The one Before the Great Sherlock Holmes

by Maximum Hope Power

An old friend of John's has come back from the states. Having been caught up in a case she forgot to get a room at a hotel and has to stay with Sherlock. But she has a secret she's trying desperately to forget. And when the nightmares have returned it, how much longer can she keep this secret. I don't own Sherlock, Max belongs to me, along with everything else you don't recognize.

4. Chapter 4

Listen up, I said there was a reason and here it is.
In this chapter on, there will be torture, abuse, nightmares, kids being locked away and experimented with, and blood. There's a lot of stuff in here. This is my trigger warning.

And just so you all know, my internet completely flipped out last night, so I wasn't able to post again and this is my third time trying to make this chapter. If it doesn't work, I'm gonna have to convince my parents to let me go to my friends to post it.

-Line Break-

POV SHERLOCK

"It's been a bloody month Sherlock! Just do it already!"

"How many times do I have to tell you to keep your voice down."

Sherlock hissed at John. He sat in his chair with his head in his hands. Max has been here for six months now. Mrs. Hudson insisted she stay at the flat when she tried to move out a couple of months ago. Mrs. Hudson then proceeded to beat Sherlock with a broom whenever he came into the flat. Yelling at him, asking what he could possibly be thinking. Sherlock had been confused by Mrs. Hudson's sudden burst of abuse. Until a month ago, when Sherlock took Max out to the library.

(PAST)

Having read all of his, he decided that since he doesn't use his library card, she could. she had hugged him and smiled hugely and then dragged him out the door to take there. He pretended to fight her off and to be stubborn, when really seeing her this happy just made him feel over runned with joy. The thought of that day put a smile on his face again. He loved that beautiful smile she had, even though she hates it. His smile always went wide when he heard her laugh. He remembered the first time she laughed fully. He had made some comment that caused her to fall off the couch and be knocked into a fit of laughter. John had come up the stairs to see about the case and found Sherlock smiling fondly at a laughing Max. John had been frozen, staring at the two, wondering how in the world she got the great Sherlock Holmes wrapped around her tiny little finger. On that day to the library, watching her eyes light up with each book she found, he loved it. He loved to make her happy and to keep that smile on her face. At the end of the day John and Mary came over. Mary wanted to take Max away to leave the boys be. Max had given him a tight hug before she left. Thanking him again for the gift he gave her. John had watched his best friend stop himself from returning the hug and held the door open as she grabbed her things and walked out. A huge smile on his best friends face. Not the fake one that he had gotten use to, a real pure smile. He'd only seen a flash here and there (not including the laughing incident), but this was stuck on his face, unwilling to leave, even way after she left. John was happy for his friends, but they were so slow at this. Five months and they still didn't know that they liked the other AND that the feeling was mutual! It was killing him. But before John could could speak this to his friend he had spoken first.

"John, could I... Could I tell you something?"

"Sure Sherlock. What's up?"

"I think I may have developed a... human error."

John jumped up and threw his hands in the air.

"Well it's about bloody time!"

Sherlock stared at his friend. He frowned, then smiled shyly in understanding.

"Have I really been that obvious? And oblivious?"

John looked at his friend and laughed.

"Yes. Yes sir you both have been blind."

(END)

Sherlock smiled at the memory of realization that she had liked him too. He refused to believe it for the longest time, but the more he tried to ignore it the more it became visible to his eyes. He remembered waiting for Mary to step out of the store so he could ask what to do. He remembered how Mary jumped, then laughed as Sherlock asked for advice on how to properly ask Max.

"Hey ladies! You both look beautiful, now the cabbie is getting impatient! Let's go!"

"Coming Max!"

Sherlock looked at John.

"What if I screw up?"

John laughed as he walked down the stairs.

"She'll love it."

-Line Break-

POV SHERLOCK

Okay, just do it. She likes you now just go for it. Don't be a coward Sherlock.

They had spent the day with John and Mary. Going to see some plays, a movie (Where Sherlock had stood to tell everyone the ending, until he felt a tug on his leave. Causing him to bend to the person and found his mouth stuffed with chocolate. Max gave me a sweet smile and pulled him down in his chair. Sherlock noticed about the middle of the movie, that Max still had her hand on his arm. He was startled when he felt something hit his shoulder. Max was leaning on him, watching the movie with a light smile on her lips.), and then ate at a restaurant. The day had gone wonderfully. They all laughed until their stomachs ached. They had smiles on their face, with the few exceptions of the ones Sherlock gave Max. It was a perfect night, not too chilly, yet not too hot. The moon was full and it was a sight to behold. He looked over at Max and saw she too was enjoying the moon's appearance. A smiled tugged on his lips as he looked into her eyes. They were a dark green with piercing sea blue streaks and gold specks. He adored her eyes. She smiled up at him and, giggling, turned away from him.

"What? What is it?"

He tried to get a look at her face as she kept hiding.

"It's just I had heard so much about you and I didn't expect you to be like this."

"I can only imagine the things they say. but like what?"

She looked at him and smiled again, brighter this time.

"Like you."

"I'm taking that as a complement."

Sherlock listened to the laugh that follow. It was pure and full of happiness and he loved the sound.

"Good. 'Cause it was meant as one."

His smile was definitely ear to ear.

Now was the time to do it. Now or never Sherlock.

"So... I was wondering... if you would want to," he looked looked over at her and saw that she had stopped. Her full attention on him. "I mean is there a possible way that you would accompany me to dinner, on what John calls, a date?"

She smiled at him.

"Yes, I would love to accompany you to dinner, on a so called date."

He gave her a sky smile and looked up and down the street.

"Come on. We should go home."

Sherlock's face was slowly going back to its original color, instead of the beat red it had taken earlier. He felt Max slip her hand on his arm and he smiled to himself. He was truly happy and it seemed so was she. They walked along the street talking away, and smiling true smiles.

-Line Break-

POV MAX

She had fallen asleep smiling. She waited in her bed to hear for movement. When she heard nothing alarming, expect Mrs. Hudson's snoring, she got up and grabbed her clothes. She was yawning as she headed for the shower. Sleep still in her eyes, she didn't notice Sherlock passed out in his chair, until he flinched ever so slightly in his sleep.

What is he doing here?

Max smiled at the sight of him sleeping, then frowned at the odd angle his body and head were at.

That can't be comfortable.

She walked over and crouch beside him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and shook lightly.

"Hey. Sherlock wake up. Sherlock come on now you have to wake up."

She sighed as he made no attempt to stir. She studied him and then slowly she reached up. She placed her fingers, slowly, in his hair. She left her nails brush over his scalp. She to herself as he pushed his head up in his sleep and made a humming sound in approval. She took her hand away carefully. She leaned in to where she were centimeters from his ear.

"Sherlock, I need you to wake up now."

She whispered softly. His eyes flung open and he shook his head as he jumped to his feet. Smirking, Max raised from her spot and gave him a fond smile.

"What are you doing here? When I was headed up stairs you were going to your room."

"I really don't know. I came back for something, and I guess I just sort of... fell asleep. "

He smiled, embarrassed, at her.

"I'll just go back to my... What time is it? What are you doing up?"

"This is the normal time for me to wake up. I actually slept in today to be honest."

"It's two in the morning, how is that sleeping in?"

"I usually wake up at one. It became the normal time for me to be up when I was little and it sort of stuck with me."

Max looked down at her feet when she felt Sherlock's eyes narrow in question.

"I just came to take a shower when I noticed you didn't look comfortable. Sorry to have disturbed you, but I'll be on my way now."

Sherlock grabbed her hand quickly and pulled her into a hug. Before he could even think about what he was doing, he let go quickly and mumbled something of a good morning to her and shut his bedroom door behind him. Leaving a stunned Max standing in the living room.

-Line Break-

POV MAX
(HERE IT IS. THIS IS MY WARNING. SEE UP TOP)

She was spread out on the couch, listening to music. Her eyes closed a light smile on her face. Memories flooded her mind, all the things she had done in her past. They were a great distraction from the burning sensation on her back. She kept her eyes close in fear she would end up crying from the pain that was spreading like wildfire in her veins. It was like they had a mind of their own, they hadn't done this in a long time. But today was the anniversary of their beginning. As long as she was still and took slow shallow breaths, they didn't hurt as much.

I'd rather die for what I believe. Then live a life with out meaning.

Those lyrics form The World Alive- Life Cycles made her flinch slightly. The memory of those lyrics caused the pain to become more lively. She kept that smile on her face, knowing Sherlock was about to make his appearance. The scars awoke at the words. They remembered, as well as she did, of those days when those words were what she lived by.

I need to change this song.

She refused to move though. Yes, it hurt, but they reminded her of what she did. She wasn't going to forget the four years she spent in that horrid facility. They said they were making them better, keeping them safe. Protecting those who can't protect themselves. She was only there because they had told her, the people she worked for at the time, what was happening. The poor boy they rescued was only six, and Max was only fifteen. She still remembered the boy wailing when they tried to take him away from her. He claimed that she would protect him. She remembered how scared, how thin, and how much damage the poor boy went through. Max decided she was going right then and there. Rather they wanted her too or not. She wanted to take the facility down. She sat up quickly, ignoring the protest from the scars, she fled up the stairs. She knew what was coming. She was going under and she didn't want Sherlock to know, to see her at her weakest. She locked the door behind her and took the headphones out, not wanting to break them. Her vision was already turning black, she felt her knees lock and with the last bit of strength, she directed herself to fall on the bed.

(Memories)

The needles found there way into her skin. She remembered the first time the long needle pierced her skin. The pain was excruciating, something she had never felt before. She remembered screaming until she had no voice left. Her face soaked from the water they poured over the cloth on her face, the feeling of drowning, and her ears filled with the plea and cries for help. Help that would never come. Now she was use to it. She didn't care for the needle anymore. The pain was her everyday life now. It was the only lively thing left to look forward to, and now that was even getting tiresome. The only thing that affect her were the cries from others, from the five year old who just didn't understand why, and the 17 year old's who gave up asking. Nobody was use to the pain like she was. Everyone came out with ashed faces or tear streaks. She didn't. It was noting. Not anymore. She couldn't afford to look scared.

The bells rung and her eyes flashed open. She sat up in her stiff bed in the facility. She got up and began to check the others around her. The group of five kids, who took other kids places of their own free will when punishment time came, began to check and comfort the others. "The Saviors" is what the man and women called themselves. They placed a simulator into their minds to where at a click of a button, they could send you back into the memory of your first day here. The pain felt that day connect with your body of the present, making it feel the pain all over again. As if it was fresh. They had a way to make the pain worse. When you woke up, your scars would be open and you felt the pain for the rest of the day. She had to be strong,the little ones need her to be. Someone to have hope in, someone to reassure them she would protect them no matter what, and get them all out. Max succeeded in getting them out once. She had done it, but she was caught and beaten for it. The Saviors sent search parties looking for the kids. They hadn't found them all, but a majority of them, without the exception of newcomers, were back. When a search party returned there was to be an assembly. The ones who had been caught were to be punished for escaping and the same was suppose to be a welcoming for the newcomers. Max remembered the first one, the boy who wouldn't let her go was the first to stand on the stage. She had watched as the director, also know as the punisher, stepped out, whip in hand. She knew what was going to happen, and without a second thought, she threw herself up on the stage and stood in front of the boy as the whip cracked down. She remembered the pain the needle had give her and this... this was nowhere close. This was like Hell's fire.

"I wouldn't let you hurt anyone! You want to blame someone, blame me! I let them go! You're angry with me, not them, me!"
Her voice was strong. She ignored the pain and turned around to face him, boy still behind her, tears at the brim of her eyes.
"I'll take their place."

The director had a wicked smile upon is face, this is what he had wanted. This is what he had hoped for.

"How about we make a deal girl."
He stepped closer to her, grabbing a handful of her hair, yanked her to him.
"When a child is to stand up here, before I begin, I will ask for volunteers. If you believe you want to take the child's place, you stand. Understood?"

Max nodded and he yanked on her hair hard.

"Answer me! And I understood!"

"Yes."

She hissed through her teeth. He threw her to the ground and laughed. She picked herself up and hugged the boy.

"I told you I wouldn't let them hurt you again. Now go sit down, plug your ears, and cover your eyes. I'll be there in a bit, okay?"

The boy nodded and ran to his seat. Where he did as he was told. Max glared at the man who gave her a smirk. She placed her hand shoulder with apart on the wall. She braced herself, and bit her lip to muffle the scream, as the whip cracked against her skin. Again and again.

-Line break-

I made this one pretty long. I really wanted to get to the memories. I was going to continue on with this chapter, but I think it's long enough. I'll post again either later today or tomorrow.

I hope you guys like it... and I hope no ones offended by the memory or doesn't want to read this because of them.

Anyway the next chapters are going to have this kind of stuff in it. I'll try to give warning about what is about to happen at the top of each story if needed.

Anywho, see you guys later. Have a good day.

-Maxy