Prologue

"And my footprints were washed away/ as I left forevermore." I scribbled the last lines of my poem in my journal before chewing on the pen cap thoughtfully. Did it fit? Poetry was difficult, at the best of times. I let out a sigh as I started to cross out the 'and'. But before I got the chance to cross it out, a gust of wind blew from behind me, knocking my hat off my head.

"Oof!" I exclaimed, running after it, "Not again!" The wind beneath the willow tree was being especially difficult today. Luckily, the hat didn't blow far.

"Stop running away, it's rude," I scolded the inanimate object, as I crammed it back on my head. "Hmph." Heading back to my spot at the base of the willow tree, I noticed the sun getting lower in the sky. Sighing regretfully, I looked back at my notebook.

"So it's that time again," I groaned, "Pity." Gathering up my paper and pen, I glanced down to see that my drawing of the TARDIS had fallen out.

"Oh! It's a good thing I saw that," I said for only the trees to hear. Gathering up the watercolor, I tucked the slip of paper back in my journal. I had finished that particular drawing a few days ago- from my favorite show, Doctor Who. Some people said it was stupid to get so attached to fictional characters, but I couldn't find it in me to care… much.

Standing up, I adjusted the hat on my head before marching along the path towards home. I gazed critically up at the sun, estimating how much time I had left before dark fell. Not long… Better hurry. Quickening my pace, I hurried along the dirt path through the woods. It looked like I had less than ten minutes to get through the normally twenty minute walk.

Not much time- No sooner had I finished the thought, when another gust of wind plucked my hat from my head, carrying it deeper into the woods.

"Not again!" I cried, exasperated. I don't have time for this! Holding tight to my notebook, I rushed into the trees after it. The wind blew it along with a vengeance, intent on not letting me rest a moment. I panted as my feet slapped against the grassy ground. I definitely wasn't used to this much exercise.

"Got it!" I gasped with joy, finally catching hold of my runaway hat. I had a stitch in my side from running, but that ceased to matter when my gaze fell upon the sight before me.

Standing amongst the trees, was a blue box. A fifty's police box to be precise.

The TARDIS! I froze in place as my mind placed it almost immediately. No, no, no, no, no- It can't be- it's just a show! The TARDIS doesn't exist! And yet there it was. Not as I remembered it from the show, though. It looked old and weathered, dirty from being in the woods. The paint was chipped, the light on top broken. Vines and plants had overtaken it, making it blend into its surroundings. It didn't at all resemble that gleaming blue box I was used to… But it was.

My eyes filled with tears of sorrow- What happened to it? Oh Doctor… What has become of you?

Dropping my hat to the ground, I forgot about it as I focused my attention on a beautiful impossibility. That the TARDIS… might be real. But even if it was, why did it look so… dead?

Taking a staggering step, I slowly inched my way towards it, wondering what could be on the inside. It could just be a police box, or a prank! This may mean nothing. Perhaps, but let's see first. Brushing aside the plants, I pulled several vines away, freeing it from the forest's hold. Hesitating for a moment, I rested my hand on the wooden door.

It was surprisingly rough, and the paint peeled off where I touched it.

"What's happened to you?" I asked softly. Trailing my fingers down the wood to the handle, I pulled lightly on it- not quite surprised when it opened. Taking another step forward, I stood cautiously inside the doorway. What happened here… It looked dead, without any light coming from the inside. It was dark and silent as a tomb. I could still see the faint outline of the TARDIS's console

My hand flew to my mouth in horror at the sight. Choking back a sob, a lone tear made its way down my cheek. It's all real, it's all true. Rose, Martha, Donna, Amy, Rory, Clara- all of it! Oh god, what happened to the Doctor? Why is the TARDIS dead?

Cautiously, I stepped into the vast room and waited. When nothing happened, I took another staggering step towards the console. The fading light from outside lit the inside well enough, but everything was in shadow.

Suddenly, the doors slammed shut, leaving me in complete darkness. Whipping around in terror, I searched blindly for something- anything that would provide some source of light in the endless black.

"Is anyone there?" I whispered, the lone sound echoing in the empty TARDIS. …Who else is here? But there was no one. Abruptly, the sound of the TARDIS taking off filled my ears, and the floor jerked suddenly- making me crash to the ground.

I groaned as I banged my head against what I assumed was the edge of the TARDIS console. Wincing in agony, I carefully raised a hand to the site of the injury, and found something hot and sticky coating my left temple. Blood. Dizziness overtook me as I slowly began to lose consciousness. The shaking increased as the TARDIS crashed, and darkness overtook my vision.

And back in the wood, a lone hat lay- lost and forgotten.

Thank you to this chapter's beta reader, consultingsorcererof221B. Please R&R!