Chapter II – Eye of the Beholder
Rose couldn't tell if she felt dizzy from the transport or the place. Either way, when she opened her eyes, she immediately had to close them again to stop herself from falling to the floor.
"Rose?" the Doctor asked softly from beside her.
"Yeah?" she asked, opening her eyes to squint around her.
"You all right?"
"Yeah. Just feeling a bit... upside down."
"That'll happen. You'll get used to it. Come on."
He began to walk slowly along the cobbled path they had appeared on. Rose, adjusting to the strange pulsing feeling that was encircling her body, began to follow him. He had told her, amongst other things, that this place was beautiful, and he was right. They were walking down a path that was sided by shimmering grass, which waved in the wind despite the fact that Rose couldn't feel a breeze. It was almost silvery, sort of like how she'd always imagined a mermaid's hair to look.
Up ahead of them was the city, a collection of tall, rustic stony buildings and busy streets.
Rose trotted up next to the Doctor and took in the incredible sights. Not only were the buildings made of stone, but the stones were actually moving, as though tremors and vibrations were passing right through them. Even the cobbled road itself seemed to be shimmering, like everything else. It was an incredible sensation she was feeling, too: like walking on water.
The sky was a dark grey, but rippled like a giant puddle. Rose tried not to stare at it too long for fear it might do something weird, like hypnotise her.
"It's beautiful," she couldn't help but utter as they entered the outer parts of the city.
"What did I tell you?" the Doctor responded, and there was a hint of smugness in his voice. "Incredible planet, this. Not too keen on visitors, though – unless you plan to stay for the duration of your life. Then they're all too happy to accommodate you. That is, before you start to forget about your previous life and end up unquestioning of all the rules imposed on you. I'd say about seventy percent of the visitors who stay end up as slaves for the officials who are in charge. It's all politics, really."
Rose bit her lip as they walked, suddenly feeling a quiver in her stomach. Perhaps it hadn't been such a good idea to come here.
"We'll be all right," the Doctor added quickly, as though sensing her unease. He looked across to her and smiled. "I'm pretty good at this sort of thing. Besides, I've been here before."
"How come you got away?" Rose asked as they turned down a street that was thick with buildings. She had the feeling that if she didn't keep the Doctor talking, something bad would happen.
He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck and made a thoughtful noise. "Well, they didn't have much choice but to let me go, really."
Rose's eyes widened slightly. "Let you go?" she echoed.
"I crashed, didn't I? Caused their perception filters to go squiffy. Almost put the entire planet in jeopardy. Course, once they realised I was actually tracking a deadly alien virus that was sure to wipe out their entire race, they let me go get on with it and rewarded me with the psychic paper. It was the fastest thinking on my feet I think I've ever done, and that's saying something. I'm pretty sure they were just about ready to hang me."
"Theyhang people?" Rose asked loudly in horrified shock, then averted the eye of somebody to her right who had looked around sharply at her outburst.
"Easy," the Doctor said calmly to her, his gaze stern on the man who was looking their way. "We don't want to cause a fuss. We're here for one reason – to get the psychic paper looked at. The sooner we're out of here, the better. And yes, to answer your question, they hang people. They do worse than that. It's something of a sport, actually."
Rose shivered with growing fear. "That's nice."
"They take bets on how long the victim will stay alive; if the prisoner manages to figure out that it's an illusion in time, they'll be set free."
"What d'you mean by an illusion?" Rose asked in a hushed voice, checking over her shoulder.
The Doctor shrugged non-committally. "Just that. It's not real. Like I said, it's a sport. The prisoner is made to think they're being hung, or burned alive, or drowned or what have you, and if they figure out that it's all just a complex illusion to do with their worst fear of dying, then they'll be set free."
"And... if they don't?" Rose asked hesitantly. "I mean... isn't it just an illusion?"
The Doctor looked at her seriously. "You can die in your dreams," he said quietly. "If the mind thinks the physical body isn't alive any more, then the physical body will cease to be alive."
"Oh." Rose wrapped her arms around herself and stared at the shimmering floor. "I thought that was just a myth."
"So, unfortunately, do most people. This way."
They had come to a square with a statue in the centre. It looked like a human man with a drawn sword, ready to fight an oncoming enemy. As the Doctor and Rose got closer, she could see the intricate detail that had gone into the carving; even the eyes seemed to portray an endless terror, and she felt scared just looking at it. Her eyes drifted down to the plaque near the base.
'Here stands Tobias Huxley, whose worst fear of death was to face the Medusa. Long may his soul rest.'
Rose, feeling sick, tore her eyes away from it and let out a shaky breath. The Doctor glanced to what had caught her eye, then just simply looked away and continued across the square.
"They're very respectful of death, here," he informed. "Everyone gets a ceremony, even the criminals. Especially so, in fact."
"Doctor," Rose said quietly as they continued to walk. "You're not exactly helping."
She had become increasingly aware of how still this place was. There were a lot of people on the streets and in the square (humans, all of them, and all faces that she didn't recognise), but they were either moving slowly or not moving at all. All conversations were done in quiet tones, and there were no sudden movements or actions. It all had a sense of eerie foreboding about it, and Rose didn't like it one bit.
"Where did you say this place was where we had to go?"
"Not far now," the Doctor answered reassuringly. "Should be just around that corner. I'll have to speak to the owner of the shop and see what he can do. It might come to me leaving it with him for an hour or so and we can get to know the city a bit better."
"Oh, goody," Rose retorted sarcastically.
"Now then, now then," the Doctor admonished with a gentle smile. "It won't be as bad as all that. This is one of the most beautiful places in the universe... If you get past the strange melancholy to everything, that is, and even that isn't so bad. Besides, you've got me!" He gave her a broad smile. "Best guide you could have. You'll be fine, I promise."
Rose was able to manage a smile, but it didn't calm her nerves much. Yes, she had the Doctor – but hadn't he said this was the most dangerous place he'd ever gone? She felt uncomfortable being here, as though she were walking across the graves of a thousand soldiers from the second world war. It just felt... wrong.
"Having second thoughts?" the Doctor asked casually from her side. She could hear the mocking tone in his voice threatening to break through.
"Not at all," she replied, turning to him and giving him a wide smile. "'S nice here. We should come more often."
"Hmm," was all the Doctor responded, and they kept walking.
Rose kept catching glances of his hand out of the corner of her eye. It was swinging by his side, waiting to be grabbed. She licked her lips, fighting back the awful temptation to just slide her fingers through his. Because the truth was, she was scared. There was absolutely no chance of her swanning off without him in this place. Especially not when his words kept coming back to her like a ghost.
...And for God's sake don't touch me, or I'll be carrying you back to the TARDIS with your brain as scrambled as an egg...
She shivered involuntarily and picked up the pace of her walking.
Rose would have been able to tell the correct alley without the Doctor signalling. It lay more in shadow than any of the other places, as though designed to have the least amount of light as possible. So she wasn't entirely surprised when her rather over-enthusiastic tour guide took a sharp left into it. The sound of a bottle smashing up ahead, like someone dropping it in surprise, made Rose jump.
"Doctor, are you sure about this?" she asked nervously, unable to contain her fear any longer.
He slowed to a stop and turned to face her. "I know this place is making you feel uneasy," he said gently, warmth in his eyes. "But I promise, if you can get past that, you'll feel so much better. This place is beautiful. Just appreciate it for that and you'll be fine.
Rose nodded resolutely, although was not all together convinced. "Okay."
He gave her one of the warmest smiles she had ever seen, then continued down the narrow, dark alleyway. About half way down he stopped again, this time staring intently at the wall. With the back of his knuckles he knocked hard; a hollow sound echoed in the silence, very loud in the quietness of everything else. It was impossible to tell until she got closer, but Rose saw it was a door the Doctor had knocked on. It was black, the same shade as the wall, and was so covered in grime that there were knuckle marks where the Doctor's hand had touched. He was now wiping his hand distastefully on hid jacket.
Although Rose heard nothing, there must have been an answer of some kind because the door suddenly started to open. She met eyes with the Doctor, who just shrugged his eyebrows before stepping inside. Rose followed warily, ready to lash out at anything that might jump out at her. She felt like she used to on Hallowe'en back home, when the local kids would terrorise every house they went to. She hated those trick-or-treaters and always found herself terrified to answer the door. She hadn't felt that feeling in a long time and it was unnerving to feel it again.
It was hard to make anything out in here at first, because the only light supplied was so dim (either by age or dirt) that it took a while to get used to. Eventually, Rose's eyes became accustomed to the gloom and she was able to see more than just vague shadows.
There were shelves everywhere, along all the walls, each holding weird shapes and things that Rose could never have described. It was impossible to see anything specific from where she was stood, but she wouldn't have been surprised if a jar of eyes turned up, or even a severed hand – it was definitely that sort of place.
She joined the Doctor at the counter, not wishing to look around too much lest she should find something that would haunt her dreams. He gave a questioning nod, to which she affirmed. Then he smiled and reached out to hit the single, desolate bell on the surface. The sound was so piercing it echoed right through Rose's skull.
Presently there was a scuffle of movement and then a small little man shuffled out of the back room like a beetle. He wasn't much taller than the counter, his long, crooked nose hovering just millimetres above the wood. He had small, beady black eyes that peered out from behind thin-rimmed half-moon spectacles, and he was also owner of a long white beard, matted with age, that spread half way down his torso. He was, if possible, the creepiest man Rose had ever seen, and that included her year eight history teacher who, rumour had it, was a bit of a pervert when it came to young girls.
She tried not to concentrate on the fact that the little man's eyes were boring into her, but it was so difficult to ignore.
Fortunately, the Doctor authoritatively cleared his throat and Rose felt the unnerving gaze shift away from her. She had literally been able to feel his eyes on her, probing and malevolent, as though he could see into her mind. It made the hairs on the back of her neck tingle. This was a strange world indeed.
"You've moved," the Doctor said matter-of-factly, sliding his hands into his pockets.
The little man gave a small nod. "It's not safe to stay in one place for any given amount of time. But, I suppose you'd know all about that, wouldn't you Doctor?" His voice was musty and old, as if cobwebs were lining the back of his throat. Rose tried to think about nice things, like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. But it didn't work; it just made her feel worse.
The Doctor inclined his head upwards slightly. "Ah. You know who I am, then."
"Sir, if I didn't know who you were the second you walked into my shop, I would be blind indeed."
"Then I presume you know," the Doctor responded as he reached inside his jacket pocket, "why I'm here."
The old man chuckled. "I could hazard a guess. But come, who is this pretty one? She was certainly not present the last time you were here." He made a gesture towards Rose, but didn't look at her.
The Doctor glanced towards her. "Oh, this is Rose. She's a friend of mine."
The man raised a bushy eyebrow, then sniffed loudly. "Indeed. Well, my dear," he said, addressing her, "the Doctor and I have a few things to discuss. I suggest you take a look around the shop while you wait. You might find something that... interests you."
"We're only here on business," the Doctor said quickly before she could respond. He slid the psychic paper across the surface of the counter. "I mean to take up very little of your time, and – "
"I'm sorry," the man interrupted, "but if the problem lies with this paper, then you and I have a lot to discuss in depth, Doctor. And what I need to say requires only those who are familiar with the secrets we hold present. This ignorant human will be allowed nowhere near the superiority of my race's heritage."
"Oi!" Rose exclaimed before she could stop herself. Both men ignored her.
The Doctor leant forward on the counter, his teeth almost bared. "She stays with me," he said solidly.
"Doctor," wheezed the old man, stepping up on tip-toes and staring into his eyes. "You don't want to make an enemy of me."
"Andyou don't want to make an enemy of me," the Doctor growled in return, leaning further over the counter. They were so close their noses were almost touching.
Carefully Rose edged closer to him and spoke his name quietly.
He relaxed his glare from the man and turned to her.
"You'll only be a couple of minutes," Rose said, feeling a lump in her throat. "I'll be okay if I wait out here."
In the dim light it was impossible to see the sparkle of pride properly in his eyes, but she knew it was there; she could hear it in his voice.
"You don't have to," he reasoned softly. "We can do without the psychic paper. We can just leave."
She gave a sad smile, wanting nothing more than to reach out an touch him. "It's got us out of too much, though, Doctor. We can't risk you not having it. I'll be fine, honestly. What're you worried about?"
He let out a loud breath through his nose, resignation in its best form. "Okay. I trust you. I won't be long." He turned back to the man behind the counter, who had been watching them both with interest. "Lead the way. And this had better not take longer than a couple of minutes."
The little man lifted a small section of counter upwards, allowing the Doctor access behind. He chuckled somewhat as the Time Lord walked past him. "You seem to fear for you friend. I assure you, there's nothing that can harm her in this shop."
"I'll believe that when I come back and find her alive and well."
The man lowered the counter, and held out his arm to signify to the Doctor which way he should walk. Rose couldn't see anything beyond the strange bead curtain that lined the door, and was pretty sure she didn't want to know what was behind there anyway.
The Doctor turned and gave her a little wave, before walking through to the back room accompanied by the shop's proprietor. Rose, feeling a bit colder in the Doctor's absence, wrapped her arms around herself and began to wander over the shelves.
All she had to do now was wait.
Preview...
Chapter III – An Old Friend
He definitely seemed to have it all thought out. Rose didn't get a chance to respond, as he was already continuing down the alleyway, kicking rubbish out of his way as he went. She had to trot to catch up with him, and she longed to be able to just rush up to him and grab his hand, maybe push into his shoulder with hers...
She let out a sigh. This was going to be harder than she thought.