Beautiful hatred

Chapter 4: The Pursuit of Answers

Donna was furious. She was angry, she was nervous and she was afraid.

After she'd been shoved into the car, she'd been gagged. But that hadn't stopped her from struggling. Eventually, the men who'd kidnapped her had given up and promptly knocked her out with a swift blow to the head. After that, she knew nothing.

Glimmers of light pocked her eyelids playfully, and Donna felt herself waking. Slowly her eyes flickered open and with a cough she sat up in alarm. With an abrupt realisation of her current situation, Donna began to take in her surroundings and realised she was tied to a chair in a dark cell. Panic formed in her chest as she felt the absence of the Doctor like a thorn in her side. She was trapped in Nazi Germany, being held hostage by some crazy extremists and the Doctor was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, the door to the cell opened and a man dressed in black stepped into the shadowy room. He had blonde hair, with blue eyes and a sense of evil that clung to him. The man sat opposite to her, on a chair she hadn't even noticed. He smiled a vile smile.

''Now, we shall begin,'' he hissed.

Donna stared at him levelly. She could handle herself.

The Doctor had spent the night thinking of numerous ways he could save Donna but after much debate he concluded he would have to see the place she was imprisoned before making a move. He had briefly met the children the night before. Wolfgang had called the Doctor an old friend who was staying with them for the next few days. He'd then asked the children to keep his presence a secret and a prickle of guilt had dug into the Doctor's soul. He was risking their lives by staying here. He was sure that the Gestapo would expect him to make a move soon. All the more reason to delay doing exactly that. They wouldn't kill Donna. They wouldn't dare…

He was sat on the worn sofa, contemplating leaving when Rudy staggered into the room, sleep evident on his face. He stopped when he saw the Doctor who gave him a wave and patted to the spot next to him. After a moment's hesitation, Rudy sat.

''So you're Rudy then,'' asked the Doctor.

''I am,'' nodded the child. ''And you're 'the Doctor'?''

''That's me,'' he smiled. ''And I'm here to help.''

''Can you get my mum back?''

''I don't know if I can do that but I promise that those who took her will pay. I promise.''

Rudy nodded a sad smile but seemed content with revenge. ''Okay.''

''But I can only do that with your help. Rudy, you've got to help me get into the Hitler Youth. Can you do that?''

''I can try. Maybe cause a distraction or something. Why do you need to get inside the Hitler Youth anyway?''

''Because I think there's something wrong with your leader. Why do you call him a 'tank'?''

Rudy looked distressed at the mention of the leader. ''I don't know. I mean, he's not like anything I've ever seen before. It's hard to explain.''

''I believe you,'' smiled the Doctor. ''And we'll figure this out together. Tonight, this ends.''

He hoped that he was right.

''What is your name?''

''Donna. Not that it's any of your business.''

''Well, you see, it is. Your accent…it is British I think?''

''So what if it is?'' she spat, feeling a surge of defiance for her beautiful homeland. It seemed a long way from here.

''You could be a spy,'' the man pointed out, with a shrug.

''Well I'm not. Where am I anyway?''

''Of course, where are my manners,'' the man sneered, getting to his feet. ''My name is Friedrich and I am an Officer at the Gestapo. You are currently at the offices of the Gestapo, a site we share with the SS. You are being retained here for information. Information you can give willingly or information that will be forced out of you. You decide.''

Whilst he was talking, Friedrich had walked in an intimidating circle around her chair. He had then stopped in front of her and crouched down to her level. His dark eyes pierced her and she felt her entire being shudder in repulse.

''What information?'' she spat, determinedly.

''We wish to know who is the man you arrived with yesterday. Don't deny it,'' Friedrich growled as Donna opened her mouth. ''I saw you. You're wearing very…unusual clothing. That attracted my attention and I've been watching you since. We decided to take you in to ask some questions.''

''If you're so interested in the man I was with, then why didn't you kidnap him instead?'' snapped Donna.

''Because,'' replied Friedrich smoothly, ''word from above gives us reason to suspect this man is very dangerous.''

''From above?''

''Yes, Head Nazi Officials. So, Miss Donna, who is he?''

Donna glared at him. She didn't like this Friedrich one bit. His entire being gave her chills.

''If you do not tell us, then we will get the information out of you by force,'' he shouted, making Donna jump.

Donna swallowed nervously. She didn't fancy being tortured by the Gestapo and the quicker this man left the room, the better but there was no way on earth she was going to betray the Doctor. Looking directly into Friedrich's eyes, Donna smiled and spat on his face.

The effect was instant. Friedrich immediately snarled and slapped her across the face. The blow was so hard, the chair was lifted sideways and Donna went flying onto the floor. She landed cheek first on the cold, hard ground.

Friedrich quickly exited the room and slammed the door shut leaving Donna in darkness. Feeling more alone than ever before, she began to cry.

The hours had ticked by. It was early evening now, and the children had returned from school. Now the Doctor and Wolfgang were walking Rudy, Hans and Ursula to Hitler Youth. The Doctor kept exchanging looks with Wolfgang who looked troubled and scared. The Doctor didn't blame him. It was bad enough to be living in Nazi Germany, let alone be walking a man hell-bent on revenge though the indoctrinated streets of Berlin. The Doctor had promised himself to not let anything bad happen to this family. They'd already lost too much.

Currently, the Doctor didn't have a plan. The best he could think of was to get a view of this infamous Hitler Youth leader before asking any questions. Questions were key here.

As if on que Wolfgang spoke.

''What are you going to do?''

''Oh, you know. Talk. That's what I'm good at. As far as getting in is involved, I'm a concerned parent who needs to talk to the leader about my child's welfare.''

He winked at Rudy.

''Will that work?'' whispered Wolfgang, putting his arm around Ursula to ensure she didn't fall behind.

''Maybe. If not I've got my secret weapon.''

''Which is?''

He pulled out the sonic screwdriver. ''This.''

After 15 minutes of walking, the group finally arrived at their destination. In one building members of the Deutscher Made entered, whilst in the building next to it members of the Hitler Jungend entered.

''This is where boys and girls between 14 and 18 go,'' explained Wolfgang. ''Rudy goes in the building on the right. Hans and Ursula go to places that are two streets away. Are you okay to stay here with Rudy?''

''I am,'' nodded the Doctor. ''Just go home after, Wolfgang. No need for you to get involved. I'll make sure Rudy is safe.''

Wolfgang nodded but traces of worry still lingered on his face. ''Doctor, can I trust you?''

The Doctor looked Wolfgang levelly in the eye and spoke the honest truth. ''Yes.''

''We're going in,'' interrupted Rudy, pointing to where a senior member of Hitler Youth had opened the door and was allowing the boys in.

''Then let's go,'' said the Doctor.

Rudy quickly gave his father a hug goodbye, before standing next to the Doctor and nodding. Together the pair walked until they were a few metres from the door. At this point, Rudy separated and went off to find his friends, leaving the tall figure of the Doctor alone.

When all the boys had entered, the Doctor brought himself level to the guard on the door.

''Now, I wish to see the Hitler Youth leader,'' demanded the Doctor. ''I'm worried about my child and need to speak to him.''

''I'm afraid that's not possible, sir,'' informed the guard firmly. ''But I can take a message. What's your name?''

''The Doctor.''

''Okay. What's your message?''

''Oh, get out of the way,'' grumbled the Doctor pushing his way into the hall. Time was of the essence. He ignored the protests of the guard and walked until he stood in the centre of the hall. Hitler Youth attendees were all sat at numerous tables on his right side. They looked up in shock at seeing the adult in the room.

The Doctor spotted Rudy sitting with his friends and gave him another wink.

''So, where is this leader then?'' called the Doctor. Adrenaline was pumping through his body and he couldn't resist a smile forming on his face.

''Don't we get to meet our master?''

''Sir, you must leave,'' demanded the guard who was now stood next to the Doctor. ''The leader won't stand this.''

''Tough,'' boomed the Doctor. ''If he wants to arrest me, then he'll have to show himself.''

''Fine,'' growled the guard. ''Suit yourself. It's your funeral.''

He then cupped his hands together and called towards a doorway on the Doctor's left side.

''Leader, we have a problem. There is a man here to see you. He calls himself 'the Doctor'.''

''DOCTOR?!''

The Doctor's grin disappeared. ''No.''

A shadow was moving now. It formed a distinctive shape and before the Doctor could react, a Dalek had emerged from the doorway.

Its armour was completely black aside from its dome which was the colour of blood. A swastika could be seen underneath the eyestalk, the mark of the beast here at last.

It advanced upon the Doctor, its gaze focused, hatred staring him in the face.

''THE DOCTOR IS AN ENEMY OF THE DALEKS. YOU WILL BE DESTROYED. EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!''

The Doctor stood transfixed in horror as the true evil of Nazi Germany stared him in the face. The situation couldn't be more dire.

A/N: Now it gets interesting…please review! Thanks for reading.