Anne's blonde hair was a little messy and stuck to her face,
Under the bright light, her already fair cheeks had a pale and weak beauty. Her pale green pupils looked at him calmly.
In the silent night, the stars and moon were silent.
Then..,
A warm smile slowly appeared in her pair of light green eyes.
"Okay," Anne said.
I'll try my best to live longer. Maybe I'm not smart, and there's very little I can do, but as long as you're willing..,
I can accompany you..,
I won't let you be alone. I won't let myself be alone either.
"Shylock." Watson suddenly spoke.
Anne and Shylock turned their heads to look together,
They found a small red dot of light swaying around on Watson's chest.
The atmosphere instantly tensed.
Shylock raised his head and looked around the hall.
"What a touching scene,
"A gentle voice came from the shadows on the second floor,
"I really don't want to interrupt you, but time is limited."
Shylock quickly looked at the corridor on the second floor.
In the shadows,
A thin man slowly walked to the light. He was wearing an expensive suit with a blue floral tie that was meticulously tied. In sharp contrast to his cruel and cold methods, he was thin, gentle, and unaggressive. Even when he spoke, he always had a warm smile on his face,
He looked elegant and noble.
Moriarty placed his hands on the gorgeous golden railing,
He looked down at the three people in the hall downstairs.
"As I said,
We'll meet soon,
Shylock. "Moriarty raised his eyebrows slightly." You don't look excited at all,
This is really disappointing. "
Shylock looked at him,
He didn't respond.
"But..,
I know that your blood must be boiling, isn't it? " The smile in Moriarty's eyes revealed a hint of malice. "I've been looking forward to this last game for a long time. I hope you can have a good time, my dear Shylock."
Anne's fingertips were trembling. She stood up from the chair and looked at Shylock. The expression on his face was always cold and calm, making people feel that there was no problem that he couldn't solve.
"Alright, Anne, don't worry." Moriarty's tone was even a little indulgent. "Of course, this game requires your cooperation. In fact, you are my most important female lead."
"So, you were really there." Shylock looked at the second floor indifferently.
Everyone present knew that the "there" he was referring to was the bizarre trip in the 19th century.
"Of course," Moriarty said. "How could I miss such an interesting event? Not only am I here, but I have also brought back a gift for our beautiful and noble Miss Deboer. " Moriarty suddenly changed the topic and asked with interest, "I'm really surprised, Shylock. How could you resist digging out all the mysteries about her?"
Moriarty's eyes fell on Anne.
Shylock also looked at her.
Anne felt a chill in her heart. What "gift"? What "mystery"?
"Your nervousness and worry won't help me at all. Calm down, I won't let anything happen to you." Shylock's low and flat voice in the empty hall at night was like a clear spring that soothed the dryness. That pair of calm, gray-green eyes met hers.
Anne nodded gently.
Another onlooker interrupted him with a chuckle.
"You should be worried about yourself, Shylock." Moriarty reminded him in a sincere tone. "This world is boring enough. I don't want to lose you. But obviously, it's not up to me. Let's leave it to the lovely Anne to decide. How about it? "
No one understood what he meant by that. It wasn't until he stood up and walked a few steps away that Anne noticed that there was someone behind him. A man tied to a chair with bombs wrapped around his body.
No one understood what he meant — except for Shylock. He had seen the man behind Moriarty early in the morning.
But at this moment, Shylock's deep eyes shrank sharply. Not because of this new "bomb hostage," but because of Anne's reaction.
After seeing the person on the chair, Anne's heart trembled violently.
She felt that she could barely say that name.
It was actually … Darcy!
This was the "gift" Moriarty was talking about?!
Anne saw that Darcy was sitting quietly on the chair with his eyes closed. He seemed to be asleep. But it was obvious that this posture and the stiff chair were uncomfortable. He frowned slightly, and his face was unusually pale.
Watson beside him said in surprise, "How could it be … Mr. Darcy?!"
Yes, Anne also wanted to know. How could it be Darcy?!
“Now，Game
is
Now, the game starts. "Moriarty announced cheerfully.
"You can take out the Browning L9A1 in your pocket." He said as he slowly walked down the stairs.
"It seems that you have run out of ideas." Shylock raised his gun and calmly said sarcastically.
Moriarty walked until he was a few steps away from Shylock and Anne. He chuckled and said, "Calm down, Shylock. Your self-confidence may soon be slapped in the face. You know, in this game, you may become the supporting role of the cannon fodder. It's only up to our little Anne. "
Anne and Watson were perhaps the only people who didn't know how to play this game.
Shylock, who had already seen through Moriarty's intentions, just tightly held the gun in his hand. Although he knew in his heart that the Browning couldn't save everyone at this moment.
"Well," Moriarty patiently and gently explained, "It's very simple, dear Anne. Obviously, our lives are always difficult to be perfect. For example, now, between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Holmes, you can only choose one. "
What?
Anne's mind was a bit blank as she looked at the person in front of her.
"You still don't understand?" Moriarty put his hands in his trouser pockets and frowned slightly, "It means that only one of them can live. It's up to you, Anne. "
It's up to you, Anne.
The person in front of her said it lightly and casually, as if he was just letting her decide what to eat for dinner.
Anne's heartstrings were so tight that it felt like they were about to break from the middle. Outside the window, the night was so dark that it was purple. The distant stars were only small white dots. In this dangerous night, the endless darkness swallowed people whole.
She was just a small and ordinary person. Even if she had lived for two lifetimes, she was still small and ordinary. She didn't know what to do. How to do it without hurting anyone?
"Shylock …" Anne looked at him in a low and hoarse voice.
Hearing the voice, Shylock's gun was still pointed at the person not far away, but his eyes slowly turned and glanced at her.
In his gray-green eyes, there was an emotion that Anne couldn't understand surging, as if he wanted to say something to her.
"Shylock," Moriarty suddenly reminded him in a deep voice, "Don't mess up my game, or this time your little girl won't just simply hit her head."
Another small red dot swayed and fell on Anne's forehead.
Shylock pursed his lips, looked away, and looked at the person under the gun again.
“Come
Moriarty's voice became excited, "Don't you want to know what she will choose? You, or Darcy? "
Shylock's expression was calm, and he didn't look in Anne's direction again.
He said, "I know what she will choose."
Anne looked at his determined and cold side profile, and tears gushed out.
"If you don't mind, Miss Deboer, I'm in a hurry. It's very simple. Give me a name, and then our game is over. "The person who was leading all of this was still urging her in a light tone.
He knew what choice she would make …
Anne slowly wiped the tears on her face and turned to Moriarty, "Don't you want to know the mystery about me?" She pinched her palms hard, trying to maintain her stiff rationality, "I can tell you everything as long as they leave here alive."
Moriarty looked surprised, and then his smile deepened, "Are you negotiating with me, Miss Deboer?"
Anne said, "Yes."
"Okay," Moriarty said awkwardly, "But the situation is like this now. If I really want to know your cute little secrets, can't I threaten you with the one who survives?"
Anne was stunned.
She gritted her teeth and said, "No matter which one of them dies, I swear I won't say a word!"
Moriarty thought for a moment, then nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, I can accept this result."
…
Anne's heart was completely cold.
She didn't have any chance at all, because the person in front of her really treated all of this as a game to pass the time.
Anne stood there as if frozen, and her head was dizzy. She really hoped that she could pass out at this time, but her stiff consciousness was still awake.
She thought that she had been suffering for a long time, but in fact, it was only a few seconds — they didn't have much time at all.
Until she suddenly heard a voice, "Don't cry."
Shylock stood beside her and said those two words softly.
Annie, on the other hand, didn't realize that her tears were flowing down her cheeks.
Then, Shylock suddenly put away the gun in his hand.
He turned slightly to the side and lowered his gaze to look at her. His beautiful eyes looked even more clear and deep under the light.
Anne suddenly thought of his violin and the Mendelssohn he played for her. And the way he sat on the sofa in his blue silk pajamas with messy curly hair.
He would look down and say to her unhappily, "It seems that not only do you have a sleep problem to solve, but your body coordination is also very worrying." But he would also tell her in a low voice, "You don't need to become smarter, Anne. You're fine the way you are."
He would be angry because she had willfully drunk a little wine, but he would be happy again because of her small praise …
Her Shylock …
"Oh, boring people." Moriarty said impatiently, "Do you want to kiss and hug? Give me a name! Now!! "This temperamental criminal with antisocial personality shouted in a fit of rage.
"Darcy." Anne said a name softly, "I want Darcy alive."
"Anne!" Watson's surprised voice was heard.
Moriarty smiled deeply, "Excellent choice, Miss Deboer. This is really an excellent choice! "
"I hope you have said goodbye." Moriarty raised his right hand and waved it gently in the air.
A jumping red dot appeared in front of Shylock's chest, and there was a slight sound of something breaking through the air.
As the king of the criminal world, Moriarty really didn't procrastinate.
“No！ Shylock! "Watson ran over.
Anne chuckled, Dr. Watson, you're too far away.
She maintained her smile and suddenly reached out to grab Shylock's arm, then she threw herself at him and hugged him.
Shylock, do you really know my choice? How can I let you die?
But the moment she threw herself at him, she felt his strong arms immediately wrap around her. He hugged her and turned around, the hem of his coat drawing a beautiful arc in the air, as light as a dance step.
Anne saw him lower his head to meet her gaze, and the corners of his cold lips curled up slightly. There was some joy, some understanding, and some arrogance and pride, as if he had won something.
Yes, of course he knew her choice.
No!
Anne's heart was instantly in pain. But she was trapped in his warm embrace and couldn't move.
The bullet entered his body. Anne felt his tall body tremble uncontrollably, and then he immediately steadied himself.
…
-
Anne and Watson stayed at the hospital until the wee hours of the morning.
Then Mcauliffe came as well.
He stood in the corridor, the tip of the long black umbrella tapping on the floor unhappily. He looked coldly at Anne's pale face and said, "Very good, Miss Deboer. This is the most serious injury Shylock has ever suffered since he met you. "
Anne's throat was completely blocked, and she couldn't say a word.
"Mcauliffe," Watson couldn't help but defend her. "You can't blame Anne for this. In fact, she's also a victim."
Mcauliffe looked at her deeply and didn't say anything.
Anne leaned against the wall tiredly, her whole body trembling slightly.
From the moment Shylock was shot, her thoughts were a little dazed, and it was still so now. For a moment, she suddenly didn't understand what had happened and why she was here.
Then she remembered that Shylock was injured and had lost a lot of blood.
He was conscious until he was carried into the ambulance. That bullet didn't hit his heart, but his left shoulder. Anne didn't know if this was considered lucky, but at the time, Moriarty exclaimed excitedly, happy at the unexpected turn of the game.
He even asked Anne to choose again.
Impossible!
Anne desperately pressed her hand on the wound on Shylock's shoulder, trying to stop the red liquid from flowing out. But it was no use. It flowed down her fingers, still carrying his warm body temperature.
His arm was draped over her shoulder, and he held her in his arms. Compared to her panic, Shylock was much calmer, even happy.
Anne remembered that he seemed to have kissed her lightly on the top of her head, and then said in a light voice, "I won."
Anne didn't know what he had won.
The bullet left in his body didn't seem to have any effect on him. Only Anne could feel that his weight on her body was increasing bit by bit.
He raised the gun again, but this time, the muzzle was aimed at Darcy, who was unaware of everything on the second floor. Or to be precise, it was aimed at the bomb on Darcy's body.
He said, "I think I can help her make a choice this time."
If it hadn't been for the sudden call, Anne didn't know if they would have all died in Pemberley Manor yesterday.
The door to the operating room suddenly opened. Watson and Mcauliffe immediately went to greet him.
Anne tried to stand up straight. She heard the doctor say that the bullet in the patient's body had been removed and that it didn't hurt any vital parts, so there was no danger to his life.
"He hasn't woken up yet. You can go see him, but don't disturb him for too long. The patient needs to rest."
Watson and Mcauliffe thanked him and walked into the ward together.
Anne stood against the wall for a while before she finally gathered enough strength to slowly walk to the door of the ward.
Through the transparent glass window, Anne saw Shylock lying quietly on the bed, his curly hair hanging softly on his forehead. His sleeping appearance with his eyes closed was less cold and sharp than usual, and more soft and gentle. It was just that his face was very pale, which made people realize that he wasn't really sleeping, but had just experienced a life and death situation.
Anne had never seen him look so fragile.
She closed her eyes sadly.
Watson opened the door and came out. He looked at Anne. She looked so haggard and weak that she looked more like a patient than Shylock.
"Anne, are you sure you don't need a doctor to check you? You don't look good, "Watson said worriedly.
Anne shook her head. "I'm fine."
Watson hesitated for a moment. "Then I'll take you to the hotel. You really need a room now, a shower, and a good sleep. "
Anne wanted to refuse, but she saw the blood on her hands. Not only her hands, but also her clothes were full of mottled bloodstains. It was all Shylock's blood.
"I can go by myself," Anne finally said softly. "You stay here and accompany him."
.
When Anne returned to the hospital again, Shylock hadn't woken up yet.
Mcauliffe left after confirming that Shylock wasn't in danger. Watson was still in the ward, sitting on the chair and sleeping tiredly by the bed.
Anne stood at the door, pressed her forehead against the window, and quietly looked at the pale sleeping face for a while.
Then she slowly walked out of the hospital gate.
It was foggy, a soft and cold mist. In the winter morning, the cold air seemed to be able to get in through every pore of the body.
It was still early, and there were very few pedestrians and cars on the road. Anne stood by the side of the road for a while, then reached out to stop a taxi.
.
Anne remembered that she had first come to Pemberley Manor when she was four years old. At that time, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were still alive.
Compared to the luxury of Rosings, Pemberley Manor had a bit more of a secluded and elegant air. Anne liked Pemberley very much. Her mother, Lady Catherine, had told her more than once that she would be the mistress of Pemberley in the future.
At that time, Anne always smiled at her mother's arrogant and dictatorial remarks and didn't answer.
Anne understood why her mother tried so hard to let her marry Darcy. It was because Darcy was a kind and excellent gentleman. Even if he didn't love her, he would treat her well.
This was probably the best arrangement a mother could make.
However, there was no Darcy here, nor was there her mother.
As for the "Darcy" who suddenly appeared yesterday … He wasn't Darcy. Of course he wasn't. He just looked very similar to Darcy.
Shylock might have seen through it from the beginning.
She let him take a bullet for a stranger she didn't know.
And Darcy … Even if Anne had memories of him when she was three years old, they had known each other for fifteen years … But she actually mistook him for someone else. If Darcy knew, he would probably be very angry.
Anne chuckled, but her eyes were wet.
She mistook him because she wanted to have her own family here so much, even if it was just one. So when Moriarty gave her "Darcy" as a "gift," she believed him without hesitation.
Then, her impulse and stupidity paid the price in blood.
A faint light began to appear at the end of the sky, but the mist hadn't completely dissipated.
Anne stood on the lawn outside Pemberley Manor. In the distance, there was a dense forest, and the branches of the fir trees were faintly visible in the mist. This kind of evergreen plant made the whole hill green in the cold winter.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Darcy owned half of Derby County. Pemberley Manor alone covered more than 1,000 acres. Compared to the luxurious house, the courtyard, hills, and grassland outside were the favorite places of Anne and Darcy in the past.
In spring, the hills here would be full of bluebells. They would walk with the sheep on the grass and hills, or have picnics, read books, draw pictures, and even take an afternoon nap …
It was unbelievable to think about it. Among the ancient trees in front of her, perhaps three of them were planted by her, Darcy, and Georgiana. It was when she was six years old. If those saplings had lived until now, they would be more than two hundred years old …
But there were still some differences here. Anne couldn't tell where the three trees were. Or maybe there was none at all. This wasn't the same Pemberley she knew …
Anne patted her chest and didn't let her thoughts develop in a pessimistic direction.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her.
Anne turned around in shock and saw a familiar thin and tall figure.
He walked all the way to her and stopped. His hands were in the pockets of his coat, and he stood straight. It was impossible to tell that he had just been shot in the left shoulder yesterday.
Anne's gaze followed him closely.
Of course, Shylock noticed it. After he stood still, his calm grayish-green eyes looked at her calmly.
Anne instantly came back to her senses. "You … Can you leave the hospital now?" A few hours ago, he was still lying on the bed with a pale face!
"Obviously, this is a stupid question. I'm standing right here, "Shylock answered calmly.
But Anne saw that his face was still pale.
So he came to find her as soon as he woke up?
If she had known that the first person he wanted to see when he woke up was her, she would have stayed by his bedside and not left his side.
Anne pursed her lips and held back the lump in her throat.
She took two steps closer to him and pinched his sleeve with her slender fingers, tugging gently.
Shylock lowered his head and glanced at her.
Anne's eyes shone with tears as she looked up at him. "Shylock … Can I hug you?"
He still stood there without moving, and his gaze was so calm that it was almost cold.
Anne looked away in embarrassment. "You don't have to … I just want to say … I …"
Her voice came to a halt.
The light in front of her darkened, and she smelled the familiar cold breath in her nose. She felt the warmth from his body on her cheeks.
He hugged her.
His long black trench coat was open, as if he was wrapping her in his world. Anne's face burned, but she quickly calmed down because she heard his heartbeat in his chest, steady and strong.
Suddenly, his slightly dissatisfied deep voice sounded above her head. "Are you going to cry every time I hug you in the future?"
Anne was stunned for a moment, and then she felt that the shirt on his chest was soaked. Yeah, it seemed to be the same last time.
She was about to speak when she suddenly reacted. What did he just say?
Every time I hug you in the future …
Her breathing that had just calmed down was a little chaotic again.
After a while, Anne raised her hand and gently touched the white shirt on his chest. Yesterday, it was almost soaked with blood.
At that moment, she really thought that he would die.
"I'm sorry, Shylock …" Anne said with some difficulty.
She didn't see that the person who was gently hugging her had a gentle smile on his lips.
"I think this means that you owe me one, Miss Deboer."
"Yeah, how do you want me to return it?"
"It's very simple." His sharp chin pressed gently on the top of her head, and he spoke slowly, which was rare for him.
He said, "Anne, live a good life here."
Anne didn't immediately say anything. But her breathing gradually quickened, and her arms that were hugging him tightened, but she immediately remembered that she couldn't hurt his wound, so she relaxed a little.
After a while, she said, "Okay."
Her warm breath hit his chest, and it tickled slightly.
.
The sky was completely bright, but it was still a little gloomy. The sun was hiding behind the clouds, and there seemed to be a thin layer of water vapor in the air. The cold current from the North Atlantic passed through the woods, lawns, villages, rivers, and the unchanging time, silently blowing from the 19th century to the present day.
Anne suddenly remembered a sentence from Van Gogh.
The genius painter once wrote in a letter to his younger brother, "Everyone has a fire in their heart. Those who pass by can only see the smoke. But there is always one person, there is always one person who can see the fire and come to accompany me. I saw his fire in the crowd, and I quickly walked over, afraid that he would be drowned in the dust of time. "
Anne thought that to her, Shylock was such a person who hid a beautiful flame in him.
She walked to his side with her passion, her gentleness, her struggles and contradictions, as well as her hesitation about this strange world, and her ignorance and desire for love. She stumbled as she walked.
She stood in the dark living room of Netherfield Garden at night and said to him, "Hello, Mr. Holmes …"
Starting from hello, everything that followed …
The world is so big, it's not easy for us to meet the right person. However, they had crossed two hundred years of time and space to meet each other.
She really wanted to tell her mother, Darcy, Georgiana, and all her kind and lovely friends that she had met the man she loved.
They could really rest assured that although she had taken a lot of detours, fortunately, she didn't lose him. She would love him well, and love herself well.
She should have always done this.
She knew that they would be happy for her and bless her.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
