Chapter Two : Two Bad Choices.

Oswin felt the cold wall on her back. She could pull back no more as the kidnappers approached with the menacing metal ring in their hands.

This is it...This can't be happening ! I escaped the Daleks only to die again ! Why is the Universe doing this ? What have I done to deserve this ?!

Oswin closed her eyes, as a tear fell.

She flinched a little when she heard a muffled screech, and instinctively opened her eyes a little.

The men in front of her suddenly tumbled to the ground as they were (quite literally) bowled out of the way by...The Doctor

The metal ring fell by her feet as The Doctor grabbed Oswin's hand crying "RUN !"

Oswin needed no encouragement as she took The Doctor's hand, and they started to bolt towards the exit.

"NOOOOO !" the skull screeched as the pair ran past the neon sign - and through the exit door behind it. They ran up a flight of dimly lit steps littered with detritus, and back into the hotel lobby through a service door.

The pair briefly stopped when they saw the receptionist face down and lying on the desk. Oswin gasped before The Doctor said "there's nothing we can do for him now. This place was a trap, we need to get back to the TARDIS now !"

Out of the hotel, they ran out onto the street and stopped again. They were aghast at what they saw...

The cars and buses had all stopped. Everyone on the street had stopped moving. Worst of all, every human in sight was looking - staring - at them...with their white globe eyes. Every lamp in every building was on, and Oswin had turned her head towards one neon sign above her...

"Doctor ?" Oswin said, clearly shaking.

The Doctor followed Oswin's glance...it was the skull again, and it started to cackle again...

"You fools, did you think you could escape me so easily ?!...Look all around you - run as far as you can...You can never escape me, Iam everywhere, and I could snuff you out in just a flash..." The skull flashed, and every human in sight advanced one step towards the pair.

The Doctor looked back at Oswin, who could only put her head in The Doctor's chest in fear. She gripped him tight, before The Doctor pulled away, grabbed her hand again, before resuming their dash to safety - if there was a safe place to run to...

XX xx XX

Oswin was surprised and very relieved that the TARDIS was not in its' original place at the start of their visit...It was still in an alley, but only just around the corner from the hotel. The pair rushed in & slammed the door behind them. They were safe...for now...

Once again, Oswin grabbed The Doctor, and held him tight. She sobbed lightly at the near-death experience she had just had, before looking up at The Doctor again. He gently wiped the tears off her pretty cheeks before kissing her forehead, muttering "it's OK now...don't worry, everything will be fine...trust me..."

"No Doctor, everything is not OK - everyone out there..." Oswin clearly wasn't convinced by The Doctor's generic comforting words. The Doctor could only silently look into Oswin's brown eyes with a serious, comforting look.

Oswin composed herself slightly with a smile before asking "how did you find me ?"

The Doctor cleared his throat. "I followed the suits after coming back from the supermarket. I knew there was something wrong as soon I went into the lobby and saw the body of the receptionist on the desk. The service door next to the reception closed with a bump, and saw a glimpse of you hanging on the back of one of the suits through the glass panel in the door. As a precaution, I used my screwdriver to remotely get Sexy to relocate to our present position."

Oswin was about to say something when The Doctor started to speak again. "Oh, and there's more bad news..."

Oswin trembled again slightly before The Doctor spoke "...the bad news being the supermarket had sold out of souffles...sorry..."

Oswin chuckled slightly, and smiled again before hitting The Doctor playfully on the shoulder.

Their moment together was interrupted by a voice booming outside the TARDIS door.

"Give her up Doctor, or this world will suffer more. Give Clara up, leave this planet, and I may let the people of this world live...maybe..." It was the skull thing again.

"Whatever you are, I will find out, and I'll make sure you never harm the people of this planet ever again. The people of the planet will not be harmed, they will not be controlled..." The Doctor said with a determined attitude of authority.

"Oh come on Doctor, these people are nothing..."

"They are not, besides Oswin is human, and I suspect you want her...just to get to me !" Oswin glanced at The Doctor, who's glance didn't move from the door of the TARDIS.

"Very clever Doctor...Yes, I - we, want the girl as she could provide us with so much information about the only person who could stop our plans. Information is power, and if you give her up, I can well give you a little head start to run with...Think of it as a last request being granted..."

"Not a chance, neon nasty...hmm, I like that name...I'm going to find out who you are, stop you, save Oswin, and this planet !" The Doctor looked back at Oswin, who's eyes widened. She smiled at The Doctor, who gave a small smile back.

"My, you really like that little ape don't you ? A soft spot for human females is it ? Have you told her about the others you have lost yet ? The lives that have been lost to save your own sorry soul ?!" The Doctor's expression turned into a blank, mournful look.

What ? No, The Doctor couldn't possibly be like that ! He saves worlds and countless lives...In no way would he willingly allow others to sacrifice themselves, just for him ! Oswin raised The Doctor's chin with her small hand, and gave him a reassuring smile. The Doctor knew what that smile meant.

It didn't matter what others said about him...If his companions believed in his inherent goodness, that was all that mattered...

"Do you like TV, Doctor ?...Have a look at the local news..." the skull boomed.

Oswin and The Doctor ran over to the monitor on the console. The Doctor flicked a few switches, before a picture of the iconic Hong Kong skyline appeared on the screen. It was a local TV news transmission, and The Doctor had a horrible feeling of what could be in store...

"Reports of major power surges have been reported all over the territory, especially in Central District, Hong Kong Island...Wait, there's a report coming in from the locality of The Bank of China tower...The tower...it's glowing !"

The screen showed the blade like tower glowing an eerie blue as all the lights in the tower were not only on - but pulsing...Suddenly the top of the tower glowed a blinding bright bluish-white...before suddenly exploding in a massive ball of flame. The camera filming the report showed debris and glass raining down on people below, some of whom were lying down motionless, while many others were fleeing in panic.

"STOP THIS NOW !" The Doctor shouted, tears in his eyes threatening to spill out.

"Oh, is The Doctor concerned about his little pets then ?...Give me the girl, or...oh, there's a cruise ship in the harbour by a rather large advertising sign...Maybe I could brighten up the atmosphere on the ship...you know, give them a very warm welcome to Hong Kong...Oh, did you know I can spit ball lightning like circus acts can breathe fire - anywhere ?!"

The Doctor looked at Oswin who could only look down and hold The Doctor's hand.

The Doctor sighed before shaking his head and saying "you win...YOU WIN, OK !"

Oswin looked back up at The Doctor, with a sad, expectant expression. A tear fell down her cheek, but she composed herself before saying "you're doing the right thing my Doctor. Giving me up will give the people a chance, because it will you a chance. Run you clever boy...save the others...remember me..."

The Doctor's heart was breaking as he looked at his beautiful, brave, impossible girl. He stiffened before grabbing Oswin and holding her tight. Pulling away, he looked into Oswin's eyes.

"I'm NOT giving you up Oswin. I'm not running, not this time. We're going to save this world together"

Oswin smiled a little before saying "but how ?"

"I don't know, I'm sorry, but I'll have to hand you over first before I can answer that...Do you trust me, Oswin ?"

Oswin and The Doctor looked into each other's eyes.

"Totally, my Doctor...with my life..."

The Doctor and Oswin exchanged smiles before they both walked to the doors of the TARDIS. The Doctor cleared his throat before announcing "where do you want me to hand her over ?"