Disclaimer: Characters belong to J.K. Rowling and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle respectfully. Enjoy.
Emily sighed tiredly as she walked home, eyes wary and alert as she strained to look around her. She hated taking the shortcut through the park at night, but given the time she hadn't much of a choice to her growing ire. Work has gone on longer then usual today; her homey cafe attracting the attention of a few cold and lonely stragglers. She hadn't the heart to turn them away, even as the clock slowly ticked onwards and the light of day gave in to night.
Usually the walk home didn't bother her too much. But at night the roads always seemed to take on such a sinister gleam. It didn't help that her daughter, now in secondary; seemed to delight in researching all she could of the possible dangers to be found by a young woman walking alone at night. The silly girl took far too much delight in telling her of all of her recent discoveries, which in turn made it difficult to walk anywhere without running from even the smallest of noises; screaming bloody murder all the way to the relative safety of her flat.
Honestly, sometimes it felt as though technology was more of a curse then a gift. Especially in the hands of her daughter.
Chuckling to herself at the thought, she meandered down the darkly lit path. Honestly, she was overreacting. She had walked down this path more times then she could count and the most dangerous thing she'd ever seen was a squirrel having what seemed to be a vicious battle with a cat over a small piece of pastry.
Hardly something to write home about.
Regardless, she still kept a sharp eye out, not one to tempt fate by staying in an area that seemed to be created for the sole purpose of making even a flower's shadow seem monstrous.
Though it wasn't too bad she supposed, the park did have several street lights to help her on her way, she just hated walking around it at night, never knowing who could be hiding in the corner, just waiting for her unsuspecting self to come along. The dreadful rumors that have been sprouting about these past few years didn't help any, even if she didn't put much stock on them.
After all, it's not as if a whole village can truly disappear in one night.
Right?
She laughed quietly to herself, she sounded absolutely paranoid. Shaking her head ruefully she quickened her pace, her thoughts filled on what she would be making for dinner as she chastised her daughter for causing her to grow so scared of her own shadow. No doubt the silly dear would get a kick out of that, and would probably tease her about it for weeks to come.
Yet as she turned the last corner before the park's exit she couldn't help but pause. There was a young girl sitting on the park's bench, fast asleep. She was a young thing, couldn't have been much older then her own daughter, give or take several years. The girl had lovely red hair that fell to her shoulders in gentle waves, her long eyelashes were shut tight, casting small shadows on her soft pink cheeks.
Emily couldn't help but inwardly coo at the adorable picture the young dear made, especially given how she was dressed. She was wearing a rather old fashioned white lace dress with light pink flowers sewn on the bottom, a beautiful soft pink ribbon tied at her waist, the bow just barely seen from where she stood. Her hands were rested upon her legs, covered with delicate white gloves. She held a pink rose close as she slumbered on unaware to her surroundings. The girl made for a rather stunning picture, and for a moment she couldn't help but muse on how much like a living doll the young dear appeared to be.
Breaking out of her musings she walked forward, intent on waking up the child and sending her off home. The poor girl would catch her death out here, and no doubt her own mother must be worried sick. It was rather late after all, she had most likely fallen asleep for a short nap that went on longer then had been expected. Her own daughter had been guilty of such a thing a time or two before; always bashfully laughing afterwards as she explained just why she was home so late on a school night. She smiled softly and gently shook the girl's shoulder, hoping to wake her up without accidentally frightening her.
Yet she didn't stir. She frowned and shook her head, tsking at the sight. The poor dear must have been sleeping out here for far longer then she'd first assumed, her skin being rather cool to the touch as the girl refused to even twitch. No doubt she would be terribly sick tomorrow from sleeping out here for so long.
"Come on then poppet, wake up." She said softly, shaking the girl's shoulder with a bit more force this time.
Yet still she didn't stir.
An odd feeling began to bloom in her chest, making her feel distinctly off as she slowly backed away from the girl. She felt rather lightheaded, her heart seeming to move slowly in her chest as a sense of things being horribly wrong began to overcome her. Her eyes seemed to sharpen, taking in the details of the slumbering teen before her.
She had marveled before on how much the girl had looked like a doll, how she regretted that now.
The girl was still, unmoving. Her chest never rose to take in air, her eyes never fluttered from sleep. And as her own eyes slowly moved upward she finally took in the dark bruise marks on the girl's pale and slender neck.
They were in the shape of fingers.
It would be hours later when she would finally be able to make it home, her daughter bombarding her with questions she couldn't and wouldn't answer. She would look on at her child and collapse into tears, holding her baby close as the image of the girl in the park constantly replaced itself with that of her own child.
All she would remember of that night was that poor and beautiful child, and her never ending screams as she realized the truth of that once innocent looking scene.
A/N: Sorry for taking so long to get this out. I was more then halfway done with this chapter and the next when I was hit with a terrible writers block for this story. However, I was finally able to push through to have the first installment of this tale released.
As you can see, it'll be focused around a crime! Though if our favourite detective can solve it in time is another matter entirely. Next chapter will feature everyone's favourite detective as the story slowly falls into place. Again sorry for taking so long to get this story out, I hope you all enjoy!
