Chapter 2 - The Promise

Travelling in the TARDIS was different from what I'd imagined. Sure I'd heard stories and the show on TV had depicted a lot but in real life it was so much more…exhilarating. I could understand why the Doctor treasured his blue box so much, it was honestly beautiful. Even now he was weirdly stroking her while whispering words I dare not consider. He looked up and met my gaze as a light blush crept up his face, tinging his cheeks a light pink. I tried to muffle my laugh as his embarrassment was evident both on his face and on the way he was tripping over his words, a first for the Doctor I was sure.

"Um…sorry, t-that was just…y-you know…um," he rubbed his neck, bringing his hand up and through his messy, coffee coloured hair. I slowly made my way over to him, careful not to move too quickly, not wanting to miss the way his eyes followed my movements, the way his lips parted slightly as if he was going to speak again, the way his hands were darting around fiddling with his bow tie, then his hair, his buttons, his bow tie again.

"I know what exactly?" I questioned trying my best not to collapse into a fit of giggles at his childlike bashfulness. He ruffled his hair again in an attempt to dodge my question.

"Doesn't matter. Let's just forget it. Firstly I've just realised something, you never actually told me your name? Ooo, and you know what does matter?" He grinned, pleased with himself and his question avoiding skills.

"Georgina, and what?" I crossed my arms and frowned, showing him that I was not impressed. He simply beamed and leapt from where he was standing to about a centimetre in front of me. He uncrossed my arms and placed his hand in mine, resting the other on my shoulder he looked into my eyes and smiled.

"Shall we go see where we are then, Georgina?"

His enthusiasm was contagious and soon we were both standing hand in hand in front of the TARDIS doors.

"Are you ready?" He asked, his voice hopeful and full of curiosity.

"Do you even have to ask?"

"Let's go then," he used his free hand to push open the door and after giving my hand a reassuring squeeze he lead me out from the safety of the TARDIS and into the unknown.

The unknown happened to be a worn down spaceship of some kind. We were standing in a long winding passage, steam was rising from beneath our feet and red lights were flashing urgently along the walls. A stampede of noises suddenly echoed around the enclosed corridor, they seemed to be coming from right in front of us.

I looked to the Doctor who seemed to be as confused as I was. It wasn't long until the source of the noises was revealed. A crowd of tall red coloured people surrounded us. They wore black clothing, intricately embroidered with golden thread. Their eyes were soulless, a never-ending chasm of darkness and their mouths were rimmed with rotting teeth, sharper than daggers or any knife I'd seen. As they circled us they brandished their sticks that appeared to be made of a strange type of bone.

The largest of the group stepped forward flunked by two smaller creatures each holding one side of a gigantic cage.

"We are the the U.T.P. Universal Time Protectors. We are an elite part of the Gresathi race, trained and hired to make sure time continues as it should, following the path set out by the laws of the universe itself. That girl there is destined to die today. We are adamant that this shall happen so the best thing for you to do sir, would be to hand her over." The larger creature stepped forward until he was only a meter from us. I felt the Doctors grip on my hand tighten.

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen."

"I am trying to be reasonable, sir." The creature snarled, it took another step forward and I could see the menace that was crawling around in its eyes.

"I wasn't aware that killing an innocent girl was reasonable," the Doctor retorted, disgust spilling into his words.

"If you don't hand her over I will have to take her myself," the creature challenged, I could tell his patience was wavering and he wasn't going to drag this out much longer. For the first time since arriving I felt genuine fear at what the creatures would do to me once they had me. Would they make it quick or take their time, causing me the most pain possible. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about it, gulping back my fear and burying it deep inside my mind. The Doctor could sense my unease and so pulled me closer to him letting go of my hand and instead wrapping it around my waist. He leant down to whisper in my ear;

"I promise I won't let them hurt you."

He straightened up again, looking the creature right in its face.

"I can't let you do that," his words were solid, strong, iron blocks that seemed impossible to shift. I was almost certain I would be safe, his words were a wall, blocking us from the imposing danger. However no wall is impossible to break and so I felt myself ripped away from the Doctor, away from the man that vowed to protect me. Everything was a blur as one moment I was next to my saviour and the next I was in the arms of the monster being flung into the cage held by his two assistants.

I tried to scream but found no sound escaping my lips. Panic flooded through me as I realised the creature had silenced me. I found myself getting weaker, everything was merging into a hazy blur as I felt darkness threaten to consume me. My last sight was of the Doctor. His eyes were full of rage and sadness and something else…something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Then nothing as I slipped into a state of unconsciousness, a state I hoped I would return from.