Hello my lovelies, welcome to my new story! This one I plan on updating weekly, and the chapters will definitely be longer than my last one. I'm planning on a 25 chapter story as of this moment, but that might change. So far I have 4 chapters written (it's 20 pages handwritten). This chapter is quite short but that's just because I'm trying to set the story up for you guys, since you need to know where I'm going after the ending of Series 3.
Before we get started, let me explain something to help you understand:
Halcyon days is used as a term to describe a time of peace in history. For example, someone might say the 1920's in America were the halcyon days before the stock market crashed. Of course, if you read my description, that's the last thing you'd want to use to describe the events in this fic. I'm using it ironically. No I am not a hipster, I just thought it would be interesting to have the title be the complete opposite of the story. I had chosen Halcyon Days as the title while writing also because a big influence to my story was Ellie Goulding's album of the same title. Each chapter will be named a title of a song on said album and I'd recommend listening because it might help you put a new perspective on the chapter.
Enjoy the story!
I'm more alive I've ever been
So now I give you all my sins
I've chosen you, I've chosen you
But don't say a word
The alarm gave an interruption to the thundering storm outside, but Sherlock Holmes was already wide awake, performing an experiment on a fingernail clipping. Dropping various acids and other compounds on the samples, he tried to discover what could and could not dissolve through the keratin. Of course, he couldn't care less about the results, but it was a way to keep his brain active and not asleep. Sleep was a rare thing these days for him. He groaned, got up and walked to shut off the alarm clock, his red robe flowing behind as if it was a cape. Ironic how he, the villain, even can pull of the imagery of being the hero. Hopefully Molly didn't hear the alarm clock, and he had a little bit more time to his self before she came in. As kind of her as it was to lend a place to escape to amid all the madness, he hater her perkiness in the morning. Even someone like he has to not be so perky at one point in the day. But… To have someone around, someone who was willing to keep him from being alone and put up with him, that was a gesture that is nearly impossible to repay.
His cell brought him back from his daze of thought, giving him another distraction from the slow return of exhaustion.
"Well Lestrade, I hope you're calling me with actual news about Moriarty, otherwise this call will be incredibly dull and a waste of calling minutes."
"No suspicious activity on any major scales yet, but there were spottings around town. Mostly around Baker Street, just like you-"
Sherlock hung up before he could finish his statement. "Useless news" he thought to himself. His homeless network already sent him photos reaffirming his suspicions. Quickly typing, he sent out a message to John and Mary, "As usual, instincts correct. Avoid Baker St. and keep tabs on your surroundings."
A light knock on the door signaled Sherlock to head down to the kitchen, for Molly always wanted Sherlock to come down for breakfast, even if he was going to eat nothing. Reaching the bottom of the steps, Molly Hooper stood at the stove, stirring a pot filled with scrambled eggs, dressed in her usual look: a sweater, darker colored pants and her hair resting on her shoulder in a braid. Sherlock walked over to the coffee pot, pouring himself a cup of the freshly brewed blend, leaning on the counter to talk to Molly.
"Nothing besides this for me, I have to plan now."
Without turning around, Molly asked "Your suspicions were right then, I assume?"
Sherlock made a sound signally yes while reaching for the sugar.
"So, spending a few more nights here then?"
"Of course, if you're up for it. No use risking your personal safety if you don't have to." Sherlock quickly rebutted.
Grabbing a plate from the cabinet, Molly poured the eggs out and walked over to the table, Sherlock following behind. Once settled, she responded "I've accepted that my life is in danger as long as I associate myself with you. I can handle that."
"Good, because my next suspicion is that he already knows I know he's looking for me. When we meet again, he won't kill me right away, but he may choose to use one of you for pressuring me. I don't need him to repeat of our first meeting at the swimming pool, because I doubt we'll be able to get out alive so easily this time."
As if right on cue, Sherlock's phone rang again, this time with a response to his text from John. Unlocking his phone, he opened the message. "We'll try our best to stay undercover. If anything goes wrong on your end though, call me. I'm still here for you, remember that. Mary changed nothing between us."
"Except she took you away from 221B, leaving me alone, and then tried to kill me." Sherlock thought to himself while putting his phone away.
Turning back to Molly now, he jumped right back in to where he was before. "I've told the others this, but you need to hear this especially. Keep your eyes wide open for the next couple days. Be cautious of what you say and do, especially when the subject involves me. Your story is that you have no clue where I am as of the moment and you don't know why you left, though it may have something to do with how I killed Magnusson. If we can fool Moriarty into thinking that I am still on exile from what happened on Christmas, I may be able to give myself the upper hand. Most importantly though, watch your surroundings. If anyone suspicious or mysterious starts to follow you, you text me or call me. Go to a public location and try to lose them, but call me the minute you notice someone. You cannot let yourself be taken. Odds are Moriarty is already starting to reform his network and with that he might send people after you, John, Lestrade or anyone else I care about. Mycroft and I are meeting today to come up with an official plan so keep your phone close. You may end up becoming part of our plan again if necessary. So, do you understand your part of our current plan and what you need to do?"
Taking her last bite of eggs, Molly wiped her lips with a napkin, took a minute to take it all in, and shook her head with a simple "Yes."
"Good. Because if I need you again, I don't want Moriarty or a follower of his to get their hands on you.. You are important to me and your loss would be my loss as well."
"It's 7:10. I need to head out. So sorry to leave you alone so early but there was a major vehicular manslaughter accident near Trafalgar Square the other day and we still have to ID three of the bodies and perform autopsies on five."
Sherlock stared in a little bit of a shock, but quickly recovered, saying "That's perfectly fine. I should probably get ready, one of Mycroft's men will be here to pick me up in a while."
Molly smiled, rose from the table, put her dish in the sink and left the room to get the rest of her belongings together. Sherlock remained at the table, taking another sip of his coffee, giving the caffeine a moment to rush through his body. He then reached for his phone, typed in Mycroft's number and hit dial. The phone gave two rings before the classy voice answered, "Are you ready to begin again?"
"Yes. I've warned them all of what they're getting themselves into, and everyone is still on board anyway."
"You have some very careless friends brother. I hope you're okay with them not valuing their lives as much as they should."
"I cannot control their decisions, or their fates."
"Well then, now that this is all settled, when would you like to meet?"
"Give me time to prepare, no need to rush. Send a car over now, I'll be ready in 20."
Hanging up the phone, Sherlock walked back up to the room, with the toenail laying in the paltry dish, bubbling in a pool of nitrate and silver acid.
Ooooo, dark and mysterious ending. Is someone going to die within these first 4 chapters? 0_0 YOU BETTER STAY TUNED GUYS
See you next week!
With love,
n0-5hit-sherl0ck