Thanks to Azolean for Beta-ing.

Chapter One

We were running with all possible speed, but I lagged behind and knew my energy was wearing out. He turned, noticing I was not keeping up, and stopped.

"Just go, Holmes. No sense in both of us falling into his hands!" I panted.

The darkness was growing thicker as the moon started to hide behind clouds.

"No!" he shouted. "I won't leave you behind."

The woods we were heading for were not far, but there was no way I could manage

"Holmes, you have the evidence to put him behind bars for good. You have to go!"

"So he can use your life to persuade me not to turn him in?"

"Holmes, go! Please!" The forerunners were getting closer. "Holmes, please!" I pleaded.

He looked at me with a pained expression. I shoved him my revolver and pushed him away.

"I'll be back soon, I promise!" Holmes said.

"Holmes, go!" I shouted as the first of our hunters grabbed me roughly by my arm and shoulder.

He did so with all speed, quickly evading anyone that tried to follow. He was soon out of sight, and I heard the men give up their pursuit.

"We have this one. Boss'll be happy to use `im to strong-arm the other fellow," one of them said.

"Right, let's head back!" the leader of the ragtag group said.

Our enemy had been clever, indeed, to include all of his staff in on his sinister plotting. I was forced to march back to the large country house and they attempted to question me. Of course, I would say nothing; so they resorted to aggressive persuasion. My head was forced under the water of a trough near the stables, and they held me there for several seconds.

I forced down my panic, knowing they couldn't kill me because they needed to use me as a bargaining chip. Indeed, I was pulled back out and I was allowed a moment to catch my breath before they once again demanded that I answer their questions. I quietly filled my lungs with air, knowing what was to come; but the cold water was still a shock on the chilly night. This time, though, I had taken a deep breath. I lost my balance, and some of the air I had taken in escaped my lips. I stumbled to my knees, and was desperate for a breath.

When I was brought back up, they seemed to be giving up. I stood there, gasping for air, while they decided what should be done with me.

"Leave `im in the stables," suggested the same man from earlier.

Their leader again nodded at the suggestion, and I was roughly dragged into the stables; having little energy to do anything else then let the two men drag me to an empty stall and roughly toss me in before stepping back and bolting the door. I was unable to break my fall and I whacked my head against the wall of the stable. Part of me wished it had been enough to knock me out cold, since I was so tired; but also too cold and wet to sleep properly. Fortunately, there was some hay in the stall that I could try to use to keep warm.

I examined my prison a little as I unsteadily stood up, using the wall for support, to walk over to the hay pile. There was a window opposite the door, and I could see the stars shining. I knew dawn was approaching soon. It had been one in the morning when Holmes and I had first started our journey and it was now several hours since that.

I am a little too old to believe in childhood stories, I thought, as I quietly breathed a wish to the stars. The rhyme had sprung up in America about a decade ago, and I had heard it during a visit there.

Star light, star bright.

I reached the hay pile that was along the wall next to the door, and began to split it into two piles; one to keep underneath and one to put over me.

First star I see tonight

Once that was done, I fixed up the bottom pile so it would be as comfortable as possible.

I wish I may, I wish I might

I decided that I couldn't keep on my wet jacket, much as I longed for its warmth. My thin shirt underneath would have to be enough. My head was still damp and I used a dry section to dry off.

Have the wish I wish tonight

I breathed a final sigh as I bed down beneath the hay, and with it I hoped Holmes would come quickly—and that he wouldn't be forced to let our enemy escape to rescue me.