Treasure Hunters: A National Treasure Fanfiction

Chapter Eighteen: Trapped!

Shaw's fall had a domino effect. With that, the whole platform they were on began to crumble beneath their feet.

Acting quick, Riley sprang off the breaking platform to one that was more secure.

"Al!" he cried, once he was safe, holding out his arms for her to jump.

She was about to when the platform gave way further, she and Ben falling with it, she dangling over the edge. Patrick shouted at Ian and Powell from where they were now on an elevator above to do something to help them, his son and daughter.

The broken platform was rocking, brother and sister clinging to each other's hands for dear life. "Abigail go," Ben said, and she followed Riley, jumping to the more secure area.

"Ben!" Alex suddenly cried. That was when he noticed the Declaration balancing on the edge, threatening to fall down into the pit, the source of her new panic. "The Declaration!" she cried.

"Do you trust me?" he asked, thinking quick.

"Of course!"

So as the platform rocked again and she dangled over a ledge below, he let go, and she fell, twisting to land on her side. A sharp pain shot through her arm and up her shoulder when she landed, but she didn't have time to worry. Instead, she scrambled to her feet just in time to see Ben as he snatched up the Declaration, putting it over his shoulder where it was safe. She gave a huge sigh of relief.

Her relief was short-lived though for, seconds later, the already rickety platform gave way even further, leaving Ben hanging off of it, dangling over the pit.

"Oh no - BEN!" she hollered, desperately wishing there was some way she could help her brother. All she could do was watch in horror as he might suffer the same fate as Shaw.

Ben clung to the rotting wood, which was breaking beneath his weight. Suddenly, just as it seemed all hope was lost, a rope dropped down before him.

"Son!" called Patrick, who was holding onto the other end of the rope. Ben grabbed hold of it and swung down to the ledge to join his sister.

"I'm sorry," he cried, rushing to her side, feeling immense guilt when he saw her gripping her injured shoulder. "I'm sorry I dropped you, I had to save the Declaration."

She smiled. "Don't be, I would have done exactly the same to you."

"Really?"

"Yeah." They shared a tight embrace.

"I would have dropped you both, freaks," called Riley as he and Abigail made their way down the stairs towards them. "Just leave it to the Gates siblings to almost die in the name of history."

The four stood and waited while Powell lowered the elevator to them. There was a tense silence.

"Get on," Ian ordered.

"Ian, it's not worth it," sighed Ben.

"Do you imagine that any of your lives are more valuable to me than Shaw's?" Ian snapped. "We go on."

"Status quo, keep to the status quo," Patrick reminded them.

When Ben still didn't budge, Ian sighed heavily and grabbed Patrick by the collar of his jacket, holding him near the edge of the elevator, threatening to push him over the edge and down into the pit.

Alex shrieked and Ben shouted, "No! Okay, we're coming, we're coming!" They stepped onto the elevator, Ian finally releasing the now very shaken Patrick.