As they entered a clearing Gwen quickly caught up to him, looking curiously at the blue box. “Your transport…..it’s just a police box,” she told him flatly. Her head cocked to the side as she took in the sight. It was so out of place, like it was just plopped into the woods. She forgot her caution for a moment and tapped it lightly with her fingers.
It was real.
“I know these woods like the back of my hand. This has never been here,” Gwen noted with a frown. Then again, he had said ‘transport,’ but that still made no sense.
"A police box? Wow– Hadn’t even noticed that in all of my two thousand years of travelling with this thing,“ he snapped in a sarcastic manner as he reached for his key. The box indeed seemed out of place, as much as the Doctor himself did, the blue colour almost being the opposite of the warmly coloured leaves scattered across the ground.
"Y'know, the sharp deduction skills that humans bear never do cease to amaze me.” While the Doctor rolled his eyes, the key of the police box slid into the lock with practiced ease. And then that click of the lock rang through the forest. A shiver ran through his spine as her entered the TARDIS; the Doctor loved that click. When all broke down around him –most times because of him– there was that one sound he could always count on; the click of his TARDIS’ doors opening up to him, an infinite world hidden inside.
His riddles both confused and intrigued her. The Doctor was a closed book with something sinister up his sleeve. He seemed sly like a snake with a false pretense and cruel mannerisms. Someone who would always want to be in control. She had to admit, that fact scared her.
And yet he kept walking, almost with more intention as they got closer to his ‘teleport.’ With hesitation, Gwen began walking again, trailing behind so that is she needed to she could run; although her legs probably wouldn’t carry her as fast as his longer ones. “Where are we going again?” Gwen asked carefully.
"Transport.“
His words were kept as short as his patience. The long strides he made rapidly extended the space between the woman and him. And soon– sooner than he expected– the blue box, what a beauty, loomed into his sight, returning the smirk he was sending it.
Just a few more steps.. His hand already trailed off into his pocket, reaching for the TARDIS key. As soon as they were inside, he would be able to scan her and dim these peculiar powers of her, like turning down the gas under a stove.
Gwen paused for a moment, absorbing the information he told her. Alien? She wasn’t that surprised. For a long time she had felt she was, but no one had out right said it to her. “You’re an alien? You don’t look like one,” she pointed out flatly. It was almost as if it was getting darker in the forest and a sense of foreboding washed over her. Gwen stopped in the middle of the trail, unsure if she should follow or not.
"You don’t look like one either. I would almost pity your humanity, but I feel it’s not too late to change.“
The riddles kept coming, even though he wasn’t sure what they meant and where they came from. The presence of his TARDIS faded in, growing stronger every step he made.
Her conscience told her no. Her gut told her no. But Gwen simply couldn’t resist answers…if he even had them. And so, she followed him into the forest leaving her house, and safety, behind. A part of her wondered if she’d ever see her home again. And yet, she continued.
Gwen trailed behind him, not wanting to get too close. “You said you have a transport?” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Are you an alien?”
His eyes trailed over the leaves, which barely made way for sunshine in the thick shadows of the forest. One could almost find this to be night rather than noon. With a voice filled with mindlessness, he answered.
“Basically– Yes. Yes, I am. And you are as well.”
He almost made it a game to riddle these odd statements at her, teasing her through the forest, as if he was a hunter who lured a deer. Perhaps that metaphor wasn’t that far fetched.
Gwen took a deep breath before continuing. “You said that you have answers….about what I am,” she started slowly. “What am I?” She wasn’t entirely sure whether he would answer her questions or not, but it was worth a try. Her gut had a feeling that today was gonna be a long day. And probably not a pleasant one either.
“I have answers,” he repeated, tongue brushing against the inside of his lips, “and it seems like you are eager to hear ‘em. Well, little girl– These answers require payment. But I’ll show you some of it first; give you a guarantee, if you will.”
Turning back to the forest, he shouted, “Follow me! My transport is hidden out there. I will show you what you truly are.”
Gwen’s eyes widened at his offer. Could she even call it an offer? It was more of a threat, in a way. He could give her answers. Answers that have been haunting her for years. Now that was a bit unfair. He already had the upper hand and they’d only been talking for 5 minutes.
With a defeated sigh, Gwen said, “Wait. Just….wait.” She almost reached out and grabbed his arm, but drew away at the last moment in fear he might grab her or….do something worse.
With his back turned to this peculiar woman, no one but him knew about the glimpse of a grin that showed when she called him back. When he turned towards her, though, no grin could be seen; only two lips, clashed together in a polite half-smile.
“I’m waiting–”
Gwen’s eyes hardened and her hands tightened into fists as anger bubbled up inside her. Ignoring the alarm bells going off in her head, she took a step closer and pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare tell me what to do. I’m not a puppet,” she said acidly.
Gwen couldn’t help it. Things got touchy when her abilities were involved and she’d do anything to keep them hidden. She had a hunch that he wasn’t from the government, so no worries about that. Gwen was worried for a completely different reason now and she knew that this day wouldn’t be ending anytime soon.
“Woa, woa, woa– You don't have to show me. I just want you to know that I have answers, alright?” He stepped away from the wall and slowly slid through the leaves, carving a path to the woman. “Whatever questions you might have,” the Doctor said, arching a brow as he leaned for her ear, “I can answer.”
Turning on the balls of his feet, he threatened to step forward. Threatened to walk away. “I’ll be on my way, then. Good day.”
Gwen took another step back, this one out of fear. It was almost as if he was…cooing to her. Very very special? Gwen was irked a bit, but knew better then to snap back at him. That’s when it hit her. He knew what she was. Or at least…that she could do something.
“Gwen,” she told him carefully. There’s no way she was giving her full name to a man like him. Too dangerous.
“Gwen,” he repeated, as if tasting red wine and spitting it back out. “Gwen, Gwen, Gwen. I’d love to see what you can do.” His sonic slipped back into his pocket, and the Doctor leaned back against the wall.
“C'mon, then– Don’t be shy. Show me what makes you different from these apes.”
Gwen studied him for a moment more as she took a small step back. He was dangerous, that much was clear. Plus she could see the devastation in her house from the window. Her phone was in her pocket and she wanted to call for help badly, but knew she couldn’t. He wouldn’t allow that. She was nervous, but managed to keep her voice steady.
“Doctor who, exactly?”
"Jus’ your regular ol’ Doctor.“
His hand slipped to his sonic, beaming it onto her with that reassuring buzz. "Aha!” Scanning the readings, he smiled and raised his brows. “Seems to me like you’re special. Very, very special.”
“What is your name?”
Startled, Gwen looked up from the ground to see a man leaning against her house. What the heck? Where did he even come from? Gwen was silent with shock for a moment and simply stared at the man. There wasn’t even a car in the driveway. Nothing.
Her mother had taught her to be cautious when it came to these types of situations. Gwen didn’t answer his question, instead she asked, “And who would you be? How’d you even get here?” Something was…off about him, although she couldn’t place it. Her senses were alert and she could feel her hands drying off with heat as they spoke. Flames might come in handy if anything happened.
“I walked.”
Simple answer for a simple question. What was less simple, was the fact that his hands were itching to lock around the woman’s neck. How would he get close enough to attack? This woman was dangerous; that much was clear about the way her muscles tensed and her frown changed her features. She knew what she was doing.
"I’m the Doctor.“
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Gwen muttered as it began to pour. A 20 minute walk. That was all she wanted! It had seemed that it would be a beautiful autumn day. Wrong. Not only was she soaked to the bone, but Gwen was freezing too. Her hands and toes were numb and she couldn’t feel them at all, let alone move them. She had thought to let her hands ignite in blue flames, that would surely warm them, but didn’t in case there might be people around; not that there ever were, though. The woods near her house didn’t offer much protection from the skies as they’d been stripped of their leaves a few weeks prior.
At this point all Gwen wanted was a nice cup of tea and maybe to sit down and read a good book. With this in mind, she picked up her pace a bit and hurried down the trail, the roof of her house in sight.
He was furious. Running back downstairs, the Doctor threw random pictures and vases on the floor. Furious. He had been travelling through the country for ages, and when he finally found a house– It was empty. No one. His idea of a comfy evening, throwing another leg on the fire as he sat down with hot cocoa, was destroyed. He needed those body parts; how else would he light a fire?
The Time Lord was just outside, leaning against the wall just a few steps away from the door, when he heard someone clashing through the dismal autum leaves. Haha– Target acquired.
“Hello! Could you perhaps lend me a hand?" Literally, probably.