Everyone was sitting in the tunnel, unable to grasp the sacrifice and reality. Ben was shocked more so as he saw Esther one last time. Abigail put her hand on his shoulder. They all decided to get up and get out. Riley introduced himself to Emily as he didn't meet her at the university.

"Wait. There are 5 of us here…" Riley counted.

"Where's Esther?" Patrick asked.

"Who?" Emily questioned.

Ben looked down at the water. A strange, grieving shiver coursed up his spine and down his legs.

"Ben? Where's Esther?" Abigail asked gently.

"She's… not with us anymore."

The only sound was of running water as everyone remained silent after hearing the news. Emily still didn't know who Esther was until she realized that there was a young lady that was with them. They started with seven but lost two in the process of finding the greatest discovery.

It didn't take long before they reached sunlight. Ben realized that he had to call Sadusky and tell him of his proof. But that wasn't the only person he'd have to call. The only problem was that he didn't know what Joseph Crema's phone number was. Ben finally dialed Sadusky's number on his cell phone. Somewhere nearby Rushmore, FBI agents were scattered around, looking for the criminals. One of the agents got a call on his cell phone.

"Excuse me. My name is Ben Gates. I'd like to speak with Agent Sadusky."

The agent went to where Sadusky was overlooking the investigation and the landscape.

"Sir! It's for you."

The agent handed the phone over. Sadusky pressed it to his ear.

"I have my proof."

"Ben! We were just talking about you. Ready to turn yourself in?"

"Not quite. We found the City of Gold."

"Doesn't matter. You still committed a federal crime."

There was a long pause before Ben spoke up again.

"Sadusky, I need a phone number."

"A lawyer won't do you any good at this point, Ben," he laughed softly.

"No. I need Joseph Crema's phone number, or at least a way to contact him."

"Why do you need to talk to Joseph?"

"It's about Esther."

"What happened to her?"

Silence. Sadusky was a very good people reader. And no words said enough to him.

"I'll take care of it for you and tell him."

"I was the last one to see her. I think I should be the one to tell him."

"Alright. I call him and Mrs. Livingston to Rushmore so you can tell them."

Ben hung up. He sighed with discontent. Only minutes later did the FBI swarm the area everyone was waiting in. No one was handcuffed as they surrendered. Riley and Abigail were given wool blankets to warm up and dry off. Patrick and Emily were separated from the main group. Ben, Riley, and Abigail were lead to an aircraft hangar where agents of every organization were setting up security. A pair of men in suits stood at a small desk. One turned and revealed to be the President. He began to walk to Ben.

"Mr. President?"

"Craig, give us a minute."

"Sir, for your information, this is the man who kidnapped you."

"As I recall, we were exploring a hidden tunnel, and a door closed accidentally, and this man saved my life."

"Yes, sir."

The guard stepped back from the President and Ben.

"Gates."

"Sir."

"For the record, after centuries of exploration, on this day, you have brought honor to your country and your family. You've done this country a great service. I thank you."

"Thank you," Ben replied with surprise.

"Craig."

The President reached his hand back.

"I thought you might want to take a look at tomorrow's headlines."

"Tomorrow?"

Craig handed a newspaper to the President who handed it to Ben. He looked at a headline on the front page that read about Thomas Gates being a Civil War hero.

"Thank you, sir."

"All of you, along with Emily and Patrick Gates, will get credit for this discovery."

There was a moment of silence before Ben spoke up.

"And Mitch Wilkinson, sir."

"Is that right?"

"It's true, sir. And Esther Livingston as well."

"Such a promising young adult. I'll have agent Sadusky call her fa-"

"I already asked him to do that. Thank you, sir."

The President moved in to Ben.

"Ben, I am curious about that favor I asked you. Any report regarding what's on page 47?"

"I believe I can help with that, sir."

"So it's good."

"Life-altering, sir."

Ben and the President began to walk away.

"What's on page 47? Are you talking about the Book?"

The President turned to face Riley.

"What book?"

It didn't take long for a plan to be made for Cibola's dig-up. The water was to be drained out and then everything would be put on record. People headed to their places.

"Alright! Time to drain this place!"

The area was just about ready to have the water drained out. Ben, Abigail, Riley, Patrick, and Emily waited in anticipation for the City of Gold to be revealed once more. The workers double-checked that the openings for water to come through were shut unlike the original stone ones. They gave the all clear. The machines turned on and they began to pump out the water.

"Okay! Area's clear!"

Workers, historians, and the treasure finders filed in to see the city. It was just as the finders had last seen it. The people seeing it for the first time stood in awe at the sight of the City of Gold. Medics were put on standby should anyone get injured. Ben walked around, realizing that two people died to save him and the rest of the group. One of them was a young girl with a family that didn't know where she was.

What am I going to tell her family?

While Ben started to play the guilt scenarios in his head, a pair of workers began cleaning out some of the tunnels. Out of nowhere, a lump of something came tumbling out. They turned it over and stepped back, recoiled with shock. It was a body.

"Hey! There's a body here!"

Everyone stopped doing what they were doing. One of the workers to a closer look.

"It's a girl!"

"Someone get a medic!"

Ben ran to where she was. Sure enough, it was her. Ben wasn't sure to be relieved or despondent. He put his ear to her chest.

"She's got a heartbeat!"

"Sir, please step away."

Ben did so and let a doctor help the girl he thought was dead. The doctor put his hands atop her chest and pressed down.

"One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three."

/

Alex? Where are you?

"I'm right here, Esther."

I turned around to see him embodied in light. I ran to him to embrace him. He opened his arms and took me in.

"Essie. I need you to do something."

Anything.

"Walk with me."

I walked with him to a bright light that blinded me.

Alex! What's happening?

"You're going home. You'll meet up with someone important later. Remember that I'm always with you."

I opened my eyes and gasped for air. I had to cough up all of the water I swallowed, which wasn't a lot, but I still had some trouble breathing. Once I was breathing normally, I blinked my eyes to try and get a less blurry vision. A shadow loomed over me until I could see clearly that it was someone I knew.

"Ben?"

He grabbed me up for a hug. I didn't fight him. I was too weak.

"I thought you were dead."

"Come on, Ben. We all know I'm too stubborn to die just yet."

He chuckled, very glad to have some of my weak humor. Riley and Abigail came into view and we got into a group hug. I tried straining my head to see if Patrick and Emily were around. And that's when I heard some familiar voices.

"Be very careful with that. Is that distilled water you're using?"

"Yes."

"Have you catalogued all of this?"

"No, ma'am."

"You haven't? Excuse me? Excuse me, sir? Are you cataloguing this?"

Emily's voice carried away from what I assumed was the center.

"You should've been there when we picked out our first couch."

I laughed pretty hard for a girl that nearly died. I was helped up to my feet and walked to the center. Patrick stared at me with a gaping mouth.

"How did you-"

"Alex. He made sure I stayed alive. Even when I wanted to give in, he didn't."

Sadusky appeared beside Patrick.

"Ms. Livingston?"

"Agent Sadusky."

"You are free of the charge of kidnapping the President. Oh, and welcome back."

"Thank you, sir."

"There's someone that wants to see you outside."

"I'll get there shortly."

He gave a curt nod and smile before leaving. I turned to see the pictographs on the pillars. Emily came back up.

"You're Esther?"

"Yep."

Emily was speechless. I laughed to clear up the quiet atmosphere. She noticed my eyes were on the pillars and decided to explain what they depicted.

"I have never heard of this story before. It tells of a woman in white that appeared to the natives of Cibola. She was brought before the chief, uh…"

"Firelight."

"Yes. How did you-?"

"Firelight asked her where she was from. She claimed to belong to no tribe and he assumed she was raised by the gods, perhaps even the Moon Goddess. He invited her to a feast in Cibola that would last the night. The next day, a battle began and she hurried to the site on a white stallion. She stood atop a hill with a ray of sunshine illuminating her. Both sides stop and she told them to return to their homes. They did so. Firelight thanked her and promised a memorial in her honor. When asked if she could stay, she declined. Firelight asked where she would go. And her reply was, 'Wherever the wind takes me.' She rode off in the sea of grass to where the wind would take her next."

Everyone was quiet with shocked expressions plastered on their faces.

"How do you know this story?"

I smiled. I moved my head to Ben who probably figured out the whole thing and how it was possible for me to know the specifics. I decided to let him explain about my gift. Agents in black suits waited for me to join them and I obliged to their body language. We reached the surface where the sun blinded my eyes. Sunglasses were handed to me and I slipped them on. My eyes could see much better as I looked around.

"Esther!"

My head spun to look behind me.

"Teacher!"

He ran to me and took me in his arms. I returned the action. He pulled away from me.

"I can't believe you're alive. Peter called me and said that Ben requested my phone number. I just knew that it was you and trouble stirred. But hearing what happened from him was painful. What I'm happy for is that you're alive now. Your mother is waiting outside the perimeter."

"Thank you so much."

"Anytime. Oh! And someone wants to see you and tell you something. I'll escort you over."

We strolled over to the forest line that was around the park where yellow caution tape stretched and wrapped around trees. A man and a woman were talking to each other with a lacking enthusiasm. They both turned their heads and happiness lit up their faces. I recognized them in an instant.

"Mom!"

"Esther! Oh, thank God! I thought you were gone for good."

Apparently, being accused dead and then "brought back to life" guaranteed a day full of hugs and emotions. The man turned out to be the President. He wanted to personally tell me that he forgave me for the kidnapping.

"Let me know when you need me to do it again to get away from the stiffs."

My humor was improving as everyone laughed. Except for the stiff Secret Service. The whole day was filled with the press, the agents, and the people I called family. Oh my! It was a pretty good day for me considering how I committed a crime and nearly died in providing proof of something that happened over a hundred years ago.

Nighttime arrived and it was time to celebrate the discovery of the City of Gold. Fireworks were going on above Rushmore. Civilians walked and chatted like nothing happened.

"It's their way of celebrating, Essie. Get used to it."

I'm trying, Alex. It's a lot harder than you think.

"Mind if I cut in?"

Thomas! I didn't know I could see you as well!

"You can, thanks to you and Ben restoring my good name. Mitch is with us as well. We're always here for you if you need anything at all."

Thank you. I really appreciate the support from you guys. Life would feel… abnormal without you.

"Speaking of abnormal, looks like Riley met a girl that knows he exists."

Really? Where, Alex?

"Esther! Come here for a moment, please!"

Sorry. I have to go. I'll catch up with you later!

I ran to Teacher as best as I could through the crowd. Once I caught up to him, I stood up like nothing occurred.

"Esther, there's someone I'd like to introduce you to."

He gestured to a man a little taller than me with medium long brown hair. He turned around so that I could see his face. My eyebrows arched up higher than ever, my eyes widened like never before, and my mouth was slightly open.

"Esther, this Alex Hamilton. He's an alumnus from Boston."

I was still recovering from almost dying and Teacher just decided to drop this on me as well. I realized that I was being impolite and I put out my hand to shake his. He responded to the gesture.

"Nice to meet you. You wouldn't happen to be related to the first Alexander Hamilton, would you?"

"As a matter of fact, I am a direct descendent and have his exact appearance."

"Huh! I didn't know that."

"I've heard that you're a very gifted person. Could I talk to you in private, Ms. Livingston?"

"Esther."

We walked to a stone border around the monument, just a couple yards from Ben and Abigail.

What are they saying, Alex? And why didn't you tell me about the young man next to me!?

"Surprise! I wanted to leave it at that. Anyways, Abigail's talking about the tea tables Ben put out. She said he could keep them and could move back into the house…"

That's when Alex read their lips for me as I watched.

"No. You used the word 'so.'"

"So?"

"So, when you say 'so,' it means you're angry."

"Sometimes. And then sometimes it doesn't. It's sort of like a puzzle. And you're so good at puzzles. I'm sure you'll figure it out. So..."

They leaned in and I looked away, perfectly content with their relationship repair. I looked to the young man next to me. Time to find out the truth.

"What do you know?"

"You're a medium and a past seer."

"How did-"

"Alex told me."

I had a long, gaping stare at him until I put the pieces together.

"No way. I thought I was the last one!"

"Nope! And I thought that since you know about my ancestor and I know everything about your… past outings with him…"

I blushed. I realized that it was the first time it happened to me.

"I thought that… maybe you and I could… spend some time together."

"I'd like that very much, Mr. Hamilton."

"Alex."

I smiled at him. Those beautiful eyes of his looked so familiar but different at the same time. They drew me in enough that I had my lips pressed to his in a "sealing the deal" kiss. Who knew my life would be this good? Well, I'm sure God above knew as he looked at us with a certain humor and pride that I couldn't help but imagine.

AAANND that's it. Sort of. A while back, like 6 or so years ago, I wanted to go big and make a third installment to the series. One problem: writers tend to have multiple projects going on at the same time, and lose track of said time. Oops. REGARDLESS! I have been getting back in touch with my writing and- I've been droning on and on. I have a habit of going on a tangent. Here's a summary of the third installment to National Treasure Accounts.

Esther has finally reached senior year and is looking forward to her future. But parts of her past (and the past in general) have other ideas in mind: some bringing confusion and others bringing trauma and death. She will have to make peace with her past to find the answer to her next quest, with some help from Team Gates and her new beau Alex.

Don't miss out on the third story- National Treasure Accounts: Flag of Freedom!