Paths Woven

Flatline

I wake up in a white room, and hear a rhythmic beeping near my head. I groan deeply, hand flying to my torso. I blink a few times, my eyes taking a bit to focus. The beeping is a heart monitor. I try to sit up and instantly regret the decision, my vision turning purple. I lie back down, trying to see the rest of the room from the pillow. I spot three people on chairs around me. Sherlock, John and - and Scarlet? I thought she would've run again for sure.

Sherlock has been sleeping, exhausted from looking for us, probably. John is sleepy as well. Scarlet is alert, watching my every move.

"Sherlock, John," she alerts them. "Elly's awake."

Both of them wake up immediately, concern written across both their faces. "Your heart stopped for ten full minutes, Elly. I was - I was afraid I was going to lose you. I thought I did lose you." John has tears in his eyes.

"John, it's alright," I croak. "I'm not going to die just yet. You can thank Scarlet and the mind palace reincarnation of my cat for that."

Someone knocks on the door. "Person to see Sherlock Holmes?"

"Mycroft," Sherlock hisses.

I groan inwardly. Mycroft means Malachi. And Malachi means something else to irk me. He's incredibly smart but I have to be careful not to hurt his... emotions? No, not that. Feelings! Feelings, yes. That's what they're called.

Mycroft comes in, followed by a narrowly built, blonde boy with bright, curious blue eyes. Yep. Malachi.

"Is Elly alright?" He asks.

"Yes, of course she is," Sherlock says sarcastically. "She just got shot by a psychopathic serial killer! Do you think she's alright?"

Malachi shrinks back behind his father. "Sherlock!" Mycroft scolds. "Malachi is still young. Be kind to him!"

"Calm down, Mycroft," I shoot back. "He's worried, and if you hadn't been so blatantly ignoring everything but your son you'd have noticed that your little brother was experiencing emotional pain."

Malachi sniggers. Mycroft puts on a tight smile. "Sherlock's immaturity has rubbed off on her a bit, hasn't it?"

Scarlet looks like she's trying not to yell. I remember that it was Mycroft who delivered the news that made her run away. She also is giving a loathsome look to Malachi. Can't say I blame her. I had the same reaction when I first met him.

He's pretty annoying.

I look at Malachi, raising an eyebrow. Why would he care about the girl who's always deducing him to tears?

Scarlet looks at Malachi, her blank mask locked. "Elly has been doing fine since nearly being murdered." She tells him, her voice lacking any emotion whatsoever. "Uncle Mycroft." She said, by way of greeting. "I have no regrets."

"I wouldn't think you would, with your emotional incompetence."

She hisses so quietly only I can hear her. The heart monitor starts to beep out of control and I start panicking.

It stops, going flatline, and I fall unconscious.