The Death Game

Chapter 40

John had left St. Barth's hospital knowing that Mrs Hudson had been shot and was bleeding to death. Sherlock, he had left St. Barth's lab to go to the rooftop, to meet the one and only Jim Moriarty. As for Juliet, she was doing her best to run through the crowd on London's busy streets, hoping to get to Moriarty before something stupid happened.

Juliet sighed as she tried to make her way through the large hoard of people that were coming from every direction; it was as if they were trying to stop her from even getting to Jim. The warm humidity of the crowd made her feel sticky and suffocated, but perhaps that was just the lack of blood in her body. Her clothes and hair, slick with perspiration, clung to her skin. She pushed aside another person. Sweat rolled down her skin thick, salty beads.

She could feel her heart throbbing inside her chest. Her skin felt like it was roasting. She began bouncing slightly as she jogged, which wore her out quickly. Juliet was vaguely aware of a stinging in her stomach. She was exhausted, her lungs felt like they would burst and her throat was so dry. After a few moments passed outside, running like a mad man through the streets of London, she finally made her way to St. Barth's hospital.

Making her way inside, she stopped inside the nearest lab, not even bothering to check if anyone was inside. She rested her head against the cold hard tile of the table. She had come here for someone, she was searching for Abygaëlle. If there was one person in that could help her find Sherlock Holmes, which would eventually lead her to Moriarty, it would be her. But as she asked everyone she saw in the hallways, no one had seen her today. 

Disappointed, she kept looking throughout the hospital in search of her friend. She was rarely sick and if Abygaëlle Martch was sick or missing from her job at St. Barth's, then something extremely dangerous, impossible or frightening had happened... or was about to happen.

On the rooftop of the hospital, daylight had finally come. Jim Moriarty was dressed in a typical smart suit and overcoat, calmly sitting on the raised ledge of the edge of the building with his phone in his hand while The Bee Gee's Stayin' Alive played from it. He didn't even bother lifting his gaze up as Sherlock made his way up onto the roof and walked towards him.

''Ah... here we are at last.'' Jim said as a smirk played on his lips, ''You and me, Sherlock, and our problem... the final problem.'' he continued, raising his phone up higher, ''Stayin' Alive! It's so boring, isn't it?'' he exclaimed angrily, switching his phone off and skimming his palm slowly through the air, ''It's just... staying.'' he said as Sherlock paced around the roof, ''All my life I've been searching for distractions. You were one of the best distractions and now I don't even have you. Because I've beaten you.''

''One of the best?'' Sherlock finally said as he arched one of his eyebrows, ''There is someone else.''

''There is always someone else, Sherlock. Someone better, someone cleverer and faster.'' Jim smirked as Sherlock continued to pace, ''And you know what? In the end, it was easy beating you.'' he said quietly, disappointed, ''It was easy. Now I've got to go back to playing with ordinary people, like your little friend Juliet.'' he smirked, raising his head, ''And it turns out you're ordinary just like all of them.''

''You shot her.'' Sherlock spat out, trying to remain calm as if he wanted to have the upper hand in this conversation. Jim stood up slowly as the same smirk remained on his lips.

''Why do you care?'' Jim replied as he paced slowly around the detective, ''Did you almost wonder if I was real?'' he asked, trying to get back on the subject, ''Did I nearly get you?''

''Richard Brook.'' the tall man replied with a small smile.

''Nobody seems to get the joke, but you do.'' the consulting criminal stated as he continued pacing around him.