A Step Forward (a Sherlock fanfiction)

Chapter 1

December 24, 2015

11:30 PM

Christmas Eve

It was a cold Christmas Eve night, and per usual, Sherlock was tracking a criminal mastermind.

"You just had to drag me along, didn't you?" John muttered angrily behind him. Sherlock ignored him and continued slinking along the hallway in Moriarty's headquarters. This time, he know he would get him. He was sure of it. Suddenly, John stopped. "Sherlock..." He whispered.

Before Sherlock could turn around, he felt a tug on the back of his jacket. He looked over his shoulder and saw a girl, around 6, staring up at him.

"Can you help me, sir?" The girl whispered. Sherlock stooped down and looked at the girl. She was scrawny, 6 years of age, and from the state of her clothes, she has been in need of help for a very long time. Deserted, or... Sherlock didn't want to think of the other option.

"What are you doing here? It is very dangerous." Sherlock wasn't used to this- little kinds weren't his thing. The girl looked warily over his shoulder.

"I don't know, sir. Please help me."

Sherlock rolled his eyes, frustrated. "We can't help you if you don't-"

John glared at him. "You're getting nowhere, Sherlock. Hey, look at me." He turned the little girl towards him. "We have something really important to do."

The little girl's eyes glistened. "Are you going to leave me?"

"Hey, we'll be right back, okay?" John smiled at her. "Just stay here and we'll be right back."

The girl nodded, sliding down the wall, and watched them walk a little ways down the hall.

"You have appreciated my hospitality, yes?" Sherlock looked up, shocked.

"Moriarty. John, go back to the girl. I can take care of this."

John looked at him. "But, Sherlock..."

"Listen to Sherlock, John." The shadow of Moriarty cooed. "It's time for the big boys to play."

Sherlock gave John a reassuring glance before he ran off.

"Come and play, Sherly, come and play!" Sherlock could tell that Moriarty was getting excited, and he approached cautiously. A few more steps, and he would be able to deliver the final blow...

Something lodged in his neck. He grabbed at it frantically- a dart, he realized. He stumbled around, drowsy, using the walls to support himself so that he didn't fall.

"Tsk, tsk." Moriarty's shadow shook his head. "I'm disappointed, Sherlock. I thought you could be better than this."

A cloth came down over his face and Sherlock blacked out.