Lost (Sherlock)

Chapter 2: Remembering pt. 1

Scarlett, had fallen asleep restlessly. Moriarty had left Scarlett to herself and began his own meal of poached duck. He could hear her muffled sobbing, as she was tormented by a vivid nightmare. He thought about gagging her, but that would just make her scream louder. He could also comfort her, but he decided against since he was still eating. He didn't feel too up to ruining his appetite. For his final decision he left her to herself to get over it.

The next morning Scarlett found a set of clothes and an apple. She got dressed into the white dress and ate the apple, keeping the seeds for later. Not knowing what to do with the core, she held on to it.

Moriarty walked in suddenly, frightening Scarlett, she threw the apple core at his head as her only defense. The core flew past Moriarty hitting the wall opposite her room.

He stared at the fallen core, an eyebrow raised. After a moment of awkward silence, he finally turned his attention back to her.

"Scarlett, we are going out today, okay? You are not to talk to anyone except me." He explained, his tone serious yet gentle, "understand?"

"Yes," she replied. "But I do have one question, where are we going?"

"That I cannot tell you." He answered, holding out his hand for her to hold onto.

They walked out of the flat together, Scarlett's head down, and Moriarty's hand wrapped around her small fingers. This had been the first time a customer had taken her out with them, but he wasn't normal, he was kind.

As they continued to walk down the street, he slid a hat down on his head to hide himself from the world. Scarlett didn't ask anything. She didn't really like the sun when it was this bright either. He dragged her down several alleyways until they reached their destination.

It was an old warehouse, it seemed. Many of the lights weren't working and she could see rats scurrying about.

"Mister?" She called silently. He didn't reply, 'I should have just stayed quiet, but why else would he take me here?' She thought.

They were hidden behind a door, but she could clearly hear a voice on the other side. .

"Stay here and don't make a sound," he said.

Scarlett did as she was told and stood there, alone, in the dark. The rats became louder once he left, but she did what she could to ignore them. She tugged at her hair, her fingers brushing against her bandages.

When she heard gunshots, she jumped, her back hitting against the wall, but she pushed her hands over her mouth to muffle her shrieks as she heard more.

A hole appeared through the door and she heard a bullet hit against the wall on the other side of her. She slid down the wall and covered her neck, burying her face in her knees.

It seemed like forever before the door finally opened and Moriarty stepped back out. Blood dripped from a wound in his side, but he only grinned down at her.

"Are you sure you're willing to help me?"

Scarlett's eyes widened and she felt tears slip down her cheeks. She stood up and gripped onto his shirt.

"Y-You're hurt."

"I'll be fine." He cupped her chin so she was looking back up at him. His face was serious. "I need you to know how grave this situation truly is. I brought you here so you could see why I was so serious before. Now, tell me. Are you certain you'll listen to whatever I say no matter the situation?"

Scarlett's watering eyes focused on the bullet wound in his shirt and nodded, quickly turning her gaze back up at him.

"Good. Now, let's get home before I bleed out."