The Mysterious Blue Box

Prologue

Nico perched on a log, watching the fire flicker and spit. This summer was...dangerous to say the least. Throwing the last log into the fire, he sighed, defeated and alone. Carefully, he led himself down and watched the glinting stars. 'Why have people always said that being alone is a bad thing?' He thought to himself. 'I mean, you can do so many things when you're alone. You won't be able to hurt anyone. You won't-'

Something warm and moist rolled down Nico's cheek. A single tear. Okay, so maybe being alone was a bad thing after all. Feeling another one rising up in his eyes, he decided to let it all out. Cries of sadness, anger and other emotions he'd been hiding for as long as he could remember came flooding out of his heart. His sobs were interrupted by a loud whirring noise, coming and going. Nico looked up jadedly to find a blue box, a police box to be precise.

'You're hallucinating,' he convinced himself. 'You're seeing things. You're tired. Go to sleep.' Obeying the voices, he rested his head on the end of the log. The door to the blue box creaked open. Nico swiftly screwed up his eyes, repeatedly telling himself he was schizophrenic. Footsteps moving faster and faster until they stopped next to Nico's head. A soft, warm hand brushed through Nico's jet-black hair. The tears stopped forming in Nico's eyes. All the hate he felt in himself suddenly flooded out of him like a tsunami.

"I know you're awake," a deep, raspy yet warm and kind voice muttered. Nico smiled slightly and opened his eyes. Looking up, he saw a man, unfamiliar to him, in a long coat. He had longish blonde curls and an old but wise face.

"Who...who are you?" Nico asked, frowning.

"Oh, my dear boy. You don't know me?" Nico raised one eyebrow.

"I wouldn't ask if I know who you are." The strange man chuckled and grabbed Nico's wrist.

"Now, my boy, I know you very well. Very well, indeed." The man paused in thought. "Son of Hades and Maria di Angelo and brother of Bianca di Angelo." Nico swallowed hard, the memories of his sister slowly creeping back into his mind. He sat up sharply, to which the man grabbed both sides of his face. "Nico! Nico, I'm sorry! I completely forgot about-"

"Just leave me alone. I don't know who you are or..." Nico trailed off, staring into the man's eyes. If eyes are the gateway to the soul, this man had seen it all. Love, hope, friendship...but also danger, destruction and death.

"Nico," the man said, his grin widening. "Follow me." Grabbing his hand, the man rushed Nico into the large blue box.

"Let go!" Nico grunted, pulling away as they ran through the doors. Something didn't seem right. The room was massive. "The outside..."

"Go ahead, say it," the man giggled, sounding slightly sarcastic. "I've heard it all before." Nico shook his head, refusing to sink to his level.

"Okay, but you still haven't told me your na-"

"Nico, I feel like going on an adventure. Do you?" The man started to sound slightly mad. Shocked and a little concerned, Nico grumbled.

"Y-yeah, I guess..."

"Good. Just make sure you hold on tight." The large control panel in the centre of the box had a giant handle-like lever on it. Holding it tightly, the man yanked hard. The box trembled and groaned.

"Woah, woah, wait!" Nico yelled, competing with the sound of the box. "Who the hell are you?!"

"Oh, Nico. You don't know? Well..." The man shrugged, still grinning from ear to ear. He winked. "I'm the Doctor."