holmes ➢ sequel to athena

Chapter Ten

The Art of Escapism

Athena could only think of one thing while she was stuck at Joseph's apartment: John and Mary's wedding was coming up incredibly quickly. She had been stuck in that room for a month now, and every day, the time ticked away, leaving her feeling more and more anxious.

She knew damn well they would put their wedding to a halt for her, and she really didn't want that.

As she lay on the bed, staring implicitly at the ceiling, Joseph walked in smoothly. He didn't bother to re-lock the door behind him, which she found odd, but she ignored it nonetheless.

"I'm going to London for the day for work," he said casually as he changed his clothes.

She glanced back at the wide open door. Athena knew what he meant. "If you don't behave I'll chain you to the wall again." It was plain as day.

So she turned her head toward him and said, "At least bring me back Nando's."

He chuckled, slipped his shirt on, and kissed her forehead. "Anything for you, dear."

She didn't miss the look of lust and longing in his eyes, or the the way his fingers traced her collar bone. It made a shiver of disgust rack haphazardly up her spine. This wasn't the first time he got... hormonal, but it certainly would be the last. Not that she ever allowed it to get far, of course.

A bleak sigh escaped her lips and she watched him leave. "Bye."

Joseph sent her a charming smile, and then he locked the door again and was gone. Athena laid on the bed a moment later until she heard the front door open and close again. It was time to move.

She slipped the nail file out of her pants pocket, grabbed her phone, and got to work. Methodically, she messed up the room then did something she knew she would hate.

Taking a razor, she went over to the bed and quickly and sharply cut open her arm. Once there was a believable amount of blood she winced, swallowed her nausea, and grabbed the spinning chair from the desk.

And then, she moved. Up the ventilation shaft, screwing the entrance back up, she crawled over the flat, but she heard a strange noise that caused her to pause. The door opened and closed again.

"Thena! I forgot my wallet!" There was a beat of silence. She stayed as still as she could. She turned the sound and buzzer completely off on her phone. No one could mess this up.

"Athena? Oh shit, oh shit. Dios mio, he got her!"

He? she wondered, steadying her breathing.

She heard him dial a number on his phone. "What did you do with her?" Silence. "What do you mean you haven't seen her?"

Shit, she thought. She had to move now, but she couldn't. The metal would creak and moan like an old house. She couldn't bang around up here and expect not to be found.

"Someone found her, there's blood everywhere, the room is a wreck," he seethed.

Athena slowly swallowed the lump in her throat and evaluated what she could do. She could move slow, make no noise. But certainly that wouldn't work. She could text Mycroft, he could fix anything and everything. But she wanted to work this out alone.

"Well get a fucking search party together! Without her, we don't get Sherlock."

Good, there was no way in hell she was losing Sherlock again. If they needed her, they'd have to fight over hell and high water to get her.

Slowly, she inched her body forward. The ventilation shaft didn't make any noise. Good, good. She just had to go slow. Suddenly, she found herself looking down through the vent that lead to the living room. Joseph was there, angry.

"Princesa, you're smart, but even I know where you are." Her heart banged out of her chest. "I forgot to confiscate your phone, Mycroft probably has you now. But why the blood?" She stayed frozen in place. "Unless... No, she can't fit through the bathroom window. Besides, it's a six story drop."

Athena wanted to sigh with relief but kept herself still. Why wouldn't he just leave?

Joseph's phone rang in his hand. "Shit." And suddenly he was sprinting out the door.

When he was gone, she crawled all the way to the guest room, which had a balcony. She dropped down ungracefully and walked over. Quickly, she forced tears to come out of her eyes. The victim card always worked.

Then, she swung from her balcony to the downstairs neighbor's.

A young man with a look of shock on his face gazed at her. She knocked bleakly. He scrambled over and let her in.

"Are you hurt? What's going on? Who are you?" he sputtered in shock.

"M-My name is Athena. The man upstairs kidnapped me." She sobbed once for effect. "P-please, get the police on the phone for me."

He nodded. "Right, of course!"

He took his cellphone out and dialed the police station. "Do you want to talk to them, or do you want me to?"

"I-I'll do it." A tear rolled down her cheek.

"Hello, this is Scotland Yard, what's your emergency?"

"Hi, it's Athena, please put Lestrade on the phone." she said, somewhat tearily. She had to keep up the act.

"Right, of course."

A moment passed and Gregory Lestrade's voice floated through with a "Hello? Athena?"

"I'm in north London, the apartment building next to the Tesco-"

Her body jarred forward and she screamed. "What-"

"Joseph is going to be furious," the young man chuckled.

She blinked in disbelief before running out to the balcony and swinging down to the next one quickly.

Only, she slipped, and she was holding onto the next balcony's railing. A bullet flew past her, causing her heart to drop.

This could very well be the end.