"Flight 262 to London is now starting to board"
By now my body is jittering with excitement. Our small class of twelve students is all huddled up towards the teacher, Mrs Whitman, while she marks the roll once more and goes over the instructions for the thirtieth time this morning. I roll my eyes at the droning repetition of this morning's schedule. Her structure of scheduling is always dreary and completely mind numbing but I don't let it damper my mood this morning, especially since we are all about to start boarding. I've been waiting for this trip for eight months now, annoying my friends and family with my constant moaning of how this trip couldn't of come any sooner.
"Mickey, we are actually going to London. London! As in London. The. London. Can you believe it?"
Blaire hasn't been able to keep her mouth shut this whole morning, but that's what I love about her. She has been my constant go to, especially in these last few months with both of us going on this trip. It was her idea to go on this excursion and so she persuaded me to join her. She constantly helped me with reminders of payments, forms and meetings as I am hopeless when it comes to organisation. And she was also always there to share excitement with. Now that I am standing here, ready to board, I don't regret in letting her sway me over. Blaire's the greatest best friend I could ever ask for; always being there for me, always embarrassing me and always pushing me to do more and experience more. She has her quirky and geeky ways but so do I and she is always there to pull me back down to Earth and making me become a better person. I'm so glad to have her and share this trip with her.
"Oh, trust me; I've been buzzing about this trip for ages. That 5am wakeup call is definitely worth it now." I reply to her enthusiasm.
"Ugh! Don't remind me about that. I practically stayed up the whole night. Couldn't get a wink! I swear I gave my alarm clock the coldest death glare I could possibly possess when it rudely interrupted my three minute nap." She groans. Blaire has always had trouble with insomnia and I constantly worry about it. It can't be good for her health especially with the amount of times she gets sick.
"Don't worry. At least you can get plenty of sleep on the flight. It is a 22 hour trip which in my honest opinion, sucks. But at least you catch up on sleep."
We continue in the boarding line, eventually entering the plane and head to our seats. Blaire and I specifically asked to assign seats next to each other so that the flight wouldn't be much of a bore. We were very delighted when it was confirmed that we were able to get the tickets.
"So we are in row K and I am in seat 9 and you in seat 10." I state, squinting my eyes at the tickets. We roam the aisle in search for our seats. I scan the surface but end up having to search for my glasses in my backpack as the numbers are too small and blurry. By the time I actually find them, Blaire has found our seats.
"Awww. Not fair! How come you get the window seat! You always get the window seat with everything!" I complain. It's true. Blaire always get's the window seat; whether it a train, bus, car and now plane, she always gets it.
"Hey! I got to get lucky with some things otherwise it wouldn't be fair. You always get free stuff and discounts for no god damn reason, so for me I get the window seat." Blaire retorts back with amusement on her face. I narrow my eyes at her, clearly stating that I am not at all entertained while crossing both my arms for added effect.
"You know, there are times when I just want to punch that damn smirk off your face. Better be careful cos' one day I just might snap." I warn, smiling dangerously. Her smirk does not falter but rather grows.
"Oh, that will never happen, sweetie. You love me too much for that, Mickey-Wickey." She replies with a sickly sweet tone. I roll my eyes and sigh whilst setting my backpack on the floor near my feet and sitting down; Blaire following.
"So did you put any movies and stuff on your iPad to watch?" Blaire asks hopefully. I grin like a Cheshire cat and my eyebrows elevate up and down cheekily.
"I may or may not have downloaded season 4, 5 and 6 of Doctor Who, specials included. We might as well do some accurate study of where we are going and what better way than through the eyes of the Doctor." I respond poshly in a jokingly over the top manner.
"Mickey, you are my hero! What would I do without you?" Blaire exclaims.
"Die in an endless abyss of boredom." I reply brashly.
"Hey!" She shouts defensively. I laugh childishly; just a typical day between Blaire and I. What more could one ask for?
"No need to be rude! Especially when you have no idea what you are talking about! I would so not die in an abyss of boredom!" Blaire comments with fake offence.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains no matter how improbable, must be the truth." I quote with wit.
"Oi!" Blaine cries indignantly. She sighs.
"It is wit like that, that make me either love you more or make me want to punch you in the face." She states playfully.
"Well with my wit and your smirk combined, we shall surely have a messed up face." I remark sassily. We both burst into fits of laughter but are soon interrupted by the pilot, flight attendants and the buckle your seat belt sign.
"Good morning passengers for flight 262. It's a beautiful morning in Sydney today. Sky's are all clear, the sun is out and we are all set to embark our flight to London. It is currently Saturday March 15 9:32am EST and we are expected to arrive in London at Saturday March 15 8:16pm GMT. Please put your seatbelt on as we are about to depart and we would like to thank you for flying with QANTAS. You're the reason we fly."
And now we run and set off to one of our biggest adventures; an adventure that has been long waited.
After a long 22 hour flight with two whole seasons of Doctor Who watched, the excitement and enthusiasm of our arrival in London only lasts for about 20 minutes as the jet lag starts to settle in Blaire and I. Now, we are striding our zombie-like bodies towards the hotel where we are staying at. The bag that I'm dragging feels as if it has gained ten kilos as I lug it towards my assigned room. Luckily enough, Blaire and I are assigned as roommates, so there will be no awkward conversations or situations with an almost stranger. I am so tired that I don't even notice the number of my room as I slip the key into lock and swing the door open.
The first thing I do is get rid of the luggage out of my hands and grab my toiletries.
"Shotty first shower!" I declare. Blaire not even aware of her surroundings, mumbles something incoherently which I take as an opportunity to take the bathroom whilst it's unoccupied.
Once I finished my shower and slipped my pyjamas on, I decide to collapse onto my very inviting bed, snuggling deep into the comforting blankets. It is by this time that Blaire comes back from her half conscious state and starts getting her stuff for her shower as I slip into the depths of sleep muttering a goodnight to her.
"This place is truly amazing." I say in awe. We are currently in Hyde Park near a beautiful fountain surrounded by lush green grass and blossoming gardens.
"It is. But how creepy are the fountain statues!?" Blaire exaggerates.
"Oh my god! The weeping angels are out to get you, Blaire. Quick! Don't turn away. Don't look in their eyes and Blaire whatever you do, don't blink!" I say quickly in an ominous tone, trying to scare Blaire's wits.
"Oh, shut it. You drama queen!" Blaire responds blandly with an eye roll. I smile.
"You have to admit, though, you were bit shaken for a moment there." I tease, a massive cheeky grin present on my face.
My smile, however, quickly falters as I hear sudden whispers, deadly whispers behind my back. A shiver runs down my spine, my hairs on my neck prickle and my breath suddenly quickens. A wash of dread encompasses my body all at once; a foreboding. In one quick motion, I turn my head behind me.
Nothing. Nothing at all. I give a sigh of relief.
"Hey, is everything alright? You look a bit shaken up." Blaire inquires with concern.
I face Blaire and calm my senses, taking in a nice soothing breath.
"Yeah...everything's fine. I just thought I heard something, is all." I trail off uncertainly.
Blaire looks at me questionably, her eyebrows furrowing with worry. But it is soon wiped away with a shake of the head, an amused smile replaces it on her face.
"Hearing things are you? Quite frankly, I've think you've gone mad, my dear Mikaylah." Blaire mocks poshly.
"Quite right, I'm afraid. You see my dearest Blaire, the truth of the matter is, I've always been mad." I allege friskily. My mood is now back up again, with the previous event only niggling at the back of my mind.
"Don't. Just don't. Your english accent is terrible!" Blaire mocks.
"Oi! It is not!" I declare defensively.
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"God, we sound like my annoying little cousins!" I announce comically.
"Is too!" Blaire mutters quickly, thinking that I couldn't hear. I just smile, I really couldn't ask for a better friend even if she is the most childish human being I've ever met.
"So Mrs Whitman said at 1 o' clock we can start venturing off ourselves as long as we have a partner and our phones on us at all times. Our curfew is at 5 so we'll have a few hours before we have to head back to the hotel. What do you want to do?" Blaire remarks inquisitively.
"Well, I think that Earls Count tube is only a half an hour walk and you know what's there." I reply excitingly, doing an eyebrow wriggle.
"Oh yes! That'll be awesome!" She shouts enthusiastically.
"Alright! Allons-y!" I command eagerly, as we embark to where the only standing Police Box in London resides.
Blaire and I start walking, taking in the beautiful city around us. We talk animately about what we see and have seen. There is just so much around us. A comfortable silence falls between us as we stray side by side in the streets of London gazing at the busy people around us. It's only been the third day in London. Yesterday, when we got all settled and ready, we went to the London Museum and it was amazing. Blaire and I have always been a fan of history, for me ancient and for Blaire middle ages. So it is no surprise that we found the museum absolutely fascinating whilst the other students were moaning and groaning in annoyance and boredom.
As we come to an intersection with traffic lights, a sudden sliver of anxiety slices in my chest. My hands shake vigorously, muscles tense with fear and dread as those dire whispers attack the back of my head again. They're louder this time, stronger and ever more fearful. My chest rises and falls unevenly as I dare to turn my back to see. My curiosity is as overwhelming as my fear. Don't look back! Turn around. Do not look back! Look back and see. Mikaylah whatever you do, do not-
I turn around.
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
A shiver runs down my spine. This is not good. Not good at all.
"Mickey, come on! We gotta start crossing!" Blaire calls out. I snap out of my fearful trance and start crossing the road over to Blaire. Today is just getting weirder and weirder by the minute.
"We're nearly there! It says on my phone that its just around the corner."
I nod my head and gulp anxiously for some unknown reason. We start to head around the corner. My nerves worsen and a shot of paranoia enters my body. It feels as if each step I take, the more I want to turn and run away. We stop as we come at the corner, my body is facing the road as I close my eyes from feeling suddenly ill. I feel dizzy and sick with butterflies poking at my stomach like I'm falling quickly in the dark from an unexpected drop.
"Mickey look! There it is!" Blaire alerts me. I feel her body slip away from mine, foot steps stomping eagerly towards the destination.
My eyes are still closed; the sickness still overwhelming my body. I take a deep breath, then slowly exhale to calm my paranoid state. I slowly lift my eyelids to the bright world in front of me and turn my head towards the blue box that I have been walking half an hour for. As soon as I see the colour of electric blue, a quick bolt of adrenaline spikes my body and my feet start running on their own accord. My bones freeze in my skin as I reach the big blue box. I do not move a muscle nor flinch. I am completely captivated, no wait. I'm captured. The whispers are back again and stronger than ever. They attack my ears aggressively. The pain, the paranoia, the anxiety all hit me at once. I can hardly hear Blaire asking someone to take a picture. The whispers envelop my body, controlling every limb, every ligament, every breath. My arm reaches out, fingers trembling intensely as I touch the now frightful blue box. I try to pull away, but the whispers are too immense and they win without so much as a battle.
Don't turn around. Don't turn around. Mikaylah, do not turn around! Look behind you. No!
My head spins, vision blurs and insides dance as I will my body to turn back. I can hear nothing but the whispers shouting in my head. The fear and terror build with every quick and uneven breath. My heart palpitates and muscles contract. I can feel the pull; the curiosity, the fear, the unknown and it takes over every sense I have. There is no going back now. I have to do it. I can't stop it. It's control is too mesmerising. Too hypnotising. The whispers have won.
I turn around. And what I see terrifies me.
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
And no sign of Blaire whatsoever.
I panic.
"Blaire! Blaire, where did you go?!" I shout out fearfully. She was here just a second ago or was it five minutes or an hour. How long was it again? No, no it was definitely only a second...I think. I fish out my phone whilst looking in every direction for her bright green sweater and midnight black hair. My hands fumble as I search her contact number. I press the button and hold the phone to my ear.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"I'm sorry, the number you are calling is not available, please try again at.."
I hang up and dial again.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"I'm sorry, the number you are calling is..."
I growl in frustration and panic slightly. Blaire! Pick up you're damn phone! I type in the number this time and pull the phone to my ear.
...
Beep. Beep. Beep.
"I'm sorry, the number you are calling does not exist. Please try again."
"What?! What do you mean it doesn't exist! What kind of joke is this? Stupid Telstra! I'm switching to Optus! Yeah you heard me! You stupid god damn phone!" I shout in frustration. Damn it Blaire! Where did you wander off to?
I shove my phone in my pants pocket and put my hands on my head in distress. In doing so, I unconsciously turn myself towards the Police Box. Wait. Didn't it have a security camera at the top before? I swear it did. That's weird. It's changed! Yes, it definitely has changed. It's subtle but it definitely looks slightly different; different blue, different light, different word font. It almost looks as if...
The door opens.
...
From the inside.
...
By a man with flippy-uppy brown hair.
...
Wearing a brown pinstriped suit and trench coat.
He struts out enthusiastically, putting his hands in his coat's pockets as a woman with ginger shoulder length hair followed behind.
"Ah! Good old London!" He stops and smells the air quickly."2012! Great year! Not far along from your future, Donna. Supposed end of the world, the London Olympics! I was there you know. Welll. Sort of there. I lit the Olympic torch! Long story and all. An Isolus got lost and strayed away from their family causing it to become very distressed and long story short, she trapped people in her drawings. But obviously with my brilliance, everything got sorted out in the end. The government doesn't really change that much in 2012, technology evolves a bit though. Apple releases iPhone 4s. Oh siri! I love siri! What a great assistant program! One of the first steps with interface technology. Do you know that siri becomes so evolved that by the 28th century, she starts developing a mind on her own! How brilliant is that! Free will and choices developed from a 21st century phone program. Remarkable." A quite familiar man babbles. A very familiar man. One that I know quite well from TV.
David Tennant.
Dressed up as the Doctor.
So what else do I do in this situation but scream.
"WHAT?!"