Ashes, Ashes

Misfortune

- c h a p t e r   e l e v e n -

"Sherlock, what the hell are you doing?" Emma asked, whimpering slightly. "Don't we have to...to...report to the police? Aren't you going to turn me in now?" Her voice swelled with emotion as she continued with her words, trying to keep herself contained and failing immensely.

"We won't be taking any further action on anything until after we go back to Baker Street and figure this all out. This has gotten far more complicated than I was anticipating, but no matter. All you have to know is that we're going to 221B."

"Good," Irene said, hiding away the fact she felt somewhat nervous to be heading back to that place. She didn't know what would be awaiting her - both Sherlock and Emma were upset with her, albeit for two entirely different reasons. "It's been ages since I went to Baker Street."

As nervewracked as Irene felt, it could not come close to the level of suffering Emma was going through on an internal level. She was attempting to keep all inside, something very difficult and messy to do for someone as loud and vocal about what was going through her mind as she usually was.

This meant that she often needed to stop and collect herself before moving onwards at all. Emma convinced herself that she'd already shed far too many tears, that all of the crying simply needed to cease if she wanted to go on about everything the correct way.

The most awkward (but luckily the most silent) part of the entire journey ended up being the ride back to Sherlock's flat. Everyone wanted to know precisely what was going on in the other two's minds, trying to find out what would end up happening in the end of it all.

When the trio arrived back at Baker Street, Irene took the initiative to walk in front of the others despite not knowing whether or not she'd be able to get into the flat. Whereas she knew that Emma had taken to forgetting to lock her doors, she had a feeling that Sherlock wouldn't be so sloppy in anything that he'd done.

Nevertheless, she was positive she'd be able to get in without any trouble. The door would be unlocked simply because he hadn't been the last one to leave the building. John and Mary would've been in quite a rush to get to the crime scene themselves. In their hurry, they must've left the doors completely unlocked.

But before she could get all the way into the flat, she was interrupted by someone standing in the hallway. He made an enormous as soon as Sherlock walked in, Emma lagging behind by just a few steps despite her apprehension.

"Mr. Holmes!" Alex exclaimed, taking such an enormous step that it seemed as if he were attempting to cross a rather wide stream instead of walk towards the consulting detective. His eyes flitted between both Emma and Irene as he attempted to figure out what was going on at the current moment.

Within a few moments, he started making his own theory as for what was going on. He knew Emma was somehow guilty because of her glitter note, but of course there was also the issue of figuring out who this other woman was and what was going on with her.

Then it hit him.

"You mentioned that multiple people might've been involved in the robbery from the beryl Coronet," Alex cried, starting to realise what was going on. He took a step towards Irene, who simply looked irritated. "Is she her? Is that the woman who stole from me?"

"She is the Woman, but I don't believe you have any clue what you're talking about," Sherlock responded. He pushed his way to be in front and led both Irene and Emma into 221B, leaving a furious Alex behind him.

"I will find out about what's happening here," Alex said. "You took my case, and you know that this Emma woman has something to do with it!"

Sherlock continued to ignore his yelling, pushing through and stepping into 221B. While Irene paraded in and immediately made sure to make herself comfortable, Emma was far more apprehensive about it all. She didn't want to experience anything that she knew was coming for.