I wrote this story for October and it got... probably a bit trashy in the end. But it was just for fun anyway. Don't take it too serious. ;D
This is the story of an unlikely team, being drawn into the events of the Arsterfield Mansion, on the night of Halloween, where the veil between worlds is thin and brittle.
The first, who noticed the change, was the Doctor. He had fallen asleep in the library, in which he had been kept hostage for almost a week now. Suddenly a draft of cold air blew through his hair and as he opened his eyes the surrounding area couldn't be more different, since he now sat on the floor of a huge, but dark kitchen. Empty chains hung from the ceiling and pans and other dishes littered the trays around him.
"That's a weird dream!", he sounded exited. "I usually don't dream at all... but this..." His hand moved over one of the trays and felt dusty afterwards. This place certainly wasn't inhabited anymore. He fished inside his jacket after the Sonic Screwdriver, but couldn't find it there. Of course... the Master had taken it from him after all.
The second, who noticed it, was said Master, successfully resurrected and busy crafting a new plan to overthrow earth and his favorite enemy. It had been a long day filled by the constant blabbering of his annoying hostage. Tiredness overcame him and he closed his eyes for a few seconds, only to fall asleep, still sitting in his armchair, that suddenly felt different, very different. Jolting awake the Master found himself resting in a different, but comfy old chair, holding a book from Charles Dickens in his hands.
"What the hell?" He jumped up, spinning around in the room that was only faintly illuminated by the pale light of the moon that fell through the dusty windows of the library. Hastily he checked his pockets and was glad to find his laser- and the sonic screwdriver. Whatever this was, in the end he could surely just blow it up.
The last to notice was Roka, who fell asleep after a long day. She had been extremely tired, cause spending your days with the Master was exhausting. He kept her hostage and due to circumstances too insignificant for this tale, she was helping him with a certain task, while also trying to free the Doctor from his grip. Suddenly though she jolted awake, because something had brushed her leg. And, still a bit groggy in her head, she realized that she wasn't laying on the old sofa anymore, but inside a huge and very comfortable, but dusty bed.
"That's... new", she mumbled, while carefully looking around. The faint moonlight barely let her see anything. Something brushed against her leg again and horrified she realized that, whatever it was, the thing was under her blanket. Not even the Master scared her usually, but now she felt a silent cold fear creeping up inside her.
The thing moved again. It had to be rather small, Roka realized. Not much bigger than a... She threw the blanket away and with a smile stared into the yellow glowing eyes of a black cat. Perplex it stared back at the suddenly appeared human, then sprang to the ground and ran away into the shadows.
Meanwhile the Doctor had finished inspecting the abandoned kitchen and was now carefully moving through equally old halls. Big and dust covered spider webs filled the corners and spun themselves over old statues and fancy wooden furniture. This place must have been abandoned for ages.
At the same time the Master was still inside the old library, slowly walking down the rows of bookshelves. He had found a candle and had lit it with his laser screwdriver. The youngest titles were all from about fifty or so years ago and there was barely one he hadn't read already. How disappointing. If he had to be stranded here, there could be at least something interesting to pass the time. And what a shame... most of the old tomes were bridling and crumbling or covered in mold. Someone would get punished for this crime, he decided.
A distant creak let him spin around, almost extinguishing the candle flame. There it was again, here inside the library with him and very... very close. The laser in one hand he sneaked along the shelves, carefull to not make noise himself. There was a shadow moving! Now wiping the flame on his own he sneaked up behind the rather small figure and swiftly placed a hand on their mouth and another one around their torso to prevent them from moving. Then he dragged the struggling person towards one of the windows and with surprise saw that it was Roka.
"What are you doing here?", he asked perplex while earning himself a very mean look from her. "Be quiet, okay?" She nodded and he let go.
"What have you done now?", she hushed sourly. "Where are we?"
"Hey, not everything is my fault!", he protested, forgetting the part about being silent and Roka lay a finger on her lips. "I have no idea what happened." He added more quietly.
The creaking started again and this time both spun around. It hadn't come from inside, but probably from the hallway. They looked at each other and the Master nodded. Suddenly a very well functioning unit the two moved towards the door, watching each other's backs and checking every shadow.
The door handle slowly moved down and the Master pointed his laser at it. Quickly Roka pushed down his arm and shook her head.
With a loud and slow creak the door opened and inside peaked a familiar spiky mane, followed by the face of the Doctor, who, with squinted eyes, observed the shadows and was startled when he saw the other two all of a sudden.
Immediately the Master took up the laser again. "That's your doing, Doctor! Where have you brought us!?"
"Put that down!" Roka grabbed his arm, but he was too strong and just pushed her out of the way.
"Hey, hey!" The Doctor put up his hands. "No need to get threatening, old friend. I swear, I have nothing to do with this trickery!"
"You're not locked away, that's enough reason to kill you!" The laser screwdriver pointed at the Doctor's hearts.
Roka stepped between the two, not sure it was a good idea, because the Master surely wouldn't hesitate to simply shoot her first. "Can we just calm down... please?" She looked at both in turns. "At least until we found out what we stumbled into."
The Doctor's face got brighter when he finally saw her. Like always it took him some time. After all, Roka was a glitch in reality and so far only the Master had proven to be able to see her at all times.
A sigh came from the Master and he complied, putting his laser down. "One wrong move, Doctor... just one. I swear, I will do something really... really bad to you."
The Doctor took his hands down again and looked around. "Ohhhh, a library! I love libraries." He looked as if he was about to just rush towards the shelves, but then pulled himself together. "Err... alright. Let's see, what we know so far, shall we?" A very happy smile came to his face. Having no clue was one of his very favorite things in life.
They got to the unlit fireplace and the Master rushed towards the comfy chair to sit in it with crossed arms before the Doctor could. So the other man just leaned against the cold stone, while Roka slumped down on the dusty ground.
"Has any of you two seen someone in here?", she asked. "The only other living thing I've seen was a black cat."
Both shook their head.
"This seems to be an old mansion though." The Doctor stated the evident. "And from the taste of its air and the condition of the building and everything... I guess no one was here for about..."
"...fifty or more years." The Master ended the sentence, rolling his eyes as if it were the most obvious thing. "And some stupid, probably alien, thing was so bold to teleport us here." Annoyed he ruffled through his hair. "Two Time Lords and one glitch. We probably send out a pretty nice signal. Although it still doesn't make a lot of sense."
Roka got up again, cheerfully looking around. "I bet there are some reeeally creepy things in here! And maybe some ghosts too!"
"There are no such things as ghosts, you stupid human!" The Master sighed annoyed.
"Oh, I wouldn't bet on that." The Doctor winked towards Roka. "But in any case..."
He never came to finish the sentence, because suddenly a loud and deep grumbling made the entire building vibrate violently, followed by a whispering and a scratching noise that seemed to come from all around them, creeping closer and closer towards their position. No... not all around.
It came from within the walls.
Agile as a cat the Master sprang up and blasted a hole through the nearest wall. Immediately the noises stopped and he turned around to the others with a satisfied smirk on his lips.
"See... nothing to..." Something rushed through the room, brushing against his head, which made him jump and flail around in the air to get rid of it. "Gaahh! Get it off!"
Roka laughed out loud and a few seconds later the thing was gone. "Whatever was in that wall, you set it free. Good job." Sarcasm gleamed in her gaze when their eyes met.
"Well...", the Doctor looked around. "... seems you ran it off. Do you happen to have my sonic with you, Master? Could be useful here..."
"No! And no, you won't get it! Not even for a second!", he shouted angrily at the Doctor.
Roka though was very sure she had seen him wielding the thing before... For a second she pondered about something, then she stepped closer to the Master, staring up to him. "You know..." she began."Since we might die here..." And before he could react, she threw her arms around his waist, hugging him very, very tightly.
"What the hell!", he shouted, pushing his hands against her head. "Doctor! Get your human off of me!"
A giggle resounded and Roka let go of him, moving a few steps away, now wearing a mischievous grin. "I always wanted to pickpocket you." Triumphant she held up the Sonic Screwdriver and handed it to the Doctor.
The Master pointed his laser at her. "You...!"
"I get no readings around here...", the Doctor interrupted. "Master... do her any harm and I'll just leave you here." He seldom sounded threatening, but right now his voice was very calm, which was almost as bad.
Angrily sighing the Master let his laser screwdriver sink.
"Good!" Now a wide smile spread on the Doctor's face again. "We really should search the building. There has to be a source for all of this. And some teleportation device too."
"We could hold a séance", Roka suggested happily. "You know, like directly summoning the old spirit and ask what it wants from us."
"Ohhh, like in those old movies, right?" The Doctor replied. "There are candles around and..."
"What stupid nonsense..." The Master interrupted. " Do that alone, I'm off." And he moved towards the door.
"The more people the safer." Roka explained. "As long as we don't let go of each other's hands at least."
"Tzz... reason enough to vanish..."
"Huh, why?"
"I certainly won't hold hands with him!" He pointed at the Doctor, wearing a disgusted frown.
"I doubt it's a real ghost anyway." The Doctor added. "Though a proper séance would have been fun."
"Maybe it's best, we split up", suggested Roka. "The mansion is huge. It would take ages if we stay together."
"No!" The Doctor said firmly. "That's too dangerous. Especially for you, young lady."
"Hey!"
"You come with me, shrimp." The Master suddenly stated. "No way I let you two plot something against me. And you make a good meat shield. We'll take the upstairs. You can have the creepy basement, Doctor" He ignored the other's warning look and left the room, dragging Roka along.