“Look—I’m trying to do something original so we can go home! I’m trying to use what we’ve got. Which is us. We’re the unknown variables here, not them. And I figured you’re—you’re really good at seducing people, so maybe?—”
“Excuse me?”Sidney was glaring at her again.
“I’m sorry, that came out wrong, what I meant to say is that you’re really good at getting toknowpeople and that they—they tend to fall for you—” Sasha had put her whole foot in her mouth. Her whole entire leg, actually. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, I really didn’t. You know I didn’t.”
Sidney rolled her eyes. “You want me toseduceSherlock. Like this is some bad internet fic? It’s been done before.”
“No, because that’s usually the end of it, right? Sherlock and Watson get together, the end. What I’m trying to do is…” This was where it got dicey. Really dicey. “Use that…to destroy Sherlock.” She paused. “My plan is to let the villain win.”
Sidney staredat her sister like she was insane.
Because maybe, just maybe, she was. “You’re going to have to repeat yourself. You want Sherlock tolose?”
Sasha let out a long, hard exhale. “Yeah.”
“And why do I get the feeling this will get me killed in the process?” Sidney grimaced and sat back.
“No, see? That’s the thing. If you’re successful, then youwon’tdie.” Sasha combed both her hands through her hair and fisted the strands for a moment before speaking again. “There’s a famous ethical debate called theTrolley Problem.It basically states the following problem—you’re in control of a train track switch, and there’s a trolley coming down the tracks that has no working brakes. You can control if it goes left or right. On the right track, there’s one person tied to the tracks. On the left, five. If it goes to the right, the one person dies. If it goes to the right? The fivedie. What do you choose?”
Sidney stared at her flatly. “I hate word problems. Always have.”
“It’s a moral choice.” Her sister shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that Watson has to be the one. And that innocent people have to be on the line.”
“You…want to strap me to railroad tracks, is the summary I’m getting here.” Disgust and fear boiled in her stomach. “Are youfucking kidding me?”
“I know, I know! I don’t want to! But Sidney, listen—if he picks you, which heshouldbecause you’re Sidney and you’re Watson,innocent people will die.Moriarty and I will rig it to make sure they do. Sherlock’s moral high ground will be destroyed. He murdered innocent people out of a selfish need to keep his dear friend alive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that done before.” Sasha had tears in her eyes. “I’m trying to get us home, Sid. I really, really am. I’m not trying to hurt you, I don’t know what else todo.”
Sidney searched her twin’s face. She knew her better thananybody. She should. Crestfallen, she let out a heavy breath and whined. “I don’t wannadie,Sash.”
Getting up from the chair where she was, Sasha sat down beside Sidney and threw her arms around her, snuggling in close to her twin, clutching her tight. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”
“I don’t know as you have a say in the matter.” Sidney’s reply was far more glum than she intended, but whatever. It was her ass that was going to be tied to fuckingtrain tracks.“So I have to try toseduce Sherlock,huh?” She made aplehnoise. “I don’t think it’s gonna happen. Pretty sure he’s asexual.”
“Probably. Well, don’t seduce him, then. But just—get him to care. A lot. That’s what this’ll all hinge on, in the end.” Sasha squeezed her a little.
Sidney squeezed back. “I could try to seduce Virtue. Maybe that’d help influence Sherlock.” Now, that was an angle worth trying.
“Maybe. But, you’re stuck in the story, aren’t you?” Sasha lifted her head to shoot her a curious look.
“I had a dream with Virtue in it last night.” Sidney blinked. “Maybe it was last night? I honestly have no idea what day of the week it is. Or what week it is. Or month. This fuckingsucks.”
“Yeah, the scene jumps are really disorienting.” Sasha let go of her to top off both their wine glasses and hand Sidney hers. “But you can dream with them?”
“Apparently. I was having a bit of a—uh—I wasn’t handling things very well, and he came to make me feel better.” She grinned cheekily. “We kissed.”
“Oh, sure, it’s fine whenyoudo it.” Sasha rolled her eyes.
“Mine’s the good guy! The one trying to save us!” She shoved her sister’s arm. “Yours is the one trying to get us both fucking killed!”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sasha grumbled into her glass. “Whatever.”
“It’s not the same thing and you know it. That’s like saying, ‘you’re married to a firefighter, so why can’t I marry a serial killer?’ It’s entirely different.” Sidney shook her head. “I get it, you always did like the spooky guys, butno,Sash.”
“I wasn’t intending to.” Sasha glared at her. Now she was getting defensive.“Hekissedme.I had no say in the goddamn matter, I’d like to remind you.”
“Uh-huh. I’m just saying it should stay that way.” Sidney knew her sister. And she knew that iftall, dark and evilcame knocking, her sister was going to be powerless to resist. And?—
There was a knock on the door.?*
“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” Sidney glared at the offending surface.
“Madame Adler? There is another—another gentleman here to see you, and he isalsoquite insistent—” a young woman called from the other side. “A Professor Moriarty?”
Sasha slapped a hand over her eyes.
“Ohfuck you!”Sidney shouted at the door.
Someone laughed, though Sidney couldn’t say from where. Only that it sent a chill down her spine.
* Speak of the fictional devil… -V
