The Adventure Began at Holmes

Keep Calm and Carry On

"You seriously went through all that!?" John exclaimed.

"Of course. I've always been known as the weird girl or the loner because I knew I was different from everyone, and nobody understands me because I'm this way. So I thought that maybe meeting Sherlock and my father would make me feel better. My mother said that they were just like me, and so do you...so I don't know. I thought it would help me understand myself better."

"Well, I don't know how useful Sherlock will be. I honestly can't even imagine how he will react to you, but I don't think he will be very helpful." John chuckled, then sighed. I saw him step back a bit, close his eyes for a second and exhale slowly. I looked at him quizzically, although I knew it was because of the lack of food or water in his system. He was very dehydrated and starving.

"We need to get you food and water pretty fast John. You're not doing well. There's nothing to do except ask Moriarty. As long as it hasn't been 48 hours, then he won't kill us. He gave me a deadline. He said that I had to find all three of you before the 48 hours was up, or he will kill all of us. If I find you all, we get to live. But it's all or nothing."

"No. No way. Nope, I'm fine. I swear I'm okay for now. I'm not asking the most dangerous man in the world for life essentials. That is just not a good idea. Okay? Look, I know you have Sherlock and Mycroft's intellect but you are only sixteen, which automatically makes me responsible for you now. I don't want you getting hurt again. Especially because seeing as Sherlock's my friend and you're related to him, that means I have to look out for you..." John just kept rambling on about how he needed to protect me now, but I honestly tuned out after the first few sentences. I had to think of a good way to ask the criminals for food, which could be a challenge.

"John. I get it okay? Look, can you not do the whole "I'm an adult and I have to take care of you" thing? It's stupid, I mean clearly, I can fend for myself. Plus, I found YOU. Not the other way around. And I know you think you can't handle yourself but you can't. The fact is, you need food and water now. If you wait you will only get worse, trust me. Plus, if he threatens me, I still have a gun and a pocketknife." I smirked at John who just looked back with concern.

"You are too young. I don't care if you know how to use it, Sadie. Give me the gun, it's not safe."

"John, I'm fine really! It's all fine."

"No, it isn't. You are too young. And plus, it is mine, remember?" He said smugly, knowing he got me.

"Ugh, fine. Take it. I don't need it anyway." I handed over the gun to John.

"Thank you. Now, what are we..." 

"Shut up" I interrupted him. I looked around where we were very closely. Every corner, every crack, every edge, until I found it. "Ha. Gotcha" I said out loud. John looked at me with an odd expression, as if to say "what the hell are you doing now?" I walked right up to where a small camera was placed between a crack in the wall and stated "Hey Moriarty, yeah you. I know you can see me. Listen, I have a proposition. I found John, and he desperately needs food and water. If you get him some, you can take one hour away from the timer. I swear. We shall wait. See you soon."

"What the hell are you doing!?" John whispered in as harsh a voice he could manage.

"Well, I thought it was obvious. I told you, you need food. So I got you some. Yes, I know he's dangerous but come on. He's too boastful to actually do anything before time is up. It's part of his game. He likes to have fun when his victims fail, but I assure you, I will not fail."

John looked very weak and sat down on the ground, leaning against a bit of wall that has no bars. "This is ridiculous. I can't believe this..." he said aloud, but pointedly at himself. I joined him and sat against the wall opposite. Ten minutes went by, and suddenly I hear a voice.

"Why helloooo again little giiiirl. And Johnny boy! Don't you just look horribleeee. Such a pity. Yes, yes what a pity. Not good at all." 

It was Moriarty. I faced him and he was grinning. Ugh, he just oozed ego, it was grossly pathetic. "I brought you a little something, juuust enough to help you survive until the timer dinggggggsss. Then of course I will have the pleasure of killing you." Moriarty put an apple in front of John's face with one hand. John faced away from Moriarty's apple. "Ohhhh come onnnn John. I promise ya I didn't poison it." Another sickly sweet smile. Then I see John weakly reach up and snatch the apple from Moriarty's hand without saying a word, nor looking at him. Moriarty then called Sebastian over, who said not a word but gave me a glare. I swear if eyes could kill, I would have died at least a thousand times in those few seconds alone. Sebastian handed Moriarty a teacup and saucer, then disappeared. He then placed it next to John. "I figured that since this will be your last drink you should enjooooy it.....well, I better be off. I have some torturing to do with that little "friend" of yours." He had a content smile on his face as he walked around the corner and disappeared.

"Coffee! He brought me coffee!" John retorted surprisingly. "And he knew I didn't take sugar. Tell me that's not creepy!"

"Wow. He really does like to boast. Ugh, It makes me sick how full of himself he is." I told John. "After you finish, and regain some strength we can search for Ms. Hudson and Sherlock. We are now down an hour on time. We only have 28 hours and 35 minutes left to find them."

John almost choked on his apple. "He got Mrs. Hudson too!?!?

"I believe so. She wasn't at Baker Street, so I figured they took her here with you two." I stated.

"No. They only took me. When I woke up, I saw Sherlock. They must have sent him a note to fetch me or something. I didn't see Ms. Hudson!"

"They must have taken her separately from you. Did you get to talk to my uncle at all when you woke up?" I may have been prying, but if I can get information from what Sherlock told John, maybe I can piece together their location.

"Yes. Well, a bit. He told me "If I die, I don't want you to worry. I don't want you to care. If I don't, which is much more likely, I will find you. Just remember to think." Then they dragged me away, tied me up, gagged me, and shoved me into the hole in the ground. It doesn't help much, but that's all he said."

"Hm..okay. Well, that doesn't help, seeing as he did not know what was going to happen or where you two would be put. I'm not even sure if he knew about Mrs. Hudson, seeing as you don't, but who knows. Anyways, remember how in your blog you said that Moriarty likes to play games? You said when he does this, he likes to taunt Sherlock. My point being, and I'll shorten my theory since we are on a deadline, is that Sherlock can not be in a place too out of reach, because Moriarty likes to chat with Sherlock and taunt him so he would go there often. In fact, I don't see Moriarty walking around at all so he must be very close to his main room here, if not in it! Sebastian patrols but is almost always close enough to get to Moriarty if needed. So if we can find Sebastian, we can find Moriarty's "office" if you will, and if we can find that, it should lead us to Sherlock!"

"Brilliant", John said in shock. "I'm impressed. No really, I knew you were clever like them, but not EXACTLY as clever as them. You sounded exactly like Sherlock. That's so odd to me. But I'm glad you're here. " John let out a small smile and slowly stood up. "I think I have my strength back. Let's save our friends!"

I stood up as well and said "I can see why Sherlock likes having you around. I wish I had a friend like you." I immediately cringed at myself. That sentence alone showed weakness.

John gave me a smile. "Sadie I'm confident that you will find a friend that will cope with you just like I cope with Sherlock. I know you two don't like talking about feelings, but you're both very good people. I can see the good intention in Sherlock, and a friend will come along that sees the good in you also. It may take about twenty or so more years though!" He let out a laugh, and I just smiled back at him as we began the search for Sherlock and his landlady.