Footsteps echoed down the hall. John grasped the key in his hand so tightly that the cold metal bit into his skin. He hurried through the dark corridor, his shadow growing taller then shrinking again as he passed each candle mounted to the wall. He couldn't run. They would kill him now if he ran. There was little time left.  They would kill him eventually, John knew that for sure. They had been watching him for a long time now.  

Where could he put it? Where would it be safe? 

No. Keep it here. Move the key. It should be far away so they couldn't get it. Who could he give it to? 

Blue eyes and a laugh echoed through his thoughts. Her? Maybe. If he gave the key to her, she may think it only as a trinket. A gift. That would work. But if she worked out it's true purpose...... they might kill her too. John could never let that happen. But if they got the key, they might find it. 

Love for her and the safety of the thing he was sworn to protect battled in his heat. The love won. 

John sighed.  Reaching the door,  he stepped through and locked the heavy door with a plain iron key. There was no point, John knew. They could still get through.

On the desk of the office an old fashioned phone waited. It was rigged as an intercom between rooms. Sitting down onto the leather chair and dialling the right number, John waited until the static was replaced with a click and an answering voice.

"Yes, sir?"

"Oh, Martha. I'm sending something down the chute. When you get it, please give it to my granddaughter."

John stood up leaving the phone on call. On the wall was a small brass hatch. When he opened it, it lead to a dark shaft running through the wall, made for delivering notes and small items from the upper floors to the lower ones. Carefully placing the key inside, John listened as it tumbled and clattered down the chute to the matching hatch in the kitchen, where the shaft ended.

"What is it sir?" Martha answered when John picked up the phone again.

"Just a gift." Martha didn't know how important it was. She didn't know what was at stake. "You must make sure it gets to her."

"Yes, sir."   

John placed the phone down again, ending the call. He hoped that would be enough to keep it safe.

John looked around the room, savouring the moment.

Quietly, the door of the office clicked open. 

They were here.

John looked away. He was an old man, there was no point in running. They would always find him. 

His time as Guardian was over, but a new one might be just beginning.