'I love you'
Sherlock's voice echoed in her head, moving away from her slowly…leaving her all alone. Molly's eyes shot open and were welcomed by blinding darkness. Molly groaned to herself, she was lying on the ground, a cold metallic surface, freezing to touch. She used her weak arms to pull herself up into a slouched sitting position. Her head was throbbing against her skull; she slowly lifted her hand unsteadily and began to massage it gently. It didn't help. Molly tried to remember what had just happened and slowly the memory began to distil in her mind, disorderly and foggy. She remembered Ed holding the syringe…the homeless people watching and waiting…she remembered her horror when they plunged the needle into Sherlock's shoulder and how he slowly faded away, falling to the ground. Molly shook her head, which only further increased her migraine as tears began to fill her eyes. She sat there for a while, in the lonely darkness with tears rolling down her cheeks and hitting the metal floor with a light 'clang'.
'And then they took me...' Molly thought, trying to remember what happened next, but her memory had gone completely blank. She sighed in fear as she wondered where she was and what was planned for her. She knew Moriarty was behind it; he had corrupted Sherlock's Homeless Network and turned them against him. Molly feared Moriarty immensely, but her hatred grew deeper and she knew that if he had done anything to harm Sherlock Holmes…. Her thought was abruptly interrupted as she heard a metal click, a door was opening. She stared out into the darkness in horror following the beam of light that was slowly filling the room. The door was at the far side of the small room, there was a figure standing in the doorway… it took her eyes a second to adjust, the figure was now walking towards her...filling her field of vision, she heard the footsteps echo around the small, cold room.
"We've never met, Miss Hooper… or can I call you Molly? It seems much more informal?" The voice piped up, Molly didn't recognise the voice or the man it belonged to. He was tall, staring down at her with cold grey eyes. His short brown hair fell just above his ears with a small fringe that danced over his eyes as he spoke. Molly stared up at him in fear and confusion, her pulse speeding and her breath panting. He smiled, a sly, attractive grin not taking his eyes off Molly.
"I should introduce myself, my name is Moran, Sebastian Moran" The man said after a moment of silence. Molly's eyes filled with realization, she edged back against the wall staring at him, trying to contain the terror that was building within her.
"Cat got your tongue, little mouse?" Moran said, patronisingly. His sly grin widening to show his glowing white teeth. "Get up!" He suddenly snapped, pulling Molly up by her hoodie. She yelped in surprise and pain as he pushed her against the wall forcefully. He stared at her, the way a wild animal would stare at its prey, seconds before pouncing.
"I must say Molly, it is an absolute pleasure to see you again" Came a voice from the door, Moran let go of her hoodie and slowly backed away, his grey, cold eyes still staring poisonously at her. Molly looked away from him to the source of the voice, she knew who it was the second he uttered his first syllable. She stared at Moriarty with detestation, holding her hands together to stop them shaking. She didn't want to act like a mouse.
"What do you want with me Moriarty?!" Molly said, after a second of plucking up her courage. Her voice was strong and intense, it resounded off the metal walls before leaving a surprised expression on Moriarty's face. After a moment he smiled and began to laugh, his patronising, cruel laugh, full of mockery. Moran joined but only for a second, before proceeding to violently shove Molly up against the wall at lightning speed, her back pounded against the metal wall, causing a shot of pain down her spine. She shrieked in pain as Moran's hands clutched into her shoulders, tightening his grip. His expression was malicious and fierce, his cold eyes wide and wild.
"That's enough Seb" Moriarty finally said after a few seconds, no urgency in his voice. Moran let go of Molly suddenly, causing her to fall to the floor, her shoulders and back throbbing in overwhelming pain. All she could think of was Sherlock.
"Where is he?" Molly said, through sobs and tears, anger filling her voice. Moriarty stared down at her in false compassion before walking forward and kneeling at her side. His face only centimetres from hers, Molly fought the urge to look away and pull back in fear. 'I am not a mouse' she thought to herself in weak encouragement. Moriarty's face was wrought with distorted empathy, his smile had faded and his eyes were piercing.
"You're the one person who mattered" He said quietly, his expression contemplating. He stared at her for a moment, a long moment and unease began to fill her body. She began to tremble and looked away from him. "The one person who matters most to him. How very…what's the word? Touching" He smiled again with mocking compassion. He stared at her another moment, Molly couldn't meet his gaze. "Don't quiver little mouse" He touched her face, she pushed herself against the wall, her back felt like it was on fire. She stared at him, repelled in disgust. "It will all be over soon." He whispered, stroking her cheek. He stood up and made his way to Moran, Molly slumped against the wall, sighing in fear and relief. Moriarty whispered something to Moran, so quiet that Molly couldn't hear the words exchanged. He then turned back to her with more false compassion etched into his features.
"He said he loved you" Moriarty said, staring down at her for a moment, a slight smile began to grow at the corners of his mouth, it disgusted her. "I made a promise, Molly, two years ago to Sherlock Holmes, a promise that I intend to keep" He turned to Moran, his grin widening. "It seems that Sherlock does have a heart after all. Now it's time to burn it"
Molly stared up at the man of her nightmares, fear filling her from head to toe. He looked back at her for a moment, there was an expression there, not something forced or faked; regret? Suddenly, he turned, taking his gaze off Molly and walked from the room. Moran watched him leave before turning back to her. She moved her gaze to him as he began to make his way towards her; he was wearing a cold, evilly playful expression of excitement; like a hungry cat about to catch a mouse.