My head was pounding, and I felt myself lying on a cold floor. My skin felt...off. Like I was covered in something.

My vision was slowly piecing itself together the more I blinked my eyes. When my vision came into focus, I screamed.

Amanda was lying beside me, eyes unblinking, head turned right towards me. Her skin was covered in her own blood, her face swollen and practically unrecognizable beyond comprehension. As I put my hands to my mouth, I tasted some...metallic.

When I pulled them away, I let out a startled gasp.

My hands were covered in blood. Amanda's blood.

No...I couldn't have. My head hurt even worse now. I panicked. I was missing something. What's the last thing I remember? I remembered Mandy being framed for something there was no way she committed. Moriarty had chloroformed me, and I had fallen unconscious...

And now I woke up to my best friend, dead, and my hands covered in her blood.

This is a dream. This is a dream. I pinched myself and let out a soft yelp. No, it's real. Terrifyingly real. I crawled to Mandy.

"No...No. Mandy." I tapped her face. "Mandy." Hysteric breathing was rising out of my throat.

I put my ear to her chest. No, not her. No.

I looked at her, all bloody and bruised. Her body was a cutting board, a canvas to spread her blood all over. It was fairly fresh too, judging by how wet it was on my hands. My hands that now shook, realizing that my best friend, my maid of honor, was dead.

And it was my fault. Somehow, I killed Amanda. I still couldn't figure that one out. What happened? What time am I not accounting for?

"Mandy," I sobbed. "I-I never meant for this to happen. I'm sorry." I hunched over, letting the animalistic sobs tear through my body. "My god, I'm so sorry." What did they do to me? How did they make me turn into...this? Why can't I remember?

I refused to believe I had a hand in Mandy's murder. I couldn't have. That setup...it was the perfect excuse to kill her. I'll bet Moriarty was in on it.

James Moriarty. The Devil. The reason why my best friend was dead. It wasn't me. It couldn't have been me. I didn't kill her. I didn't...

I sat back, near Mandy's body. I rocked back and forth, hysterically crying. I did this to her. I got her killed. Taylor is never going to forgive me. I won't ever forgive myself. How will I ever explain this to Darien, Kendal, and Madison?

"My, my, this is depressing."

A ripple of rage shuddered up my body. I uncurled myself and saw Moriarty looming, looking down at this scene with faux-sadness, faux-pity. I was vaguely aware of Sebastian flanking him.

My grief disappeared. It was replaced with anguish, agony, and the intent to maim and kill. Slowly, I rose from my position, bloody hands balling into fists. I felt rabid. He killed her. He's the reason she's dead.

"You." I full-out charged for him, but Sebastian intercepted me. "You son of a bitch! You murderer! I'm going to rip your damn head off!"

Moriarty didn't react; he just stood there, watching me with amusement. I fought against his detail, taking my fury out on them instead of the man I really wanted to hurt.

"I told you to be a good girl and listen," he said hollowly. "I told you both. I warned you what would happen, but you didn't believe me. Now look what you've done."

"What I've—?" I gave him a wild-eyed look. "You—you did something to me! This was not me!"

"Your hands say different, kitten. We unleashed that inner beast of yours, and my, she is a sexy one." He hummed in appreciation. "If she hadn't been so hell-bent on murder, I would've had some special alone time with her."

My eye twitched. I couldn't believe what lies he was spewing.

"I'll show you the footage if you don't believe me. Please say that you don't, I want to watch it." He smirked.

"I knew you were capable of vile things, but this? You're the Devil, Jim Moriarty."

"Oh, please, the Devil is afraid of me." He smirked.

I settled down, trembling with anger. "Let me tell you something, James. When I get the chance to kill you, I'll damn well take it."

"Oooh, feisty little girl." He snickered. "Why couldn't you have had that when we were dating, eh?"

"I might not let Sherlock get a finger on you. I might just destroy you."

Moriarty walked towards me, hands stuffed into his pockets. His face was very close to mine, so much that I could see my reflection in his dark irises. "Not if I destroy you first, Rach."

I snorted. "You're on."

"You're in timeout until you cool off. Make sure you lock the door, Seb. I don't want her running around."

"I hope you die, too," I told Sebastian as he pulled me out of the room, shoving me back towards mine. "I hope you burn in Hell with him."

"If anyone's gonna burn, it's sure as hell not us. You, maybe." He wrenched the door open and threw me in. Just as I reached the door, it slammed shut. I could hear it lock from the outside. I glanced at the knob. Damn it.

My body shook, and I screamed in outrage. I banged my fists against the door, even though I knew it wouldn't make a difference. Sebastian or Moriarty wouldn't let me out. The blood on my hands was dry.

"Could you at least let me shower?" I demanded, pounding on the door.

"And let you be comfortable?" came Moriarty's drawl from the other side of the door. "Not likely."

"Please," I begged. "I'll be good, Jim. I've been good."

"Your recent behavior tells a different story. Mm, that inner killer you've got, though. I'd love to see more of her."

"I didn't kill her!"

"That you can recall. Believe me, you did, Rachel. It was glorious to watch, like a wildlife documentary."

I sobbed. "I didn't do it. I-I didn't do it." I put my head against the door. "It's all a trick."

"Believe what you want, the footage shows the truth. You killed Amanda, kitten. Your best friend."

"If I can't get to you, I hope Sherlock dismantles you."

Moriarty chuckled. "If there is one thing that I know about Sherlock Holmes, it's that he can be a killer when the occasion rises, but it takes a special kind of killer to dismember someone. I would know, I've met one. Good asset to keep on a leash."

"Is that what Sebastian is? Is he your dismemberment go-to guy?" I paled. Was that how Amanda would be found? Pieces of her?

"No, he's not."

"Why are you doing this, Jim?" I whimpered.

"Because I can. I wanted this to be good for us, Rachel, I really did. But I guess I underestimated your ability to hate me, which hurts me." I could picture him being dramatic. "If you want to play it that way, I can play too. When, if, Sherlock and his pet hedgehog finally make it here, I'll make sure what they walk into is something they can't walk out of."

I licked my lips. "But why are you punishing me?"

"Because, as much as I dislike the notion, you're the enemy. You're leverage, darling. A pawn. You ruined what we had. Consider this payback."

"You didn't actually care." I snorted. "You never cared."

"I did. On some level, I still do. It's...complicated to express myself, kitten." I could hear the strain in his voice. It was the first time that I could think of that I heard him sound like this. "I want to be with you, but at the same time, I want you dead. I don't know what that is. A love-hate? I wouldn't know, I don't know...feelings."

I swallowed. "I promise, I'll be good. Just—just let me out of this. I won't fight. I won't struggle. I'll listen to you." I closed my eyes. I can't believe I'm becoming this groveling mess. =

He chuckled. "Of course you will, sweetheart."

I heard a hissing noise come from my room. At first, I thought he was letting snakes in through the vents. But I didn't see anything. I jiggled the doorknob. "What are you doing? What are you putting in here?"

"Relax, Rachel. Just let it take you."

I pounded on the door again. "No, let me out." I looked around wildly. I didn't want to stick around and find out what he was releasing into the air in my room.

"Not until you take it all in. It's not to kill you."

"It's not?" I snapped sorely.

"Just breathe it in, kitten. You'll thank me for it."

I most likely won't. I didn't cough or anything. But I could tell something was affecting me. I was feeling...different. Like my anxiety was disappearing. I couldn't pick up the odor, but I could tell whatever Moriarty was releasing into my room was wrapping itself around me. Hugging me.

It was a calming feeling.

I stopped hurting the door, feeling my body relax. This isn't so bad. I wasn't feeling tired, just...content. Blissful.

I stepped back as I heard the door being unlocked. I tilted my head in thought as Moriarty opened the door.

"How do you feel, kitten?" he asked softly.

"Calm," I said. I didn't feel anxious as he walked into the room. I took note of the blood on my hands. "I feel gross."

"I'll let you clean yourself off." He grabbed my chin delicately. "We'll spend a little time together, and then you and I are going to have some fun."

"What kind?" My brows furrowed.

"It'd spoil the surprise if I told you." He booped my nose with his finger. "You can walk with me. And no, I won't shower with you, unless you want me to." He winked.

I shook my head, taking the crook of his arm, as he led me to the bathroom so that I could get the blood off my hands.  

**RIP Amanda, who would have been the best damn maid of honor for Rach's wedding </3**