Day after Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I own nothing. But it's on my christmas list ;P

Chapter 9- More Determined Than Ever

Matt woke up feeling better than he had in a long time, thoughts of Sofia in his head. Gideon had called last night but Matt couldn't bring himself to tell him, he wanted atleast a few days with Sofia without Gideon going on at him about how much of distraction this will be and how it could ruin everything. But it wouldn't, he knew how important his mission was and nothing would change how dedicated he was to it, if anything being with Sofia was making him more determined to save the future as he wanted one for them both. Looking over at the clock beside his bed, Matt decided to get ready early so he could go make sure Sofia was doing OK before heading to work. After he had finished getting ready he checked the time, Sofia was normally up now but with all the medication she was on there was a chance she was still sleeping, but it wouldn't hurt to check on her. The drive to her house didn't take to long as there wasn't much traffic, getting to Sofi's he felt a bit odd letting himself in, but he had Sofia's permission. The house was silent and walking round confirmed no one was downstairs, heading upstairs Matt told himself he would just check she was feeling OK before leaving and letting her rest. Well that was the plan until he saw a baseball bat in the middle of the landing floor, looking up he saw Sofia's door wide open and the light switch that was next to it was cracked and the wall dented, looking down the hall he could that Emily's door was also wide open.

"No. This cannot be happening." Matt muttered running over to Sofia's door. Looking inside he could see her bed was unmade and all her medication was still on her bedside table. "Dammit!"

Matt kept running through his head the possible places Ethan could have taken the girls, he had no idea when he'd taken them, so he didn't know how far they could've got. But with Sofia being injured as bad as she was and not having her medication he wouldn't be able to stay in the public long before it became obvious she needed some help so they had to be somewhere close to her home.

"Matt? Am I boring you?" And this was the reason he wasn't out searching. Lester. "When I'm reprimanding someone for being completely unproffesional and stupid! I expect them to atleast pretend there listening!" He had gone to the ARC because he knew when he needed help. But Lester decided he wanted to shout at him first instead of searching.

"Emily thought if she came in she would be locked up and treated like a freak, was she wrong?"

"Not locked up, protected."

"For how long? Months? Years?"

"What so your way was better was it? Play games, keep secrets. Leave her with Lieutenant Bianco who has just recieved a serious injury and was to weak to barely walk. How do you think their both feeling now!" Lester demanded.

"We are just wasting time here, I should be out there looking for the three of them. This Ethan guy is dangerous." And Sofia was with him, hurt and probably unable to defend herself. This was a bad idea he should be out there now. Before either of them could say anymore the anomaly alarm sounded, making Matt's mood worse, it had to go off now when he had to find Sofia and Emily! Just as he got to the ADD the alarm stopped.

"False alarm?" Jess asked at the same time Lester muttered.

"What's he doing here?" Gesturing vaguely towards Burton causing Abby to look over and shrug. Just then the alarm started again before quickly stopping. "What the hell is going on?" He asked louder, as the alarm kept going on and off.

"We're picking up something but the signal is very weak." Jess announced tapping away at the keys of the ADD.

"Do you made if I?" Connor asked indicating to the keyboard once he had got to the ADD.

"Of course."

"Yeah, it's an anomaly but it's unstable. The energy seems to be fluctuating I never really seen that before."

"Interesting." Matt heard Burton say from right behind him causing him to look back. "Well I think we need more detailed information, get the team down there." All of them turned to look at Burton then to Lester who had his eyebrow raised. "I'm sorry James, that is of course your call." Everyone looked to Lester who just shrugged.

"Well get a team down there." He ordered causing Connor to pick up black boxes for everyone, Lester turned around heading back to his office with Matt following.

"Abby and Connor can handle this I need to find Sofia, Emily and Ethan." Matt stated just as Lester sat down behind his desk.

"Matt your place is out in the field, go on, don't worry we'll clean up your mess."

"I'm not leaving them out there. And Emily is my responsibility." There was no way Matt could just go on this mission and not search for Sofi, he had to find her.

"Our responsibility. We're a team, I think it's really about time you understood that."

"And one of my team is in a position where she is unable to protect herself, I need to find her."

"I'm sorry did anyone hear me give a direct order." Glaring at Lester, Matt stormed out of the office. The quicker he could finish this mission the sooner he could start searching, too much time had been wasted already.

Emily looked around trying to find some way out. Sofia and herself had their hands tied behind there backs and Sofi was still unconscious. Looking over to her friend, she looked in a bad way, she was pale, shaking and her breathing was slightly laboured and sounded almost painful. There was a light layer of sweat on her forehead and there was also blood on her white top where Ethan had hit her, meaning he must have opened some of her wounds. Looking back around the room Emily heard Sofia take a sharp intake of breath, looking over once again she could see Sofia had finally woken up.

"Sofi, how are you feeling? Are you OK?" Emily asked in a frantic whisper. Sofia's first reply was a faint groan before she sat up straighter and made her eyes focus.

"I'm not feeling to great. Where are we?" Sofia whisper back. She was actually feeling terrible, there was a constant pain in most of her upper body, she was finding it difficult to breath properly and could only take shallow breathes and finally she had cramp in her arms from the way they were tied behind her back. All in all she hated life at this moment in time.

"We're in that building opposite your home."

"The one place we didn't check." Sofia muttered just as Ethan entered the room. He began talking to them, Sofia kept her eyes on him until she heard Emily trying to reach for something. Looking at her Sofia could see Emily trying to get the knife in her boot but before she could reach it Ethan was suddenly next to them. Tutting Ethan pulled the knife from her boots and stayed crouching in front of them.

"I've travelled with you for three years Emily, don't you think I know all your tricks."

"We don't belong here Ethan."

"Speak for yourself."

"Charlotte was my friend to! Don't you think I'm grieving."

"Don't. Compare your feelings to mine. I loved her."

"If you blame me so much for her death then why don't you just kill me here now."

"All in good time." Turning to Sofia he smiled at her, but the smile sent chills down her spine, she sent him a glare. "Now you, I don't know all your tricks. But I do know how to keep you subdued." He told her softly stroking the side of Emily's knife up and down her side where her cuts were. "Some quite nasty wounds you have there, wouldn't want to make them worse." Ethan said to her before standing and walking away.

"What are you going to do?" Sofia asked voice stronger than she thought possible, glare still firmly upon her face.

"You and I are the only ones in this world who knew Charlotte, she deserves a proper funeral." He answered looking at Emily. "And you are going to be there to support our dear Emily." Ethan said turning to face Sofia. Walking over he pulled Emily to her feet before letting go and grabbing Sofia and pulling her up also, however he didn't let go of her, he put Emily's knife to her throat and kept a tight grip on her arm.

"Move!" He ordered Emily.

Walking into the pub Jess had told him he could see Abby and Connor at the bar with beers in front of them.

"Hey. Bit early isn't it, even for you two." Matt said as the pair greeted him. Looking up he noticed an article about a mythical creature. "So Witchfield Cove has a mythical creature." Matt stated as the bar tender place a beer in front of him. "I'd love to know more."

"Like I told the kid camping up on the headland it's superstitious nonsense." The man said as an old women got up and left followed by a younger man.

"So no ones actually seen this creature then." Abby tried to confirm.

"Only children and drunks believe in the worm." The man stated leaning closer to Abby before walking away. Turning the three of them left the pub.

"Jess, see what you can find about the Witchfield Worm." Abby called. Before looking at Matt and Connor. "This place is seriously weird."

"So what's the story with you and Phillip ? You were looking very tight this morning." Matt asked Connor as they walked a different way to Abby.

"Sorry it's all in confidence." Connor told him stopping, Matt just shot him a look.

"Fine you've bullied it out of me. He offered me a job at his lab."

"His lab? Phillips doing research work outside of the ARC?"

"I really shouldn't say, but yeah it's called Prospero and the resources they have there, they could really push this thing forward. Anything could be possible." Connor finished looking excited. Matt couldn't help but think this was important.

"I think I would like to see inside Prospero one day."

"I'll see what I can do." Connor nodded.

"Jess said that people and life stock have been going missing around here for decades." Abby announced when she came back over to them. "Either the creature's been here all that time or-"

"The anomaly keeps recurring and different creatures are moving back and forth." Connor finished.

"Most of the disappearances have been out in the headland." Abby added.

"OK you check up there, I'll see if I can find this kid the bar man mentioned." Matt ordered. Connor and Abby went one way while Matt went a different way. Trekking up the hill the kid was last seen on Matt looked for anything that would indicate his where abouts, until he saw what was left of a tent and camping equipment. Looking through everything he found a shoe that looked like it had been ripped apart by very sharp teeth. There was defiantly a creature. Jogging further up the hill Matt tried to see if he could find out where it went. All he found was the rest of the tent towards the edge of the cliff. Following a path Matt could only hope he came across something that could hurry this mission along, he should be searching for Sofi and Emily. Looking through the trees he could see a man fishing by the small lake, but carried on walking. Making his way to where the river was nothing but a stream he thought he could see something so made his way to the waters edge where he could clearly see a servered limb.

"Abby, Connor I've found body parts in the river. I need you here now." Matt ordered running in the direction of the man fishing, he could be in a lot of danger. Stopping a bit away from the man Matt looked towards the river and could see the creature.

"Get away from the water!" He shouted but the man didn't appear to hear him, running down the hill to the man he shouted again. "Get away from the water!" But the man still didn't seem to hear him. Matt reached the man and tackled him to the floor just as the creature leapted from the water, raising his EMD Matt shot the creature causing it to turn away from them and back into the water. Pushing the man on his feet Matt ordered him to run away while keeping his EMD trained on the water from where he was sat on the floor. Standing up he waited for Abby and Connor.

"20-25 feet long amphibian wide head, short legs." He informed them once they reached him.

"Labyrinthodont." Connor said straight away.

"That would be my guess, headed up stream."

"Matt these news on Sofia and Emily. Ethan took them from Sofi's house, he had Sofi at knife point. Lester wants you back here now." Jess's voice came from over the comms. Matt looked to Abby and Connor.

"We'll handle this." Abby told him.

"Go." Connor added. Nodding his head he ran back to his car. Part way back to the ARC Lester's voice suddenly came over the comms.

"Matt can you hear me?"

"Lester? What are you doing there?"

"Bear with me a minute, I'm the new Jess. Now Sofia's black box signal has suddenly come up on the system."

"Sofia gave Emily a black box, she must have had it on her when they were taken."

"OK...err breaking news she's travelling east bound on the fast lane on the motorway at about 80 miles an hour. Now unless I'm very much mistaken they didn't have cars in the Victorian era."

"Get me the coordinates." Matt could only hope Ethan had taken both Sofia and Emily with him, if they were separated it would become a lot more difficult.

"The coordinates? Yes, yes I'll do that right now."

Sofia felt the car stop, looking up out of the window from where she was lay on the back seat all she could see were tree's.

"We're here. Now I know I said you would be support for Emily but I think I might just deal with you first." Ethan told her climbing out of the car. Opening the door that was by her head Ethan grabbed her shoulders and dragged her from the car. Shuttng the door he lifted her to her feet before dragging her through a grave yard. She tried shaking him off but she was to weak.

"How did you know how to drive? Who are you?" Sofia demanded but he just smiled at her and carried on dragging her through the cemetery. After a minute or two Ethan stopped for a second and chuckled being moving her again looking at where she was and her eyes widened. The crypts. Her chest was burning and her eyes began to blur as the pain she was feeling slowly became to much and the building sense of panic she felt wasn't helping. As she stumbled down the stairs Ethan wrapped an arm around her waist making sure to rest his hand on her wound, he gave it a light sqeeze causing her breath to catch in pain. Stopping outside one of the crypts Sofia looked to the side and saw that the one next to the one they were in front of said Cameron above the door. Charlotte's surname was Cameron. This guy was sick. Forcing her into the crypt Ethan led her to one of the stone coffins. Making her sit on the floor he began moving the lid to the side and Sofia's panic spiked, he was going to put her in there. Jumping up as quick as she could Sofia made for the exit but Ethan's arms were around her waist in a matter of seconds.

"Ethan don't do this!" She shouted trying to kick him. He put his hand to her side and clamped down hard. She couldn't stop the cry of pain as her eyes blurred and all breathe left her.

"You have to be quiet Sofia." He said softly placing her back on the floor where she tried to breath again. Ethan crouched in front of her and tied a gag over her mouth before picking her up bridal style and placed her in the coffin. Crying and kicking out her legs she began to panic more as the lid slid shut over her, placing her in complete darkness.

"Matt, they stopped for a few minutes but appear to be moving again but by foot now. They're at Highgate Cemetery."

"Cemetery?" Why the hell was Ethan taking them to a cemetery, Matt sped up hoping to get there before anything bad happened. Reaching the cemetery Matt began running through.

"Where are they?"

"Erm. She's heading for the north west exit." Looking around Matt began running in the direction Lester had told him. Running past some statues Matt saw Ethan who turned and ran, picking up his pace Matt went straight after him. Running past another statue Matt was suddenly hit in the stomach with a shovel, falling to the floor he only just managed to move out of the way of being hit again. Kicking his legs up Matt managed to knock Ethan to his knees and throw a punch at him before getting to his feet but Ethan was up just as quick.

"Wait, just tell me where they are ?" Matt asked.

"Your to late, may they rest in peace." Ethan replied

"Just tell me where they are and we can help you get home."

"I am home." Ethan said holding his arms out.

"Who are you?"

"I am the future. I am the past." Ethan swung for Matt but he was able to dodge it and through a punch to Ethan's stomach, causing him to fall forward. Grabbing hold of Matt, Ethan dragged them both to the floor. Rolling to try and get loose both men rolled off the edge, over the drop into where some of the crypts were. Unfortunately Matt landed on his back with Ethan landing on him, knocking all the breathe out of him. Ethan crouched in front of him and began talking.

"You and your friends think you know all about the gateways but you don't. You don't have a clue."

"Yeah, what do you know?"

"With what I know, I could do anything." Ethan informed him standing up and walking away leaving Matt on the floor.

"What you gonna do?" Matt asked causing him to come back.

"I'm gonna make them see what I see, and suffer like I've suffered." Standing up Ethan ran away and Matt rolled onto his side picking up his black box.

"Lester he's getting away. Get back up on the exits." Matt ordered walking towards the stairs. "Direct me to Sofia's black box." Following the directions Lester had given him, Matt found Sofia's black box at the top of another set of stairs leading down to more crypts.

"I have her black box, they must be down here." Matt announced running down the steps. Looking at each door he tried to find something that might help him when he saw a name.

"Charlotte!"

"Charlotte? Who's Charlotte?"

"Cameron. The dead women at the threatre, Emily's friend her name was Charlotte Cameron." Matt stated running to that crypt and opening the door and running in. "Sofi! Emily!" Running to the first coffin Matt opened it only to find an urn and a necklace. Hearing banging and muffled shouting Matt ran into a different room within the crypt. "Sofi! Emily!" Pushing the lid to the side he found Emily bound and gagged inside crying. Untying her he gave her a quick hug before pulling back.

"Where's Sofia? Where did he put her?" Matt demanded.

"I don't know. I was in the boot when he took her." Emily told him trying to control her breathing. Running his hands through his hair, he would search every crypt if he had his head up he was sure he heard something, gesturing to Emily to quieten down he listened. There it was again. Running over to the wall to the left he pressed his ear to it. That was Sofia.

"Sofi!" Matt called running out of the crypt and into the next one, Emily following close behind.

"Sofia!" Matt shouted however this time he got a reply.

"Matt!" Running to the coffin where her muffled voice came from both Emily and himself pushed the lid to the side. Matt wanted to cry in relief again because there she was, gently puttng an arm around her back and under her legs he lifted her out of the coffin and outside into the fresh air. Sitting on the floor with her he untied the bounds from around her wrists and took the gag off that had fallen around her neck off. As soon as she was free she was hugging him and he her, but being careful not to squeeze to hard. Quickly pulling back he put his hand to her side, it was covered in blood.

"I think most of my stitches have been pulled." She told him breathlessly, she was on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Sofia, I need you to calm your breathing OK." He could see in her eyes how much pain she was in. "We'll leave in a minute and get you your medication." He told her, she gave him a small tired smile which he returned before pressing a quick kiss to her lips, then her forehead before pulling her onto his lap and hugging her again while looking up at Emily.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm good." She answered looking at the pair on the floor. "Thank you."

"Come lets head back." Looking down he saw that Sofia had passed out, standing up he took the girls back to his car.

Matt looked at Sofia, she looked so peaceful. He was currently sat on a chair beside the bed she was in, in the medical facility at the ARC, they had to sedate her this time though as Ethan had caused quite a bit of damage to her side. The doctors felt she would be more comfortable unconscious for the next 24 hours while all the pain killers and medication she had to have, took affect. Matt had her hand in his and just hoped that she could just relax now until she was better, he was currently contemplating different ways to look after her while she was still injured. No one had any spare rooms, so she couldn't stay with anyone really. He could ask about staying on her couch. Shaking his head he stood up and pressed his lips to her head, she wouldn't be awake for atleast another 22 hours and he needed to speak with Gideon.

"How could you have let him escape?" Gideon demanded, as he and Matt slowly walked down the path.

"Sofi and Emily would've died if I hadn't." Matt defended.

"What two lives, above billions of others haven't I taught you anything!" Gideon demended stopping to face Matt.

"Don't believe you would have done any different. We don't even know for certain if Ethan is to blame for what happened."

"Why else has he appeared right now? Matthew this is it I feel it, I know it and so do you. This has never been about fighting an army, this isn't about money or power or force. Look at the destruction Helen Cutter almost reaped upon humanity. What did she have? Knowledge. Thats all thats needed, one person with enough knowledge to bring down the whole world." Gideon exclaimed looking at Matt.

"Your right, I'll find him."

"Whatever it takes, even if it means sacrificing this Emily. If he discovers she's still alive he'll come for her again. You can use that against him."

"You want me to use her as bait?"

"Matthew, harden your heart and do your job. No one else matters." Gideon told him turning to walk away. "And I also suggest you distance yourself from this Sofia, she is distracting you to much. She is becoming far to big of a problem."

"Sofia is not a problem!" Matt stated, a glare on his face. Gideon quickly faced him.

"You've become infatuated with her." Gideon accused.

"I am not infatuated with her." It was so much more than that. "She isn't a problem."

"You have feelings for her! You really didn't take in anything I taught you!"

"Listen to me! Yes I have feelings for her but that is whats pushing me to suceed in this mission."

"And how do you come to that conclusion? Matt I warned you about this."

"I want a future with her! And I know that if I fail this mission that won't happen. Believe me when I say I'm more determined then ever not to fail."

Hope you enjoyed!

The next two chapters are going to be fillers with lots of Matt/Sofia loving :D Please review!

Cammie x