If there was one thing James Moriarty liked, it was having fun.
Not the kind of fun everyone would enjoy, but rather the kind of fun that a cat has with a mouse.
Toying with it, teasing and taunting, filling it with terror, right before he killed it, or let it scramble away, only for him to catch it again another day, and the process would repeat.
Moriarty had found his mouse.
He had noticed that the singer that had taken Adler's place hadn't left after the show was over, as they normally do, but instead went and talked to one of the ticket takers, and then headed to a supply closet. He watched with interest as she began to sweep out the numerous hallways, humming along to music playing on her phone slash music player. It was obvious from the way she knew her way about the building and where all the supplies were kept that she cleaned the place regularly. Since Moriarty knew for a fact she wasn't a singer, he guessed she was a janitor, who must have had a luck break. Since she thought she was alone in the building, she didn't resist singing along with the music, and even dancing around occasionally, basically doing all the things people like to do when no one was watching. Moriarty thought she was entertaining to watch.
She soon finished with the hallways, and moved onto the main area, with the stage and seating, and continued to sweep.
Moriarty decided to have a little fun.
Molly tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and continued to sweep, her earlier performance running through her mind. She was still a little on edge from the performance, and even though it was over and done with, felt nervous from thinking of all the ways that it could have gone wrong. She tried to ignore those thoughts, however, and put her energy into her work, hoping that she could finish earlier than normal.
She tugged her earbuds out of her ears and turned off the music, stuffing the device into her right pocket, to get a break from the music, and enjoyed the silence of the large room she was in.
"Hello~oo," a sing-song voice suddenly said, dragging the small word out. Molly jumped at the noise and looked around the room, half expecting to see some creeper watching her.
Surprisingly, she saw no one.
She slipped a hand into her pocket, and wrapped her fingers around her Swiss Army knife. She knew it'd be next to useless if she was attacked, but she took it out anyways, prepared to flip the blade open.
"W-who's there," she said to the empty room, trying to sound brave but failing.
"Oh, don't be scared love," the voice cheerily replied, "I'm not going to hurt you. Yet."
The voice echoed in the large room, giving the impression that it was everywhere at once, which made it all the more chilling when paired with what the stranger was saying.
"I've been watching you. Quite a lovely singing voice you have there."
Molly didn't reply, but she did start to slowly inch towards the big double doors at the end of the aisle she was on.
"Not so fast."
The doors simultaneously slammed shut. Molly let out a squeak of surprise.
"I just want to chit-chat a little, must you be leaving so soon?"
Molly looked over every spot in the room, trying to find the voice's owner.
"I think not. Now, I'm very curious dear, what is your name?" The voice finally stopped.
Molly didn't really want to reply, and the stranger must have seen this.
"Come now, it's fine," it said coaxingly.
Molly still didn't answer.
"Your name!" The voice suddenly shouted,this time demanding, not a trace of the sing-song cheeriness was left.
"M-molly Hooper. M-my n-name is Molly Hooper," Molly managed to stammer out.
"Molly. Pretty name," the voice paused for a moment, "Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry, Miss Molly, but I must be going."
Molly heard the soft taps of footsteps going away from the room.
"See you soon!"
Molly waited a few minutes, listening carefully, but only being met with silence. Once she was positive she was alone again, she headed towards the double doors, half-running.
She left behind her broom and other cleaning supplies, focusing only on getting out of there. She knew she'd be in for a scolding for leaving her things out and not cleaning everything, but at the moment, she didn't care, all she wanted was out.
She exited the Opera House and instead of walking home like she normally did, managed to hail a cab instead. Leaning into the cushioned seat, she tried to calm her breathing and forget what happened. She made it home in short order, and quickly climbed the stairs till she was at her floor, and entered her apartment.
Locking the door behind her, she leaned against it for a moment, wondering just who, or what, that stranger was.
A/N: Sorry for the shortness, but it needed to end here. Hopefully the next few will be longer.
Also, I've noticed most of my reviewers are Sherlolly fans. Honestly, this story will have plenty of Mollyarty and plenty of Sherlolly, but I still haven't quite decided who she'll end up with.
But don't worry, there will be enough to satisfy shippers of both ships, and I'll try to figure out a way to end this with everybody satisfied.