PLatLCE-Chapter 18

"Elise?" Benji said slowly, worry in his eyes. "What is he talking about?"
Elise looked up. There was a maniacal look in her eyes, a smirk on her, one Luke recognized. It was the same look that had been on Clive's face five years ago when he tried to destroy London.
"You don't get it, Benji," she whispered. "Your father died of a heart attack. He wasn't murdered. Not like my parents were."
"What do you mean?" Clive asked.
Elise turned and looked him. "I'm surprised you don't know, Clive Dove! After all, your parents died in the same explosion that my parents did!"
Luke could almost hear Clive's mind shatter into a thousand fragments. Clive was shaking now.
"Unlike you, though, I accepted it as an accident," Elise said, a snarl to her voice. "But then five years ago you brought out the truth. Your attempt to destroy this city might've failed, but your goal to bring out the truth didn't. Never before had I been so angry. And you know what? It felt good!"
Luke stared at Elise in horror. She was insane, even worse than Clive! He turned and looked at Clive. Clive was still shaking. There was a look in his eyes, but Luke couldn't figure out what it was.
"I decided after that to get revenge," Elise said, an evil smile forming on her face. "For five years I've planned this revenge, five long years. I will succeed where you failed, Clive."
"What is it exactly that you plan to do at midnight?" Layton asked, eyes narrowed.
Elise turned to the control device, then back to Layton. "Remember how Benji mentioned we met in college? Do you know what I majored in?"
"It was chemistry, wasn't it?" Layton said. "Luke said he found sheets with chemical formulas on them."
Elise grinned. "Sharp as a tack, Layton. Yes, I majored in chemistry. Putting that knowledge to good use after all these years, I constructed a compound that, when breathed in by someone, would freeze the blood in their veins."
"Freezing London in the eternal sleep of death," Layton said.
Elise laughed darkly. "Exactly."
She flung her hand towards the control device. "This device is hooked up to all of London's ventilation systems. All but this store. At midnight, the chemical will pour through London's ventilation, killing everyone in London. My revenge will be complete!"
Benji was staring at her in horror. "Elise, what have you done?! This is wrong!"
Elise turned and looked at him, smirking. "I knew you'd never approve. That's why I didn't tell you my intentions. I needed your help. I never had the theatre skill you had."
She turned and looked at Clive. Taking a step forward, she held out a hand to him and said softly, "Clive. Join me. Together, we can fulfill what you attempted to do."
Clive stared at Elise's hand. Luke stared at him in horror. Would he really take her offer?
Then, the same steely determination that had been in Clive's eyes when he'd told Luke to run returned to his eyes. He looked directly into Elise's eyes, a look of contempt on his face. "Never! What I did was wrong, and what you're doing is wrong, too! Stop this while you have the chance, Elise! This is a mistake!"
Elise frowned and withdrew her hand. "You've gone soft, Clive. Very well. If you won't join me…"
She suddenly whipped a gun out from behind her and pointed it at them. Luke gasped. He heard the Professor, Clive, and Benji gasp as well and Flora scream.
"…Then you will die with them!" Elise shrieked, aiming at Clive and pulling the trigger.
"Clive!" Layton, Luke, and Flora shouted.
The bullet didn't hit Clive, however, they watched in horror as Benji suddenly dove in front of Clive, the bullet lodging into his chest, a loud, painful gasp escaping from him.
"Benji!" Layton, Luke, Flora, and Clive shouted, the Wizard collapsing to the ground, his blood spilling out onto the floor.
Elise stared at him in horror, then frowned darkly. "You stupid fool!"
She turned and looked at the control device. "It's almost time."
Turning, she looked at them again, smirking. "The hidden answer is the safest way into tomorrow."
She swiftly raced around them, nimbly dodging Luke's attempt to attack her, and raced out the door. The four rushed over to Benji. He looked up at them.
"Professor…," he rasped. "I'm… so sorry…"
"Don't talk," the Professor commanded firmly. "We can get you help."
Benji gave a weak smile. "Too late… Professor… Please… stop Elise…"
Benji shut his eyes. Luke knew without checking for a pulse that it would be for the last time. He stood up and looked at the Professor, Flora, and Clive. The Professor was staring down at Benji in dismay, Clive looked distraught, and Flora was crying.
The Professor looked up, a new determination in his eyes. "Clive, Flora, stop that machine! Luke, with me! We're going after Elise!"
The Professor raced out of the room. Luke nodded at Clive and Flora, then raced after them, but not before looking at the clock.
Less than half an hour left.