A street is empty all for two, who walk slowly. It was as if they had no time at all, yet all the time in the world. Which, I suppose, is true. They scan the pavement leisurely, taking in the green-lawned houses.
The shorter of the two, dark-haired a girl in her early twenties, glances up at her companion, "This is abnormal," she said in her light English accent.
"What do you mean, Clara?" he said, looking arrogant in his trench coat and bow tie, "I thought this was what chaps did- take walks to the park and play football,"
"Abnormal for you, Doctor. And theycall it soccer in America. And what are we doing in Fort Collins, anyway?" she glanced behind him to look at the Rocky Mountains, "I'm guessing it's not for the thin air,"
"In ten minutes there will be an explosion at Preston Middle School," he said, pointing to the right as they turned a corner, coming in sight of the large white building, "But according to the TARDIS, it's not a bomb or fire or anything man made. It's a Time Churn. It will kill every student, teacher, and visitor in that building, and I need to stop it,"
Shock crossed her face, "That's terrible,"
"Yes. Over two thousand people," his eyebrows drew together. He glanced down at his watch, "Five minutes,"
"What are we doing? We need to warn them," Clara gasped, starting toward the parking lot. The Doctor caught her shoulder.
"I've tried that. They searched the building, and found nothing," he said, "They ignored me, and it happened,"
"When was this?"
"Well, about two minutes ago," he said, glancing down the street at the retreating police car, "But I suppose I did it when you went to lunch with you friends,"
She remembered when she'd been walking home from lunch with Angie, and he'd appeared, talking about an urgent event in the US. It had been annoying to then just be walking down a quiet suburban street.
"Thirty seconds," the Doctor muttered.
"Till they all-"
He looked at her, realizing that she'd never seen mass catastrophe. He grew insensitive at times.
"Close your eyes," he said softly, putting an arm around her shoulder and facing the scene of future tragedy. She squeezed her eyelids together.
Clara saw nothing but darkness as the ground shaking noise came. Then there were the screams. But the worst part was the silence. She could hear sirens in the distance.
"Alright, then," the Doctor said.
He glanced down and realized she was crying, staring at the heap of rubble that used to be a school. Shifting, he put his hands on either side of her face, "Listen. That is never going to happen, I promise you,"
"But-"
"We're going to stop it. Time Churn," he pointed to his screwdriver, which glowed slightly, "Eighth degree. It was set one week ago,"
He turned away from the mess of people now crowding around the broken campus, "Come on," he said, grabbing her arm and leading them down the street, meeting the TARDIS in record time.