John walked on the cobbled pathway, it was cold and quiet, fog slowly formed over the river. He couldn't help but look over his shoulder, expecting someone there. Of course, there wasn't anyone. John continued to walk; he heard his own footsteps as he reached the bridge. This area was far different from the one he was accustomed to, it had a dated look compared to its more modern counterpart, however it was the same and he had no problems maneuvering around. John looked down to his breath that showed through the cold and he chewed on his lips, "I can't bloody believe this."
John moved into the alley, he continued to think to himself. He wondered if anyone noticed that he and Sherlock had gone missing, how long it's been since they were gone, and worried about Mary. He fretted about Mary, how she must be feeling since he disappeared. He bemoaned that he should have never joined Sherlock on this case, but then reminded himself that it was against his sense of morale to think such things. After all, even though Sherlock had put John through Hell and back, even though he had almost gotten him killed several times, Sherlock was his friend, whether he actually liked it or not.
As John moved toward the end of the alley, out toward what appeared to be a park with a greenhouse, he stopped and glanced up. There sitting on the sign for a coffee shop, was a raven looking straight at him with its amber eyes. John felt his blood turn cold as the raven looked into his eyes, he wondered if it recognized him or possibly even know why he's there, however it was John wouldn't know because he heard in the distance heavy footsteps. He was reminded of the heavy footsteps that signified to the Plague Doctor's appearance; the footsteps sounded the same, with faint metallic sounds. John felt his heart slowly race, he panicked inside his brain, his eyes swiftly looking around, questioning where the Plague Doctor was coming from. His answer came, when he saw in the distance in the thickened sheets of fogs, a tall dark figure, when it appeared the raven cawed and flew off the sign and toward it. The figure's arm reached out and the raven perched itself on it, the figure stroking the raven before it flew off again, over the building.
John gritted his teeth; he didn't want to do this, nay he did not want to do this. He dared not anger the Plague Doctor but then remembered that the Doctor was counting on him. "I don't want to do this," John exhaled. "I do not want to do this."
Against every notion John ever had about angering someone who towered even Sherlock, who had the nature that even most of the nemeses that Sherlock and John encountered never had, John sucked it up and strolled. It crossed his mind, the possible scenarios that ever existed, what could've happened if he failed. He dreaded the outcome of them, the scenarios, they never said exactly what happened to Patrolman Alice and if it was serious enough to ask the Doctor for help, then surely whatever the Plague Doctor was capable of doing he would do to John if he caught him. John hated his mind for stating that fact.
John strolled, pretending to not notice the Plague Doctor in the distant. He quietly told himself to walk, walk as if he didn't see the Plague Doctor, walk as if he didn't see the raven. He continued this until he got close enough to see the faint features of the bronze mask; he then noticed the silver eyes poking through the eyeholes. John shirked in his spot; he grabbed something out of his pocket that the Doctor gave him just before he was sent on this goose chase. It would anger the Plague Doctor, enough to chase John, but it'll give John a ten minute head start. "Oi…! Olly Olly Oxen free!" John cried out as he threw the silver orb at the Plague Doctor's feet, the Plague Doctor looked down and the orb glowed violently, lighting up the Plague Doctor's eyes.
John took no time in turning around and began to run. He put those years he was on track to good use, he didn't stop for one minute, he felt his lungs compressing under the stress as he forced himself through the alley, through the main street and toward where he was supposed to go. John glanced up to the skies, expecting to see the ravens flying overhead, he noticed they were gone and it meant that they were rounded up. The Doctor theorized that with the ravens captured, the Plague Doctor will become relentless, and it meant that John would have to huff it if he wants to go home to Mary in one piece. John counted down in his head, he knew by the time he'd reach one, the Plague Doctor would be coming after him. "The things I do for people!" John managed to shout as he continued to run. He only prayed that the soldiers would be there as instructed, to help him away from the wraith of the Plague Doctor, so that Sherlock and the Doctor could do the rest. "God, if I live through this, I promise to not eat meat on Christmas or Easter, gentleman's agreement!"
Which meant if John did survive, he would have to refrain himself from eating Mary's minced pies on those holidays, and considering his situation, it would be cakewalk to refuse, after all, John reasoned, there would always be leftovers after a big supper on those holidays anyway. So, in theory, he could have his minced pies and eat them too, just as soon as he is safe and sound. John would continue to run until he came to the beginning of his stroll, he breathed heavily through his nostrils and mouth as he had hands on his knees. He had to take a quick break, he felt his heart beat against his ribs as he pushed himself up and stopped. John felt a presence behind him and he felt his heart sunk, he slightly turned his head to catch a glimpse of red eyes staring at him. John whimpered, "Sherlock… Doctor…?"
He heard his name and turned to see the Doctor and Sherlock waving their hands, John sprinted toward them, and they pushed him behind them. John sprinted to the open arms of the UNIT soldiers; he was pushed into a Humvee where he sat on the metal bench inside, holding a hand over his chest. John gasped for air, "Bloody hell, I feel like I raced a marathon!"