The Terrible Twelve

Chapter 28: The Game, Mrs. Hudson, Is On

Viridian took a deep breath before stepping outside of the church walls. While she had displayed confidence to everybody else, she was terrified inside. She didn't know if she could do it or not but she at least wanted to try. Everything was so bright it was starting to make her eyes hurt. She pulled out her sunglasses and pulled them on.

"There that's better." She smoothed her shirt and then started to walk down the steps. She was wearing more clothes then she would on this type of day but Ian wanted to make sure as much of her skin was covered as possible although Viridian wasn't sure why. If she was going to burn it was the things that fabric couldn't cover that were important.

Viridian had memorized the maps and was fully aware of where she was going. She followed the plan all the way up until she got to the Eye. She circled in slowly pretending to be a tourist and watching for anything suspicious. She even bought herself a basket of chips to pass the time. By the time 1 pm came around she could have sworn that she missed it until she noticed someone. Someone in all black looking around like he was being watched.

Viridian watched as he tucked a small brown bag underneath a trashcan and replaced it before moving back to his place in line for the Eye. Viridian watched as he stepped onto the platform and rose into the sky. Viridian made her move as soon as she could. She moved the trash can and removed the package before tucking it into her purse and walking away.

She watched her surroundings as she left the scene. She was fine until she walked across the street and noticed a man in a black shirt following her. He didn't look like the man she'd seen getting on the eye but he also didn't look like he was casually walking across the street either. Viridian sped up her pace a little bit but continued to walk, like she was just late for something. When the man sped up, Viridian knew that she was in trouble.

She turned down a side street and the man followed her. She picked up her pace with each street she turned down until she was practically running. Her skin was hot and she had never felt this weird before. It was more than just her being out of shape as well. She was burning inside. She figured this was what happened when she stayed out too long and she had precious cargo with her so she couldn't burn up today. She ran down a side street and realized it was dead end entirely too late.

She panicked, looking around and trying to find a way to get out. She whirled around and the knife that Rivka had given her flew out of her inner jacket pocket. She dived and picked up the knife before jumping up and standing on the edge of the corner. When the mysterious man ran past she stuck out the knife and he ran directly into it.

Viridian couldn't believe she'd just stabbed a man in the heart. It was in self-defense but still. The man growled and pulled the knife out and Viridian's eyes widened. "Okay not a man. Got it." She pulled the other knife from her leg and shoved it deep into his chest before running in the opposite direction. She needed to make it back to the church because she was positively burning up. She had never been so hot in her entire life and she needed to get inside.

She ran as fast as she could until she reached the church doors. She opened them and burst through into the foyer where everybody was waiting. Ian jumped up and raced towards her.

"Viridian, are you ok? Viridian?"

Viridian was so out of breath she could barely talk. Her body was so hot she felt like she was melting and her face was bright red. She bent over and threw the purse down with the potion inside. She clutched the stich in her side and pointed to the purse. "It's in there." She breathed, still trying to catch her breath.

Rivka ran towards the purse and pulled out the brown paper bag and checked it. "It's here. Everything's fine." Rivka nodded and smiled at Viridian. "Good job Greenie."

"I think," She coughed, "I think something's wrong." She was forced upright by energy deep inside of her.

Then she burst into flames.

* Yes, the title of this chapter is a nod to BBC's Sherlock.