"What's this?"
Sherlock turned to see John wrapped in his pyjamas, which looked funny on him because of how large they were. They were Sherlock's, of course, because he didn't have the time to buy him kids' pyjamas. A lady came here yesterday and showed him the watch with "J.W" on it, and John was claimed to be her husband. Obviously someone has already begun to act: there's no need to wait till Sherlock Holmes is ready, because he's always ready for a case, not to mention one related to John Watson. How strange it was that he was overwhelmed by fear! He would admit that he felt some strange but mutual thing with Moriarty every time that psycho commited a crime, but now there was only hatred left.
He bent to look John in the eye. "What are you talking about, Jawn?"
"This." The little boy pointed at the bottom of his nightstand, confused. There was a "一" sign just beneath the lower drawer. Sherlock frowned.
"Did you touch it, John?"
John shook his head.
"Good boy." Sherlock stroked the boy's hair gently and turn to the drawer. "Breakfast's on the table. Now go, if you find anything weird just tell me and don't touch, okay?"
John nodded.
"Good."
The doodl— if he could call it like that— was created using black paint. They already knew that the character "一" means "one" in Chinese, but was it possible that Moriarty would use this trick again when he knew someone was ahead of him? No, it was more likely that this was a trick, and that the doodle meant something else. However, that was not the most important thing to consider right now: obviously someone got into John's room without being notice. Maybe Moriarty knew that his concern for John's safety would slow down the process of solving the case. He didn't care. John had to be—
"Sherlock?" John was standing by the door, looking hesitant.
"You alright?"
"Yeah," the boy went in, and Sherlock noticed the traces of marmalade around his lips. "I actually found a new one— a new doodle... I mean, that dash-shaped sign. It looks exactly like the one in my room, but it's on the kitchen wall. Would you like to, um, see it?"
"Of course!" Sherlock almost jumped and followed John out of the room. The boy looked a bit frightened by his sudden movement, but there was no room for that thought in Sherlock's brain at the moment.
"John, wait outside the kitchen, will you?"
John nodded. He seemed a bit unconfident with his ability to socialise, for he stayed silent most of the times. Sherlock could only wonder what changed him into a loving gentleman in his later life.
That sign looked fresh. Someone just came here when John was having breakfast in the dinning hall, and probably he or she was still in the house. The sign looked exactly like the one in John's room, only a bit higher in altitude.
"John," he said, his voice filled with fear, "Come here."
John walked to him hesitantly. When he finally came into Sherlock's reach, Sherlock grabbed him by the shoulders and looked into his eyes seriously. "John, from now on you must not go out of my sight, do you understand?"
"Okay... but why?" Even when told something he could not understand, John still showed his trust and loyalty to Sherlock.
"I'm sorry, but I haven't had a clue yet, John. All I know is that I have to keep you safe. We'll wait and see what's going on, and it's not necessarily going to be long till I work it out. I'll protect you, that's what I am meant to do, you know?"
John blushed, but didn't look away. Instead he gave Sherlock a careful smile. Suddenly, he seemed to be reminded of something.
"Um, Sherlock, about that sign, there's one more beneath the window... "
"Oww!" Sherlock jumped to the window and cried in frustration. Indeed, one more... He had to be quick and solve this before that guy did something to his John. He turned to see John behind his back, slightly leaning on the sofa.
"John, pass me the gloves, the pair behind... "
He was cut off by a few knockings at the door. "Sherlock, are you in there?" It was Mrs Hudson, her voice was filled with horror.
"Yes," Sherlock mumbled and opened the door to see his landlady with pale face. "What has happened?"
"Sherlock," the old woman began trembling, "You better come down and see it yourself."