Chapter One

Ianto

The day started out like a normal day. Well, as normal as a day at Torchwood ever was. I woke up in the hub next to Jack and silently got out of bed and put the coffee on. Half an hour later Jack woke up and we entered the main part of the hub and soon after everyone else arrived.

"Tosh check out the rift predictor and see what it says is going to happen today. Gwen, finish those reports from yesterday. Owen, we need that autopsy done on that alien from last night. Ianto we need you in the archives" Jack told everyone what they should do and we all went about our business as usual. For about five minutes.

"Jack, you need to see this" Tosh called and by the tone of her voice I could tell that something was up so I followed Jack and went to see what was happening.

"There is a major rift flare scheduled for this afternoon in a warehouse where lots of people work. We need to evacuate it because otherwise it's possible that a lot of them will be taken by the rift. We won't be able to keep up with it as there will be loads of families wanting answers." Tosh explained.

"Ok, Gwen, get on to the police and arrange for the warehouse to be evacuated by this afternoon. Say that Torchwood need to investigate. Tosh, try and narrow it down to a more specific time so that we can be there to stop people going inside and to see if anything is going to come out of it." Jack ordered and I went back to work.

Tosh came back later and said that the flare would happen at about two o'clock. Gwen arranged for the police to clear everyone out by the time we got there as we did not want anyone around when the rift flare appeared.

A few hours later we were in the SUV and were on the way to the warehouse. When we got there I was surprised by how big the warehouse was. No wonder we needed to get everyone evacuated. The police had put up tape around the site and had sent everybody home however I could see that some of the workers were still there, arguing with the police about why they had been sent home.

"I'm sorry but the area is to be evacuated, please leave the premises" one of the policeman was saying. I went up to the woman and told her that there was a bomb threat and that we were experts who were checking it out. After a few minutes of persuasion she left.

"Ok, Tosh, Gwen and Owen you stay outside and make sure that no one gets in. Ianto and I will go inside and wait for the flare" Jack decided.

"Are you sure? The rift flare could appear anywhere inside there it could be dangerous." Tosh warned.

"We will be very careful" Jack promised and we went inside.

The factory was enormous. It was mainly used for packaging sweet and chocolate so there was a nice smell all around. Then we waited for something to happen. After fifteen minutes nothing had happen and I could see that Jack was getting frustrated.

"Are you sure that Tosh got it right?" I asked.

"Yeah, I saw the readings myself. I think that it's just a little bit later than we thought" Jack replied.

We spread out through the warehouse. I went into another room that held the melted chocolate and looked hungrily at it. Suddenly bright light appeared and I ran to the door but the light blocked it and began spreading towards me. My heart started beating faster. I couldn't let the rift swallow me because I had seen what it did to some people. They changed and not for the better.

"Jack!" I called. The light came closer and I saw Jack appear at the doorway and his eyes widened as he saw what was happened. There was nowhere I could run.

"Ianto! Don't let it touch you!" Jack called.

"I'm trying not to!" I replied.

I backed up right against the wall and I realized that there was no escape. The light kept coming closer

"I'm sorry Jack" I cried as the light reached me and I was surrounded. The last thing I saw was Jack calling my name.