Sorry the last chapter was so short! I hope this one will make up for it.


Holmes realized he was shaking.He glared at Mr. Bryson who had leaned back in his chair with one leg casually crossed over the other.This man this monster-had taken Watson, and had already harmed him, as the bloodstained frock-coat made painfully clear.

"Where is Watson?" Holmes demanded. "By heaven you had better answer me or I'll-" he stopped, letting the rest of the threat hang in the air. He could not stop shaking. Bryson smiled and slowly stood up. He began to walk around the room, fingering various items as he passed them.

"I must say, the doctor was certainly wrong about one thing, you are hardly a heartless machine. The way he described you in his writings I was expecting a mild annoyance, not the barely contained rage you're displaying now."

Holmes leapt to his feet, ready to tear the man's jaw off. "Damn you, tell me where Watson is!"

Bryson laughed. "Let me see if I can guess what you're thinking. Right now you would probably like nothing more than to take that iron poker from the fireplace and bash my skull in with it. But I don't think you'll do that... in fact I don't believe you'll so much as lay a finger on me."

"What makes you so sure of that?" Holmes hissed through clenched teeth.

"Because only I know where he is, and only I know the nature of his imprisonment. Perhaps he is all alone and completely dependant on me for food and water. Now let me see, the longest a human being can live without water is what was it? Three days?" Bryson laughed again. "Do you have enough faith in your skills to find him in so short a time? Or perhaps I have left him in the loving care of an associate or two, and they are under strict orders to kill him if I do not return at a certain time."

"Enough!" Holmes started towards Bryson, having every intention of thrashing the hide off of him, but then Bryson spoke again, and his words stopped Holmes cold. "Or, perhaps I have told them that any injuries I have on my person up my return should be inflicted on the good doctor." He's right, Holmes realized as the full horror of the situation finally sank in. I can't touch him, not without risking Watson's life. He stepped back, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Bryson grinned at this.

"Ah, you're finally getting it aren't you? I do not fear your threats and I do not even fear death, because I have nothing to lose. You on the other hand, have everything to lose."

There had to be some way to make Bryson talk, but how? Begging? The very idea filled Holmes with revulsion. But if it would help Watson...

"Please, just tell me what you've done with Watson, and why you are doing this?" At least he did not have to pretend to sound desperate and afraid. Still, Holmes hated how pathetic his voice sounded. He never had to beg an enemy for mercy before, not sincerely at any rate. This had better work.

"Well, I see you've finally remembered your manners," said Bryson as he adjusted his collar. "Well then, it is quite simple really. As I said when I introduced myself, I have often wondered just how much of your skills are true and how much of them are exaggerations. Watson is out there somewhere, and all you have to do is find him."

"That is all?!" Holmes roared. "You kidnapped Watson just to test my abilities? Why should I have to prove myself to the likes of you?"

"Because if you don't, he will die. As I said, it is simple. You have two weeks to find him. You can question witnesses, look for clues, pretty much treat this like any other investigation. If you get to him in time, you are free to take him home with you. If you don't reach him in time... you will find his bloodied corpse on your doorstep. Is that understood?"

Holmes, completely sickened, nodded. This task was not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination, but even if he did succeed, there was no way Bryson would just let him leave with Watson. Bryson was probably going to kill them both anyway. He wanted to toy with his victims first, that much was crystal clear.

"Oh, and one more thing. You must not ask for any outside help. That means no Mycroft, no street urchins, and no Scotland Yard." Bryson laughed again. "Though from what I understand you would not find the last one very helpful anyway. If you break that rule, you won't even be able to give Watson the dignity of a proper burial. So, do we have a deal?" He extended his hand.

Holmes glared at it as if it were a rodent. Keeping his hands at his sides, he narrowed his eyes and said, "As it appears that I have no choice in the matter, I accept your challenge. But mark my words-I will win, and you will pay dearly for this."

"We'll see, we'll see. Now I don't think you are foolish enough to try to follow me but just to be sure, can I have your word you won't? The doctor has said you have a gift for making yourself practically invisible when the need arises."

Holmes clenched his fists. "You have my word, I swear I will not follow you."

"What do you swear by, Holmes? I need to be absolutely certain you will not break your promise," Bryson was clearly enjoying this immensely.

Holmes closed his eyes, his heart pounding as if it would break his ribs. "I swear on Watson's life I will not follow you!"

Bryson patted Holmes on the shoulder. "There now, that wasn't so difficult now was it?"

As he was leaving he called out cheerfully, "Have a good day, Mr. Holmes!"


If this looks like a total mess, it's the site's fault, not mine. I tried my best to fix everything though. And of course: to be continued...