Suddenly an evil chuckling was heard in the room. As I was able to recollect what is happening I noticed the chuckling came from François. "You doubted my words, ma chère."
"She doubted nothing but did what was right!" Snarled Charles.
François cackled.
"Why laughing when there's a chain round your neck?" Hissed Watson.
"Ha! Why so angered when there's a loaded pistol pointing at you?" He sniggered.
"I will only loosen the chain when I see a clear portal open for Mister Nestlé and Miss Wanett." Holmes gripped tighter to the chains with clenched teeth.
"Oh, I see. You think you can be faster than a bullet by strangling me? Think again Sherlock Holmes. This is supposed to be elementary for you." He smirked broadly.
I wanted to act but my body was still petrified to the sight. The pistols loaded and pointed at dear friends. Even Holmes can't grasp the situation under control. François is fast, clever and unpredictable. I blinked as my mind recollected why, how and what brought to this situation. "Why-why would you go so far for a memoire?" I dared to asked as I found my voice.
François chuckled. "I hoped Holmes would ask that but it seems you're just as smart as he is." He smiled at me. "At first it was only the information and exact location of the Reichenbach incident. Moriarty did without a doubt die in the fall but he left a mark." He sniggered excited. "A mark of considerable value in knowledge but then came the unexpected, you mademoiselle. At first, I thought I could finish you by throwing into this different world but you are strong and adapted well. I began to like your thinking besides your simple looks."
I shook my head in disbelief of the information.
"You can't be serious!" Exclaimed Watson.
"Where did you gather the information?" Asked Holmes composed.
François grinned. "As an electrician I can get to just about everywhere. I found it in the attic of a customer in a leather pouch or rather folder. I recognized immediately it was an old testament unfolded and no envelope."
"Are you sure? No, testament that belongs to the owner of the house?" Wondered Charles through clenched teeth.
"I'm not an idiot! I showed it to them and they certified that it is not their's. Now, remove the chains Monsieur Holmes."
"Not, until you've assured a passage for Charles and Eleanor."
François laughed nervously. "This is indeed a sticky end but I have the leverage within the speed of a bullet or two, actually. Unless ..." He sniggered and looked to Watson and Charles.
Slowly Holmes loosened the chain. Although he remained calm and composed I saw clearly that he was angered. François kept the pistols pointed to Charles and Watson as the chain was removed from his neck. "Now that's better. As we were, the memoire, s'il vous plaît."
"Then discharge your pistols." Holmes hissed.
"Fine, but only half." François smirked and uncocked the pistol that pointed at Charles. "To keep the excitement."
Charles gritted his teeth while glaring at François. Ready to tear him in shreds with his bare hands. Quickly I paced up to him and held his hand to remind that breaking out in fury is unwise in this situation, especially with a loaded weapon. He blinked at me surprised as he felt my hand, as our eyes met he knew what I meant.
"Oh, while you're getting the memoire think and tread carefully, Monsieur Holmes. It's a hare trigger, so no heroic acts if you please." Reminded François.
Watson frowned angered and bit his lip and balled his hands into fists.
"No need, I have it here." Holmes revealed the memoire from his coat.
"Ah, trés bien." Smiled François and gestured with a hand to give the memoire.
"Uncock the pistol." Holmes demanded holding the memoire.
"Of course, once you've handed the memoire."
"No-"
Suddenly Charles ran towards François who was facing Holmes and gripped the pistol up to the ceiling. Immediately Watson aided Charles.
As I realized what happened I found the pistol thrown to the floor before my feet. I looked up, Watson and Charles held François by the arms. "Merde!" François cursed.
"What exactly was written in the testament?" Questioned Holmes
Cautiously I picked up the pistol, checked if safety was on. It surprisingly was, did Holmes notice or not? What are François and Holmes up to? I walked up to listen carefully and remained silent, did not want to interrupt in anyway.
"Well, if everyone is eager to know. Somewhere in Reichenbach, Moriarty has left information with a plan. A plan that shows of a unique technique that is to be discovered, along his bones."
A shudder went down my spine as I imagined finding Moriarty's bones close from Reichenbach fall. Although I've hiked there twice I found nothing out of the ordinary, well that was in the other world. Things run different here.
"What sort of technic?" Watson questioned and twisted François' arm tighter behind his back. François clenched his teeth with a grimace of pain but as Watson eased the arm a bit François began to chuckle. "I'll show you everything once we get to that place."
"Why do you think we should you lead you there? Secondly the distance very long from here." Snarled Charles.
François laughed. "Ha! Imbécile! Have you forgotten the portal that I can open? If one of you lets go of my arm I can lead you there."
"No." Hissed Watson.
"Show us the technic that involves Moriarty. Charles, step aside." Spoke Holmes.
Watson and Charles blinked at Holmes in disbelief. "Holmes?" Charles slowly stepped aside as Holmes instructed.
François held out some large black button upon his hand and pressed with his thumb on it. Immediately a red light began to blink and soon few meters further a moving spiral of white light spun from small to the size that is large enough of any person to pass. The white light was bright and crackled at times, it is pure electricity. A familiar portal as I have seen in the electricity room in the world I come from. "Voila, next stop Reichenbach, Switzerland."
Through the portal I recognized blurry the mountains that surround Reichenbach and the lush green fields with cows, sheep and goats.
"Then you will go first." Hissed Watson forced François forward.
"Unless it is only you and I who should be there." François smirked.
Watson halted. "What do you mean?"
"I have the key to the portal. Once I crossed a portal it shuts automatically and as you have seen, with a press of a button it opens a portal to your wishing destination. In this case you all have to go ahead of me." He smirked.
Holmes walked slowly and cautiously towards the portal. "Simply walking through the portal?" He wondered.
"Exactement."
"Holmes! Stop! This could be a trap!" Charles called out.
"If it is, then the memoire will go with me." Holmes reminded confident with a grin.
I walked up to the portal. "I will go first if no one trusts the function of the portal."
"Eleanor! No!" Charles halted me by holding onto my arm. I saw in his eyes his concern and fear for me. I turned to Holmes, his expression was composed but in his eyes, I saw that he was surprised of my courage. I looked at the portal and walked into it. "No!" I heard Charles shouting. Immediately a spray of cool water brushed against my cheek, the fresh cool smell of ice penetrated my nose and loud rushing sound almost deafened my ears. I found myself not far from the Reichenbach fall.
Suddenly a hand upon my shoulder made me wince and gasp in fear. As I looked up I noticed it was Holmes. "Use it only when it is necessary." He reminded and pointed at the pistol I had at hand. I looked into his eyes to be sure I understood correctly. "You will know when the time comes." He noted and walked on as Charles, Watson and François stepped through the portal.
"Is this the same world in 1885 or in 2015?" Wondered Charles.
"It is still 1885 only different place. Now, to find Moriarty's body I would need a part of Holmes' knowledge as to the exact location where he fell into his death." Explained François.
"Very well." Holmes walked ahead, heading closer to the water fall.
I had to bite my tongue not to stand too long petrified to the hint Holmes has given. Hinting that something terrible is still to come. Quickly and quietly I followed Holmes. While walking I hid the pistol within few pleats of my skirt. I hope Holmes knows what he is doing as well I am with the pistol.
Abruptly Holmes came to a halt. I looked sideways to see what he is seeing. There lay before his feet a skeleton with few torn bits of dark cloth and slightly overgrown with moss. A shiver went down my spine as the thought passed that the skeleton once belonged to Moriarty, the napoleon of crimes.
Suddenly bright white flickers of light began to flash around us. They flickered faster within moments and an electric sizzling was heard.
"Zut! You pressed the button!" Charles exclaimed and held up François' hand that held the button. No finger or thumb was near the button. Charles stared at the button wide-eyed.
Watson twisted François' arm slightly tighter. "This is your doing!"
"You know what is happening, tell us!" I demanded before Holmes could say something, stepping up in front of François.
François chuckled. "If you can see what I see, Eleanor. Ah, what a sight it is. Your courage is admiring as well seeing the bones that I dreamed to find. Although we are from a different world and time there are always parallels to recognize. They may not be exactly the same but have nevertheless few common qualities."
"Talk sense!" Hissed Charles. François laughed.
Suddenly Watson winced in pain and stepped back. Briefly looking at his hands and then to François astonished. "Electric shocks?" White electrical flashes began to surround François.
"No, it can not be..." Holmes spoke in disbelief while staring at François.
I looked to Holmes, immediately I spotted further behind Holmes how the bones were covered in the same light and began to float towards François. The light grew so bright and the sizzling so loud I had to turn away with shut eyes and clasped ears.
Rapidly within moments everything grew dark and silent. Slowly I dared to open my eyes and unclasp my ears. The rushing waterfall was still heard loud and recognized the familiar environment. Oddly I felt over my shoulders and upper part of my back something warm and slightly heavy. As I looked I noticed strong arms resting gently upon me, protecting me. I gasped surprised as I noticed Holmes stood over me to protect.