Final Chapter: Three Drops of Red

Flora stood, panting, she looked as if her guardian had just accused her of murder. "W-what?" her eyes dropped to the floor, it was a mistake, it had be a mistake! She turn her gaze onto Luke, had he known about this? But one look at the boy's horrified expression told her otherwise, so, there were thing the professor didn't tell his trusty assistant.

Layton walked towards Flora, taking a small and aged book out of his pocket. "This is yours, my dear," he said, handing it to her. "It was left to you by your father, the one that brought you up, and I'm sure it will mean more to you than any amount treasure St Mystere has to offer."

"But, what is it?" Luke couldn't help himself from asking, despite the tenderness of the moment.

Flora stroked the leather cover of the book with her thumbs, she recognised this thing. She had just remembered it's identity when the professor turned and continued his story. "This is the late Baron's diary, Bruno gave it to me earlier. I have come across it before, but there were vital pages that I missed." He began to make his way over to the steel bowls. "It tells of his first meeting with Layla, or 'Viola' as she had renamed herself." Descole winced, there was no denying it now, countless times Layla had suggested Viola as a baby name because that was what she had always wanted to be called. "Later it says that Viola told Augustus that she had run away from her former husband, as he was creating contraptions that could seriously harm someone. She says that he was neglecting his family more and more." He reached the middle bowl and stroked the edge of it. "This is when I began to have my suspicions, so I made quick trip to London to gather more evidence. Sure enough, I found a file on Viola, which showed a record of changing her name from 'Layla Sycamore'." He turned to Descole. "So, do you need anymore evidence?" Descole had been listening in stunned silence, Layton didn't have any reason to lie, did he? His mouth quivered in shock, this couldn't be right, how could she have been there the entire time without him knowing…

And yet he had known, now that he thought about it, deep down he had known something. There were so many things Flora had said, so many gestures she had made that were just so… Layla…

"But… Papa…" Flora was looking at the book mournfully, tears were welling up in her eyes.

"Flora…"

"No!" She clutched the diary to her chest. "He isn't my Papa! He isn't my Papa! This!" She gripped the book tighter. "THIS was my…" Her voice trailed off and she began to sob, with low moans of "Oh, Papa…"

"Flora." She looked up as she felt the warm, reassuring hand of the professor land on her shoulder. He gave her a sad smile that comforted her no end. "Some people say it's the people that bring you up that are your real parents, and there's a lot of truth in that." He managed to look even sadder. "I should know."

Flora looked into those deep, brown eyes and instantly felt more sorry for the professor than she had ever felt for herself. He had been broken in so many places, so much had been taken from him. Arguably, her life looked similar, but he always picked up the pieces, always made it through without so much as batting an eyelid. How must it feel to wake every morning only to remember the long list of people you'll spend the day without? People always marveled at the professor's legendary intelligence, his fantasy-like-sword fighting, his master tea brewing skills, but the ability that was always over looked was how to keep on living when there's nothing to live for. It would keep on being over looked, there was nothing anyone could do about that, so Flora felt proud to be one of few that appreciated it.

In one moment, in one shish of a black cape, Flora disappeared from underneath his finger tips. "NO!" Luke cried disparagingly. In the time it took for Layton to turn around, Descole was standing by the bowls, one arm around Flora's neck, the other holding a sword. The ugly grin had returned to his face.

"Well done Layton, applause! Bravo! Whatever else you want, now let's get this thing open."

"No!" Flora protested, she pulled at his arm, only causing him to tighten his grip.

"Flora!" Luke charged at them. Descole pointed the sword at him so that the point lightly pressed on the boy's chin, preventing him coming any closer.

"Luke…" Flora gasped, her face as pale as a sheet. He returned her terrified expression, close to tears, he stepped back. Flora began to struggle and kick her legs.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Descole hissed. "I'm getting blood from you one way," he replaced the arm he that was holding her back with the sword, making her give a small 'yelp!'. "Or another."

"Let her go, Descole." Said the professor, sharply but calm. "She is to do this willingly or not at all." Descole hesitated, then sighed sadly, Layton had no means of stopping him doing whatever he liked with the girl, but it was easier not to have the argument. He let go and took a step back. No sooner had he removed the blade from her throat, Flora ran to the professor and wrapped her arms around him, sobbing into his shoulder. He held her at arms length and looked at her solemnly. "Flora, you and you alone can help us unlock this mystery, but I will not," he shoot a sideways glance at Descole. "Have anyone make you do anything." Flora sniffed sadly, and nodded.

"I'll do it." She half whispered. She turned around and stood in front of the middle bowl (very cautious of Descole), took out the penknife she found in the study and flicked open the blade. She hesitated, not sure whether or she wanted to slice open her flesh, but then she saw Descole make a sudden moment in the corner of her eye and quickly cut across her thumb. The pain made her panic slightly, but she did her best not to let it show. She held her thumb over the bowl and let a few drops of blood fall into it. After a few moments, the bowl began the glow red, by this time Descole had already cut his hand with sword and deposited his blood into the bowl. Without even looking at him, Descole passed the sword to the professor, who followed suit before he could change his mind.

When all three bowls were glowing, the room began to shake and the whir of machinery could be heard behind the wall in front of them, suddenly it split down the middle and the halves began to separate. The grinding of stone against stone was so loud it drowned out the horrified gasps from the younger two. Flora began to back away in fear when the all too familiar hand of Descole gripped her by the shoulder making her freeze solid. "You're not going anywhere." He snarled. "Your place is here as much as it is mine, you are to see out until the end." Another hand was placed on her other shoulder, this time she looked up to see the professors friendly smile. Finally, a hand took her own, she looked over and saw Luke, his face stained with tears of fear, but still wearing a proud smile. She turned back to the wall in front of her, the was growing wider and wider.

This was it. By opening that door, she had just started something huge, and she would see it out to the end no matter what. After this, no more lies, no more secrets, no more 'it's for your own good'. It was time to face the truth, which was okay, because she wouldn't have to do it alone.

Ok guys, that's the end of the story! Please review, follow, favourite and tell your friends! Until next time folks!

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No it really is the end of the story.

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You can keep scrolling all ya like there's no more story...

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Just kidding! I wouldn't do that to you guys! (Seriously, I hate books that end on major cliffhangers) Who'da thought it? This is actually the first of a trilogy! So, look out for Professor Layton and the Hall of Dreams!