The Unfinished Case// A Sherlock Story

XI

Sherlock closes his eyes, awaiting for the impact. But it never came. When he opened his eyes everything was only a blur. The mysterious villain had jumped in front of him taking the impact of the bullet in her shoulder.

She wasn't fazed by the pain like most people would be as she pulls out her own weapon and shoots the intruder in both his legs stabilizing him in one spot. At first, Sherlock had believed that she had shot him but on the contrary she, in a way, saved him.

She grasps her shoulder with her hand and marches towards the culprit.

"My, my, what do we have here?" She says in a sinister voice that had Sherlock's skin crawling.

"P-p-please d-don't hurt me," the man cries as he attempts to get up only to fail.

"Now why on Earth would I do that?" She says almost sarcastically as she glares down at him. "Tell me who sent you," she demands curtly as she places her foot on his bullet wound. Adding more pressure and pain. Sherlock watches the scene in awe as he doesn't know what will happen next.

"You know exactly who," the attacker says smirking slightly. "Confidence is the key to stupidity. Now I need names not jokes and you are going to tell me in under a countdown of 10" she says reloading her gun and pressing the barrel against his forehead. Fear and anxiety can be clearly shown in the attackers eyes as he tries to comprehend the situation.

"Now wait a min-" he tries to reason, only to be cut off by Crimson Rose

"9" She continues impatiently, ignoring every plead coming out of his mouth.

"You better answer her, she's very impatient," Sherlock speaks with a strange new boost of confidence as he steps towards them. The vigilante gave her signature smirk that made Sherlock's stomach do multiple flips.

"8"

"Please-"

"5"

"What happened to seven and six?"

"2"

"JESUS CHRIST! MORIARTY SENT ME!" The attacker screams as he closes his eyes shut.

Crimson's smirk drops right off her face instantly as her playful demeanour turns into a serious one. Sherlock eyes widen at the answer and millions of questions race through his mind.

"Loyal to a dead man now are we?" Crimson says in a sinister tone as she shoots at the side of the attacker's head, startling both the attacker and Sherlock.

"Yes but-"

"Well, tell your other faithful dogs that once I am done with my mission. I will hunt down every single one of you and make you pay for the suffering you have caused" she sneers at him.

"S-s-so you are letting me live?" He asks timidly only to be responded by a wicked laugh.

"Sweetheart, I was in the business once before. I know they put mics on you and I know they are all listening tentatively. You are going to be the example of what happens to those who won't turn themselves in or change jobs. Last chance, boys" she says as she aims to shoot at the man once more. Sherlock attempts to slap the gun out of her hands but he was too late. The gun was fired and once again was the calm night air filled with the booming sound. When Sherlock's vision finally cleared he can see her slim figure walking away from the body on the ground. She drops some sort of device on the ground and smashes it with her feet.

"One last warning" She says as she continues walking. Sherlock turns to look at the dead body only to see the man still alive but a bullet hole embedded in the ground merely millimetres above his head. The attacker releases a breath he was holding and lies down. Sherlock quickly runs towards the disappearing figure, determined not to let her get away again. He turns around the corner of the house to see her laying on the ground leaning onto the wall. Her hand clutching her shoulder wound as more blood became visible. Sherlock couldn't understand the girl as she could have killed him and the attacker anytime she pleased but she didn't. He was confused by her behaviour of her reaction to Moriarty and confused by her game.

"I know you told the cab driver to wait for you. Take me to your flat and I'll answer those silly questions running through the beautiful brain of yours." She says calmly as she winces at her attempt to stand up. Some sort of urge generated Sherlock as he rushes to her side and supports her. He didn't understand how she had this much control over him but he knows he's not letting her have it that easily.

"I need to take you to the hospital," Sherlock says as he begins walking with her.

"Call the police and my story will never be heard. Call the ambulance and my life wouldn't be meaningful. Call your flatmate and both you and I are in trouble. I am able to patch up my own wound and when I'm done I will answer any questions you have." She says tugging Sherlock's jacket.

"Let me borrow this?" She says in more of a statement than a question as she drapes his jacket over her shoulders, hiding her wound.

"A curious man like yourself wouldn't miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity, no?" She says smiling as she opens the cab door and seats herself in the seat behind the driver. Sherlock had a plan forming in his mind and he knew exactly what to do next.