Bright fluorescent overwhelms us. An empty room, save for a wooden chair placed right in the middle. No files or documents stacked to the ceilings. It takes a moment for me to realize what this meant. Sherlock seems fascinated, eyes darting around the bright room as if there are answers hidden between the walls.
This is bad. He's tricked us. There are no hardcopies or physical documentation regarding Mary's past. No leverage to obliterate. And yet, here we are, Mycroft's laptop in tow, all ready to hand over the country's most confidential data to a power hungry blackmailer for a shot at my wife's freedom.
It was a trap all along. He's still talking but I can't hear a word. Sherlock listens intently, looking extraordinarily calm despite the situation. He probably has something up his sleeve. He always does. Some elaborate plan that'll solve everything in an instant. That mad bastard.
He's walking towards me. What could he possibly want now? His long, pale fingers are an inch away from my face. He flicks at my cheek, giggling like he's on drugs.
"Keep your eyes open for me, Doctor Watson."
A flick to my temple. What's he playing at? Is he really that sick in the head? Sherlock's got my gun stashed in his coat. I shut my eyes. He switches his focus, fingernails grazing the sensitive skin of my eyelids.
"Maybe I'll leak it on the web. Just for the fun of it." His voice is low and mocking. My fingers curl into a fist. "Rumors spread quickly these days, with social media and all. I wonder what the world would make of Mrs. Watson's filthy past. Everyone will pity the poor sod that was thick enough to marry her."
I want to kill him. In a few seconds, my hands will be on his throat, squeezing the life out of him. It won't take any longer than a minute and a half. Maybe I'll draw it out. A bullet to the brain is too quick. An act of kindness, in fact, for the monster that he is.
"Augustus."
It's her voice. No, I'm imagining things. Probably still delirious with rage. I turn to the side and time stops.
In that moment, I'm not even sure who she is anymore. There is an aura of darkness surrounding her, ghosts of her past in her eyes. I told her that I forgave her, but I'm not sure if I do. They were just words rolling off my tongue. Empty promises. I don't want a marriage built on lies.
But I love her. God help me, I do. She's behind him, reaching into her coat pocket for her gun. He sees my gaze shift and he turns, sadistic grin stretching wider, eyes glinting as he watches her approach.
"Why if it isn't Mrs. Watson." He speaks like he can barely contain himself. "We were just talking about you."
"Let them go, Augustus." She says, her tone frigid. "You have everything on me. You don't need them."
"That's where you're wrong. I don't need you. Not when I've got John Watson. The one person binds me to Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. The dynamic duo that fell right into my lap, trying to sell state secrets." He tuts, shaking his head. "I own you both now."
He shoves me to the ground, ramming his foot into the small of my back. I can hear Sherlock reaching for my gun, forcing Magnussen to draw his own.
No. This can't be happening. She's throwing herself right into the path of the hurricane. And for what? To prove to me that she's different from the person was before? I know that. And I don't care. I burned the thumb drive, watched as the flames devoured her past. She's carrying our child-
"They don't deserve this. I won't see my husband jailed for the rest of his life."
"Mary!" I scream. My throat is dry but I need to get the words out. "Get out of here! He's got a gun!"
"I'm tired of running." My words don't register. Her eyes are glazed over, unfocused. "Appledore doesn't exist. As long as you're alive, I'll be living in fear."
She squeezes the trigger, and a gunshot pierces the air. I wait for the thud of Magnussen's body hitting the ground but it doesn't come. I force my head up to look at Mary. She looks bewildered, fingers trailing down her abdomen, where crimson had started to seep through the fabric of her shirt.
A memory surfaces. An argument we had a few weeks before Christmas. I had been staying over at Baker Street for three days straight, poring over research on Appledore.
Why do you need me when you've got him?
I couldn't think of a response in that moment. I told her afterwards that she gave me things that Sherlock couldn't. She didn't seem convinced. I wasn't either.
Our eyes meet for a split second, her face is a mask of serenity, like she knew what was going to happen. I don't understand it. She can't do this to me. Everything we had been through would have all been for nothing.
Those first few months after Sherlock had…jumped. I can't go back there. The world was grey and she brought the colors back. I can't lose her. I won't-
In my peripheral vision, I see her body crumple to the ground. A noise that sounds like something between a shout and sob leaves my mouth, and Magnussen's foot digs harder into my back.
A sharp piece of metal connects with the back of my head, sending a searing pain shooting through my skull. Bile rises in my throat as the whole world swings before my eyes.
Somewhere behind me I hear footsteps shuffling and a second gunshot sounds. A body collapses on top of me, steel framed glasses clattering onto the ground.
My body feels frozen so I stare at the pair of glasses. It's strange, I can't remember whom it belongs to. It's only been a few minutes, hasn't it? My vision is fading fast, tears stinging the back of my eyes.
A dark figure stumbles to my side. I hear frantic voices calling my name. The sound of propellers slicing through the air. A pale face leans in close to me, blue eyes shining bright amidst the rising chaos.
It's the last thing I see before the darkness swallows me whole.
A/N: This is the prologue for a multi-chaptered fic that takes place after His Last Vow. As season 4 is right on the horizon, i'm going to wait for a bit before posting the later chapters as they may be some areas in the canon storyline i would like to parallel in this fic, with the absence of Mary's character. As always, reviews will be greatly appreciated and i am also looking for a new beta reader for this fic. PM me if you're up for it and thanks for reading!