I must once again apologize for not updating in a while! I left you all on a cliffie! I know, I'm so evil! But between colorguard, AP US History, and my unfortunate love of watching a whole bunch of cars go around a track for three hours on Saturdays and Sundays (AKA Nascar), I haven't had a lot of time. I don't know how good this chapter is, considering I wrote it while my Pre-AP Physics teacher was blabbing on about her Wound Vac (trust me, TMI!), so I promise, if you don't like this chapter, you'll like the next one! Also, I would like to get the word out about another story I wrote called "Charlotte's Legacy." I need more reviews to see if people would like to see another story that delves into another character's background (It will most likely be Riley, but I have an idea for Abigail as well). Okay, I've talked long enough! Here's the chapter! Read!

Chapter 7:

The Next Clue

Night fell as the group entered the house. Ben fixed scrambled eggs for everyone while Riley tried to piece together the next clue. He placed slashes between the words to separate them.

TWO/LANTERNS/LIT/TO/SEND/A/MESSAGE/AND/SET/FOR/ALL/TO/SEE/IN/THE/

WINDOW/OF/BOSTONS/SACRED/PLACE

Ben brought everyone their food, then Riley reveled the message. "Okay, here's what it says. 'Two lanterns lit to send a message and set for all to in the window of Boston's sacred place.'"

"Oh my God." Patrick said.

"I know." Ben said. "I'm glad the FBI caught Ian before he could stumble across this."

"Let me guess." Riley said. "Old North Church in Boston, right?"

"What led you to that, Riley?" Ben asked.

"Well, that fake clue you told Ian back in that shaft sent him to Boston's Old North Church, where he got arrested by the Feds." Riley explained. "I know, I'm a genius."

"We could have revealed another treasure to him without even knowing it." Patrick said, ignoring Riley's last comment.

"So, we go to Boston now?" Alexis asked.

"Yeah. I'll contact Sadusky and let him know what the plan is. I'll call Ian tomorrow. But everyone should rest tonight. We have no idea what might happen and we don't need to be out of it." Ben said.

"Won't Ian expect us to tip off the Feds?" Riley asked.

"It's possible." Ben said. "But if I can convince him that it will be just us, he'll agree."

"Hey, are you awake?" Alexis asked, knocking on Riley's door.

He opened it. "Yeah. I can't get that image of Ian kidnapping Abigail out of my mind."

"Can I talk to you?" Alexis asked.

"Uh, sure." Riley said nervously. He motioned for her to come in. She crossed the room and made herself comfortable in a chair.

"I'm really worried about Abigail. I mean, if I hadn't stopped to read that flier-"

Riley stopped her. "No, Ian would've had his way, even if we were there. You saw what he did to me. I don't think there would have been anything we could've done. Don't blame yourself."

"Would he kill her?" Alexis asked.

"I don't think so. She's too important. He needs her to get the clue. But if he wanted to, I guess he would." Riley said, remembering all the times Ian had nearly killed him. "He wanted to kill me, but Ben stepped in every time, except for yesterday, and he's never pulled the trigger."

"What I can't believe is that he would use a human life as his "bargaining chip." Alexis said, a hint of disgust in her voice.

"That's why he's the bad guy." Riley said.

"And Ben isn't angry at us?" She asked.

Riley shook his head. "Naw. He knows Ian won't touch her."

"Are you sure?" Alexis asked apprehensively.

"Alexis, Ben's not like that." Riley said. "He doesn't hold grudges. If he did, do you think we'd still be friends?"

Alexis smiled. "No, not really. I guess I should go back to bed. Thanks for listening, Riley."

As soon as she left, he flopped back on his bed. Had Alexis really chosen him, Riley Poole, to confide in? He turned off his lamp feeling like the luckiest guy in the world.

Alexis returned to her room and dug her cell phone out her purse. "Twelve?" She thought. "Oh well, it's important. Chloe won't mind." She dialed their dorm number and waited as the phone rang.

Finally, an answer. "Hello?" Chloe said in an irritated, sleepy voice.

"Hey, Chloe. It's Alexis."

"Lexi! I haven't heard from you since…" She stopped and looked at her clock. "… Friday now!"

"Yeah, I know. You left before I got up yesterday. Speaking of which, how was the volunteer trip?"

"Oh, it was great." Chloe said. "Except for the getting up early part."

"And how was hanging out with Daemon?" Alexis teased. Though she couldn't see her, Alexis knew Chloe was blushing.

"It was…interesting." Chloe said.

"Uh huh." Alexis said skeptically.

"And what about you and Mr. Riley Poole?" Chloe countered.

It was Alexis's turn to blush, and she was glad to not be having the conversation face to face. "Well…umm…hehe…uh…"

"I knew it! You like him, don't you?" She asked accusingly.

"Well…uh… yeah. I mean, he's kinda cute in this weird, Riley-ish way. I can't really describe it." Alexis said.

"Aww! Lexi got a boyfriend!" Chloe chanted.

"He is not myboyfriend." Alexis said. "Besides, I don't think he likes me that way. But talking about our love lives isn't what I called to do. I need to ask a favor."

"Okay, shoot." Chloe said.

"I need you to record any lectures we get. And tell me our assignments."

"And you couldn't have called later?" Chloe yawned.

"No, I'm going to Boston." Alexis said.

"Boston? What for?"

"I'm kinda on a treasure hunt. With Ben Gates." Alexis said and explained everything that had happened.

"Oh my God!" Chloe cried when Alexis came to Abigail's abduction. "I'll record them if they give any and E-mail them to you."

"Cool." Alexis said. "Now, I've got to go before I wake Riley up."

Alexis hung up, confusing thoughts swirling in her mind. "Did I really admit I like Riley? Do I like Riley? Does he like me? What if he's wrong about Ian and Abigail? Will Ian cooperate?" She fell into her bed as the questions kept running through her mind.

Abigail's eyes fluttered open. She couldn't tell where she was. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could make out the faint silhouette of a man standing above her. She was lying on cold cement. Her shoulder was sore. She sat up and massaged it.

"So, Dr. Chase, you've awakened."

Abigail recognized the unmistakable voice of Ian Howe. "Where am I!" She asked demandingly. "What did you do to Alexis and Riley!"

Ian smirked, and Abigail could not see the look of enjoyment on Ian's face. "Nothing. I didn't hurt them."

"Where are they?" Abigail yelled.

"With Ben." Ian said calmly.

Abigail breathed a sigh of relief, then turned her attention to her own predicament. "Where am I?" She asked, more calmly than she had at first.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Chase, but that I won't tell you." Ian said, without a hint of really being sorry. "If all goes well, you should be back with Ben soon."

"If all goes well?" Abigail asked.

"If Ben cooperates. We meet, he tells me the next clue and what it means, then I let you go. But if he tries anything like that fake clue, well, I don't want to get into that." Ian explained.

"You would dare use a human life as your bargaining chip!" Abigail shouted in rage.

"Miss Chase, I'm afraid your shouting will wake the neighbors." Ian said, pulling out another dose of the sedative. Before Abigail had a chance to protest, he injected her. She was out again in seconds.