The fact that there's a brand new story about 'Elsie Holmes', and it's very similar to mine makes me a little worried. Am I paranoid?
We hit 100 follows! Yay! I love you all, thanks for sticking with me, here's a nice long chapter!
Shout out to Jesuslovesmarina for being here since day one! There's a surprise in here for you :)
As soon as the door shut behind Nicole, Lissie slid out of bed and locked the door behind her. Then she crept over to Carolyn's wardrobe.
Throwing open the doors, she carefully peeked in, being careful not to disturb anything. Something fishy was going on, and she intended to find out what it was. She was poking through clothes when she heard a key card in the lock, and Carolyn' s shrill voice. "Why is this locked? I had to get my key card out!"
Quickly,Lissie shut the wardrobe, grabbed her school uniform, and dashed into the bathroom. "I'm getting ready," she called.
"Do you know Marina Craig? She's a very popular girl herself, yet she had the audacity to claim you were one of the smartest and most popular students when I asked her to tell me your secrets."
"Oh,Marina' s very sweet. She's one of the rare girls who's really pretty but also really nice. Listen, Carolyn, why don't you like me? Why does it concern you if I'm popular?"
Carolyn paused in reapplying lipstick so red it could've been seen from Wales. "Hmm? Is that the class bell?"
Lissie tied her hair with ribbon, grabbed her biology book, and rushed off. Soon, she thought. I'll find out what you're up to. Thank goodness Marina and Nicole are sticking up for me.
Lissie returned to their room after dinner with Nicole to get dressed for the dance. She put on her dress and did Nicole' s hair. Marina had volunteered to help Lissie, and soon Lissie had a braided crown with a floral headband.
"Ooh, you look lovely. Your ring matches the color of your dress! Is it a real pearl?"
"Yes. It's my mum and Sherlock's wedding ring."
Carolyn, who had been applying heavy makeup and fixing her hair, leaned in. "Sherlock Holmes, the consulting detective? He's a looker. I've seen his picture."
Nicole was shocked. "He's Lissie's father!"
Carolyn's beady eyes widened, but not with surprise. Lissie had a funny feeling she'd already known. "OI! He looks young enough to be your brother."
A gentle answer turneth away wrath. "No, he's my father," Lissie said through gritted death, praying lightening would take out Carolyn or a speeding omnibus would collide with her.
Marina tactfully opened the door. "Let's go down, shall we? Our dinner dates will be waiting."
"Wasn't that lovely? Goodnight, girls. I'm off to my room. Enjoy your new friend,"' Marina said with a wave and eye roll.
Nicole and Lissie laughed and hurried to their room.
Lissie's phone showed a new message:
"Be very careful. I hope you are safe and well."
In larger letters, a permanent signature:' MI6 protected number. Do not attempt to reply.'
It was from Sherlock. Worried, she changed into a nightgown and tried to fall asleep , but her thoughts turned to her mother.
I wonder if she knew I had a good time at the dance, or if she knows Sherlock's in danger. Thoughts were swirling and Lissie fell into the Dream. This time Sherlock was lying still, on the ground, and Lissie was crying over him.
Was he dead? The scene changed. Mum, but clearer than Lissie had ever imagined or seen in photographs. She could see a beautiful woman, with eyes like hers, propped up on pillows and attached to machines.
"Won't you call for Sherlock, Father," the woman was pleading. Angrily he shook shook his head.*
"Now, now," a younger version of Grandmother Raymond pacified. "Let's just enjoy your sweet love whenever she gets here. Have you picked a name? It's taken you ages. "
"I've decided Felicity is a good name, and it can be shortened to Lissie. It means happiness, and I want her to find that. Felicity Grace, for God has shown grace in allowing me to deliver her and spend a little longer here." Elsie placed a hand on her stomach and smiled sadly.
Lissie could see it all, as if she were standing aside watching.
Grandmother Raymond looked horrified. It was obvious she knew Elsie was dying, but she hastened to deny it. "Don't talk so! The doctor doesn't know anything. You'll have that baby out in no time."
Mr. Raymond had stepped out to talk to someone, and his voice echoed. "The doctors said it would kill her. You heard them. Damn that Holmes!"
Elsie made a little sound,not quite a cry but close. Another nurse- "We're going to induce you now, dear," she said, and from the tender way she patted Elsie's hand it was clear everyone knew : the new life was killing the old.
A glimpse of Elsie's pale face on a gurney, wheeling into a room, and then the scene changed again. The sheets below Elsie' s waist were filling with blood, and she was screaming.
"Save the baby,oh, please save my baby."
Raymond's voice in the waiting room, yelling. "The child's like a tumor; killing her. I told her to have an abortion, but she-"*
Elsie' scream cut through it all, and then baby Lissie was out, and nurses were washing her and testing her while doctors shook their heads over Elsie. "Just as we expected, too much blood loss, heart can't take strain,weak..."
A week later, in a room with doctors in and out, Elsie still clutched the baby to her. She never let go.
3 a.m, both baby and mother awake. The baby didn't cry, just stared. Elsie stroked her cheek with a finger. "I think it's time, love. I'm sorry I didn't have longer with you. This has been a wonderful week with you."
The baby blinked sleepily, and Elsie kissed it. "I hope Sherlock finds you. But I know your heavenly Father will care for you until you meet your earthly one."
She adjusted the blankets around the baby in her arms, and it fell asleep. And then, with no one to see, Elsie shook. One arm slipped off the bed and dangled, pale hand dragging. Her beautiful face went peaceful. With one arm still tucked securely around Lissie, Elsie died.
"Mum! Mum, I didn't mean to hurt you! No! Oh, my God, I'm sorry." Lissie woke up shaking and screaming. If only Sherlock were here. She needed desperately to tell him that the dream was back, and worse. This wasn't normal. What was wrong? How loud was she? Had she screams out loud? Had the others heard? Oh, no. Normally she could keep quiet, but tonight had been so bad...
When she sat up, Nicole' s bed was empty. She must be at early practice.
Carolyn was staring at her. Daylight was streaming through the curtains, and Carolyn was holding up a phone.
She's videoing, Lissie realized in shock. She videoed me crying and shaking.
Furious, Lissie didn't stop to think. She launched herself at Carolyn, grabbing for the phone and hitting with her strong left hook the same time. Sherlock had taught her that the best thing you could have was a good left hook. It was unexpected, and therefore would have greater effect.
She pulled Carolyn down, desperate to grab the phone...
*Let's all get together and burn Mr. Raymond [and Carolyn, for that matter] in effigy. Or we could make voodoo dolls of them. Whatever works.