The Death Game

Chapter 37

-Same night-

As John and Sherlock ran their way into the night, Sally and the rest of the officers began to head in their direction. Around the corner as the boys run along side by side, Sherlock looped the loose chains between their handcuffs around his wrist.  As they grabbed each other's hand and raced onwards, sirens could were heard approaching at the junction ahead of them.

Sherlock then quickly shoved John down a side alley as the police car raced straight across the junction. They ran down the alleyway and reached the high railings blocking their way. Sherlock, leaped up onto the top of a dustbin and vaulted straight over the top of the railings. As for John, he was left behind; his right hand dragged upwards and his face almost smashed against the railings as Sherlock dropped to the other side.

''Sherlock, wait!'' John exclaimed as he grabbed Sherlock's coat through the railings and dragged him closer, glaring into his face, ''We're going to need to coordinate.''

''Go to your right.'' Sherlock stated as he scanned the area around them.

John looked upwards and went up onto his tiptoes to get the chain of the cuffs over the spikes at the top of the railings. Not long afterwards, they were now both on the same side of the railings and were running down the alley again. Reaching a T-junction, Sherlock turned to the right but immediately stopped and ducked back down again as a police car raced passed the alley. Both friends then leaned against the wall side by side.

''Everybody wants to believe that I'm a fraud, that's what makes it so clever.'' Sherlock looked at his friend, ''A lie that's preferable to the truth. All my brilliant deductions were just a sham. No-one feels inadequate - Sherlock Holmes is just an ordinary man.''

''What about your brother, Mycroft? He could help us.'' John replied as Sherlock dragged him across to the other side of the alley and peered down the left arm of the T-junction.

''A big family reconciliation? Now's not really the moment.'' the detective mocked as he spinned around as he looked back the way they came.

''Sherlock...'' John whispered as he spotted someone peering around the corner at the end of the alley and looking straight at them, ''We're being followed. I knew we couldn't outrun the police.''

''That's not the police, John.'' Sherlock whispered back, ''It's one of our new neighbours from Baker Street, one of the assassins. Let's see if he can give us some answers.''

Just as Sherlock finished his sentence, he broke in the opposite direction from where the man was watching them. Running to the next corner, John and him flattened themselves against the wall and Sherlock looked around the corner. There was no sign of any police in the street but a red double decker bus was approaching.

''Where are we going?'' John asked as he tried to catch his breath.

''We're going to jump in front of that bus.'' Sherlock responded calmly as his friend looked at him anxiously and afraid.

Without another word, Sherlock moved and dragged John out into the street. The assassin that had been following them, raced after them. Halfway across the road, Sherlock screeched to a halt directly in front of the approaching bus. John's impetus carried him passed Sherlock before he was able to turn and now they were both facing the bus, they weren't moving, they were paralysed.

Suddenly, the assassin charged into the road and threw himself at them, shoving them out of the way and all three of them tumbled to the ground as the bus drove passed them, its horn blaring. Before the assassin could recover, Sherlock sat up and dragged the man's own gun from his jeans, then cocked and pointed it at him.