Red (Sherlock BBC)

Case One: Part Two

"REEE!" We screeched at the top of our lungs, before bursting into laughter. I fell backwards onto the pavement, happy tears falling down my cheeks. I exhaled, enjoying the floor before they offered a hand to me. I took it with a smile and was pulled to my feet. My gaze lingered on their chubby face before I piped up, Happy Little Pill by Troye Sivan playing in the arena around us.

"I need to find information about the symbol," I informed them, as if they didn't know. They nodded, moving to the nearest wall of the expanse pool. They pointed to a section of the wall with drawers, all labeled 'LANGUAGE'.

"Here. If you have it, it's over here," they confirmed my thoughts. I nodded.

"Thank you, Kaedan." I murmured. They wrapped their arms around my torso, smiling. Instinctively, I wrapped mine around them. "I miss you, Kae," I whimpered, voice trembling. The familiar sensation of hugging them went through my body, almost sending me to tears.

"I know," they whispered before fading away. I closed my eyes, inhaling. I can do this, I told myself. I opened the first of the drawers and began searching.

Many songs played, and I grew more and more frustrated at the lack of information I was finding. It wasn't Chinese, Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana, or either number system. If it existed, it was either none of the above, or ancient characters I'd never seen. I felt my phone vibrate on my chest, and my eyes widened.

Sitting up straight, I was startled from my unconscious state. Picking up my phone, the music paused and I glanced at the caller ID. John Watson. Oh I need to change that name. I answered it and rose to my feet, body stiff. "Buon giorno, Watson." A yawn escaped my lips as I stretched my limbs.

"Were you asleep?" He asked, voice apologetic.

"Kind of. What's going on?" My body contorted in an odd way as I lazily moved to look at the time. Eleven. Light was pouring in through the windows- natural light. Damn, I was in there for hours. "What'd I miss?"

"Sherlock says someone else got murdered last night. A journalist. Almost identical to Van Coon, allegedly?" My eyes widened as I shot up, alarmed. "He wants you to come to Scotland Yard with us." Clearing my throat, I nodded my head.

"Y-yeah sure. Could you have the cabbie pass by here to pick me up? I accidentally stuck myself in my-" I cut myself off, before making a random noise to reset my statement. "I accidentally fell asleep when I got back so I wasn't able to get any money." Shuffling of the phone, followed by Sherlock's voice.

"Already here. Get outside." Jumping up, I paused when vision danced for a second. Sherlock hung up the phone, and that was my cue. I raced to my front door, grabbing my trench coat in my hand. Swinging it around my shoulders as I slipped it on, I glanced over to Jack across the room. He meowed, annoyed and confused, but sat patiently.

"Sorry, bambino! I've got to hurry. Uncle Gray will be over here to feed you!" My words fell on deaf ears, I knew, yet even so it made me feel better. I stepped outside, locking the door behind me. As promised, a cab was outside with Watson and Sherlock inside. Upon seeing me, Watson stepped outside to allow me space in the back seat. I climbed in, fixing my beanie with a huff. Goddamn me and my shitty sense of time in the World Escape.

"Sorry! I hope you didn't wait long!" The apology fell from my mouth before I could stop it. Sherlock remained expressionless, facing the front without moving his head slightly to look at me.

"Not at all. Just about ten minutes." My eyes narrowed. Despite knowing it was a lie, my body reacted with fear, paling. Damn me and my body. He smirked, and I rolled my eyes.