Chapter 3: The Ruins Of Memory

Sherlock, John and Molly made their way back to the palace the very next day and Molly stopped to tie her shoelace as the doctor and the detective made their way to the bed chamber in which Molly had seen the supposed "Ghosts".

As Molly finished tying her shoelace, she heard the echoing sound of music playing coming from the ballroom and she made her way towards the door and looked inside to see the transparent form of a man faced away from her, standing in the middle of the grand room and she slowly approached him,

"Who... Who are you?" Molly asked cautiously and the man turned before giving her a warm smile and Molly tilted her head before looking towards the portrait at the top of the stairs behind him before reaching his gaze once more,

"Tsar Nicholas The Second" she murmured and watched as he bowed honourably to her before holding out his transparent hand towards her but before Molly could even think about placing her hand in his. He vanished.

It was 15 minuets later when Molly joined Sherlock and John inside the bed chamber to find Sherlock shining a torch into an opening within the wall as a hidden panel stood ajar,

"You were right, Molly. There is a secret passage here" he said before looking at her with a smile which soon became an expression of concern,

"Molly... You look as pale as death" he commented and she gave a nervous giggle,

"Thanks" she teased before hugging herself with a sad expression,

"It's just... There's so much sadness in this place" she said and Sherlock nodded in understanding before turning his attention back to the passageway,

"This was most likely used by the servants of the palace. It's probably connected to a series of other passageways as well" he explained,

"Any leading outside?" John asked and Sherlock nodded,

"Most likely" he murmured and Molly heard the sound of children's laughed echoing in the air and she turned quickly,

"Did you guys hear that?" she asked and the two men looked at her confused,

"Hear what?" John asked but Molly shook her head after a moment,

"N... Nothing. It was just the wind" she said and the two men nodded before going back to examining the passageway and Molly quietly slipped out the room to clear her head,

"I must be losing my mind. I keep hearing things" she murmured to herself and looked upwards stretching her neck mussels as she tried to relax but when she lowered her head once more she saw a steaming teacup sitting on an old table that had not been sitting there before,

"And... Apparently I'm seeing things too" she murmured before approaching the cup cautiously and hesitantly but her hand to the handle and lifted it much to her surprise that something that couldn't possibly be real could actually be lifted,

"You like Hot water with lemon too?" a voice asked from behind her causing Molly to turn to see a transparent little girl standing there,

"I... Yes actually. I do" Molly answered hesitantly and the little girl giggled,

"You're dressed very funny" she commented before holding up a piece of paper,

"Do you like my drawing?" she asked and Molly nodded as she looked at the child's sketch of a girl sitting upon a stool,

"Yes, It's lovely. You're a very talented drawer" Molly praised and the girl smiled proudly,

"Thank you, My sister Helga said it looked like a pig riding on a donkey" she said with a pout but smiled again quickly,

"But I know Grand ma ma will love it. I'm going to give it to her at the party tonight" she said happily with a giggle causing Molly to smile brightly,

"Molly?... You ok?" asked someone from behind her and she stood turning quickly to find John looking at her with concern,

"Where you talking to someone?" he asked carefully and Molly smiled before shrugging her shoulders, knowing he'd think she were crazy if she told him the truth,

"Just thinking out loud, really" she explained and the doctor held a look of relief,

"Ok, we're gonna head back to the hotel in a bit" he said before going to head back into the room,

"Actually... I thought I'd camp here tonight" she said causing him to look at her surprised but she just smiled brightly,

"It's not every day that you get to spend the night in a Russian palace" she said with a giggle but John looked unsure,

"I don't know. What do you think, Sherlock?" he asked the detective who had came and stood next to him,

"Actually I think it's a good idea. She can hold the fort in case any individuals break in and try to cause Vandalism" he said to which Molly nodded,

"Yep, that's what I was thinking" she said and Sherlock chuckled giving a comforting pat to John's Shoulder,

"She'll be fine" he assured before looking back at Molly,

"I'll get John to bring you a camp bed and other previsions" he said to which Molly nodded thankfully as Sherlock went to take a phone call and John followed shortly after him.

What do you think is happening to Molly? Post your theories in order to unlock chapter 4!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996