"We have to react fast now. Do you see the door over there?"

Remi was all excited and nervous. Maybe this was the little room Hershel and Claire were in!

"Yes, I do."

Luke replied as he placed Flora's arm around his shoulder, to support her.

"Alright. Listen carefully to me: I'm going to knock on the door, and you'll hide behind it. I hardly assume that the kidnappers will come out to us. Then I'll attack them and you'll try to free Layton and.. Claire?"

"Brilliant idea! But how should this work? I can barely walk."

Flora said, while she limped on the same spot.

"You can do It. Just try to ignore the pain and afterwards we'll go to the doctor. Or you'll go with Hershel, who knows. So grit your teeth for one moment."

Remi was very tough on this one, but they had no choice. This was the instant, to rescue them, not only that. Maybe the culprit would get nabbed, who murdered Mr Burwell! It was far too serious, to act like a princess, which Flora knew immediately.

"I understand... I'll try my best to help you guys."

Remi blinked at her with a smile and Luke patted her shoulder, to make her know, that he's right behind her.

"Okay, If you're ready, I'll knock."

Both nodded, as she nearly punched the old, black door.

"What was that?"

'Ben's laughter quiet down pretty fast, when he and his accomplice heard the dull sound on the entrance.

"Keep an eye on the two lovebirds!"

'Ben' said with a cocky smile to the man in black, as he walked towards the door. Claire still lied in Hershel's arm, trying to forget the fact that he could pass away every second because of his blood loss.

"Shh.."

Claire was about to say something, but Hershel stopped her from doing so, when a leg in white jeans appeared in the dark room.
Everything happened fast now:

"Flora, Luke! Move!"

Remi was busy with fighting the men to the side: With an hard kick right in his manhood she knocked 'Ben' out. He landed with a loud cry on the ground, holding his injured part. The pain would keep him distracted for the next minutes. His assistant wasn't really different to beat: but one thing caught her attention: Their body's were build alike! Wide shoulders, thin, long hands and arms, dark hair. Even the shape of their legs were the same. Strange..

"haaaa... jaaaa!"

Remi screamed as she swung her leg up to the man's face. Total blackness over came the man and leaved him on the wet bottom, motionless.

Luke and Flora made their way through the whole fight scene to help the Professor. He was only watching the clash, Remi and the kidnappers had, while he held Claire in his arms. What else should he do with a sprained, bleeding ankle... after such a blood loss?
"Come on Professor! There's no time to wait."

Luke said loudly, as he pulled his arm to wrench him up, on his feet again. Claire stood up on her own, but fainted promptly. The Dizziness won against her body...

"Claire!"

Hershel wasn't even up, as he reached for her on the floor. She flew down to the floor, but there was no time! He decided to pick her softly up and transport her like a father brings his child to bed. The pain was gone, all what he had on his mind was to leave this cage of madness... Flora still had her arm around Luke's shoulder, as Hershel and himself carried their girls into safety. The way out was long and the noises which fallowed them were terrifying!...

"Please, Miss let me go!"

'Ben' begged on his knees. Remi only smiled down at him, chuckling slightly. This was just priceless... a man whimpering on the ground, craving for freedom.

"I won't. After all what you've done. What do you think you deserve? Flora already told me about the slaying and I suspect you, but there are no reasons why you should harm Layton and.. Claire I guess."

Ben shook his head furiously and told her:

"It isn't the time for speculations! I'm death serious! In this room's a bomb! In twenty minutes the whole gear will expload! We need to get out of here!"

She kicked him in his ribs and said sarcastically:

"hm... yeah sure. And I'm Badman... what are you talking about? This could be a lie and I won't fall for it!"

"God damn, it isn't. If I would lie, I wouldn't beg you on my knees to go! I'm a man and I have my pride."

A tick filled the room from above. Remi's eyes searched for the clock, which should distract her, she thought at least. Then.. she found the clock... on a black bomb, looking down on them.

"Run!",

Was all what Ben could say, after she realized that he told the truth!

"Layton! Claire! Everybody! Run!"

Remi yelled from behind. The four were still lumping and walking back outside, when she overtook them. Panic broke out:

"Ben? What are you doing?"

Luke questioned puzzled. Roughly an hour ago he was still in the apartment with himself and Flora, but there was a catch... the guy who lost consciousness because of Remi's hard kick, was still in the room. He would die, with everyone knowing.

"I need to go back. Walk on alone..."

"No! Don't go, that's your death!"

Layton cried into the huge gear, as she ran away. Remi didn't turned around... if she would go out of this building, she would of killed a person, who she didn't even had known!
Three minutes later she reached the same chamber again and saw the man still lying on the ground.

"Hello? Sir?"

She patted him softly on his cheek to bring him back to reality.

"Thank god.. we need to get out of here.. quickly!"

The bomb was still ticking.. The little display said: 1 minute and 16 seconds left.
Would this time be enough to run out? Maybe...
The man in black stood up and walked unsteady out of the room. Remi saw that he wouldn't make it out of this cage alone, so she supported him and walked as fast as possible. After 50 seconds she saw light at the end of the endless tunnel, already smiled to be still alive but then.. an huge bang filled the gear: Fire burned every tiny bit that stood in its way. Pieces from doors were flying in the air and door knobs melted from the heat.
Remi and the man? The flew out of the wall, through the way they came in. Ben's assistant was fine, just a bit shocked and had some scares on his knee and check , but Remi threw him away from the explosion. In the end she got the whole fire portion in her back. Her consciousness faded away... slowly.

"Miss Altava?"

Hershel was hovering above her, awaiting an answer.

"oh.. my.. head."

He gently stroke a few rain drops from her cheeks as she randomly started to giggle...

"What's wrong?"

Remi looked around and saw where she was now... everyone was in the park again, laying on the soaking wet meadow. Claire was right next to her, still senseless. Flora was cuddled up in Luke's arm, praying that Hershel and the rest will be okay soon. Hershel himself, was, well how would you say it: still shocked and full of emotions. He didn't knew what to feel: his pain was growing stronger, to see Claire so pale and lifeless wasn't good either. But everyone survived what was the greatest things of all!

"How romantic..I've got your Blood all over my cheeks now."

He totally forget that his hands were cut by something, as he stroke the big rain drops away..

"Pardon, Miss... I missed that."

Carefully he wiped the blood with his wet sleeve away and added:

"You're clean... Could you do me a favor and go to the hospital? I've seen your back and it looks really bad. We'll come with you, if you don't mind."

Hershel didn't missed that Remi blushed really hard after the cleaning action but he didn't mentioned it. After all, that's what a gentleman does!

"Oh of course. Is Claire alright?"

"I don't know, she doesn't look good in my option."

Flora commented from behind.. Luke turned around, only nodding to him.

"I'm Remi by the way."

"Nice to meet you. Hershel Layton."

They've shook hands and stood up afterwards, to see that Claire was already awake:

"Oh Dear... are you okay, Claire?"

He was quiet shocked as he saw her, almost looking dead. She had very blue lips from the coldness and extremely white skin. But the worst was her laceration on her front!

"Hershel.. please.. come... closer."

Claire said with a weak little voice. He leaned forward, nearly touching her skin with his lips.

"I think... Ben... he's still here.."

Author's Note: Another Chapter :) Please R&R for the Sequel.. Thanks for reading again!