As chaos ensued, Ben looked desperately into the cave, waiting for his mother to come out yelling, but she never did. His heart beat frantically as the realization sunk in. Ben never noticed Abigail approach him, only realizing she was there when she began brushing dirt off of his shirt.

"Are you okay?" she asked. Something was wrong- he had that look in his eyes.

"Mom…she just went back there…to get a student who wasn't paying attention…"

Abigail placed her hand over her mouth, following his gaze toward the explosion. Finally snapping to, Ben took off toward the hole. Skipping over the rubble, he searched for any signs of life; all he could see were rocks. Everything seemed so distance from him. A few feet away Abigail and Riley were talking to a work crew, but he could not grasp the conversation.

"Son?" Patrick arrived at his side. "Abby said…"

"I don't know Dad. I remember her walking over to tell off a student, but I wasn't paying that much attention." Ben put his hands on his head in frustration.

"Clint!" Two young women came running up. One of them was the girl Riley had been telling him about, the other was sobbing uncontrollably. "I told him…"

"Emma, stop crying…it wasn't your fault. He was being an idiot-" Jacqueline tried rest a hand on her friend's shoulder, but the girl pulled away, landing on her knees as she fell to the ground, shaking. Abigail was tearing up, Ben saw, but he tried not to think of his mother as dead.

"No, I should have been looking out for him. He's been through a lot lately- his father just died and he's been acting weird every since Professor Applegate told us we would be coming here."

"Who?" asked Riley, just arriving on the conversation. Even in the midst of this disaster, he could not help but stare at Jacqueline.

"Clint Wilkinson. He's been my best friend since freshman year in college and well..."

"Did you say Wilkinson?" Patrick asked, the fear rising in his voice. The woman named Emma nodded.

"He committed suicide..." muttered Jacqueline.

"And decided to take one of us with him," murmured Ben in a heavy voice.

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Emily shook her head walking away from Patrick. Why couldn't he understand why she did not want to move in with him right away? After everything they had been through, surely he did not expect her to just jump on board the love train. Look where that had gotten her- divorced and single. She never noticed the look of hurt in his eyes when she walked away, because she had other things to worry about. Like the fact some student of hers was exploring the off limits part of Cibola.

"I thought I told you to stay out of here! Can you not read the sign that says 'Danger- Explosives'?" This was one of the few students she did not know by name. The young man did not speak out enough or excel in his academics to get noticed. He was normal looking- an average sort of person. Emily did not have time for average students who did not pay attention to directions.

"Sorry ma'am." There was an odd look in his eyes- an almost sad, desperate glare.

"What was your name again?" snapped Emily, checking the list she had made up for her class. The group was divided into groups of three, each studying a different area.

"His name is Wilkinson." A woman stepped out of the shadows. In her hand was the detonator to the dynamite along the wall. Staring hauntingly at the professor, the woman said, "I suggest we get a move on if you don't want to end up like my husband."

"Husband…" Emily stared in shock. True, she not had a civil conversation with Mitch Wilkinson, but she never pictured him as a family kind of guy. The woman before her was nothing short of mad. Her wavy red hair was strung wildly across her head; the worn jacket she had pulled over the decent attire appeared to be that of a man's.

"Speechless are you? And Clint told me you were quite the talker. By the way, I'm Cynthia," she smirked. "Come on now."

"Professor, this way." Clint motioned toward a back tunnel. Emily finally found her voice.

"I do not plan no being abducted again! I can see where your husband's death would be difficult for you, but continuing to follow his dire footsteps isn't the best idea."

"Mitch was a good man!" barked Cynthia, her eyes glaring. She slapped Emily across the face, sending her backward into Clint, who in turn proceeded to duct tape her mouth shut. She struggled to get away, but Clint's grip was stronger than she expected.

All three of them went through the tunnel to their left. It led to sunlight and water. They wasted no time plowing through the shallow lake. There was an old red truck sitting on a dirt path at the shoreline. Once they got there, Cynthia turned around and pressed the button still in her hand. A large blast came from the underground caves. Emily made a sound under the tape, her eyes widening in fear.

"We can't let them think that we kidnapped you. I can see the headlines now: Maryland University Professor and Student Killed in Accidental Explosion," she said with a wicked smile. Cynthia now took out a gun from the pocket of the coat she was wearing. "Get in the truck- we're going for a ride."

A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! Keep them coming! Also, please write some more Emily/Patrick stories! I love them and there aren't that many!! If you do, I promise to review!!