It was a cool night in London, and Alexander Fox was enjoying a stroll down London's scenic Chancer Lane. The scent of various flowers sailed on the breeze, and the streetlamps gave off an ethereal, comforting glow. He was thinking of the other day, when he'd taken yet another ride across the channel in his family's great airship, the Star of Falmouth, when he saw a rather ghastly sight that made his heart nearly jolt out of his chest.
A lady appearing to be Alexander's age was lying prone just past a dark alleyway, her curled brown hair spread over her back. Alexander sprinted to her, shaking her gently. "Are you alright?" he asked gently. "Can you hear me, darling?" He turned her over gently, worriedly listening to her raspy breaths. She was wearing a dark green strapless dress, the skirts of which ended at her ankles, or would have, had they not been frayed and ripped. Apparently, there'd been a struggle. Her dainty feet sported a pair of heeled sandals that matched her dress. Alexander's mouth hung open in shock as realization hit him like a freight train. He knew this young lady. He'd seen flyers advertising her detective agency all over London.
This was Katrielle Layton!
Alexander placed a gentle hand on Katrielle's slender neck, feeling a weak, thready pulse. Gently cradling Katryelle's upper body, he shook her shoulders again, a bit harder than last time, and cupped her cheek in his hand. "Katrielle," he said softly. "Katrielle, can you look at me?"
Katrielle gasped, opening her blood-caked blue eyes weakly with a groan.
"I… I need… I need…" she whispered weakly, gasping again.
"Yes, Katrielle… I know; my name's Alexander… I'm going to help you." He gently picked Katrielle up, causing her to groan weakly as her legs swung slightly. Alexander held Katrielle very close to his chest. "Shhh…" he whispered. "Shhh… let's get you out of here."
He walked briskly, yet slowly, carrying Katrielle down the road.
Katrielle gasped again. "She… she…" Her voice was somewhat stronger, her words coming out as weak groans. She gasped, letting out a pained groan. "It… hurts…"
"Who is she, Katrielle?" Alex asked softly, shaking her again. "Do you remember?"
"K- Kendra…" she managed to whisper. "Need… to… to find…" Her eyes began to close as she gasped again.
By this time, they were next door to the Layton Detective Agency.
"Stay with me, Katrielle!" Alexander said gently, setting her down and cradling her in his arms again. "Come on… don't faint, darling; you can't do that."
Alexander gently removed Katrielle's shoes, setting them aside and propping her feet on the curb to elevate them. He returned to her head and shook her shoulders again. "Keep breathing," he said softly. "Just breathe for me."
Katrielle weakly grabbed his hand, her breath becoming heavier. "I ca… can't… hurts… to breathe."
He tilted Katrielle's head back gently, eliciting a gasp as her breathing became slightly easier.
Suddenly, a young man in pinstriped trousers and a dapper-looking vest ran out of the building, sprinting towards the pair. "M- Miss Layton?" he gasped.
Katrielle gasped and reached towards Ernest, fear in her eyes. "Is… is he alright…?" she managed to groan. "He… is he…" She calmed slightly as Alexander took her hand reassuringly. "He's fine… we're just next door to your agency." He stroked her soft hair. "You're safe… just…" His stomach plummeted as Katrielle started to go limp. "Oh, no…" he whispered, tilting her head back further. She'd become quiet… too quiet. Alexander opened Katrielle's mouth slightly, placing his cheek over it.
…Katrielle had stopped breathing.
"She's dead!" cried the other man, shaking his head vigorously. "Oh my God, Miss Layton's dead!"