Chapter One: John
It was a nice spring day when John decided to take a walk. He thought about stopping at the store or maybe look for a job somewhere.
Yep, thought John. This is as good as it's going to get, I suppose.
Dr. John Watson was a familiar face around town. He had just returned from the war four months ago, and almost everyone knew who he was. John was a kinder man, with a generous smile and a gentle personality. You wouldn't imagine that kind of man in the army.
Truly, John was a brave man, to go into the cold army and stitch up the wounds of bleeding soldiers who fought tirelessly for their country. Now he was back in his home town with his sister, Harry, who was a recovering alcoholic. It wasn't as exciting and dangerous as the war; it was simple and normal, just how he wanted. He was relaxed.
Well, sort of.
When John returned from the war, he was openly single and was not only looking for a job, but maybe a girlfriend, too. Maybe he could settle down and start a family with her. But, no. Instead of every girl falling for the army doctor, John got a creepy stalker known as Jim Moriarity.
"Hey there, Johnny!"
John flinched at the sound of Moriarity's sing-song voice. He turned around to find the pale man in a dark suit, along with his rugged blonde sidekick, Sebastian Moran.
"What'cha doing?" Moriarity asked, wrapping his arm around John's shoulder. John quickly took his arm away and took a few steps backward, already uncomfortable.
"Just walking, I suppose," John answered, trying his best to be friendly. "Did you need something?"
"Need something?" Moriarity replied. "No. We just thought you looked a bit lonely, walking around here all by yourself, you pretty thing."
"I can manage."
"Sure ya can," retorted Sebastian, smirking.
"Listen, why don't you come with us, take a walk, have a chat, drink a beer. It would be fun, just the three of us. Or, if you want, it can be...two of us."
"Yes, you and Sebastian can take a walk together, Jim. I'm fine with that-"
"I meant you and me, Johnny Boy! Come on."
"Sorry, I would love to stay and chat, but I have to get home. You see, my sister-"
"Oh yeah," said Sebastain. "That crazy drunk bitch you call a sister waiting for you at home? Believe me, she needs all the help she can get!"
"Don't you dare talk about my sister that way!"
"Yeah!" said Jim in a mimic. "Don't talk about his sister that way!"
"She's recovering," said John. "And I have to go. She needs me." John began to walk away as he heard Moriarity's cackle and Sebastian's laugh from behind him.
"Maybe some other time, Johnny Boy!" Moriarity called to John. John felt a chill down his spine as he headed on home.
"How was your day in town?" Harry asked John, who just got home.
"Fine," John replied.
"Something wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm just having a rough day is all."
"Rough day? Maybe you should talk to someone about it?"
"Like you?"
"Like a friend or something."
"I don't have any friends here, Harry." John sat down at the table with Harry, head down, elbows on the table. Harry stared at him for a while. She hadn't seen her brother in years. Since then, he lost all his friends.
"What about Jim and Seb?" Harry asked. "They seem nice."
"They seem creepy," John replied. "And I think Jim is gay for me."
"What's wrong with being gay?"
"Nothing! Nothing's wrong with it. It's just that Moriarity tends to...he doesn't understand the term 'personal space,' you know? Hs rude and conceited and...just downright creepy."
"Yeah, I'll admit, he's pretty weird. But so are you. And so am I. And so is everyone else."
"I guess you're right..."
"Hey, you still looking for a job?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I just got a call today from this guy. He was looking to hire you to work in a manor! His brother is sick or something, and apparently, he says you're his last shot."
"Really?"
"Yeah! Crazy, right?"
"You're not just saying this?"
"Would I ever lie? Don't answer that. I'm just saying, I wrote the guy's number, it's on the fridge, and maybe you could consider it. What do you say? I heard it's good pay."
John thought about this for a minute. He did need a job, but with his bad leg and his military career, would he be able to try another medical occupation?
"I'll think about it," John said, nodding and leaving the table.
