221b

[OK. this is not as long as i would hope. not my best. but feels beware. i almost cried while writting this... Sherlock's POV]

I looked at the man. The way he stood. The way he arrived. His companion. His bowtie. Nothing seemed to fit. But everything made sense. As I took out the gun I had already decided on his name, his age, his height, his meaning, his purpose, and his darkest secret.

His companion I had figured out as he had spoken.

“Hello. And what do we have here? Hmmm?” I looked her over once more. “ I know everything about you.”

The girl, Clara, she looked slightly afraid and offended. I saw her lips move slightly, but only in the slightest, forming words, in a beat to a song. But she didn’t say them out loud. Nor did she say them at all. It was her way of keeping safe, close to reality. And not being afraid.

“Eye of the tiger yes?” I said without a moment’s hesitation.

The man, the Doctor, had a look in his eyes. Not his worse, not threatening. “How did you-“

“How did I know? The same way I her name is Clara Oswin Oswald. The same way I know you’re from Galifrey, the same way I know that you understand her, after so long of being in the dark. The same way I know your about to move your hand s to your pocket, and bring out something that I’m going to find intriguing.  The same way I know you just saw the end of the world and the same way that I know how she will die.” I spoke quickly, but calmly and hopped they could keep up. Clara wouldn’t, but the Doctor; he had more than an average mind.

“And what way is that?”

“Observations.”

“And you’re not going to explain.”

“Maybe another day.”

The Doctor moved for his pocket and pointed the screwdriver at me. Pressing a button. I weird button. He moved it up and down, it glowed and he walked around me. The noise was strange, slightly… zingy. He looked at it and frowned.

“It says you’re human.”

“Of course I’m human.”

Clara pipped up. “But-“

“Just don’t, don’t say that.”

“Wh-“

“Don’t, just don’t go there. My ears will shrivel if you say that.”

She looked confused.

“Go ask John.”

She looked at the Doctor and he smiled, nudging her out of the room, she seemed reassured by this and went off in search of John.

The Doctor walked over to the wall, fetching his bowtie and I jumped onto the couch. Lying down.

“So what are you here for?”

“I’m here to talk to you.” I sat up straight.

“Oh well done. I think you just lowered your own IQ to a single digit.”

“So your IQ is untouched.”

“My IQ is of the scale of IQ. It can’t possibly be lowered.”

The doctor tried to say something under his breath and I smiled.

“If you were trying to get me to not hear that. Then you are a terrible whisperer. All I can do is advising you to not make me throw you out the window.”

“You do that often?”

“Do you want to find out?” He cleared his throat with a small smile. I just stared at him, eyebrows tempting to rise.

“You know what I’ve seen.”

“Partially. What did you need me for?”

“An explanation.” I temple my fingers, placing the tips on my lips. “I need you to record everything that happens. From now, until, well, don’t stop.”

“And you’re asking me, not John to do this because?”

“Because I need your deductions.”

“Johns going rather good at this, get it onto his blog.”

“Sherlock, I’m asking a favour, to save the world.”

I nodded slowly. A smile playing on my lips. I had already thought this was going to happen. I had started last month, when the world started to seem a bit too tense. Something had seemed out of place.

“And I’ve already started.” A crash sounded and I stood slowly. “John, are you OK?”

The Doctor jumped up and ran to the kitchen. I walked in after him, and saw the girl, Clara. She was on the floor, a broom was in her hand. I didn’t know we owned a broom. It was stuck out and she looked up at them in horror.

“Doctor.” He was already running around the table and paused.  

I followed in pursuit, and my heart stopped in horror. My mind halted and I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t quite believe what I saw. My eyes where filling with tears, and I ran forward.  John was on the ground, a snarl was escaping his mouth. His eyes were sunken and dull. His skin was greyer. His mouth was open and curled. His arms where stretched and he was trying to reach out to Clara. I fell to the floor and Clara was jolted up by the Doctor who seemed to say something, but I didn’t hear him. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I clutched onto him, he was the only thing in the world. John and I. He kept twisting around, reaching with his arms, trying to attack. But I wouldn’t let him.  This wasn’t going to happen. This couldn’t happen. It didn’t make sense. It was denied by all laws of, well, everything.  I heard the gunshot, and felt the blood that splattered. The Doctor, he was in the picture now. He held the gun that ended it. John was motionless after a quick jolt. I could taste the blood. I felt emotion. I held Johns head, kissing it gently.  I rocked back and forth, hugging his waist and holding his hands, his cold, hard hands.  It couldn’t happen. It wouldn’t happen.

“JOHN! John, John John John John.” It was all I could say, all that I could think. John. My only friend. Someone came next to me. I didn’t care for whom. They tried to talk to me, tried to drag me away.

 I wouldn’t move. How could I? It was John. I’m sorry. All the times, all the things. John why was it you. John, how could it be you? I’m so sorry. John, John, John. John. John. John.

They left. I didn’t know when they left, how long id been alone. I didn’t remember them leaving. John was my only thought. John. My brain wouldn’t even; any other thoughts into it. No imagination, no deduction, no reason. Just John.

Foward In Backward Time

Might be a bit out of character. sorry:) 

“Oi, Clara.” The Doctor stood in the console room, his hair was messed up, wind whipped and everywhere.

“Oi, Doctor.” The girl came into the large circular space. Her heels clicked on the metal as she walked. She was wearing a flowing yellow dress that went to just past her knees, making her appearance shorter than usual. Clara brushed a lock of hair out of her face, striding towards the Doctor.

“The TARDIS has landed!” The Doctor sounded happy, almost excited. He acted like a child on most days, but this was extreme.

“What’s got you so excited?” with a smile

“I’m not excited as much,” he started to jump on the balls of his feet, from side to side. “Just full of adrenaline.”

“Doctor, that was three hours ago.”

“Three hours, two seconds. Time all pans out in the end. I should know, I’m a Lord of it.” He smiled as Clara let out a groan.

“Come on then. Scurry away. Pack your pockets and be off.”

“Pack your pockets?”

“Yes, invented it on the spot, quite creatively cool of me.” He straightened his bow-tie proudly, leading Clara towards the door.

“Doctor, why not come inside?”

“Not this time Clara. Important business I’m afraid.”

“Important?”

“Yes, I’ll show you quickly shall i?” He led Clara through the TARDIS, coming to a comfortable room. It was large; a stack of books was piled next to a throne-like chair. Clara went to o closer to the books, but the Doctor held her back. “Can’t spoil everything can I?”

“Spoilers.” The words played on Clara’s lips and the Doctor looked at her.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“hmmm?” Clara looked up at him.

“Never mind.”

“Never mind what?” The Doctor started to walk out of the room and back to the console room. Going for the exit to the TARDIS.

“Never mind what I told you to never mind.”

“And that was?” The Doctor pushed open the doors and headed outside, his head turned to look at Clara.

“Spoilers.” He whispered as he turned his head to the surroundings. The TARDIS seemed to have materialized on top of some sort of prison. He walked towards the edge and looked over it.

“Doctor? This isn’t-“

“Clara I can see very well where this isn’t. for example, this is not Antarctica. This is not Mars. This is not the Moon. This is not a spaceship. And this is not the inside of the TARDIS. Well, actual, it could be the inside of the TARDIS, if we counted the fact that the TARDIS is pretty much infinite and so we could be in a paradox, which would be extremely awkward. But that would be silly, because there are people in here. So, that has led me to assume we are not in the TARDIS but somewhere less happy.”

“Blimey you talk a lot.”

“Damn it we have a blue box on top of a grey prison, surrounded by green forest. Is it noticeable?”

“I’m going to answer that question when you tell me where we are, and why where not where we are meant to be.” The Doctor looked at her, and back at the TARDIS. He ran inside and Clara stayed outside, keeping a lookout for, whatever there was to look out for.

The Doctor ran back outside a moment later. Clara looked at him expectantly. He went to go and say something and the words seemed to catch in his mouth; he thought for a second and opened his mouth, shutting it again very quickly.

“So?”

“Urhh… we seem to be in ‘The Time Time Doesn’t Matter’. And in the place of ‘The Last Survivors’.” He hesitated as he spoke and Clara looked at him, still baffled.

“Well, you see those things?” He pointed past the gate at what seemed to be a group of less than twenty creatures. They were human like, some tall and some short. They woe human clothes. One wore a similar dress to the one Clara had on and she couldn’t help think that it had good taste. They were anorexic, and flat chested. Limbs were missing, but blood didn’t gush from the wounds. “They are apparently known as ‘Walkers’.”

“They look like Zombies to me.”

“If you saw someone turn, would you prefer to call them a Walker or a Zombie, honestly, Walker is a bit more realistic to the ears. And have you ever seen a Zombie? They aren’t the smartest of things. Or the fastest.” Clara raised an eyebrow. “The point is, you are in exactly the same year, month and day you are meant to be in. The TARDIS was drawn to a life source.  The navigation system is stuffed.”

“So you are telling me, that these are the last survivors?”

“Well not the last, but they are probably the best off.”

“What happened to the rest of the world?”

“They died, either of infection and turned into a Walker, or got eaten alive.”

“Lovely talking.”

“Look, the point is, the present, or future as it may be, has been changed somewhere.”

“Meaning?”

“Someone has altered the now, and without knowing who that is, we are unable to change the now back to now.”

“so?”

“SO, we have to go back and find out what the hell happened to start this.”

“Can’t we just ask one of the people here?” Clara looked around, trying to find something to make her point valid.

“We could… but I’ll let you decide if that is smart.”

Clara looked around and paused. “Probably not.”

“Glad we agree.” He turned to walk towards the TARDIS but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“Tweed coat, old scorch marks, light cuts, sown up again many times but without leaving any visible thread. Hair, messed up, probably by running, but it isn’t back, it’s to the wrong side, so strong wind then, but there hasn’t been anything that strong in the past week.  Bulge in side pocket, a long rounded object not a stick, it’s too pointy, a ball is too circular, not gun, or even a weapon. Wait, no, it IS a weapon. Sort of. screwdriver. Buttons half done up, in a hurry to get somewhere or do something.  Pale skin, no tan.” The Doctor turned around slowly. “Large chin, very large chin, obviously extra-terrestrial, long stride, almost bouncy, used to action and ready to go back into it. Voice, confident, unwavering, English accent, a natural leader. Head tilted down slightly, burden carried. Shoes slightly scuffed looks as if you kick at the floor as you think. Bow-tie, well bow-ties are cool. Hello Doctor.”

The Doctor smiled and clasped the others hand.  “Sherlock Holmes, what do you do know days? Consulting Detective isn’t going to get you very far here.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic.”

“You can talk.”

“I’ve been in an apocalypses for two years, yes I can.”

“True true.”

“Ahh Excuse me.” Clara walked up to the Doctor. Whispering in his ear. “Who is he and why is he here?”

“Why are you here and who are you?” Sherlock grinned as Clara went to speak. “No need. You’re Clara Oswin Oswald, the Doctors current companion.  You are actually a nanny, but you travel with the Doctor through time and space because it is fun.” He had a slight drop to his words as he neared the end. “How boring.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said how boring.”

“I know what you said.”

“Then you are excused?” His face was cluttered with confusion.

The Doctor looked at the two of them and tugged as Clara’s arm, “Come on, we should probably go and stop the end of the world now.”

“That’s a good idea.” Sherlock agreed. His face was neutral, but Clara could have sworn his mouth had twitched into a half smile momentarily.

The Doctor again led her towards the blue box. He smiled as he stepped inside. Clara put on a smile as she turned around.

“Pleasure meeting you.”

“No it wasn’t.”

Confused she closed the door and walked into the console room.

“So where do you know him form?”

“I don’t.”

“You…don’t?”

“Not yet. I will, or I did, or maybe even I have.”

“Tell me when you start to make sense.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

He bopped at the buttons, pulled at leavers and twirled around in circles. It was like a dance, a very ungraceful dance, but a dance nether the less.

He pulled at a leaver and laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because we are about to see the end of the world.”

“That’s not something to be laughing at.”

“That is TRUE, but I have survived the end of the world on multiple occasions. Been locked in a box before as well.”

Clara stayed silent for a moment before the Doctor called her back to the exit.

“You don’t have to look at this is you don’t want to.” He whispered it softly.

“Do I want to see it?”

“It’s your planet ten years in the future, possibly by this time the world has ended, you tell me.”

Clara took a step back from the door as the doctor opened it. He stepped out as light shone through the open door.

“Geronimo.” The Doctor whispered as he stepped out.

He was instantly surrounded with the brutal smell of decay. The grass wasn’t visible anymore, as piles upon piles of decomposed flesh melted into the earth. Features where still slightly visible, but only slightly. For instance the doctor could make out an ear or a mouth. Brains splayed across the land as well, half eaten and melted. He could still hear the noise of the Walkers. They wheezed and huffed, making strangled noises from what was left of their wind pipes.  The doctor shuddered inwardly, stepping back inside and changing the coordinates. He checked every country and every continent to see if they were all the same. Everything seemed to be just a mess of flesh.

The Doctor stepped back into the TARDIS for his final check.

“What is it like out there?”

“Impossible to describe.”

He pulled the lever down once more.

“Where are we going to THIS time?”

“221b baker street, if the TARDIS gets the address right. Year two thousand and ten” He smiled, “let’s say hi to a friend.”

“A friend?”

“A past friend, or… future friend I suppose.”

He walked out of the TARDIS again and walked into a large room. It was square and joined to two other rooms. The wallpaper was burgundy with a white pattern, and many bullets were lined next to a sprayed on smiley-face.

“Sherlock, I got the,-“The man opened the door with a creek, he was short, he wore a leathery jacket, checked shirt and jeans. His hair was short and blonde, it was flat and stubby and the man didn’t look pleased to see them. “Who are you?”

Clara looked at the Doctor as she stepped out of the TARDIS. “We are friends.” The Doctor spoke firmly. “Or… we will be.”

John gave him a confused look, but as he saw Clara, his glare softened. “Name?”

“I’m the Doctor, and this is Clara.”

“The Doctor? Doctor Who?”

“Exactly, would you be able to go fetch Sherlock for me.” He smiled and undid his bow-tie, holding it up to the light.

A gunshot sounded and the Bow-tie went flying out of the Doctors hands, hitting the wall behind him. A man who looked to be in his early 30’s or late 20’ stood with the gun. his cheek bones where angled and he wore a trench coat with the collar turned up. He was a spitting image of the man they had seen before.

“Oi that was my favorite.”

His scarf was blue and his hands where putting the gun back into his pocket. He looked at the couple and a childish sort of grin spread across his face.

“Hello. And what do we have here? Hmmm?”

An Ending Of A Bad Begining.

[HI! so I'm just gonna state some stuff. If you don't like it, DON'T READ IT! if you do like it, please comment bellow. this will be posted on my fan fiction account as well, at Skulduggery Bathilda Spark. when i have a few more chapters. This is a Skulduggery Pleasant, Walking Dead, Doctor Who, Sherlock crossover.  It is going to be gory, and violence is involved. coarse language may be apparent in future chapters. All rights belong to owners. the storyline is mine, I hope you enjoy. feedback is appreciated. i will try update at leaat once a week. Go read:)]

A large jail, like building jutted out from the earth. It was dank and grey, the volume however was large.  Wired fence was doubled around the whole building, topped with barbs, and then surrounded by another lot of the stuff. Four large gun towers surrounded the prison, people were positioned on each, but it was hard to see their features, let alone identify who they were. However the smell of death and decaying bodies was intense. Twenty odd people seemed to be walking along the outside of the Jail, but they were more than people by the looks of it. Blood smeared their shirts; they were bone skinny and when they turned to face you it was as if their eyes had retreated into the back of their head. Some had hands and arms torn off. Others half dangling legs. One of them had a jaw that seemed to be missing. Their skin was grey-ish and their clothes too baggy.  It was like a living hell, or a necromancer heaven.  Dead bodies and half eaten corpses lay further away from the jail, and everyone acted as if this was an everyday occurrence. A blue box appeared on the top of the prison. It didn’t appear silently, but it didn’t make a noise. It faded into the picture, not in a rush to be anywhere, or do anything. It was, as you could clearly see, a 1960’s Police Box. A man in a suit stepped out and looked around, followed by a girl in a nice yellow dress. Neither of them seemed to expect what they saw.

And then the vision faded back to reality.

Delta Mallet ran sat up and took out her mobile calmly; she dialled the Irish Sanctuary and hopped for a response.

“Hello?” The Elders rough voice was slightly muffled through the sound of the phone.

“Good day Elder Bespoke.” Delta paused politely, but she sat on the edge of her seat nether the less.

“Ahh, Miss Mallet, and news I suppose?”

“Yes, not the good kind, and… well, not the bad kind either.”

“Well you better tell me what going on, come down here and-“A ringing came from the other end of the line and the Elder paused.  “Can you hold a second?” It obviously wasn’t an option, but she waited patiently as she heard the calling form the other side of the line.

“GHASTLY!”  She could make out the voice of the Grand Mage and listened intently. “I have over eighty PHONECALLS from all the Seers around IRELAND!”

“Umm, Erskine, I’m talking to one know so-“

“Can you find out what they bloody want?” He sounded enraged, and Delta couldn’t help but snicker.

“That is what I intend on doing Grande Mage.” He spoke calmly with a certain soothing edge to his tone.

“Ahh, right… good. I’ll just” He slipped out of the room and Ghastly sighed. “Sorry about that.” He said as he picked up the phone.

“No problem.” Delta let out a grin; it wasn’t every day you got to hear that, well not every day for her anyway.

“So what is it?”

Delta explained the vision quickly and tried not to leave out any information.  He was a good listener and waited until she was finished before asking any questions.

“So you think you saw the apocalypse or something?”

“I believe it may be an extension on it, yes.”

“But the future can be changed.”

“Yes, but by the sounds of it, this is almost set in stone.”

“The sounds of it?”

“Well, the Grande Mage did say he had a phone call from almost every seer in Ireland. At the same time, does that seem like a coincidence to you?”

“No, no it doesn’t. Would you be able to come to the Sanctuary, now? I’ll need you to talk to some people, do some stuff like that.”

“Of course.” She gritted her teeth slightly.

“Oh, and try to be quick.” Ghastly smiled and hung up. He took out his mobile and pressed speed dial.

“Skulduggery get down here, NOW.” The Elder hung up without waiting for a response and walked outside. Of his office. Erskine Ravel sat on the bench outside and stood as he came out. “Am I royalty now?” Erskine winked and Ghastly shook his head.

“What is the fuss then?”

“I’ll tell you when Skulduggery gets here.”

“But I’m the Grande Mage!”

“And I’m waiting.”

“Fine, can you give me a summary?”

“Probably.”

“Are you going to?”

“Not a chance.”

Erskine scowled and they stood around awkwardly for a moment. He let a smile escape his lips, “Come on, let’s get some coffee.”

“We don’t have time to get coffee.” Ghastly was laughing even if the situation was dire.

“I can do anything.” Ghastly gave him a look and his smile turned into a grin. “Just watch. Oh yes you, can you please get us some coffee.” The man he was asking looked at him and nodded before running off, returning moments later with two hot coffees. “Thank you,” he handed the man some money before turning to Ghastly.

Ghastly laughed and went back into his office, Erskine trailing him.

“Where are they, they should be hear by know.”

“Who us?” Skulduggery opened the door and walked in, Valkyrie trailed him. Twigs stuck out of her hair, leaves and mud were all over her pants and face.  Skulduggery walked in smoothly and Valkyrie groaned and went straight the bathroom. Running her clothes under the water, and then manipulating the air to dry them off.

“Yes you, know Ghastly tell me what the hell is going on.”

“Well, I can’t…”

“You can’t?” Skulduggery sighed. “You drag me all the way from a very important mission to tell me you can’t tell me anything.”

“What ‘important mission’ was this one then?” The Grande Mage looked at Skulduggery, eyebrows raised. “I see Valkyrie got quite tossed around.” At this she stepped out of the bathroom, her clothes dry, and no way near as dirty.

“You said my name?” she asked and her eyebrows rose.

“Nothing dearie,” Skulduggery said. “You have a twig in your hair though.” With a scowl she went back to the bathroom and went to fixing her hair. “I was trying to teach her how to climb a tree; she isn’t the expert on it, as I learnt again today. She fell out five times.”

Erskine started to giggle rapidly and Skulduggery sighed. “She WHAT?”

“Yes yes, she fell out of a tree. Five times.”

“And this has never happened before?”

“Not five times it hasn’t.”

The pair started chuckling and Ghastly sat there frustrated with the pair of them.

“Can we actually remember why where here?”

Valkyrie came and sat on the floor, back against the wall, a scowl sat on her face. “Nope, because no whenever told me.” She sent Skulduggery a glance and he tilted his head. “Enlighten me.”

“Well we are waiting for a Seer by the name of Delta Mallet. She has seen the future-“

“That’s always handy.”

“-And apparently so have 80 others.”

“Wait, at the same time?” Skulduggery questioned.

Erskine pipped up. “Seems like it.”

A soft knocking sounded on the door. Skulduggery walked over and opened it to reveal the most unattractive women you would have ever laid eyes on. Her hair was neon purple and her eyes were yellow, green and red. She wore a dress of pink snakeskin and a blue leopard fur hand bag. Her teeth were almost all falling out, even though she was only in her forties, her face was rounded and she seemed to have no neck. Her nose was overly large, and her eyebrows didn’t exist. She wore too much make-up, but none of it helped at all. The whole room was quite for a few seconds.

“Hello, I’m Delta Mallet.” Her voice was high pitched and wheezy.

“Ahh, hello Delta. Would you be able to tell us the vision you had.”

Delta sat down on one of the chairs and started to tell everyone the vision she had had. When she started to talk about necromancers Skulduggery and Valkyrie gave each other a look, that everyone seemed to catch, but no one understood. When she finished Ghastly led her out of the room and looked at the detectives.

“Thoughts?”

“Well,” Skulduggery looked at Valkyrie; she looked revolted about the whole experience. “I’m not actually too sure about this one.”

Valkyrie glanced at Skulduggery quickly. “Rain check?”

Erskine looked at them, “Not even going to guess?”

“I’ve got an idea; well that’s a lie, many ideas. As for the people in the police box…”His velvet voice broke off. He seemed as stumped as anyone.

“How can something, just appear like that?”

“Fletcher?”

“Yes, but he doesn’t slowly appear and come in and out of focus.”

Skulduggery paused. “We will get back to you on this one.”

Erskine and Ghastly looked at them, puzzled. “Ok,” Erskine said slowly.

“But we want to know as soon as you find anything.” Ghastly stated.

“Of course.” Skulduggery straightened up, and Valkyrie followed, they walked out the door and left the Elder and Grande Mage to their business.  Valkyrie jumped in the Bentley, followed by Skulduggery.

“You don’t think its Darquess do you?”

“Honestly Valkyrie, I really don’t know what to think.”

“But I mean, a ‘Necromancers Paradise’ isn’t that exactly what she will want. Everything ‘reeking of death’?”

“It’s possible, and not unlikely.”

“What about the man in the box?”

“Valkyrie we don’t even know how far away this future is, let alone when it is. We can’t jump to conclusions.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right, I’m always right.” Valkyrie laughed as they drove out of the run down streets of Roarhaven.  But however hard she hopped, she couldn’t see a way around the end of the world. She felt a rubbery hand on her leg and looked up.

“Don’t worry,” He turned to face her. “We will-“

“What the HELL is that?” Valkyrie screamed as she saw the blood lining the street. Skulduggery’s head swivelled to the road and swerved out of the way. The thing was human like but looked half decayed. It wasn’t like any zombie she had seen. She thought of Scapergrace and she realised how terrifying this thing was. This wasn’t a zombie, not even one that had touched human flesh. This was something form a living hell. Its eyes were pooping out of its head; it wore clothes, a suit in fact. It didn’t wear shoes, and as skulduggery shot the thing square in the chest, it didn’t die. The thing came for the Bentley. And Skulduggery sped up, handing Valkyrie the gun as he drove.

“Wind down your window.” Skulduggery turned.

“What?!”

“Do it.”

With a deep breath Valkyrie unclipped her seat belt, and pushed the window down. She took the gun in both hands and shot at it.

“Try not to waste bullets.” He said with a smirk

“I hate you.”

“No you don’t.”

Valkyrie lined up the gun and tried to hit at the creature. She closed one eye and the creature snarled. It stumbled after the car, and it wasn’t slow about it. Valkyrie shot out with the gun, hitting it in the stomach, it pushed backwards again. Valkyrie relined as Skulduggery swerved the car. And again she shot, the bullet pushed right through the head, and the creature fell to the ground. She wound up the window as the car stopped.  They jumped out of the car and walked over to the dead creature.

“What is it?” Valkyrie asked. Her voice quivered on the last word.

“I’m not sure. But we better get it into the Bentley.”

“I am not touching that.”

“I never asked.” Skulduggery lifted his hand and Valkyrie got the boot. The thing hovered over to the car and one of the legs fell off in its suspension. Valkyrie raised her hand and used the air to flick it towards the boot.

“What do you think of it?” Valkyrie mused.

“I can tell you one thing; Darquess is not the one responsible.”