Ch. 4!

Disclaimer: I do not own National treasure.

Note: The story switches between the side of the wall that Abigail and Ben are on, to the side Riley and Cecilia are on.

"There has to be someway out!" Abigail cried in frustration.

"Well, it would help it we had a light, any kind of light. But Abigail, I'm afraid that the door only locks and unlocks from the outside,"

"Well we can't just give up!" she snapped at him.

"I know that, I really do, it's just that…."

At that moment they heard a sound.

"Was that a gun shot?" he asked curiously.

"Had to be," she replied. "Let's yell, maybe they'll let us out."

Ben looked at her with a frown, or he would have looked at her if there were light. "And what if the people on the other side of the wall, are killers?"

"Better to die out there, than in here," she exclaimed.

"Alright, I'm game." And they began yelling at the top of their lungs.

Riley looked at his watch, he knew what had to be done. He sighed, and knocked on Ben's office door.

"Come in," came the distracted sounding voice of Ben.

As he entered, he looked around, as though memorizing every detail.

"Riley, oh no, did I forget lunch?" he asked with a look of horror.

"No, no, it's not that," he reassured; although he wished that were simply all it was.

"Oh, good. For a moment I thought… but no, never mind. What can I do for you?" he asked curiously, as though he could partially sense that something was wrong.

He sighed again. "I'm leaving Ben."

"What? For how long? Are you going home for the week or something? Do you want me to come with you?"

Damn Ben, always the selfless one. "No, not for the week; leaving, as in leaving for good."

"What?!?" Ben asked looking stricken.

This was where the acting had to come in; he had tried practicing for it. The irony of the situation was that whenever he had to give a speech or act, it was Ben he always went to so he could read it to him. Another irony of this situation was that not everything he had to say was untrue.

"Listen, Ben," he snapped out suddenly. "I'm tired of it all. You hardly have time for me anymore. And I'm tired of always living in your shadow, being the side kick! I can't do it anymore, I'm sick of this. Sick of you!"

Like the part about being the shadow, and Ben never having time for him.

Ben looked at him mouth open, Riley cringed inwardly. He had never yelled at Ben, and Ben had never yelled at him unless he absolutely had to. Now here he was being an ass, yelling at his best friend. The guy looked like a puppy that had just been kicked by his best friend.

"Riley, why did you never come to me about this? We can still…"

"NO Ben. We can't. Time's run out. I'm running out, there's nothing left to do."

Suddenly Ben looked angry, and Riley flinched; now he really was going to be yelled at.

"Why the hell did you even come here Riley? If you're leaving why didn't you just go? Leave a note or something."

"I don't even know," he yelled back. Really, he yelled. Like very loudly. "I just thought I should let you know."

"Fine, I know. Now get out!" Ben cried back, his heart thumping wildly with his anger.

"I'm already gone!" he shouted, leaving the office, slamming the door.

As he exited the building he shoved past Abigail and Patrick rudely and ignored them. When he got outside, he slumped against the building.

"You bug the office kid?" Dylan asked in his ear.

"Yeah," he said letting out a huff.

"Did you hear that?" Cecilia asked with a frown.

Riley listened intently. "Yeah! It's Ben and Abi! They're here somewhere. One of these walls must open up to a secret room. We have to get them out quickly before we're missed. Thanks for following me and…"

"Saving your ass?" she asked with a smirk.

"Something like that," he replied with a twinkle in his eye as he felt the wall for a latch. He became frustrated when he couldn't find it. So he did the only thing he could think of.

"Ben! Where are you?" he yelled hoarsely.

--

On the other side of the wall, Ben and Abi stopped yelling.

"IS that…?" Abi asked in surprise.

"I think so," Ben said raising his eyebrows.

"Riley! We're here! Right here!" He yelled banging on the wall he was almost one hundred percent sure was the one that led out. Abi followed his example.