Chapter 1
Grace ran down the sidewalk one night, barely noticing her surroundings. She had gone to a nearby building and snuck up to the roof to look at the stars. There weren't many places in London to stargaze, but she knew of a few within walking distance from her flat. Whenever her father left for the pub, she left for the rooftops. On this particular night however, she had dozed off on the roof, and hadn't woken up until two in the morning. The knot in her stomach told her he was home by now, sitting at the kitchen table waiting for her. She dreaded what was to come. Her father was violent when he was drunk. It was why her mum had left them, and now he was channeling the violence towards Grace. She hated him, and dreamed of running away every night.
She reached the front door, and with shaking hands, inserted her key. The kitchen light switched on.
"Well if it isn't Gracie Nova Martin. Been out on the town have yah? Had big plans you forgot to mention maybe?" Her father slurred at her.
"I- I was just…"
"Don't talk back to your father!" He roared, standing up quickly. Grace tried to sink against the door. "You've been nothing but trouble lately, and you deserve a good smack!" He raised his hand, punching her square in the eye. The world spun for a second, but before it could stop, she had turned and bolted out the door.
She ran and ran, toppling over rubbish bins and sobbing the whole way. She had known for a while there would be a breaking point when both she and her father would snap at the same time, and the world would come crumbling down, but she had never guessed it would come so soon. She felt her lungs begin to burn, and sank down against a wall. She sat for a minute, gingerly touching her swollen eye.
No less than a minute later, several alley cats and nearly a hundred mice began scurrying out of a nearby alley. It was strange, but even stranger was the noise coming from the alley. It was an electronic sounding whir that pulsated in time with bright white lights. Grace stared, utterly horrified and completely enthralled. She rounded the corner without a second thought.
She was actually rather disappointed by what was around the corner. It was a blue police box, like the kind from old movies. She was disappointed until a funny looking man burst through the doors. He sported a tweed jacket, suspenders, and a red bowtie. They both stared at each other for a moment before grace managed to speak.
"Hello. Where'd you come from?"
"None of that matters right now! Where'd did you come from? Where are you going? Would you like a ride? I suggest you get in the box."
"Excuse me? What on earth for?"
"Well, it appears you're being chased."