finding treasure. Please just let us get to the treasure or next clue safety. I just want to go home at this point.

A small clack of wood and your eyes darted across to Patrick.

“Watch your step.” Patrick called out as he stepped over a gap in the walkway. “We’re right under the Trinity graveyard. That’s probably why no one ever found this.”

You took a step down, watching your feet placement as well as Ben’s. Just in case.

Okay, then.

“Oh. Ah. Uhh.”

You looked over your shoulder to see Riley still at the last railing and shaking his hands. There was a look of disgust on his face that tripled as he looked down to his shoes.

“Hah! Oh!” Riley spun around and practically started pulling himself up on the chain that sat atop of a large wooden beam.

Bugs? You wondered as you again started forward.

In only a handful of moments, Riley had pushed his way between you and Abigail. She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and he flinched.

A very disgusted and yet childish noise escaped his mouth.

You did your best not to laugh at his expense. Smile disappearing, you swallowed and stepped down onto a section without any railings.

Rumbling sounded from the walls and from above.

You paused, as did the others when dust and dirt fell from above.

“What is that?” Riley asked from behind you.

The rumbling continued.

The group of you inched closer to the wall, peering around.

Soon the rumbling subsided and faded.

“Subway.” Shaw answered from in front of Ben.

A cold chill ran up your spine and it wasn’t because Riley’s breath was tickling your ear either. You looked up to the chandelier then back ahead.

Shaw then took one step forward.

In a break of wood and screams, Shaw fell through the wood.

“Shaw! Oh, God, Shaw!” Ian cried out as his friend dropped and broke through another walkway below until he was no longer seen.

You hardly recalled the scream that escaped your throat. Fear started to build up in your veins.

Oh, no, no, no, no. No.

“Oh, my God.” Abigail gasped.

I have a bad feeling about this.

There was only a couple of moments of shared looks.

In a matter of seconds, all of hell broke loose.

The walkway beneath your feet buckled and started giving way. You fell back against the wall as Riley landed on the steps. Ben had dropped into a crouch.

Again, the wood buckled and fell apart. You launched to the right, arms clinging to wooden beams as your feet were no longer supported. On your left, Powell, that was his name, was tugging Ian up to safety. To your right, Riley was trying to worm his way up onto the beam he clung so hard to. On the stairs, Ben, your best friend, scrapped for hold onto ancient wood, his feet dangling over the abyss.

“I gotchu,” Powell had a hold on Ian.

“Ben! Grab my hand.” Abigail reached for him.

You struggled and inched your way closer to where Ian, Powell, and Patrick stood. A hand reached out—

CRUNCH

The walkway tilted, the three men moments away from falling.

“Patrick!” You shouted, seeing less of an escape route.

“Get on the elevator,” Ian said. “Jump.” He pushed Powell on the contraption.

CRUNCH

Patrick and Ian were hanging on to the walls as you were, but still had something to stand on. You all but heaved your way onto the walkway.

“It’s okay!” Powell shouted. “Come on.” He gestured with his hand and Patrick tossed over the torch.

Teetering, you managed into a crouch position.

Patrick leaped to the elevator, landed on his feet, and caught ahold of the rope railing.

With a final crunch, the walkway started to fully give way. Both you and Ian leaped the distance to the elevator.

Adrenaline was one heck of a booster. Pain quadrupled in your ankle as soon as you landed on the wooden planks on the other side and clung to Patrick Gates. Ian had landed rather harshly behind you. Powell helped him up in less time than it took you to turn around and check on your friends.

All three, Abigail, Ben, and Riley were alive and standing a level above. At the sight, your heart rate went down a fraction. You weren’t sure if you could handle any more life threatening scenarios. You were more than sure you couldn’t handle seeing any of your friends hurt or worse.

“Ian,” Ben called, “We can’t go down this way. We’ll leave. W-we’ll come back. We’ll have safety gear, exploration crew.”

“No.” Ian said. “We find the treasure. Get in the elevator.”

“You saw what happened to Shaw.”

Before any of you could properly react, Ian had grabbed Patrick by the back of his head and leaned him over the side of the elevator.

“Wait-no!”

“Ian!” You took calculated steps closer to Patrick and the farthest away from Ian.

“NO!” Ben’s voice echoed.

No one moved.

Your thoughts zipped through possible scenarios of how to get Patrick behind you and Ian off the elevator or face-planted into the wood without Powell hitting you. Although grabbing Patrick’s wrist and kicking Ian’s knee was sounding like a good option.

Ben’s dad could only be looking down into the abyss below.

“Get. On the elevator,” Ian ordered, eyes set on Ben.

“Okay.” Ben said. “It’s okay, dad.”

Ian had yet to move an inch until Ben nodded as he stepped onto the separate elevator. It was only then that Ian released Patrick and you immediately shielded the older man.

At that point you shouldn’t had been surprised by Ian’s actions, but . . .you were.

Ben made sure both Abigail and Riley made it onto the elevator. The three of them visibly not trusting the elevator system.

“Okay, let’s go down.” Ian said.

Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Don’t flippin’ look down.

Powell and Ben each rotated the lever that resembled a large version of what rolled down car windows before automatic buttons. Each tiny click and tick of the elevator system made you look for a distraction.

Catching sight of Abigail shaking her head, you could practically read her mind. The trust and safety was at an all time low.

If she didn’t trust it then you didn’t trust it. Abigail’s instincts were on point and held low risk. The Declaration of Independence had survived thus far unscathed with her help. Mostly for making sure that none of you had directly squeezed lemon juice onto it. That would had been more than a little alarming.

Reading Riley’s expressions was the easiest part of the whole treasure protecting business you all found yourselves in. He was the little spark of glee regardless the spots of gloomy realism that he voiced. For everything you were faced against, he handled it the best that he could, with a piece of tech or not. You admired him for that.

Ben was a firm foundation. It seemed almost impossible that he could be brave through all of this. You were proud of him for keeping his cool and not risking too much. He had his morals and limitations.

If anyone could find the treasure and should find it, it should be Ben. You smiled confidently and looked—

A whirling sound of rope and the screams of your best friends tore a hole in your soul. Their elevator dropped, bypassing the one you were on, and going down a few more levels before jerking to a stop.

Heart pounding, you squinted your eyes to catch a clear glimpse of them.

“Get down there! Get down there!” Patrick ordered to the two men.

Man, if they don’t, I will. You thought while sending a hard look to Powell.

“Don’t stop,” you directed.

Hearing a voice from below, you looked over the side to see that Riley had jumped over successfully to a stable walkway.

He jumped? Your eyes went wide.

Riley reached up his hand as Ben held the document out and ready to toss it down to him.

Before you could think of why they would make an exchange except to help, Ben and Abigail dropped straight down. Wood splintering and dust bursting.

Screaming erupted once more alongside cracking of wood.

You watched in horror as your friends fell once more. You wanted to help them more than anything, to be closer if only the darn elevator was safe enough and more efficient.

There was nothing you could possibly do and in a split second you might have the same fate. Watching as the ones you cared for the most were teetering on the edge of survival. You were stuck on a slow elevator that probably wouldn’t last much longer.

Your friends’ elevator broke through everything until it snapped on one side.

“Ben!” Abigail was sliding off of the broken elevator as it barely hung on. Her and Ben’s hands latched together.

The elevator you were on still lowered at a dangerous slow pace.

Groaning of wood echoed through the space as the broken elevator started to swing. Meanwhile, Abigail’s legs were dangling over its side.

You couldn’t hear if they were talking or not, but the pulse in your ears didn’t help. Stomach dropping, you frowned.

Is that the Declaration? You thought as you did your best not to look over too far over the side.

As the elevator swung closer to the wall, Abigail fell. Thankfully, she landed on an extended walkway that held together. Although on her back, she was able to move fine.

SNAP

The elevator then dangled with Ben holding on with one hand and the Declaration strapped to him.

“Oh, no! Ben!” Abigail shouted as he tried pulling himself up, but only breaking off a piece of wood. “Hang on!”

After what felt like an endless thirty seconds or less, Patrick was able to send down a line of rope.

“Son!”

Grabbing on, Ben swung to the safety of the walkway near Abigail and climbed over the railing.

You sighed. Tension leaving your shoulders, stomach, and basically everywhere else.

How much more could your little heart take?

Patrick put a hand on your shoulder. A simple gesture of reassurance. You returned the gesture before pulling the rope back up.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I dropped you. I had to save the Declaration.” Ben said reaching out to Abigail.

“No, don’t be. I would have done exactly the same thing to you.” She said.

“Really?”

“I would have dropped you both.” Riley trotted down the stairs. “Freaks.”

Their voices travelled up through the shaft to where the elevator was still lowering to their level.

A silence filled the group as your elevator finally came down into view for your friends.

“Get on.” Ian ordered.

“lan…it’s not worth it.” Ben said, still catching his breath.

“Do you imagine any one of your lives is more valuable to me than Shaw’s? We go on.”

You swallowed and looked to Patrick.

“The status quo. Keep the status quo.” Patrick said softly, eyes on his son.

Without a word, the three carefully stepped aboard. Seeing that the elevator was still stable, Powell lowered the elevator. Crowded though it was, it still worked.

I hope the treasure isn’t at the bottom of all of this, you thought.

Finally reaching another level with an opening, you felt a glimmer of hope.

“Now what?” Riley asked, looking at the level you were all heading down to. By the tone in his voice, he was done.

After all this you just really wanted something to eat, a shower, and your bed. Was that so much to ask for? Well, maybe one more thing, but you weren’t so sure about that.

“This is…” Patrick said, “This is where it all leads.”

Ben tossed a rope to the wood across to the port, of sorts. He and Riley pulled the elevator over before tying it off.

“Okay, let’s go.” Ben said and Abigail handed him over the torch.

Ben took point with Ian towards the new section.

Powell waited as Riley, again, helped Abigail, you, and Patrick. There was a small step down, but who knew how unstable that wood was.

As it was, the wooden planks underneath your feet were already given out, but at least it was made over solid ground. You were thankful for that much.

Using the flames from the torch, Ben removed the thick cobwebs from the archway. A doorless room came into view as Ben lit two more torches at the entrance.

Moving into the room one after another, you saw that the room was circular and had only a lantern standing. You and Abigail took it all in quietly.

Both Powell and Patrick had grabbed a torch of their own and migrated around the room. Patrick walked over to the hanging lantern and gave it light.

Everyone had their eyes peeled for a hint, a clue, an opening for the next step. Something to catch the eye.

At a point, Ben had given Riley both the Declaration’s case tube and the torch to hold on to as he surveyed the room.

“What is this?” Riley asked, turning around.

“So where’s the treasure?” Powell asked from near Ian.

Ben sighed as he turned to face everyone.

“Well?” Ian looked to Ben.

“This is it?” Riley’s voice raised. “We came all this way for a dead end?”

You didn’t want to believe that. You didn’t want to think of the consequences. The legal ones and the ones who were with you with guns.

“Yes.” Ben stated.

Laughing softly, Ian turned away.

You and Abigail shared a look of uncertainty.

“There’s gotta be something more.” Riley reasoned.

“Riley, there's nothing more.” Ben said.

“Another clue, or…”

“No, there are no more clues!” Ben shouted. “That’s it, okay? It’s over! End of the road. The treasure's gone. Moved. Taken somewhere else.”

You sucked in a breath, shoulders tense. Swallowing, your eyes darted between your friends.

Riley had not moved an inch as Ben yelled at him. Ben never raised his voice like that.

“You’re not playing games with me, are you, Ben? Hm?” Ian stared him down. “You know where it is.”

Ben’s eyes darted away for a moment before answering, “No.”

“Okay, go.” Ian said, barely turning to Powell.

Powell jogged his way back to the elevator.

Ian remained looking at the five of you for a second more before following after Powell.

“Hey, wait a minute.” Ben started forward.

The rest of you followed suit, not wanting to be left behind.

“Hey! lan, wait!” Riley shouted.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Patrick hurried.

“Wait a minute!” You rushed towards the entrance.

“lan…” Abigail started speaking.

“We’ll be trapped.” Riley reasoned.

“Don’t do this.” Ben said calmly.

“Hey, wait a minute,” You spoke again.

“You can’t just leave us here.” Abigail stood in front of you.

“Yes, I can.” Ian voiced as Powell already started moving the elevator up. “Unless Ben tells me the next clue.”

The elevator stopped ascending.

“There isn’t another clue.” Ben assured him.

“lan,” Riley said calmly, but you caught as the other man started rolling his eyes. “Why don’t you come back down here and we can talk through this together?”

Ben had his eyes trained on Ian as he continuously tapped a hand on Riley’s chest to alert him as Riley spoke.

The hairs on the back of your neck stood on end.

A second later, Ian had whipped out Powell’s gun from his holster and pointed it directly at Riley.

“Don’t speak again.” Ian stated with a dark look in his eyes.

“Okay.” Riley voice was incredibly small. Frozen in his spot, only his eyes moved.

Air had difficulty moving in and out of your lungs as your stomach dropped. It was like being on The Charlotte all over again.

Shit.

“The clue. Where’s the treasure?” Ian still held the weapon aloft. “Ben?”

Your best friend remained silent as your thoughts told you that Ian would leave Ben for last.

click

“The lantern.” Patrick spoke up.

“Dad…”

“The status quo has changed, son.”

“Don’t.” Ben shook his head.

“It’s part of freemason teachings.” Patrick started explaining as Ian lowered the weapon. “In King Solomon’s temple there was a winding staircase. It signified the journey that had to be made to find the light of truth.” Patrick turned to gesture behind him. “The lantern is the clue.”

“And what does it mean?” Ian asked with narrowed eyes.

“Boston.” Ben breathed out, sounding defeated. “It’s Boston.”

“The Old North Church in Boston, where Thomas Newton hung a lantern in the steeple, to signal Paul Revere that the British were coming. One if by land, two if by sea. One lantern. Under the winding staircase of the steeple, that’s where we have to look.”

One lantern? You peered over to Abigail who was eyeing the Gates men.

A smile took over Ian’s face as he said, “Thank you.”

He’s seriously thanking Patrick right now? He’s saying ‘thank you’?

“Hey, you have to take us with you.” Patrick interjected.

“Why? So you can escape in Boston? Besides, with you out of the picture there’s less baggage to carry.”

“What if we lied?”

“Did you?” Ian held up the gun once more.

“What if there’s another clue?” Ben added.

Lowering his arm, Ian said with finality, “Then I’ll know right where to find you. See you, Ben.”

Powell rose the elevator up and further out of sight.

“No!”

“There’s no other way out!” Riley shouted, voice cracking.

“Come back!” Abigail yelled.

“You’re gonna need us, lan!” Ben called out halfheartedly.

You looked over to Abigail as things grew quiet and the elevator sounds had faded. Ben and Patrick didn’t seem entirely concerned. Something was off.

“We’re all gonna die.” Riley murmured.

There was a tightening in your chest.

“It’s gonna be okay, Riley. I’m sorry I yelled at you.” Ben pointed at Riley before patting his shoulder and making his way back into the circular room.

“It’s okay, kiddo.” Patrick patted Riley’s shoulder as well.

The Gates’ men were all smiles.

“Wha—?” You turned around.

“Okay, boys, what's going on? The British came by sea. It was two lanterns, not one.” Abigail quickly turned to go after them with the Declaration.

You briefly tapped Riley’s arm and returned to the room.

“lan needed another clue, so we gave it to him.” Patrick explained happily as he checked one of the set-in walls.

Riley walked up between you and Abigail before speaking aloud, “It was a fake. It was a fake clue.”

Abigail nodded to Riley.

“You were able to lie?” Your eyes focused on Ben, aghast. “Successfully?”

A odd sort of happy release of tension filled your limbs. Any known and true danger was on it’s way up and out of the church.

“The all-seeing eye.” Ben whispered as he ran a hand over one of the carved-in walls.

Riley took a step closer to you. After a quick glance at one another, you both looked away.

“‘Through the all-seeing eye.’” The lit torch in Ben’s hand illuminated the old art on the wall. A single eye. He brushed away at thick layers of dirt and dust.

You breathed out a sigh of relief. It was back to basic searching of treasure. You reminded yourself again that danger had literally took the elevator up and you consciously lowered your shoulders from their perch by your earlobes. Without fear of gaining unwanted attention, you looked Riley over, making sure that he was somewhat okay. You noticed Riley’s hands trembling slightly.

You tentatively slipped a hand into his.

The vulnerable expression on his face had yet to dissipate.

“That means…” Riley said his thoughts out loud, “by the time lan figures it out and comes back here, we’ll still be trapped, and he’ll shoot us then. Either way, we’re gonna die.”

You gave a light squeeze to Riley’s hand.

Ben looked to all of you with a soft, confident gaze, “Nobody’s gonna die.”

There was a pause.

“There’s another way out.”

Riley all but rushed forward, not letting you go and urged you to move as he asked, “Where?”

“Through the treasure room.”

~~~~~

(That concludes Part Five - Deals And Elevators. Having Riley’s point of view was not planned early on, but I’m glad I changed it up. So, I added in the deleted scene, which is basically the extended version of the shaft scene where all the elevators are either falling or just making noise. Anyone else notice that Ian really, really doesn’t like Riley? Anyway, now that danger has passed, the friends can be together again! YAY! Get ready for part 6—the final part of the series!!! Will Riley ever know that the Reader likes him more than a best friend??? Ben definitely knows.

If you love my writings and want to support me, I have a Ko-Fi where you can buy me a coffee. I would be eternally grateful. coffee

Best wishes and happy reading.)

~~~~~

DreamerDragon Tags: @imacuteprincess @gingerlaserbeam @cubedtriangle @sledgy14 @thecaptainsgingersnap @awkwardspontaneity

**Let me know if you would like to be tagged in insert readers, either through replies, ask, or message.**

Part 6/Finale

#Riley Poole #Riley Poole x Reader #Riley Poole x Reader series #National Treasure #National treasure fanfiction #Ben Gates #Abigail Chase #Patrick Gates #insert reader #Ian Howe #where dreamers go

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