Aghh! Poor Holmes! Suddenly a long stay looks very feasible... now he needs to escape in earnest. And we all know to mistrust cooincidence. Now who knew that Holmes and Gregson had set this investigation up?
I LOVE this story! Holmes seems so out of his element, he stands out so much the more clearly against the background. Chopped, starved, isolated, likely in danger of a flogging, not to mention the sinister beginning... yet somehow, I bet he comes through. I just hope it has a better result for him than the last case. Please write more soon! Thank you!

Uh, no. I don't believe in coincidence when the only man who knows where Sherlock is has been seriously injured. Fortunately Holmes now has a means of escape if necessary but still.

It rather sounds to me like someone wants to keep Holmes well out of the way. Why is the question. . . . "who" is another.

Argh!!

Hurry up with that update PLEASE!

I am way too involved with this story now not to want a prompt dose of the next installment! LOL!

I've run out of commendations. You are clearly a brilliant writer and ought to be in print. Besides that, what is there to say?

Oh, me...
Just when I was thinking to myself how well I could read this chapter...you went and threw me off the base with that punch! Gregson! Now what? You are showing a frightening look of prison, m'lady!!

Wynde, I really enjoyed this installment. About Merridew, that name does sound familiar...Thank you so much for sharing.

Merridew of abominable memory - love it!

Bald though?! BALD?! That must do wonders for those hawk-like features. ;(

I'm beginning to think Holmes is not a very fast learner. How many idiotic situations must he place himself in before the fine art of detecting from OUTSIDE the lair sink in? PRISON, for heaven's sake!

Love Young Holmes though. Hope he comes out of this without add'l holes or scars. Knowing you, I doubt it!

I'm feeling more nervous yet motherly by the minute... and I don't like the sound of that cough. I have a bit of memory of Merridew as well ... an abominable memory perhaps? After all, Holmes' collection of M's is a fine one.
So pleased you've updated this story - I love it, I love all your young Sherlock stories. He's starting to resemble his older self a little more here - grit, determination and borderline insanity. Baldness - less so. Great attention to detail too, atmosphere very potent. Thanks a lot, more please!

ek.

How the man stayed alive before Watson, I have no idea.

This made my fingers ache with cold as I typed. BR! What a miserable, cheerless, relentlessly frightening place!

I'm hooked on your story and I can't wait for the next update.

What a lousy time poor Holmes is having of it though! This situation has me totally intrigued.

In the true spirit of Stephen King, I must bellow out, "FRESH FISH!"

That said, at least Holmes should not have to worry (overly much) about a fellow prisoner molesting him. If I recall correctly, prisoners were isolated completely from each other.
Now the wardens and such, I would not give the benefit of the doubt.

(I'd been wondering about Holmes's cough. Dr didn't ask him how long he'd have the cough and my money's on impending pneumonia.)

Holmes is right. His description of prison sounds more conservative than what he was really experiencing! Must he learn all his hard lessons this way?

But I like seeing Holmes go through these experiences this way. Makes me see him in a different light other than a cold, arrogant, hard-nosed bast*rd he sometimes is.

I am loving this so much! I think it might be my favourite of your stories so far, which is a high compliment.
This captures Holmes in so many ways - the dedication to the cause, the perfectionism, the attention to detail - and yet adds a dimension to his character. He is obviously not much more than an boy, albeit a very intelligent one. He acknowledges and reacts to his emotions more, and is more impulsive. Yet he's still so recognisable - the self revulsion at being dirty, and the touch of vanity. I adore him!
I'm really hoping he comes up trumps at the end of this story - I'm looking forward to his trials and tribulations along the way, but I do want to see him picked up and made better.
Please keep writing!
Thanks

I haven't been this chilled and unsettled in quite a while. I'm taking this as a sign that things are about to get worse, ever so much worse...

It looks as if Gregson CAN harbour a grudge. Thank you for sharing.

I'll put money on "worse", and I don't think Im taking too much risk... Poor Holmes...