Sophie stood in the doorway of the Government unit and reminded herself that, yes, breathing was mandatory. The floors were a cream marble and the clatter of constantly moving feet was to be heard all around. Luckily, with the outfit Jim had provided, Sophie did actually blend in with the people around her. Balding, overweight men in suits bustled about the great entrance to the facility and tall, lean males stood holding their briefcases flirting with numerous secretary's or CIA agents all around the place. Security guards roamed and patrolled, walking aimlessly it seemed, but some guards remained standing at doorways to the unknown places belonging to the British Government.
Now isn't the time to be hesitant, Sophie.
Do this for Jim.
Do this for Seb.
Do this for Jack.
Sophie's heart hammered inside her but luckily her body didn't betray her, as she stepped forward among the people around her and held her head high, in a manner that looked utterly inconspicuous, though, in reality, was to mask the fact that Sophie Alison Moran was about to commit a break in single handily. It hadn't been long since her killing of the driver, and really, would they be looking for her? As far as Mycroft acted when her and Jack first met Mr Holmes, it didn't seem faze him in the least. But maybe this was wishful thinking.
Sophie didn't even think where her feet were carrying her, but they were. She couldn't remain stood forever, that would only draw attention to herself; everyone else in this place appeared to be permanently on the move so Sophie certainly wouldn't be the one to break the status quo.
Even from the outside, this place, Sophie could tell, was pretty enormous. There was no way on this planet she could just wander the halls without any suspicion and just fall across the place where Sebastian and Jack were being held prisoners.
I'll just ask. There's nothing wrong with that. I'll just ask.
Sheer bravery was the only thing that was propelling Sophie forward. And her boys. But she wasn't being stupid. She knew she couldn't ask just anyone, so with an almost expert eye, Sophie picked out one of the many balding, overweight men stood lazily by a doorway to her right. He didn't look like the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but Sophie knew never to underestimate. He didn't look like he'd ask any questions, but you could never tell.
Just as Sophie took an intake of breath to ask where the hostage criminals were being kept, an equally half authoritative looking man, though slightly leaner and younger with a darker look in his green eyes approached the older man and spoke, neither paying Sophie any she she withdrew her breath, listening to what the younger man had to say.
"Don't repeat. I think those Moran and Moriarty fellows have killed Bruce and Roger. They went in over an hour ago, and Bruce said he'd inform me if he got his whereabouts, or if they broke." The younger man, probably about 37, spoke in a hushed tone to the oldest of the pair, around 43. Bruce and Roger, Sophie assumed, were the men assigned to torture the information out of Sebastian and Jack. And, according to this man, they had killed them. Good. Sophie couldn't imagine anything that could make her stomach turn so badly than the thought of two men hurting Sebastian and Jack in such an inhumane way, but remained focused as the man continued. "We can't tell. They find out that we sent them in there instead of us and it got them killed, we'll face… I don't know. Come on. Keep your fucking mouth shut." Sophie kept her head ducked as she listened intently to the information being passed.
Those cowards didn't go in there themselves because they were afraid.
She was torn from her thoughts as the two guards turned and began to make their way across the marble floors and through some corridors. Sophie knew it was standard to keep her distance, also to remain close enough so she didn't lose them. The hallways were less crowded, if not deserted, but so winding and cornered that the fearful idea that she could've lost the pair struck Sophie more than enough times. It was only when Sophie saw the pair nearing a stairwell that the worry struck her. She'd been doing fine, remaining completely none pursued by anybody. Or so she thought. This was a big place; it was bound for there to be people walking in the same route as she. But a man was following her closely, turning all the same corners, keeping his distance all the while but just close enough for Sophie to notice. Sophie knew, 100% that this was sheer paranoia. It was nothing. She couldn't prove this hypothesis that is was nothing of concern, but she just knew it just wasn't anything.
Sophie saw that the flight of stairs wasn't a long one, only three sets. All the doors Sophie had passed so far hadn't been on lock and key, until this. Sophie reached the bottom floor of the stairwell and watched the two men she were perusing walk towards a similar looking security guard.
"Paul, if you would." The younger man pulled out an identification care and gestured to the door in front of him with was blatantly locked, with an electronic sensor attached. The man, apparently names Paul, smiled at the pair and nodded in reply to his request as he took an ID care from his blazer pocket and swiped it in front of the sensor, opening the door immediately, allowing the men entrance. Stupid, stupid stupid stupid. Sophie had finally come to a complete stalemate. She couldn't just dash across the small bottom stairwell in a hurry and follow the men into the unit; it just didn't work like that. Sophie hunched at the top of the bottom part of the stairwell and watch the door close.
Sophie needed to make a decision. There were three main options.
First. Ask the guard to give her access to the unit. And Sophie had a trouble with that plan; an identification card. Or lack-thereof. Instantly, Sophie ruled that idea straight out.
Second. Use the gun and threaten to shoot unless the guard would open. Possibly more of an effective method to use, but this idea still seemed futile. Even if it did work and the guard let her though, it seemed painfully likely to Sophie that he would sound some sort of alarm and get herself, Sebastian and Jack killed.
So that left Sophie with one more option.
Third. Kill him.
It wasn't like she hadn't already done it, but the driver was different. If was a spur of the moment thing. And she had Jack. It was a do-or-die moment. Sophie supposed, in theory, so was this.
So her decision was made.
Sophie swiftly took three steps and turned the final corner of the stairwell, so she was in full view of the guard. Apparently, he wasn't as stupid as he'd looked. Judging by the gun he was withdrawing from his belt, if you weren't recognized down here, being shot was the answer. But, naturally, Sophie had thought this through entirely. With the gun already in her shockingly unshaking hands, Sophie raised the gun just as she heard the guard pull the safety trigger. One click and she shot. Right in his heart.
The lifeless body propelled backwards as his lean frame hit the wall and crumpled to the floor. At least… Sophie thought, and supposed a bullet in the heart… It must be painless. The nausea that overcame her, Sophie ignored and instead turned it into complete adrenaline. These hallways were supposedly empty, but there was no telling who could've possibly heard the gunshot. Sophie ignored the pool of sticky blood her feet were surrounded by and leaned over the lifeless body. She didn't look at his face. She couldn't. In her mind, he was faceless. Just a body. She couldn't- wouldn't comprehend the idea that she just stole the life from someone.
Sophie yanked the ID card from the man's pocket and turned instinct overriding her system and swiping the card over the sensor. Time had passed surprisingly quickly. It had been what, 15 seconds? Another realization hit Sophie. The two men must've heard the gunshot. Unless the door and walls to the cells were soundproof. Again, so much uncertainty. Sophie mounted the gun close to her chest and braced herself. Despite her panting, she was silent as a fox slipping through the door and was faced with one thing.
A long corridor lay ahead of her, with metal doors spaced widely apart, Sophie knowing somewhere; Sebastian and Jack were locked inside. In just a moment, the pool of blood seeped about her shoes and her eyes then settled on exactly what she was looking for. The two security guards standing around 15 metres away, the older of the two opening the door. The younger, stronger looking of the pair was sufficiently sharper than his companion and rushed towards Sophie, already sending an array of bullets her way.
Sophie, for a fraction of a second, froze. Not in body, but in mind. He mind soon cleared as she realized she'd actually dodged a bullet, and the man had seemingly run out. But he was still advancing on her. The older man remained by the door, and as it seemed, the door was banging. And then Sophie realized, Sebastian and Jack could hear her. She was brought back down to earth as the man grabbed Sophie by the shoulders and pushed her harshly against the wall with a force that blinded her vision for a ludicrously long moment. But a new instinct coursed through Sophie's veins.
Gun.
Just as the security guard clasped his large, calloused hand over Sophie's thin neck, she found herself pressing the gun to his abdomen and firing. The grip instantly released and Sophie fell to the ground in a harsh, horrifically painful thud. And that was only half the job. The man was dead or dying, Sophie didn't care. Sophie didn't care. Because the older man dropped his keys by the bashing door which was sporting an eruption of muffled shouts. 'Ohpheeee' was the only thing her eyes could pick up through the metal door which was around 10 metres far from her. Sophie.
Sophie's arm raised the gun and aimed it to the older man's head in her crumpled position on the floor. The chain of events was nothing like what Sophie had suspected. The just as Sophie prepared to make the shot into the older man's skull the shot was fired before she even had chance to pull the safety trigger. A pain like nothing Sophie had ever experienced overcame her anatomy. Her left upper arm, for seconds Sophie couldn't dream to number, was the only thing in existence for those moments. A bullet. The murderous pain forced Sophie to release a cry, or whimper, or incoherent agonised wail. Then the second shot. By the blast through her right hand, Sophie realized she'd done exactly as she'd intended. Then, the pain was redundant, because she'd done it. The guard, a shot just to the left temple was now laid lifelessly on the ground with the biggest pool of blood Sophie had seen of all her killings surrounding him.
Thank goodness she was right handed.
With one teeth-clenched deep breath, Sophie forced her body into a stance, with no usage of her left arm, lifted the ID card and keys from the body of the older man and unlocked the door.
Sebastian pulled away from slamming on the door so hard that his arms felt on fire with the force he and Jack had applied to it. His throat burned at how loudly he'd been shouting. Sophie, please, please, please be alive was the only thing that his brain knew. Jack didn't stop shouting, though. He was slamming his fists and forearms into the door and wailing Sophie's name, he was going through the exact same thing Sebastian was. Trying to hold onto the only part of themselves that made them feel human.
There were so many gunshots. And there was too little noise. For that moment, both Sebastian and Jack fell silent. Sophie had to have made it. There was no alternative. They just refused to believe Sophie was outside that metal lying on the ground, lifeless, soulless. The sound of the door opening was the only thing in the world during those moments. They had discussed between themselves to break out the second the door was opened, but that was before the idea that it could be Sophie.
Time was travelling both at the pace of a year and flying before them in the same way. As the door was pushed open by a force unknown, a pool of blood cascaded onto the cold, grey floor.
A black boot.
Followed by a black leg.
Followed by a black body.
Followed by a mane of wild orange hair.
Sophie.
Sebastian's arms were just about to warp around her body and hold Sophie, just too simply never let go. He still had his little sister. But she was injured. Sebastian rested Sophie's body against his and pressed his shaking lips to her temple.
"Don't leave me. Oh God, you're here. You're grounded for eternity. So is Jim. I fucking love you, Sophie. Never leave me. I love you." Sophie didn't know if it was reassurance to her or to himself, but Sophie couldn't remember the last time she felt this much love towards her big brother. Finally, Sebastian pulled away and swept the ID card from Sophie's grasp, and made his way down the bloodied hallway, taking the guns from the cooling bodies.
Sophie stayed rooted to the spot just inside the cell where Jack and Sebastian were being kept. Suddenly, and wordlessly, Jack took Sophie's face firmly in his hands and crushed his lips to hers. This was the only thing that brought her back to this planet, and even the pain in her arm was diminished as she let three silent tears roll from her eyes as she kept her lips pressed against Jack's. Nothing on the planet could match the feeling of Jack Moriarty's mouth against hers, his warm palms cupping her face and his thumbs gently rubbing along her cheeks and washing away the tears. His fingertips just reached Sophie's hairline and Sophie let herself give in. Her hands were still holding the gun, but no matter. She had given in entirely.
Sophie couldn't be sure how long the kiss lasted, nor if Sebastian had seen, but then again, the only thing she did know for certain was that she couldn't be sure of anything anymore. Sophie felt Jack pull away just a second before Sebastian's voice echoed through the corridor.
"Come on, we need to move."
Sigh, right now I actually kinda love this chapter but I have a profound feeling that in the morning I will read this and come to the firm conclusion that it is, in reality, just as bad as the rest of my work. Meh.
I promise, we will be getting these familiar faces soon! Good or at least my attempt at good things take time!
All my love.