moonstruck 2 // criminal minds fanfic

ch. 6

The team descended the ladders into the mine. As soon as his feet hit the rough ground. Hotch felt uncomfortable. He was by no means claustrophobic but being stuck in an enclosed space with an unsub was not high on his list of favorite things to do. Together, they walked along the damp tunnels. The smell of mold and wet earth was cloying.

With six flashlights shining through the darkness, it was relatively easy to see but when Maggie and Morgan split from the group, followed by Prentiss and Rossi moments later, Hotch became a little aware of how dense the darkness was. Every so other, their movements along the tunnel would disturb some of the dirt and rocks that made up the mine walls, making little clattering noises that set Hotch on edge.

When Reid eventually left his side to investigate another smaller tunnel that was not on the map, the only guidance Hotch had through the darkness was the little halo of light cast by the flashlight in his hand. He rounded each corner cautiously, expecting to find the unsub at every turn. Ahead of him, he thought he saw a faint flicker of red light.

"Hotch," a voice whispered in the darkness. He jumped a little before he realized that it was only Morgan talking to him through his earpiece.

"Yeah, Morgan," he replied, feeling his heart banging against his ribcage.

"We've reached the end of our tunnel, the unsub's not here, we're heading back."

"I'm still looking," Hotch said. "but it doesn't look like there's any sign down here either."

As he was speaking, he kept staring ahead for another glimpse of the light he thought he had seen, sweeping every inch of the mine with his flashlight before he proceeded. He couldn't see any evidence of Robert Fox but he saw that glimmer of light again, and this time it didn't vanish. The closer he got, the higher the light seemed to become. It was only when he was standing a few feet away from it that he realized the red speck was on the ceiling. Shining his flashlight directly above him he saw a triangle of wires, several blocks of C4. He was standing squarely beneath a bomb and he had led his team straight into a trap.

8. . . 7. . . 6. . .

"Everybody get out! Get out now!" he yelled.

5. . . 4. . .

He ran as fast as he could back down the corridor. He could hear Morgan yelling to Maggie in his earpiece.

3. . . 2. . . 1. . .

He only just managed to round the corner before the defeating blast filled the tunnels. A ringing filled his ears, so loud that it sounded like screaming. A thunderous rumble shook the very walls as the mine began to collapse. Hotch ran. He bumped into walls, almost blind in the darkness. He felt rocks fall from the ceiling onto his shoulders. Soon he could hear the voices of the rest of the team and saw flashlights ahead. He could see Reid amongst the falling rocks, Rossi was pulling him, but Reid wouldn't move.

"Reid, what the hell are you doing?" Rossi yelled.

"I'm not leaving without him!" the young agent called back. Hotch was so close to them now. A huge piece of rock fell from above and landed on him. Hotch cried out in pain as he felt the crack of his collarbone. He fell to the ground, scrabbling in darkness.

"God damn it, Reid! Run!" Hotch yelled.

"Come on Hotch, you can make it!" He pulled himself up and kept running. "Hotch! Come on!" He was so close now. The last thing he saw was Reid's outstretched hand just inches from his own before the entire mine and building above collapsed in on them.

XXX

When Hotch finally regained consciousness, there was nothing but darkness around him. Darkness and silence.