A/N: Thank you, fritzen, TimelessBadger, and Danielle, for your comments! I appreciate your continued reading/support of the story! =)
Badger, I also am a Lyatt fan (believe they are meant to be together) but I have a soft spot for Flynn who I think deserved a bit better. I don't think Wyatt is evil either but keep in mind, his current track he's following in this story has been boiling, so this is only one potential outcome of his future. Things aren't written in stone - the basis/foundation of the story. So, let's hope Wyatt decides to get his act together. =)

Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!


1980

Lucy led the way through the Metropolitan Opera House with Tenley keeping up as best as she could. Lucy was determined to track down Future Wyatt to find out what was happening - why he seemed to be working with Emma.

Tenley panted for air. "Are you sure he went this way?"

Lucy shook her head. "I'm not sure of anything right now-" Lucy stopped suddenly, causing Tenley to crash into her. Lucy held her finger to her lips as she pointed across the auditorium.

Tenley's eyes drifted across the room to see the performers on stage for rehearsals. The orchestra sat in the pit warming up. She turned to look down the hallway. It was empty.

Lucy studied the performers carefully, hoping to recognize someone. When she saw them wearing ballet shoes, she tilted her head to the side. "Wait…"

"What?" Tenley asked. She saw a light bulb illuminate inside Lucy's head as she seemed to remember something. "What is it?"

Lucy grabbed Tenley's hand, pulling her back to the lobby. "We need to find that program again." Tenley sighed, frustrated with being pulled around by the wrist. She kept her thoughts to herself as she followed Lucy's lead.

The two stopped at the stand with the programs, once more and Lucy released her hold of Tenley to scour through the pages again. She stopped on a page in the middle. "The Berlin Ballet…"

Tenley watched Lucy's face as the historian's expression shifted from thinking to realization. "What? You have that look…"

"I can't believe I didn't think of it before…" she muttered, flipping through the program again. "I need to find...Ah! Here! The pictures of the performers…"

Tenley glanced over her shoulder, looking at the headshots of the performers. "Are you looking for someone in particular?"

"Maybe," Lucy admitted. "Though…" she lowered the program, before turning her gaze upwards in thought, "she's not in the ballet…" she flipped through to the orchestra members. She stopped, curling the front part of the book around before pointing to a picture. "We're here for her…"

"Why do you say that?" Tenley questioned. "Who is she?"

Lucy sighed. "In this time? Her name is Helen Hagnes Mintiks," she explained. "In 1877? She went by Christina Nilsson…" she turned her gaze to Tenley, "she was the opera singer that inspired the Phantom of the Opera…But in 1980, she's a musician who was murdered during the intermission of the ballet..."

Tenley's brows drew together. "Wait," she began. "Isn't she the one Future Wyatt kidnapped?" Lucy jutted her jaw out, nodding. Tenley asked softly, "Why would he do that? Why would he kidnap her and bring her here, only to kill her later? It doesn't make sense."

Lucy's eyes locked with a familiar frame heading deeper into the Opera House. She recognized that frame and he waited until he caught her attention before slinking down the hall. She whispered, "Let's go ask him."

Tenley watched as Lucy began to walk toward the hall across the lobby - it was then, she noticed the figure in the shadows walking deeper into the Opera House. Tenley's guard raised instantly. Something felt off about this meeting. Despite her gut and intuition telling her to not follow, she did, if only to protect Lucy.

The two women navigated through the dark hallways until they found themselves in the basement of the opera house. "Are you sure he came down here?" Tenley whispered, eyes darting about the area.

Lucy nodded, motioning to a cracked door where some light seeped out into the hallway. "I'd say so."

Tenley cocked her head slightly. "I don't think we should do this…"

Lucy didn't look at the doctor as she inched her way through the darkened hallway. "Come on…"

Tenley inhaled deeply, releasing a shaky breath. "This is a bad idea…"

The two tiptoed their way down the hallway, nearing the dressing room door. Lucy reached out cautiously, opening the ajar door further before entering the room, Tenley following close behind.

Standing in the middle of the dressing room, pushing his hood over his head to fall to his shoulders was Future Wyatt. He stared at both women as they stood in the doorway. His blond hair had darkened slightly with a shaggy appearance. His blue eyes seemed grayed from time. He blinked at them. "Took you long enough."

Lucy licked her lips, carefully choosing her words. "Wyatt-"

He held his hand up to stop her. "Why are you here?"

Lucy blinked at him. "What?"

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Where's the rest of them?"

"The rest of who?" Lucy asked, confused.

Future Wyatt raised an eyebrow at her. "The rest of the team," he stated. "I know you didn't come by yourselves-"

Lucy held his angry stare, remaining as calm as she could. "Why? Are you concerned about their wellbeing?"

He smirked. "I see some things never change."

"What does that mean?"

"You're still so stubborn," he spat at her, his eyes flashing with ire. "You never could just do what you were told-"

Tenley's eyes widened and her mouth fell agape as she listened to Future Wyatt's words. She couldn't believe how much hatred he spewed at Lucy - the woman he claimed to be in love with.

Future Wyatt's eyes drifted over to Tenley. "You look just the same as I remembered."

Tenley stared at him, unsure how to respond. "Thanks?"

Future Wyatt's expression softened slightly as he explained, "The last time I saw you...you were…" he held his hands up to show how small she was as he continued, "just a baby… a small, innocent, beautiful baby." He lowered his hands as he blinked at her. "I never got to hold you for more than a couple of hours." He pushed his tongue into his cheek as he stated, "The last time I saw you like this" he motioned down the length of her, "...you were disappearing through time."

Tenley shifted awkwardly in her place, eyes darting between Future Wyatt and Lucy. She could see he was a loose cannon of sorts. She didn't know if she should say something or not. Her heart raced as he took a step forward. She tugged Lucy back with her.

Future Wyatt inhaled deeply. "You look good though," he said. "I guess I should be thankful for that much." His eyes darkened as he turned his gaze back to Lucy. "No thanks to you."

"Why are you here?" Lucy asked. "Why did you come here?"

"You wouldn't understand-"

Lucy interrupted him. "Why did you kidnap Christina Nilsson? Why did you do that?"

He chuckled. "I'm leveling the playing field."

"What does that mean?" Lucy pushed. "I don't understand."

He licked his lips. "Bloodstone has been taking people from history to train as soldiers against Rittenhouse. I decided to do the same in return."

"You're saying you trained her to become a sleeper?" Lucy asked, trying to keep up.

He shook his head. "I didn't train her," he admitted. "Emma did."

"Emma?" Lucy repeated. "Is that why you were with her earlier?"

His face faltered. "You saw that?" he asked. He shook his head, chuckling. "That's why the others aren't here…" He scratched his jaw. "It doesn't matter. We'll still manage to take the Lifeboat-"

"Why are you doing this?" Lucy asked. "What happens in the future-"

Tenley kept her grip on Lucy, pulling her back again. She could see the look on Future Wyatt's face. He was one push away from smacking Lucy. Her guard rose again.

He sucked on his teeth. "A lot of betrayal from people who once called themselves friends."

"We're still your friends-" Lucy started.

His eyes burned red as he kicked a nearby chair. "You were the one to betray me!" he shouted. The two women jumped from freight, backing out of the dressing room. Future Wyatt followed, shouting, "You turned against me! You managed to turn them all against me!"

Tenley tugged on Lucy. She begged Lucy to come with her. She whispered, "We have to go...now!"

The two turned to run. Future Wyatt shouted at them, "You can run but you won't make it out of here alive!"

Tenley glanced over her shoulder to see Future Wyatt heading down a different hallway. She turned to look before her. "He's pissed."

Lucy fought the urge to sob. She didn't know what happened between the two of them but all she knew was Future Wyatt was not the same man she knew and loved. He was darker, more sinister than she ever thought possible. She questioned what drove him to this point - this point of no return. He wasn't a villain but this future version of him was showing he could become one if things didn't change course.

The two turned a corner and slid to a stop. Standing at the end of the hallway was Future Wyatt. He cocked his head slightly at them. "I told you," he called out to them as they turned to flee, "you can't hide from me."

Lucy followed Tenley as they darted down another hallway. Tenley stopped long enough to glance in the adjacent hallway they came across. Glancing left and right, she thought about which direction Future Wyatt could easily reach before them. She pointed to the left. "This way."

"Are you sure?" Lucy asked, following close behind.

"I have no idea," she stated, glancing about the hallway. "But we have to keep moving."

Lucy peered over her shoulder. Following them at the end of the hall was the familiar silhouette of Future Wyatt. "He's behind us."

"Keep running!" Tenley told her, turning down another hallway. "We have to find a way out of here!"

Just as Tenley rounded the corner to lead them further into the building in an attempt to hide from Future Wyatt, she slammed into a solid frame. She felt hands wrap around her upper arms. She fought against the hold before the person gripped her tighter, shaking her slightly to gain her attention.

"Hey!" a familiar voice hissed. "Would ye take it easy?"

Tenley's head snapped up, eyes wide as she stared into the dark eyes of the scarred face she knew so well. "Quinn?"

He offered a short smile. "Are ye okay?" He released his hold on her.

She opened her mouth to speak but words were failing her. She hadn't expected to see Quinn. Lucy neared them, whispering, "He's coming closer-"

"He who?" Quinn asked, brows drawing together.

"Wyatt," Lucy started to say, her voice breaking slightly. Tenley glanced over to see the tears behind Lucy's eyes.

Quinn leaned around the corner, careful not to attract Future Wyatt's eye. He saw the man looking for the two women. Pulling himself back around to look at them, he motioned for them to stay quiet as he led them down the hall and into a different room.

Once inside the room, Quinn quietly closed the door, locking it behind them. He turned to face them, keeping his finger pressed against his lips. After standing in silence for a few minutes, Quinn asked, "What are ye two doing here?"

Lucy swallowed her nerves. "We believe Rittenhouse is here to kill Helen Hagnes."

Quinn raised an eyebrow at her. He was taken by surprise that Lucy shared that information so quickly and willingly. He would have expected more resistance from her. "Why do ye think that?"

"Because Future Wyatt kidnapped her in 1877 at the Palais Garnier Opera House," Lucy explained.

Quinn's eyes narrowed. "Did he tell ye why he kidnapped her?"

"He said he was leveling the playing field against Bloodstone," Lucy told him. "Because you were kidnapping people from history and turning them into sleepers."

Quinn chuckled softly. "Is that so?"

Tenley and Lucy exchanged glances. They turned back to him. Tenley asked, "What's going on, Quinn?"

Quinn shook his head slightly. "What else did he say?" He saw the confused looks on their faces and asked, "Did he tell ye he was working with Rittenhouse? Did he tell ye he lured ye here to kill ye?"

"No," Lucy said with a shake of her head. "He wouldn't-"

Quinn held her gaze, offering a small sympathetic gaze. "He's not the Wyatt ye know."

"He's in there," she retorted. "I know it." The look of desperation and hope was apparent in her expression. She believed her words but there was a part of her that didn't - that was the part Quinn zeroed in on.

"Ye seem sure of that," Quinn pointed out. "And when he does try to kill ye? Are ye still going to believe he's in there?" He pointed to Tenley. "Are ye willing to risk her life on that assumption as well as yers?"

Lucy's mouth hung open as she tried to think of what to say to that. Tenley's eyes darted between the two. She finally turned her gaze over to Quinn. "Why are you here?" He turned to look at her and she quickly added, "Not that I'm not grateful for your timely rescue…"

Quinn smiled at her softly, sighing gently. "I'm here for a variety of reasons…"

"Such as?"

He glanced between the two, a sad look washing over his features. "Ye're right...about Helen being Christina…" he shook his head, "but Rittenhouse isn't here to kill her."

The two women gasped at his admittance. "What?" Tenley asked, her voice barely a whisper.

He licked his lips. "I'm not the one killing her if that's what ye're so afraid of," he told her. "Someone else will take care of it for us."

"But why?" Lucy asked. "What did she ever do to you?"

"She's Rittenhouse," he replied, eyebrows drawing together. "She's the enemy now."

"How is it any different from what you've done?" Lucy countered, hands on her hips. "You've stolen people from their times and trained them to be sleepers-"

He nodded. "And look how that turned out," he said. "And if ye haven't noticed, we haven't done that in quite some time." He saw the questions on their faces. He sighed as he stated, "If ye must know, she's an unfortunate circumstance of life."

"What does that mean?" Lucy asked, brows drawing together as her eyes narrowed at him.

"Helen Hagnes was killed during intermission by-"

"A stagehand," Lucy concluded. "I know the story. It inspired several rumors about a 'real-life Phantom of the Opera' to circulate-"

Quinn nodded. "Her death truly was committed by a nobody." He looked between the two. "We had nothing to do with her death, I promise ye." He could see the thoughts racing in their minds. "I know ye have questions," he admitted. "I promise to explain it to ye later but right now, we need to get ye out of here before it's too late."

Lucy questioned, "How can we trust you?"

"Listen," Quinn began, voice teetering annoyed and calm, "ye can lecture me later. For now, I need to get both of ye out of here before they find ye."

"They?" Tenley repeated.

Quinn's dark eyes drifted from Lucy to Tenley. He nodded. "Ye didn't think Wyatt came alone, did ye?"

"We know Emma is with him," Lucy said.

Quinn's eyebrows raised as he stood up straighter. He realized they had no idea what was really going on. He knew if he shared the truth now, they wouldn't believe him. "There are... others with them." He stressed the word 'other' in hopes they would realize the danger they faced.

Lucy chewed on her lip, unconvinced. Her eyes darted over to Tenley, silently asking her for her opinion. Tenley nodded - she trusted Quinn despite his lies in the past - the same lies he said to protect her. Lucy sighed, knowing they didn't have many options. "Fine," she said with a shrug. "I guess we'll follow you."

Quinn nodded slowly, understanding their hesitation. He turned his gaze over to Tenley, offering a thankful smile before leaning his ear against the door. It was silent. He pressed his finger against his lips as he opened the door, motioning for them to follow him out.

Quinn led the women back into the dark hallway. He kept his guard up while scanning the area as they moved stealthily down the quiet and dimly lit corridor. Lucy held onto Tenley's hand as they followed Quinn closely.