WOOOO TOMORROW IS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHEN HOPE IS LOST! (First chapter was published 7 March, 2018. I honestly thought i woild be finished with the story by now, but it be like that sometimes.) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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"Happy birthday, Hershel!" Claire greeted her husband as he came inside from the outside snowy weather. He shut the door behind him, smiling at his wife as she hugged him and gave him a kiss.

"Happy birthday, Professor!" Flora came out from the kitchen into the living room.

Layton laughed in joy. "What a warm welcome... The only strange part is where's Desmond?"

Claire knew he was going to ask that. Her nervousness throughout the day hadn't calmed at all. However, she had thought up an answer that wasn't lying or giving away the plain truth. "I'm sure he'll be back any moment now," Claire said, truly hoping she was right. "Let's get dinner around until he does."

The Layton family prepared the meal, the kitchen full of mirth. The later it got, the more worried Claire became. Flora had left for her room later on to work on her homework. As the clock neared six in the evening, the similar three quick knocks that Claire had heard in the morning repeated.

"Perhaps that's Desmond," Hershel started. "But why would he have knocked?" He then realised.

"I'll get it," Claire hurried out to the door. Her heart pounding, she knew she couldn't hide things from Hershel much longer. Opening the door, Emmy stood there, her face looking even more worried than the first time she had come in the morning.

"Emmy..." Claire started panicking, seeing her unease and noticing that Desmond wasn't with her. "Don't... Don't tell me..." Her voice became frail as the colour drained out of her face.

"I- I'm sorry, Claire... I- It's all my f- fault..."

"Claire, what's going on?" Hershel appeared from around the corner drying a pan with a dish towel. Seeing the two worried women, he set the pan aside. "Are you both all right?"

"Professor..." Emmy stepped forward inside their home hanging her head, almost in tears. "I'm never wanted to let you down again after I had betrayed you... But I'm certain I've messed up far worse this time." The pit in Emmy's stomach felt too deep for words to describe. Claire closed the door behind Emmy.

Hershel thought she was probably just being irrational. "Sit down, Emmy. Everything is going to be alrig—"

"Don't say that! You cannot promise me that!"

"What is it, then?" Layton asked calmly, realising this was probably more serious than he thought originally.

"It's D- Desmond... I- I'm so sorry..."

The professor's countenance fell entirely. "What... What's happened to him...?"

"The good news is... He's still alive. The bad news... Targent has him again."

Layton backed up towards the sofa. He sat down, processing her words.

"Please, let me explain what happened. To you too, Claire. This morning I came to ask Desmond for help in investigating Uncle Leon's disappearance. He's been stolen out of prison, Professor. It's Targent's doing. Anyway, we had a tough beginning, but eventually we put aside differences and went to Scotland Yard to ask DI Grosky about the matter. After getting his permission, we went to search the prison. We found nothing, and so Desmond made the rash decision to return to the hideout where he was tortured. I tried to stop him, but he was so convinced it was the only way to find answers. He was... overtaken by memories once we got there... and—" Emmy paused as she tried to calm herself. "I didn't know what to do. Seeing him so shaken distracted me. I- I was taken by surprise when Targent ambushed us. Right before they knocked me unconscious, they said to tell you that you're next. They're coming for you, Professor."

Layton put a hand to his chin. "Not unless I find them first."

"Hershel, this is madness," Claire took a step towards her husband sitting on the sofa. "What do you plan on doing? Why can't we get the police involved now? Emmy has seen them with her very eyes."

"They haven't helped us in the past, what makes you think they will help now? From everything I've gathered, I believe I have a hunch as to where Targent is. As for what I'm planning, I think it is as simple as fighting fire with fire."

Claire crossed her arms and couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Hershel... seeing the seriousness of this... Could you please refrain from speaking in riddles for once in your life?! I'm dead sick of having no idea what's happen!"

Layton was shocked, seeing Claire snap. He had never seen her come to this point of breaking.

"I'm sorry, Hershel... I didn't mean to take my frustration out on you... I feel like there's so much coming between us," Claire confessed. "I just want this to be all over... The constant suspense... I'm tired of it all," Claire nervously held her arms.

Hershel stood up and came by Claire's side.

Claire looked down as he put his hands on her shoulders.

"Claire... I know as well as you do how tiring this all is," Hershel reminded.

The telephone rang loudly.

"Professor... it could be Targent," Emmy suspected.

Layton sighed, taking his hands off of Claire's shoulders and apprehensively approaching the ringing telephone. Quietly picking up the receiver, he lifted it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Professor Layton. It's an honour to be speaking with you," A voice said dramatically.

"I wish I could say the same," Layton said straightly.

"Let's not make this conversation longer than it needs to be. I've only called to tell you that your brother is here waiting for you. He isn't awake yet... but once he is, he will wish he never awoke."

A chill ran down Layton's spine. "Don't... Don't hurt him, please..." Layton uttered out in the firmest voice he could muster, which wasn't very firm.

"Alright, Layton. I'll make a deal with you. If you come right now, your brother won't suffer."

Layton thought a moment, knowing this was a direct trap. Despite his emotions clouding his mind, he knew he had to stay calm. "I'll be there as soon as I can."

Claire and Emmy looked at each other in shock of Layton's answer. The man told Layton where to meet him. Hershel hung up the phone. Seeing Emmy and Claire's frightened faces, he explained himself.

"I have a plan, and I'm asking that you trust me. I'll do everything in my power to bring this situation to light, and bring Desmond back," Layton looked at Emmy. "And Bronev, as well."

Claire looked down. She closed her eyes tightly. "I... I just can't bear the thought of losing you. I want to come with you."

"Please don't make this harder for me..." Hershel frowned. He let out a breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "I'm certain that I can outsmart Targent."

"But what if there's a piece to the puzzle that you're missing? An unseen that takes this event in a different direction than you're prepared for?"

"While you do have a good point, Claire, I cannot base my logic on 'what ifs'," Layton shook his head. "If new information arises, things should become more clear. What makes you think I'm missing something...?" Hershel questioned, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

"I suppose it's just me worrying..." Claire answered simply. "I do trust you, Hershel. Just please be safe," Claire stepped forward to embrace her husband.

Hershel slipped his arms around her, holding her tightly. "I will. Emmy, can you stay here with Claire and Flora?"

"Of course, Professor," Emmy nodded, trusting Layton to get to the bottom of this, although everything within her wanted to go with him to help.

The professor hurried to leave, despite it being nearly nighttime. After a tearful goodbye, Hershel left on his mission into the foggy London night.