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Chapter 6
Ben was pacing in the hospital waiting room. They had just gotten out of the underground cavern after finding the treasure. They had gotten Riley to the hospital, but he almost didn't make it.
"Ben please sit down. Your making me dizzy," Abigail finally spoke.
"I'm sorry. I'm just worried," Ben voiced sitting down next to Abigail.
"I know. It's okay to worry, but he'll be fine," Abigail assured.
Ben stared at the floor. He wasn't sure he believed Abigail. His mind drifted back to what happened in the church once they got back to the surface and called an ambulance.
Ben helped the paramedics carefully pull Riley out of the hole and lay him on the stretcher. He went with them when they took him to ambulance. When they got him in there and hooked him up to a heart machine, one of the paramedics started shouting.
"He is not breathing! I have no heart beat either!"
Ben thought his world was going to end right then. He watched as the paramedics brought out those paddles and shocked Riley.
Once...nothing.
Twice...nothing.
Three...beep.
"Normal rhythm. Get him on oxygen and watch his heart rate," one paramedic ordered.
They closed the doors and took off to the hospital.
Ben snapped out of the daydream when he saw the doctor.
"How is he?" Ben asked.
"Not good I'm afraid. The bullet missed all the major organs and didn't go in that deep, but deep enough to cause internal bleeding. He also has a broken rib that is pushing up against his right lung. He is now in a coma. I'm sorry to say that he might not make it through the night," the doctor explained sadly.
Abigail broke into tears. Ben just stood there in shock. This couldn't be happening to Riley.
"May we see him?" Ben asked.
The doctor nodded and led them to the ICU ward. When they reached Riley's room, the doctor stopped them.
"I will let you two stay here tonight, that way you can be here if,..." the doctor trailed off.
Ben nodded. He and Abigail walked into the room. Ben almost started crying. Riley was so pale. He was hooked up to so many machines. His left arm was properly wrapped and in a sling. Ben couldn't believe how small and lifeless Riley looked. Him and Abigail sat down beside the bed.
"He looks so...lifeless," Ben whispered.
Abigail just buried her head into Ben's shoulder and cried. Ben held her while trying to hold back his own tears. This just couldn't happen to Riley. Not the one who was always full of life and who promised to be there by Ben's side when they found the treasure. Ben sort of smiled remembering what happened when they found the treasure.
Ben carefully laid Riley down on one of the stone tables in the new room they just entered. He had a look of disappointment on his face.
"It's gone," he whispered, "it's just...gone."
"I'm sorry Ben," Abigail mumbled.
"My dad was right," Ben sighed sadly, "now I've failed every Gates that ever lived."
He looked down at Riley.
"I failed Riley. I failed you. I'm so sorry I couldn't find it for you," Ben told him with tears brimming his eyes.
"Ben you didn't fail him. Or anyone. There has to be another way out. The people who dug this cave would have dug out a secondary shaft in case of cave ins. So there has to be another way out," Abigail coaxed.
"Your right," Ben stated, "stay here with Riley."
Ben took the torch from Abigail and went over to the wall. There were four symbols, but one was missing. It dawned on Ben.
"Could it really be that simple?" Ben asked himself.
He went back over to Riley and Abigail. He carefully got into his jacket pocket and pulled out the pipe from the Charlotte.
"The secret lies with Charlotte," Ben whispered.
Ben went over to the wall and took the pipe apart. He put the top part in, then used the stick to turn it. There was a grinding sound and a big gust of wind. A new door way stood open across from Ben.
"Take the torch and go in. I'll follow with Riley," Ben told Abigail.
Abigail took the torch and went into the room. Ben went and carefully picked up Riley. Riley shifted and his head leaned against Ben's strong shoulder. Ben carried him into the other room. There him and Abigail stared in awe. The treasure! Abigail dipped her torch down into a bowl filled with gunpowder. It spread. The room was so big and full of treasure. Ben walked over near the staircase and looked at the treasure. He looked down at Riley laying against his strong shoulder.
"We did it Riley. We did it," Ben whispered.
Ben saw a staircase at the end of the room. He looked around and saw a place he could lay Riley. He went over and gently laid Riley there.
"Abigail you stay here. I'm going to go up those stairs and find a way out," Ben told Abigail.
Ben came out of his flash back when Abigail said she was going to the bathroom. When she left he turned back to Riley. He listened to the heart monitor beep slowly and the sound of the breathing machine. He leaned forward and took Riley's hand.
"Hey Riley. I'm here. Were out of the church and Ian is in jail. Were at the hospital," Ben whispered, "we found it Riley. We found the treasure. All you have to do is wake up. I'll be here with you until you do."
Ben and Abigail had cots brought in for them. Ben put his next to Riley as close as he could without disturbing any of the machines near him. He didn't want to sleep. He was to afraid he would wake up and Riley would be dead. He finally fell asleep to the beeping of the heart monitor.